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Jean-Claude Van Damme. The Muscles from Brussels. If you grew up in the early nineties, this handsome Belgian was everywhere. With his unique accent, good looks, and a butt he was all but too happy to show off at least once a film, he was the rare action star that was just as popular with the ladies as the dudes. Changing tastes in the mid-nineties meant that his career as a viable lead in theatrical films started to dry up, which wasn’t helped by some off-screen issues he had with drugs (a Hollywood tale as old as time). But, while his contemporary, Steven Seagal, became something of a parody of himself, Jcvd got clean and doubled down on his craft, emerging as a surprisingly potent actor in some Dtv movies that are way better than anyone gives them credit for.

While his days as an A-list lead might be behind him,...

The 1988 Jean Claude Van Damme favourite Bloodsport has emerged as a remake candidate for A24. More here.

Who knew that 2025 would be the year of Bloodsport? While the 1988 martial arts flick may hold a cherished place in the heart of many a Jean-Claude Van Damme fan, there surely aren’t too many folks out there that put a Bloodsport revival on their bingo card for this year.

However, the signs have been present for some time that the film’s enduring legacy would lead us to a remake getting off the ground. A couple of attempts have already been made over the years, with Dead Calm director Philip Noyce and V For Vendetta's James McTeigue both trying to get a version of Bloodsport off the ground but without success.

Then this year launched with the news that a group of former Call Of Duty developers were working on a...

If there’s one universal truth we all come to realize, it’s that success isn’t simply handed to you on a silver platter. It’s earned, often the hard way, as Jean-Claude Van Damme will attest. Before he became synonymous with gravity-defying roundhouse kicks and martial arts glory, his life was far from glamorous.

Yes, the very man who would later rake in millions, kicking his way to stardom, was once struggling to survive on the unforgiving streets of Los Angeles. But Van Damme made a last-ditch effort that would eventually change his fate. Yes, and that’s how he earned his golden ticket: Bloodsport.

Jean-Claude Van Damme in Bloodsport | Credit: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios The relentless pursuit of Jean-Claude Van Damme’s big break: From streets to stardom

Jean-Claude Van Damme arrived in Hollywood in the 1980s, determined to make it big. But five years later, the best he...

Cannon Films weren’t satisfied with their 1988 martial arts tournament movie Bloodsport, but when they reluctantly sent it out into the world in 1988 it proved to be a big hit, launching Jean-Claude Van Damme’s career as an action hero. The film was followed by three sequels, none of which starred Van Damme – and for the last couple of decades, there have been rumblings about a revival. Twenty years ago, Bloodsport co-writer Sheldon Lettich tried to get a film called Bloodsport: A New Beginning off the ground, but the project fell apart. In 2011, Phillip Noyce (Dead Calm) was attached to direct a “reinvention,” working from a screenplay by The Karate Kid creator Robert Mark Kamen. In 2013, James McTeigue (V for Vendetta) replaced Noyce at the helm. The project never made it into production. In 2019, there was a rumor that John Wick directors David Leitch and Chad Stahelski were considering making a Bloodsport remake.

Ever since Rocky took the world by storm in 1976, people have been enamored with the idea of an underdog fighting his way to victory. There is something about two people entering an arena and just seeing who is the best. Movies help us find the themes and metaphors we can use for this mentality in our everyday life. If you’re in a funk and then play the Rocky theme, you suddenly become more motivated than ever to get over that mountain called life. With Creed IV reportedly in the works, we figured this would be a great time to put together a list of the best fighting movies of all time… other than Rocky.

W​arrior (2011)

Tommy returns home after a stint in the Marines to find his father has cleaned himself up. They begin training for an upcoming mixed martial arts tournament offering the sport’s biggest payday.

Netflix’s martial arts comedy-drama series Cobra Kai reinvigorated nostalgia for the Karate Kid franchise and garnered a whole new audience. The show’s committed ensemble cast, effective comedy and heartfelt drama speak to viewers of all ages. While the series has set a high bar for martial arts storytelling, the world of cinema, including these classic movies, offers up some of the genre’s all-time greats.

By emphasizing action, interesting characters and top-notch filmmaking, many of these martial arts films capture a similarly enjoyable atmosphere as Cobra Kai. They offer a nuanced narrative that resonates with audiences through intense drama or entertains viewers with clever comedy.

Bloodsport Helped Launch an Action Star’s Career

Striking a balance between cheesiness and unabashed charm, the 1988 martial arts film Bloodsport effectively crafts its fight sequences. It draws viewers into a storyline centered on an illegal martial arts tournament featuring Jean-Claude Van Damme as the lead.

