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One of Mel Gibson’s more recent movies that flew under the radar has become a surprising hit on streaming. Gibson stars alongside the late Shannen Doherty in Hot Seat, the 2022 cyber thriller following an ex-hacker who is forced to break into a high-level bank and another man who breaks into the bank to save and stop him. Despite an extremely limited theatrical run that saw the film earn less than $100,000 at the global box office, Hot Seat has become one of the more popular movies of the week on Freevee, sitting at #4 at the time of writing. Hot Seat was Mel Gibson’s first movie after Father Stu, the 2022 biopic starring Mark Wahlberg that’s streaming on both Hulu and Max.

Collin Watts and Leon Langford wrote the script for Hot Seat, and James Cullen Bressack directed the film. Hot Seat was Langford’s first major writing gig, and...

Exclusive: Cleopatra Entertainment, the film division of Cleopatra Records, founded by Brian Perera, has joined forces with Sandaled Kid Productions, led by director James Cullen Bressack, to finance, produce, and distribute a slate of 12 micro-budget feature-length genre films.

Cleopatra Entertainment will provide full financing for the twelve features, while Sandaled Kid Productions will curate the slate and oversee production. The first film in the slate is said to be in pre-production and will be announced soon.

Sandaled Kid Productions was founded in 2020 by James Cullen Bressack, whose credits include Darkness Of Man, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, Hot Seat (pictured), featuring Mel Gibson and Kevin Dillon, and Fortress, starring Bruce Willis.

Cleopatra Entertainment’s releases include low-budget genre films The Turned Us Into Killers, The Long Night, Frost, and Blood And Snow.

James Cullen Bressack said: “I am absolutely thrilled to collaborate once more with Cleopatra Entertainment, a powerhouse with whom...

Oscar-winner and controversial Hollywood star Mel Gibson remains popular with audiences, as the Braveheart and Lethal Weapon actor’s severely panned 2022 action thriller dominates free streaming. Gibson, who remains a polarizing figure following issues with alcohol and a series of controversies, including well-publicized antisemitic tirades, homophobic comments, and a domestic violence-related restraining order, was recently appointed a "Special Ambassador" for Hollywood by President Donald Trump. And, clearly, audiences still find Gibson a magnetic screen presence...especially when it's free.

Directed and produced by James Cullen Bressack, and starring Kevin Dillon, Shannen Doherty, and Michael Welch alongside Gibson, the action thriller Hot Seat is now #1 on free streaming platform Freevee, with audiences loving this tale of an anonymous criminal who plants a bomb under the chair of an ex-hacker, forcing him to break into several high-level banking institutions. You can check out the official synopsis for Hot Seat below.

RelatedMel Gibson...

The 97th Academy Awards took place on the second of March at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The ceremony celebrated some of the finest work in cinema last year – whether it was Anora‘s five wins or Adrien Brody winning Best Actor, the Oscars honored a diverse range of talent and storytelling. While fans were happy to see their favorites lift the golden trophy, others felt like many deserving candidates were snubbed this year. Either way, the Oscars 2025 was a night of celebration and utter excellence.

A still from Anora (2024) | Credits: Neon

Amidst the glitz and glamour of Tinseltown, though, came the most emotional moment of the show, the “In Memoriam” segment, which left us feeling the loss of artists who recently bid farewell to the world. However, the Internet is upset with the Academy for leaving out some significant personalities from the segment. Here are four.

1. The Oscars...

Exclusive: Dark comedy-thriller Boris Is Dead has added Steven Bauer (Scarface), Chris Mulkey (Twin Peaks), Cam Gigandet (Twilight), Thomas Dekker (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles), Jesse Metcalfe (Desperate Housewives) and father/son duo Martin Kove (Cobra Kai) and Jesse Kove (Cobra Kai).

Also joining the indie movie are Traci Lords (Blade), James Duval (Donnie Darko), Mark Rolston (The Departed), Mindy Sterling (Austin Powers), Richard Riehle (Office Space), Hannah Masi (The Illegal) and Ken Foree (Dawn of the Dead).

As we revealed earlier this month, Dane Cook (Good Luck Chuck) and Hana Mae Lee (The Babysitter: Killer Queen) are leading the film, which is in post-production after shooting in Kansas City, Missouri.

Directed by James Cullen Bressack (Darkness of Man), the film follows a struggling actor, working as a waiter (Cook) who unwittingly becomes involved in a violent heist gone wrong, where his boss – deep in debt – has been stealing from...