Plenty of action stars rose to prominence through roles in iconic films in the '80s. Arnold Schwarzenegger had The Terminatorand Predator, Sylvester Stallone had Rambo, and Harrison Ford had Raiders of the Lost Ark. For Jean-Claude Van Damme, his rise to fame came with 1988's martial arts movie Bloodsport. Bloodsport's premise is simple, yet engaging: Frank Dux (Van Damme) enters the deadly fighting tournament known as the Kumite. However, he ends up deserting the Army to do so, meaning that he has to fight for his life and his freedom! As one does.

A martial arts classic that helped shape the genre and inspired Mortal Kombat is now available for a new generation of action fans to discover.

One of the most iconic martial arts films of the 1980s,Bloodsport, is now streaming on Prime Video. This cult classic introduced audiences to the underground world of the Kumite, a secretive martial arts tournament, and showcased Kill 'Em All's Jean-Claude Van Damme's athleticism and charisma in one of his earliest film roles. The film's high-energy fight sequences and memorable training montages have cemented its status as a must-watch for martial arts fans around the world.

RelatedAlex Garland's 92% Fresh Sci-Fi Masterpiece Is Now on Paramount+

The writer behind 28 Days Later wrote and directed this sci-fi classic

The Legacy of Bloodsport

Released in 1988, Bloodsport became a defining film for martial arts cinema. The movie follows Frank Dux, a skilled fighter who enters a...

While Bloodsport, the 1988 martial arts tournament movie, is widely considered by fans to be Jean-Claude Van Damme’s best film, it almost never saw the light of day. Indeed, according to Nick De Semlyen’s book, “Last Action Heroes” (buy it here), the film was deemed unreleasable by Cannon Pictures head Menachem Golan. The film sat on the shelf for fourteen months and was considered so bad that Golan intended to release the movie direct-to-video. Things got so heated that Golan refused to go ahead with a proposed sequel to Lone Wolf McQuade, which would have featured Van Damme teaming up with Chuck Norris (who was an early mentor to Jcvd). He wanted Michael Dudikoff instead.

According to the book, Van Damme, who had returned to his old job as a limo driver when Bloodsport wrapped, convinced the studio to allow him to re-edit the film with Towering Inferno editor Carl Press.

Countless incredible martial arts movies have heroes based on real historical figures. As the stories of notable martial artists were intrinsically linked with real history, long-standing myths, and iconic folk legends, its no surprise that many real-life people find their way into action-packed martial arts movies. One notable example was Donnie Yens portrayal of Yip Man in the Ip Man franchise, but there have been several more acclaimed instances of this across the length and breadth of martial arts cinema.

Some of the greatest martial arts movies ever made use real people as the basis for their stories. Classics of 1970s kung fu cinema have taken the iconic stories of Shaolin monks and blessed audiences with incredible, often heavily altered, representations of real stories. This historical context can add extra depth to martial movies, as the social and political circumstances of the eras they represent become even more resonant through...

Bloodsport holds a special place in the hearts of action fans. Not only is it the film that launched Jean-Claude Van Damme into the Hollywood limelight, but it’s also the inspiration for Mortal Kombat. What many viewers don’t know is that the film is loosely based on martial artist Frank Dux. He relayed his stories […]

The True Story of Bloodsport: Why It Deserves Its Own Gripping Documentary Series Written by Sergio Pereira for Fortress of Solitude...

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Action movie fight scenes used to range from laughably bad to cringe-worthy in the United States until the 1970s. By then, martial arts movies (which were already popular in Asia) infiltrated American cinema, bringing some much-needed butt-kicking to the stale genre. Once audiences got a glimpse of Japanese and Hong Kong-style flying fists and feet, the weird oily wrestling of Spartacus and the telegraphed punches of predictable Westerns seemed lame in comparison.

Martial arts movies have grown in popularity ever since and created some seriously awesome heroes, such as Keanu Reeves' John Wick. Being a martial arts movie star doesn't necessarily involve being a classically trained fighter though it helps but rather having a screen presence and choreographed skills, such as is the case for Chow Yun-fat. The greatest movie martial artists are admired as much for their charisma as for their combat.

Belgian martial artist-turned-actor Jean-Claude Van Damme has many incredible characters under his black belt, but one of my favorites comes from a silly source: The Expendables 2. At 10 years old, Van Damme enrolled in karate school, though I highly doubt he knew the level of success the decision would garner. After earning the Mr. Belgium bodybuilding title in 1978, he moved to Hollywood to become an actor. Ultimately, Van Damme landed his big break as ninjutsu practitioner Frank Dux in the 1988 martial arts flick Bloodsport one of my favorite Van Damme cult classics.