Stars: Paul Marlon, Aaron Sidwell, Charlene Aldridge, May Jones, Stanley Clarke, Tia Owomoyela, Jake Canuso, Alana Wallace, Jay James, Sam Anthony, Otto Jäger, Dan Richardson, Cynthia Rothrock, Eric Roberts, Joseph Millson | Written and Directed by Paul Knight

Fyre Rises is the story of Richard Fyre who was once a killer in the employ of a clandestine agency of some kind. But after a mission against Russian sex traffickers went badly wrong, he turned pacifist. So much so that when Priest offers him a job that would get him out of debt, he turns it down. And when several of his goons turn up to get him to reconsider, he refuses to defend himself.

But since Priest, like everyone else, has seen a few action films, he knows what to do. He threatens Fyre’s family. His wife Maddie, daughter Abbey (May Jones), and son Connor (Stanley Clarke) instead. That gets results,...

Jean-Claude Van Damme steps back into familiar territory with Darkness of Man (2024), a standard-issue revenge thriller set against the gritty backdrop of drug cartels and a young runaway. In this outing, Van Damme plays Russell, a weathered special agent burdened by a haunting promise to a dying informant: to protect her son at all costs. Directed by James Cullen Bressack, the film leans heavily on Van Damme’s brooding presence, amplified by a narration-heavy performance that feels like a budget nod to Rorschach from Watchmen.

While the voiceovers aim to add depth, they often come across as overdone, blending with the film’s shadowy visuals to create an atmosphere of well-worn clichés. That said, Darkness of Man isn’t without its merits—occasional twists break up the otherwise predictable plot, offering glimmers of intrigue. Still, it’s a largely forgettable affair, relying more on nostalgia for Van Damme’s action-hero heyday than fresh storytelling.

Jean-Claude Van Damme steps into another intense and gritty action role as his new thriller Darkness of Man blasts its way onto Netflix on December 20. The James Cullen Bressack-directed movie provides Van Damme fans with his usual hard-hitting, raw action-driven storyline, but also sees the ever-popular tough guy playing a character with a little more emotional depth than in many of his biggest movies. While now very much in his twilight years as an action hero, Van Damme surprisingly delivers a movie that sits higher than many of his recent offerings.

In Darkness of Man, Van Damme plays Russell Hatch, a former Interpol agent whose life takes a tragic turn when his partner is killed during a dangerous operation in Los Angeles. Taking on the task of protecting her son, Jayden (who is played by Van Damme’s real-life son), Hatch is pulled into a violent world of crime syndicates and shadowy gangs.

Exclusive: Dane Cook (Good Luck Chuck) and Hana Mae Lee (The Babysitter: Killer Queen) are leading dark comedy thriller Boris Is Dead, which is in post-production.

Helmed by James Cullen Bressack (Darkness of Man), the film follows a struggling actor, working as a waiter (Cook) who unwittingly becomes involved in a violent heist gone wrong, where his boss – deep in debt – has been stealing from employees and running the restaurant as a front for the mob.

The original screenplay was written by real life twins Kerry Donelli and Jacqueline Donelli (Unedited Footage of a Bear) who also star and produce.

Pic is produced by Sasha Yelaun (The Old Way) and Henry Penzi (Hellfire). Executive producers include Dane Cook under his company banner SuperFinger Ent and Darryl Quarles (Big Momma’s Franchise). The film wrapped principal photography in Kansas City, Missouri. Jeremy O’Keefe (Never Have I Ever) is a co-producer and casting director on the project.

Action movie fans now know what Netflix is getting them for Christmas, as the latest movie from martial arts icon Jean-Claude Van Damme is now all set to land on the streaming platform on December 25, 2024. Van Damme, who is, of course, best known for the likes of such action movie fare as Kickboxer, Bloodsport, Street Fighter, Universal Solider, and many more, leads the sequel Kill 'Em All 2, which finds the “Muscles from Brussels” as a spy who must face off with a terrorist who has come seeking revenge.

As per a report by What’s on Netflix, Kill ‘Em All 2 “will stream on Netflix in the United States as part of the Sony Pictures first window deal for 18 months," landing on the platform just in time to make the perfect festive family viewing. Picking up seven years after the first Kill ‘Em All, which was released back in...

Universal Soldier: The Return, starring the iconic Jean-Claude Van Damme, was released in 1999 to heavy criticism. Twenty-five years later, the film is available to stream for free.

Jean-Claude Van Damme's critically panned film Universal Soldier: The Return is now available to stream on PlutoTV. The film is a sequel to the 1992 sci-fi film Universal Soldier, and it sees Van Damme return to reprise his role as the series protagonist, Private Luc Deveraux. The film was poorly received, with just a 5% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite the first film's moderate success, Universal Soldier: The Return only grossed $10 million at the box office, failing to make back its $40 million budget.

Related Did Jean-Claude Van Damme Quit the Role of the Original Predator?

In the latest Movie Legends Revealed, we try to get into the bottom of Jean-Claude Van Damme's disastrous stint as the original Predator actor

The Return was directed by...

Jean-Claude Van Damme is a man of many talents. Apart from being a world-renowned martial artist, he is also a legend when it comes to minting out several highly acclaimed action movies. The Belgium-born Van Damme landed in Los Angeles with big dreams, but the reality was far different from what he had expected.

He initially struggled to get roles and landed some small bits here and there. But 1988’s Bloodsport changed everything for the actor.

Jean-Claude Van Damme in Bloodsport | Credits: The Cannon Group

He got the much-needed recognition after this movie, and now several decades later, he’s considered one of the most iconic actors of his generation. However, behind this glitz and glamour, the actor has been really struggling medically and is currently dealing with rapid-cycling bipolar disorder.

Jean-Claude Van Damme and His Ongoing Medical Challenges

After his 1988 hit Bloodsport, Jean-Claude Van Damme was riding high on the success.

Exclusive: Vantage Media, the domestic distribution arm of sales firm Vmi Worldwide, is partnering with Chad A. Verdi’s Verdi Productions (Bleed For This) on a fund to acquire and distribute independent films.

Vantage has grown its slate in recent months with titles including What Remains (pictured), the true crime-thriller starring Andrea Riseborough and Stellan Skarsgård, Fernando Trueba’s Haunted Heart starring Matt Dillon, and The Ballad of Davy Crockett, starring William Moseley.

Vantage and Verdi are planning on an annual slate of twelve cast-driven titles and the former will be attending the upcoming American Film Market in Las Vegas to meet with sales agents and filmmakers.

The deal was negotiated by Chad A. Verdi, CEO of Verdi Productions, and Andre Relis, CEO of Vantage Media and Vmi Worldwide.

“Verdi and Vmi have been long standing partners working on countless pictures for over a decade. I am looking forward to...

Plot: Phillip (Jean-Claude Van Damme) comes face to face with a Russian-French terrorist who comes to exact vengeance on him for killing his brother.

Review: It’s important to meet a film on the same level that it’s presenting itself to you. Going into an A24 movie and expecting a heartfelt family romp may not be the best choice. And going into a Jcvd in 2024, you have to expect little story, rough acting, and plenty of action. Sure, can something surprising happen? Absolutely, and those days are glorious. But more often than not, the action is what matters and everything else is off to the wayside. And then there are times where nearly nothing works and it just leaves you going: how did this even get made? Sadly, that accurately describes Kill ‘Em All 2.

The film picks up shortly after the first film, with the deceased villain’s brother,...

Stars: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Jacqueline Fernandez, Andrei Lenart, Peter Stormare, Maria Conchita Alonso, Talia Asseraf | Written by Jim Agnew | Directed by Valeri Milev

Kill ‘Em All 2 picks up seven years after the events of the original, which makes sense since there’s seven years between the films, with Phillip reconnected with his daughter Vanessa and the two of them hiding out in southern Italy.

They obviously didn’t do a good job of it, as within the film’s first few minutes they’re attacked by goons working for Vlad Petrovic who is out to avenge the death of his brother Dimitri who was killed in the first film. This puts them on the run, trying to stay alive long enough to deal with Vlad and his crew, and the only way to do that is to kill ’em all.

I haven’t seen the original, and to be honest...

Shannen Doherty's best movies and TV shows showed the great range of the actress, as she became a massive television star in three different decades while also turning in some quality film roles along the way. Doherty started her career as a child actor, getting early roles in shows like Father Murphy and Voyagers before she got her first major TV role in Little House on the Prairie. After making her name in that show as a pre-teen, she also voiced a role in The Secret of Nimh before her career skyrocketed.