Van Damme's career-launching role in Bloodsport made him a hugely popular action star during the late '80s and well into the '90s. In my opinion, some of his biggest and best career highlights include Kickboxer (1989), Lionheart (1990), Double Impact (1991), and Universal Soldier (1992), though flicks like Hard Target (1993), Timecop (1994), and Street Fighter (1994) also come to mind. Eventually, Van Damme's...

Martial arts movies showcase intense, lawless tournaments where fighters rely on their instincts to survive unpredictable showdowns. From Bloodsport to Mortal Kombat, these contests test fighters' physical prowess, mental fortitude, and adaptability under chaotic conditions. Whether in secret Kumite events or parodic tournaments, these films push the limits of what martial arts can mean in cinema with unpredictable outcomes.

Martial arts movies have become known for their tough, usually disorganized tournaments in which so much is at stake, but the rules are vague or nonexistent. These competitions test the ultimate mettle of any fighter, his skills, endurance, and adaptability, all in the climactic showdowns of films. Whether set in otherworldly landscapes, underground arenas, or parodic backdrops, these fighting competitions can push the envelope of what martial arts can mean to cinema.

It enables a wild mixing of styles, strategies, and sometimes supernatural elements to collide in a fight, which upshot is always something unexpected.

When it first came out in 1992, Mortal Kombat was the talk of the town. Every kid and their mother knew about it. Literally. The sheer violence and gore featured in the once-arcade game, had mothers taking to news outlets and politicians to get the game banned. Quite reminiscent of Kyle’s mom from South Park, one could say. Despite major censorship calls and aiding the birth of the Esrb, Mortal Kombat flourished, thanks in part to the controversies surrounding it.

Infamy of its gore aside, the game quickly became popular amongst players for its array of characters. The base roster still lives on in the modern iterations of the fighting game. Whether Liu Kang was your go-to or Thunder God Raiden, or perhaps Scorpion, everyone had their favorite pick. But amongst the ninjas and Gods alike, one character stood out that didn’t quite fit this bill… And that was Johnny Cage.

Key takeaways: Jean-Claude Van Damme's film "Cyborg" was made because of scrapped plans for He-Man and Spider-Man movies. Cannon Films had financial issues and canceled the He-Man and Spider-Man projects before they could be fully produced. "Cyborg" was a better idea than the canceled films because it didn't have the same lofty standards and was able to deliver moderate success.

Jean-Claude Van Damme's Cyborg was the direct result of scrapped plans for He-Man and Spider-Man movies. Released in 1989, Cyborg saw the Muscles from Brussels take on the role of Gibson, a warrior surviving in a post-apocalyptic landscape trying to cure a plague. Directed by Albert Pyun, Cyborg was one of a slew of action vehicles for Jean-Claude Van Damme made during the 1980s and 1990s.

The film, which comes across as Mad Max but with martial arts, was only the action star's third stint as the lead character. The...

Van Damme's fight scenes showcase his martial arts expertise and dexterity. Many of his fight scenes rely on his characters' own skills and improvised weapons. Van Damme has starred in over 60 movies, showcasing his fighting prowess and martial arts mastery.

Jean-Claude Van Damme's movies contain some incredible fight scenes, but some rank higher than others. Van Damme is known for his martial arts expertise. Viewers will often see him using his dexterity in order to kick his opponents as well as dodge incoming blows. Many of his fight scenes don't involve weapons, with Van Damme's characters relying on their own skills and whatever is around them to win the day.

Van Damme has starred in over 60 movies, with his first major role coming in 1985 when he landed the role of Frank Dux in Bloodsport. Since then, he's gone on to star in, and even direct, some of his own movies.

Martial arts movies are often enhanced by the inclusion of a tournament, raising the stakes and adding to the viewing experience. The quality of martial arts movies can vary greatly, but many of the better ones benefit from the tournament factor. The inclusion of a tournament in martial arts movies is a frequent and popular trope that continues to captivate audiences.

One thing that makes nearly any martial arts movie better is the inclusion of a tournament. With competitive achievement on the line, the stakes are raised, and the hope that a protagonist can emerge victorious further contributes to the viewing experience. That idea applies whether it's karate, kickboxing, Thai boxing, mixed martial arts, or an event that allows any style.

Martial arts movies can also vary wildly in terms of quality. They can range from cheesy train wrecks with lousy acting and little or no plot to inspiring, atmospheric masterpieces with excellent performances.