Most fans know Doherty from her television career. As a teen, she appeared in Our House, where she garnered award recognition, before she took on a starring role in one of the most popular television shows of the 1990s, Beverly Hills, 90210, as Brenda Walsh. While that remains the role she remained best known for throughout the rest of her career,...

Exclusive: Vmi Worldwide has tapped Benan Guz as its new Vice President of Sales and promoted Julie Paquit to President of Sales.

Guz previously led international content sales and film production at Film Bridge International. Her background includes roles as an Acquisitions Manager at SinemaTV, a group of Pay TV channels and VOD platform, and as an Account Manager at Spi International, where she managed key client relationships across various territories and worked on collaborative marketing initiatives in partnership with local sales agents.

Paquit, formerly the Senior Vice President of Sales at Vmi, started working at the company in 2017 and most recently served as SVP of Sales, inking territory and negotiating sales deals for films such as Darkness of Man (starring Jean-Claude Van Damme), Chosen Family (featuring Heather Graham and Julia Stiles) and The Price We Pay (starring Emile Hirsch and Stephen Dorff) and many others.

Vmi Worldwide was launched in 2010 under CEO Andre Relis.

Catching up with Charmed cast mates can offer therapeutic solace amid the mourning of TV icon Shannen Doherty's passing. Charmed's compelling storyline follows supernatural siblings using their powers for good, gaining a solid fanbase from 1998-2006. The talented Charmed cast members have continued to thrive post-show, taking on new projects in TV, movies, and advocacy work.

As the entertainment world continues to mourn the passing of TV titan Shannen Doherty, catching up with her Charmed cast mates may do some therapeutic good. In addition to leaving an indelible mark in the 1990s as Brenda Walsh on the hit teen drama Beverly Hills, 90210, Doherty revamped her TV persona by starring as Prue Halliwell in Charmed's first three seasons, trading her innocent teen image for a spell-casting witch who acts with love and kindness.

Running on the WB for eight seasons and 179 episodes between 1998 and 2006, Charmed follows a trio of...

Holly Marie Combs pays heartfelt tribute to late co-star Shannen Doherty on Instagram with touching photos and a message. Combs and Doherty starred together in the popular TV series Charmed. Despite past tensions with other co-stars, Combs stands by Doherty's legacy in Charmed and honors her impactful life.

Holly Marie Combs gives a sweet tribute to late co-star Shannen Doherty. Doherty and Combs previously starred together in the TV series Charmed, where they played sisters Piper and Prue. On July 13, Doherty tragically passed away at the age of 53, succumbing to her battle with breast cancer.

All eight seasons of Charmed are currently available to watch on Peacock.

Taking to Instagram, Combs offers a touching tribute to the late Doherty. Combs posted a series of images of herself and Doherty throughout the years, many of which were from a couple of decades ago. The images stemmed from both red carpet-style experiences...

Shannen Doherty, who had been living with cancer since 2015, has passed away. She was 53 years old.

"It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the passing of actress Shannen Doherty," reads a statement given to People by Doherty's publicist, Leslie Sloane. "On Saturday, July 13, she lost her battle with cancer after many years of fighting the disease. The devoted daughter, sister, aunt and friend was surrounded by her loved ones as well as her dog, Bowie. The family asks for their privacy at this time so they can grieve in peace."

Doherty was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015. During the course of her journey, she had gone into remission in 2017, but Doherty announced in 2019 that the cancer had returned. In 2020, she revealed that she'd been diagnosed with metastatic stage 4 cancer. Doherty shared in 2023 that she'd undergone surgery after the cancer spread to her brain. Despite her grim prognosis and continued struggles,...

Stars: Michael Madsen, Robert Donavan, Kevin Hager, John Wells, Robert Lasardo, Eric Roberts, Sheri Davis, Mercedes Peterson, Johnny Huang | Written by Brandon Slagle, Michael Mahal, Sonny Mahal | Directed by Brandon Slagle

It’s the year 2045 in The Big Fucking City, that’s what the opening text says, and it’s time for everyone’s favourite show, Arena Wars, with your hosts Samson and Moses.

Well, Arena Wars used to be everybody’s favourite, a bloody spectacle that pits a team of death row inmates against a team of murderous psychopaths for a chance to earn their freedom. The problem is, it always ends the same way, with the well-armed and equipped psychos slaughtering the convicts. People are getting bored and the ratings are suffering, much to the dismay of Belladonna, the network’s CEO.