Martial arts films blend different fighting styles into their fight scenes, showcasing the complexity of fight choreography and delivering spectacular action. Some of the best martial arts movies take place in Mma settings or underground tournaments, where fighters blend different martial arts to achieve victory. These movies incorporate various fighting styles such as Muay Thai, kung fu, wrestling, Mma, and more, creating a harmonious blend of martial arts in their fight sequences.

There are many great martial arts films that blend a variety of different martial arts fighting styles into their fight scenes. The art of fight choreography is one of the most complex elements of filmmaking. Actors, stunt performers, and fight choreographers craft fight scenes like dance sequences, with each move planned and blocked to tell a harmonious story of combat. Martial arts films draw from real life disciplines of combat in order to deliver the most spectacular action possible.

Everyone knows October is the month of horror. Whether it's movie marathons, extravagant decorations, or even All Hallow's Eve itself, television and film alike turn to chills and thrills until the advent of November. Thankfully, in the world of streaming, you still have plenty of options available if you find yourself burnt out on ghouls and ghosts. Tubi, in particular, is a great service for avoiding the norm, as they've made a name for themselves by hosting hundreds of unique and otherwise unconventional titles in their content library.

If you're a martial arts fan, you still have some exciting films to look forward to during October. If you're curious about the various martial arts movies coming to Tubi, we've assembled some highlights from the service's pending offerings. All movies will be available to watch as early as October 1 unless stated otherwise.

Road House (1989)

When you think of Patrick Swayze, you...

Mortal Kombat movie franchise has stayed true to the popular video games and brought the flair of Hong Kong action movies to the big screen. The Karate Kid franchise has been a modern culture phenomenon, with its story of the master-student relationship resonating with audiences. The Ip Man franchise, led by Donnie Yen, has become the greatest martial arts movie franchise of all time, blending epic fight scenes with the life story of a martial arts master.

Both East and the West have produced long lists of martial arts movie franchises, some of which being significantly better than their contemporaries. Like any other genre, the storytelling of martial arts films can often be encapsulated very well in just one movie, as seen in Bruce Lee's Fist of Fury, the John Carpenter's '80s classic Big Trouble in Little China, or Iko Uwais' debut movie Merantau. However, the popularity...

It has been three decades in the making, but Jean-Claude Van Damme will finally be appearing in the Mortal Kombat franchise, as series staple Johnny Cage will get a skin based on the Muscles from Brussels.

As per the official Mortal Kombat 1 website, the game’s Kombat Pack expansion will feature “a Johnny Cage character skin with the likeness of famed actor and martial artist, Jean-Claude Van Damme (available at launch).” And yes, pre-orders are now live for those who want to experience Jcvd do a split and punch Shang Tsung in the groin.

The upcoming Mortal Kombat game including Jean-Claude Van Damme is a full circle moment for both the series and the actor, as creators Ed Boon and John Tobias were partly inspired by 1988’s Bloodsport, with Johnny Cage being modeled directly after Frank Dux. Midway’s plan was actually to base the game around Jcvd but couldn...

Known for his high-flying kicks and flexibility, Belgian actor Jean-Claude Van Damme is trained in kickboxing, taekwondo, and kung fu. As a teen, he won the European Professional Karate Association's middleweight championship. Hoping to use his unique skillset to become the next big thing in Hollywood, he moved to Los Angeles in the '80s. Today, Van Damme is regarded as one of the best action stars of all time.

His impact extends beyond the world of cinema. He inspired the ring name for one of my favorite professional wrestlers, WWE Hall of Famer Rob Van Dam, whose look and high-flying maneuvers were identical to those of the "Timecop" star, so much so that I actually thought they were brothers. In a 2021 episode of "WWE Icons," the wrestler explained the effect the actor had on his career:

"When I'm down in Florida in '91 and '92, [wrestler-turned-promoter] Ron Slinker is running the [professional wrestling studio] Tampa Sportatorium.

As we eagerly anticipate the release of the latest Mortal Kombat movie, many find themselves looking back on Mortal Kombat’s 1995 big-screen debut. While that film has its charms and its fans (myself included), the movie has rightfully been criticized over the years for lacking many of the best qualities of the game as well as many of the best elements of the martial arts movies that clearly inspired it.

Of course, the relationship between Mortal Kombat and martial arts films has always been close. Not only did the game utilize a then-revolutionary form of motion capturing that gave it a standout cinematic look, but many aspects of the title were practically taken directly from some of the best and biggest martial arts movies of that era.

As the years go on, though, it becomes more and more clear that no martial arts movie impacted the development of Mortal Kombat more than Bloodsport.

Stars: Bryan Craig, Tommy Flanagan, Sean Patrick Flannery, George Kosturos, Allison Paige | Written by Carl Morris, Shaun Piccinino | Directed by Shaun Piccinino

[Note: With the film finally debuting in the UK next week, here’s a reposting of our review of American Fighter from its screening at last years Fantasia Festival]

A fictional sequel to an semi-autobiographical original, American Fighter is an interesting proposition for a film and, at least in cinematic terms, shares a lot in common with the classic martial arts film Bloodsport – both deal with underground fighting and both have a connection to the real-life tales of their characters. In this case George Kosturos plays the alter-ego of producer Ali Afshar – whose story of moving from Iran to America and fitting in by becoming a top-class athlete was told in the 2016 film American Wrestler.

American Fighter picks up where that film left off, once again following Ali Jahani (George Kosturos) as he tries to raise funds to get his mother out of Tehran after his father...

Stars: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Roger Moore, James Remar, Janet Gunn, Jack McGee, Aki Aleong, Abdel Qissi, Louis Mandylor | Written by Frank Dux, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Steve Klein, Paul Mones | Directed by Jean-Claude Van Damme

Ah, 1996. The year that gave us Fargo, Scream, From Dusk till Dawn, The Craft and The Frighteners. It also gave us Daylight, with Stallone, Barb Wire with Pamela Anderson, Eraser with Arnie and… The Quest, with Jean-Claude Van Damme, who also directed it. The Quest. You remember this, right? I mean… at a time when action-stars were squeezing the last drops of sweat and tears from the action-movie genre that hit massive heights in the 80s, Van Damme joined them. He wrote, directed and, of course, starred in this movie, a movie that also starred Roger Moore. Yes, Roger Moore. James Bond. The Saint. Roger bloody Moore! I mean, Roger would say that The Quest was...

Stars: Bryan Craig, Tommy Flanagan, Sean Patrick Flannery, George Kosturos, Allison Paige | Written by Carl Morris, Shaun Piccinino | Directed by Shaun Piccinino

A fictional sequel to an semi-autobiographical original, American Fighter is an interesting proposition for a film and, at least in cinematic terms, shares a lot in common with the classic martial arts film Bloodsport – both deal with underground fighting and both have a connection to the real-life tales of their characters. In this case George Kosturos plays the alter-ego of producer Ali Afshar – whose story of moving from Iran to America and fitting in by becoming a top-class athlete was told in the 2016 film American Wrestler.

American Fighter picks up where that film left off, once again following Ali Jahani (George Kosturos) as he tries to raise funds to get his mother out of Tehran after his father is pulled of their flight to the Us and assassinated,...

Leah Ayres is best known for playing the sneaky Kumite reporter, Janice Kent -- who turns into Frank Dux's love interest played by Jean-Claude Van Damme -- in the kick-ass 1988 action movie "Bloodsport." Guess what she looks like now!

Article by Mark Longden

I love regional genre cinema – those movies that existed in the early days of VHS and video rental stores,

when seemingly anything could turn a small profit. There are many of them – 1977’s “The Demon

Lover”, 1987’s “Night Screams”, and the early movies of Donald Farmer, among many many more. It was

with great delight when I read the We Are Movie Geeks article on the St Louis Video Society and their

upcoming showing of a local movie so obscure it doesn’t even have an IMDb page, the amazing “Justice

Ninja Style”.

This gem was filmed in DeSoto, a little drive out of St Louis in what would politely be referred to as rural

Missouri, and is the brainchild of one Ron White, an apparent 10th dan black belt in karate. He’s written a

few books, including one with the excellent title “So You...

Shortly after running our last piece, How Did This Get Made: A Conversation with Frank Dux, the Real-Life Inspiration for Bloodsport, I was put in touch with Sheldon Lettich. This was significant not only because he wrote the screenplay for Bloodsport, but also because Dux had said some unflattering things about the writer. So when […]

The post How Did This Get Made: A Conversation with Sheldon Lettich, Screenwriter of Bloodsport appeared first on /Film.

Unlike so many of the testosterone-fueled films of the ’80s, Bloodsport holds the rare distinction of being based on a true story. It’s the amazing tale of Frank Dux, a Caucasian martial artist who fought in (and won) a ruthless secret tournament that’s held only once every five years. It’s a tale so amazing that […]

The post How Did This Get Made: A Conversation with Frank Dux, the Real-Life Inspiration for Bloodsport appeared first on /Film.

Ralph Macchio's birthday -- he turns 54 on November 4 -- reminds us that, not only do we love the Karate Kid, but we love even more a training montage.