Now, the simple answer would be to give the inmates some weapons and make it an actual fight,...

Nicholas Galitzine: The Artist Formerly Known as a Prince?

He’s played Cinderella’s Prince opposite Camila Cabello, the Prince of England in Red, White & Royal Blue and next will play He-Man, Prince Adam of Eternia, in Masters of the Universe. But is Hollywood’s latest “It” boy an actual prince? There has been a ton of speculation in the press that Nicholas Galitzine, 29, descends from a royal bloodline — specifically Russia’s House of Golitsyn (an alternate spelling of his surname), a noble family whose members were executed and exiled during the Russian Revolution. And many Galitzines did wind up in London, where Nick was eventually born in 1994. Unfortunately, that’s where the fairy tale ends. THR has unearthed documentation confirming that Nick’s paternal grandfather legally changed his name to Edward Ralph Alexander Galitzine on April 9, 1956. His birth name? Edward Ralph Alexander Tier. And while Nick’s financier father,...

Your browser does not support the video tag. Screen Rant presents a clip from Darkness of Man. Jean-Claude Van Damme returns in the action thriller, facing a dangerous new challenge. Despite recent voice acting roles, Van Damme's martial arts prowess is likely to shine once again in his latest film.

Darkness of Man is a new action thriller from Saban Films, and Screen Rant has a clip featuring its star, Jean-Claude Van Damme. The movie was directed by James Cullen Bressack and written by Bressack and Alethea Hnatko-Cho. It tells the story of a washed up former Interpol operative tasked with protecting the son of an informant who was killed during a botched raid.

Screen Rant is happy to present a clip from Darkness of Man that sees Jean-Claude Van Dammes Russell Hatch presented with a dangerous proposal. Jean-Claude Van Dammes movie fights are legendary, but Russell is visibly...

Plot: Russell Hatch an Interpol operative who takes on the role of father figure to Jayden, the son of an informant killed in a routine raid gone wrong.

Review: It’s nothing new for an action star of the past to show up in these lower-budget films. Geezer Teasers have often been a great way for action stars to cash a quick paycheck. But they tend to amount to nothing more than a bit part, while some younger actor does the majority of the action. So I was pleasantly surprised to see Jean-Claude Van Damme not only take center stage but appear in nearly every frame of Darkness of Man. Unlike some of his contemporaries, he’s not taking the easy way out and I respect him for it.

Darkness of Man is structured like a film noir, complete with intense narration from Van Damme. We’re mostly following his character Russell Hatch,...

Get into the mind of Jean-Claude Van Damme in an exclusive to Collider extended sneak peek of the action stars latest film, Darkness of Man. The movie is now available for purchase on digital, and our close-up look serves as the perfect backdrop teaser of the gritty drama that audiences will be jumping into. Directed by James Cullen Bressack (Hot Seat), the film also features performances from Shannen Doherty, Spencer Breslin (Disneys The Kid), rap artist Sticky Fingaz, Kristanna Loken (The L Word), and Emerson Min....

Stars: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Chika Kanamoto, Emerson Min, Sticky Fingaz, Ji Yong Lee, Andrey Ivchenko, Kristanna Loken, Shannen Doherty, Cynthia Rothrock, Weston Cage, Kris Van Damme | Written by James Cullen Bressack, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Alethea Hnatko-Cho | Directed by James Cullen Bressack

Jean-Claude Van Damme has kept a fairly low profile compared to many other 80s action heroes. And that includes such non-genre appearances as voice acting in kids films like Kung Fu Panda 2 and 3, Minions: The Rise of Gru as well as a cameo in the French comedy Haters. However, Darkness of Man sees him return to the Dtv action spotlight

As the film opens, Russel Hatch lies in a puddle of his own blood, bleeding out from several bullet wounds. He tells us in voice-over that, like every story, this began with a woman. And we go back to Miami two years prior when Hatch was an Interpol agent.

The Bold and the Beautiful spoilers reveal that Juliet Vega has been cast as Michele. Details on the part are being kept under wraps.

However, there is a family connection to Sean Kanan, who plays Deacon Sharpe on B&b. Keep reading to learn about the connection as well as our speculations on Michele’s storyline.