You know, that staple of feel-good, fist-pumping, sweat-exuding movies, especially from the aerobicized '80s, that shows rapid-cut clips of the star getting in shape or mastering some arcane fighting technique, usually set to some inspirational, synth-heavy anthem.

By the end of that decade, the training montage had become such an overblown cliché that it fell out of favor, which is why we cherish the few new ones that come along and relish the old ones that still make us feel like slackers. So cue up Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger," raise a glass of raw eggs, and drink a toast to the best training montages ever.

11. 'G.I. Jane' (1997)

Training to become the first female Navy Seal, Demi Moore's Lt.

Bloodsport

Written by Christopher Crosby, Mel Freidman and Shedon Lettich

Directed by Newt Arnold

USA, 1988

Every year in Hong Kong, an underground martial arts tournament is held in secrecy. The Kumite (a term given to a specific type of karate) is where the world’s best fighters come together on invitation to prove their worth in full contact fights, no questions asked. United States Army captain Frank Dux (Jean-Claude Van Damme), having been trained under the auspices of Senzo Tanaka (Roy Chiao), has received his invitation to this year’s tournament and, against the orders of his immediate superiors, slips away from detection and travels to the Far East for the fight of his life. Once there, he meets fellow American fighter Ray Jackson (Donald Gibb) and nosy reporter Janice Kent (Leah Ayres), who wants a scoop on the action. Hounding Frank are two officers, Helmer and Rawlins (Norman Burton and,...

Bloodsport may be one of the most overrated movies there is. It wasn’t particularly good, but it’s remembered and held on a pedestal because it made Jean-Claude Van Damme a star. A couple of years ago, it was announced that Bloodsport would be getting remade by director Phillip Noyce, but that has since changed. Relativity is now producing the reboot with director James McTeigue (V For Vendetta), and is also bringing in someone new to rewrite the script.

In the original Bloodsport, Van Damme played Frank Dux, a young trainee of master of the art Tanaka who participates in the Kumite, the ultimate martial arts tournament where participants are heavy injured and killed. Back when Noyce was director, the story was said to follow an American who goes to Brazil to recover from the violence he experience in Afghanistan but ends up involved in a martial arts contest.

Variety has learned that James McTeigue (V for Vendetta, Raven) has signed on to remake Jean-Claude Van Damme's 1988 martial arts film "Bloodsport," with plans of filming in both Australia and Rio de Janeiro. Van Damme starred in the original film as American Frank Dux, who is invited to participate in a deadly martial arts tournament called the Kumite. The new film is said to explore Brazil's Vale Tudo fighting style. The script is written by Robert Mark Kamen (Taken). Meanwhile, Stephen Fung (Tai Chi Zero) has been hired to direct a reboot of Van Damme's 1989 "Kickboxer" film, about a man out to avenge his brother by learning the Muay Thai fighting style.

First Stallone, now Van Damme, it seems today was the day to reboot the films of 80s action stars. The latest is Bloodsport, the 1988 action film that served as Jean-Claude Van Damme‘s first major starring role (outside of his turn as ‘Gay Karate Man’ in Monaco Forever). Variety reports that James McTeigue, of V for Vendetta and Ninja Assassin, will be directing the upcoming remake. While the original film was based off of a somewhat-true story (the real-life version of Van Damme’s character, Frank Dux, allegedly fought in a bloody tournament similar to the filmed one), the updated story will likely have a political edge. Two years ago, it was reported that a new Bloodsport would follow a mercenary fresh from Afghanistan, who seeks respite from violence but ends up in a deadly Brazilian fighting tournament. There’s no word on the Afghanistan angle, but Variety’s article does include the phrases “21st century mercenaries...

It’s twice the Van Dammage, but how much of the Van Damme? Jean-Claude Van Damme fans are no doubt hoping that their favoritest Muscles from Brussels will land at least a cameo in either a remake of Relativity’s “Bloodsport” or Radar Pictures’ “Kickboxer”. Until we find out for sure, though, fans will just have to make due with this news that both pictures have now secured directors, with Chinese actor-turned-director Stephen Fung landing the directing gig for “Kickboxer”, while Aussie James McTeigue will helm “Bloodsport”. McTeigue is known primarily as the director of “V for Vendetta”, but he also directed the excellent “Ninja Assassin” and more recently, the less-than-excellent “The Raven”. He’ll direct the remake of “Bloodsport”, which in the 1988 original found Van Damme playing an American Army officer named Frank Dux, who enters an underground Hong Kong tournament known as the Kumite and fights Bolo Yeung.

The debate over whether Jean-Claude Van Damme's Bloodsport or Kickboxer is a better movie is about to get a contemporary boost: both films are now slated for remakes.  We reported earlier today on the progress of the Bloodsport reboot, landing director James McTeigue (V for Vendetta) at Relativity Media.  Now, word has it that Kickboxer is also getting into the ring with a new version to be helmed by Stephen Fung (Tai Chi Zero).  The Kickboxer film will be scripted by Jim McGrath and Dimitri Logothetis, and is set up through Radar Pictures, which produced The Last Samurai and Riddick.  Casting is now underway and producers are looking towards an early 2014 start.  That's about all we've got on the reboot, but hit the jump for a breakdown of Bloodsport vs Kickboxer. Deadline reports that Jcvd's Kickboxer is also in the works, but the question of which movie is better remains to be seen.

Lately the sheer number of remakes being proposed has gotten beyond ridiculous. But here.s one no one saw coming: Relativity is rebooting Bloodsport. That.s right, Variety reports the 1988 martial arts movie that starred Jean-Claude Van Damme is getting a makeover at the hands of V is for Vendetta director James McTeigue. Bloodsport was one of Van Damme.s first starring roles. Centered around a brutal martial arts competition, the movie was essentially constructed to show off his unique skill set. Surprisingly, this in-the-works remake doesn.t have any acting talent attached just yet. The original film was inspired by the life (or claims) of American martial artist Frank Dux, and focused on his quest to do his Ninjutsu master proud by winning the Kumite, a full-contact tournament that has been known to turn deadly. There is no mention of Dux or the Kumite in Relativity.s reboot. Instead,...

I feel a lot like Frank Dux during the final fight in Bloodsport: someone has thrown sand in my eyes at the confirmation that the Van Damme-less Bloodsport reboot is moving forward with filming slated to begin in early 2014. The original Bloodsport is a Cannon Films classic based on the "true" life story of Frank Dux who entered the underground Kumite competition in Hong Kong. Featuring Bolo Yeung, Donald Gibb, and a young Forest Whitaker, it is one of those classic 1980s guy...

V For Vendetta and The Raven helmer James McTeigue is set to direct a remake of the 1988 martial arts film Bloodsport . Variety reports that Relativity has plans to shoot the new take in both Australia and Rio de Janeiro. Jean-Claude Van Damme starred in the original film as American Frank Dux, a Ninjustu expert invited to participate in a deadly martial arts tournament called the Kumite. The new film is said to explore Brazil's Vale Tudo fighting style. Robert Mark Kamen ( Taken ) is providing the screenplay for the new version, which will be produced by Chris Brown, Alberto Lensi and Edward R. Pressman. The lengthy list of executive producers includes Daniel Bernhardt, Mark Disalle, Heidi Eckes-Chantre, Jon Katz, Ryan Kavanaugh, Jeremy Thomas, Brett Thornquest and Tucker...

Born in the Big Apple in january of 1951, Sheldon Lettich moved with his family to the West Coast at a young age. After finishing High School, he joined the Marine Corps, serving his country for four years, one of them as a Radio Operator in Vietnam.

Partially based upon his experiences in Southeast Asia, he co-authored Tracers, a play seen in the Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago and London stages, to great acclaim; It subsequently won the prestigious Drama Desk and L.A. Drama Critics Awards.

The writing of screenplays seemed like a natural progression and his writing eventually began attracting the attention of many Hollywood producers.

Since then, Lettich has become known as expert in testosterone-driven action extravaganzas, many of the films starring some of the silver screen´s best-loved slugfest protagonists: Sylvester Stallone (Sheldon shared screenwriting credit with Sly in the third cinematic episode of the Rambo series,...

Robert Mark Kamen – screenwriter of Taken 2 – is doing the rounds press-wise, and Crave Online asked him about one of his next writing gigs: the remake of 1988′s Bloodsport starring Jean-Claude Van Damme.

The question is: will Jcvd make an appearance in the remake?

The answer is: No.

Kamen’s full answer (italicized) follows the original question (in bold):

“With the new Bloodsport, Van Damme said he wanted to play the coach and the producers weren’t interested. What do you think? Wouldn’t it be awesome to have Van Damme in the new Bloodsport?”:

“This film resembles the original in title only. It has nothing to do with any Kumite contest. It has nothing to do with Frank Dux. If the title was not the same, you would not associate the two films. To use Jcvd would make no sense because the association would be lost as...

Back in August, Jean-Claude Van Damme confirmed that a "Bloodsport" remake was in the work, adding that writer Robert Mark Kamen (The Karate Kid, Taken, The Transporter, The Fifth Element) won't let him make a cameo. Now, while promoting "Taken 2," Kamen spoke about why he doesn't want Van Damme in the reboot. "This film resembles the original in title only," he explained. "It has nothing to do with any Kumite contest. It has nothing to do with Frank Dux. If the title was not the same, you would not associate the two films." Kamen continued: "To use Jcvd would make no sense because the association would be lost as the story has nothing to do with the first one. If anything it would be a distraction. This is a character driven, politically motivated film. It has nothing to do with splits or muscles or grudge matches." It's pretty clear...

"Taken 2" scribe Robert Mark Kamen is currently penning the upcoming remake of the 1988 Jean-Claude Van Damme martial arts flick "Bloodsport".

Asked about the project by Crave Online, Kamen says he doesn't believe Van Damme himself should be involved in the project.

"This film resembles the original in title. It has nothing to do with any Kumite contest. It has nothing to do with Frank Dux. If the title was not the same, you would not associate the two films.

To use Jcvd would make no sense because the association would be lost as the story has nothing to do with the first one. If anything it would be a distraction."

Earlier this year, Van Damme expressed interest in returning in a role as a trainer but was aware of Kamen's dissatisfaction with him. At last report Phillip Noyce ("Salt," "Clear and Present Danger") was attached to direct.

Back in May 2011, we reported that Phillip Noyce signed on to direct the Bloodsport remake, from a screenplay by Robert Mark Kamen (Taken 2). We haven't heard anything about the remake since then, until today, when Robert Mark Kamen revealed that original Bloodsport star Jean-Claude Van Damme will not be featured in this reboot.

"This film resembles the original in title only. It has nothing to do with any Kumite contest. It has nothing to do with Frank Dux. If the title was not the same, you would not associate the two films. To use Jcvd would make no sense because the association would be lost as the story has nothing to do with the first one. If anything it would be a distraction."

The writer also revealed that this is a more of a character driven film.

"This is a character driven, politically motivated film. It has nothing to...

His Taken 2 in theaters now, screenwriter Robert Mark Kamen spoke with CraveOnline about his work on the upcoming remake of the 1988 Bloodsport and explains why he doesn't believe Jean-Claude Van Damme should be involved. "This film resembles the original in title only," he says. "It has nothing to do with any Kumite contest. It has nothing to do with Frank Dux. If the title was not the same, you would not associate the two films. To use Jcvd would make no sense because the association would be lost as the story has nothing to do with the first one. If anything it would be a distraction." Earlier this year, Van Damme spoke with NextMovie about his desire to appear in the remake, voicing his dissatisfaction with Kamen. "I want to be in...

The Expendables are back in cinemas this month – more muscles, more mayhem, moderate self-awareness.

Part of the appeal of the franchise (can we call it that now?) is that it harks back to how we first got to know a lot of these actors – ridiculous, one-man-army plots, explosions, guns, one-liners and frankly, lots of fun.

Since the sort of guff a lot of these guys churned out around the 80′s (Raw Deal, Over the Top, Cobra, The Punisher, Dark Angel, Code of Silence, Lone Wolf McQuade, Kickboxer, Awol, Red Sonja, Black Eagle etc), they have mostly gone on to bigger and better(?) things. But there is a place for celebrating where these guys have come from, especially since they are playing on that background in gathering them together now.

Rather than try to look back at the critical high points of some of the Expendables (that would be a very...

During "The Expendables 2" press conference, Jean-Claude Van Damme was asked whether he will be involved with the rumored "Bloodsport" remake, a 1988 film that made Van Damme a star. The actor confirmed that the film is currently in the works, adding that he would rather play the role of the trainer (Shidoshi) rather than return as Frank Dux. "I want to be in the film as a trainer, [but] I don't think the writer wants [me] to," Van Damme explained. "He knows that 'Bloodsport' is a big film so he wants to get credit with all of that." He continued: "I would love to be in it. It's kind of painful, but maybe they'll change their minds. That would be great because I can still kick better than anybody here today."...

Unless you've been stranded on an island somewhere remote, you already know the Mussels from Brussels, Jean-Claude Van Damme, is set to make a comeback as an action star. In just a few weeks, you'll be able to see him on the big screen — for the first time since his very first role in 1986, it'll be (again) as the villain — in "The Expendables 2."

We recently spoke with Jcvd during his "Expendables" press tour, and before we worked through his feelings on being immortalized as a villain, we got a chance to discuss the "Bloodsport" remake. Internet rumors that Van Damme has the blues over the movie are true, it turns out.

"I want to be in the film as a trainer and I don't think the writer wants [me] to ... he knows that 'Bloodsport' is a big film so he wants to get credit with all of that — you know what I'm saying?...