The Bold And The Beautiful Spoilers – Juliet Vega Cast

B&b spoilers reveal that on Friday, April 26, 2024, fans will see a new face. That face belongs to Juliet Vega, who is Kanan’s stepdaughter.

Juliet will be making an appearance as a woman named Michele, a character name inspired by Juliet’s real-life mom and Kanan’s real-life wife, Michele Kanan. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because Michele Kanan is one of the soap’s writers and producers.

B&b Spoilers – Sean Kanan’s Family Connection

According to Michael Fairman, who reported the casting news,...

Exclusive: The action film stars Peter Jae (Darkness of Man), Josh Kelly (General Hospital), UFC fighter Ashlee Evans-Smith to star in James Cullen Bressack latest film The Workout.

Written by David Josh Lawrence and James Cullen Bressack (also story credit), other cast members include Kristos Andrews (Survive the Game), Augie Duke (Mayans M.C.), Galadriel Stineman, David Josh Lawrence (Darkness of Man), and Bj Hendricks (Darkness of Man).

The film follows two army rangers set out to create a workout video, but their plans are abruptly halted when a mob hit interrupts their filming. Tragically, one of the rangers loses his wife in the attack, sending him on a relentless mission to take down the mob and anyone who stands in his way.

10 days before his birthday, Bressack’s catalyst for the production, casting, and financing came from a post he made on Instagram. He mentioned that he...

Exclusive: Saban Films has acquired worldwide rights to The 4:30 Movie, the latest film written and directed by Kevin Smith (Clerks). The film marks the second collaboration for Saban and Smith, on the heels of 2019’s Jay and Silent Bob Reboot, which scored one of the top-per theatre average openings of the year amongst titles like Parasite and Avengers: Endgame.

Set in the summer of 1986, the coming-of-age comedy follows three sixteen-year-old friends who spend their Saturdays sneaking into movies at the local multiplex. But when one of the guys also invites the girl of his dreams (Siena Agudong) to see the latest comedy, each of the teens will learn something serious about life and love before the credits roll.

The 4:30 Movie also stars Ken Jeong (The Hangover), Sam Richardson (Veep), Genesis Rodriguez (Tusk), Justin Long (Barbarian), Jason Lee (Almost Famous...

“Darkness of Man”, directed by James Cullen Bressack, is a new action thriller starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, Kristanna Loken, Emerson Min, Spencer Breslin, Kirk “Sticky Fingaz” Jones, and Shannen Doherty, streaming as VOD May 21, 2024:

“… ‘Russell Hatch’ (Jean-Claude Van Damme) is a washed-up, former Interpol operative who vowed to protect the son of an informant killed years earlier in a raid gone wrong.

“Then when street gangs start an all-out turf war and the kid is caught in the middle, Hatch will stop at nothing to keep him safe and fight anyone who gets in his way…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

The legendary Jean-Claude Van Damme is back in action in the upcoming thriller Darkness of Man, which is set to receive a digital release on May 21st. With that date just a couple months away, a trailer for the film has arrived online, and you can check it out in the embed above!

Directed by James Cullen Bressack, who crafted the story with Jcvd and wrote the screenplay with Alethea Hnatko-Cho, Darkness of Man has the following synopsis: Russell Hatch (Jean-Claude Van Damme) is a washed-up, former Interpol operative who vowed to protect the son of an informant killed years earlier in a raid gone wrong. When merciless street gangs start an all-out turf war and the kid is caught in the middle, Hatch will stop at nothing to keep him safe and fight anyone who gets in his way.

Van Damme is joined in the cast by Emerson Min...

One of the most iconic action heroes of all time, Jean Claude Van Damme is back in the upcoming Darkness of Man, and IGN has debuted the action-thriller’s official trailer today.

The official trailer for Darkness of Man, for starters, reveals that the film is rated “R” for: “Strong violence, language throughout, drug content and some sexual references.”

Watch the trailer below to preview Van Damme’s violent return.

In the film, “Russell Hatch (Jean Claude Van Damme) is a washed-up, former Interpol operative who vowed to protect the son of an informant killed years earlier in a raid gone wrong. When merciless street gangs start an all-out turf war and the kid is caught in the middle, Hatch will stop at nothing to keep him safe and fight anyone who gets in his way.”

The cast includes Kristanna Loken, Emerson Min, and Spencer Breslin with Kirk “Sticky Fingaz” Jones and Shannen Doherty.

"I made a promise to your mother to protect you for the rest of my life." But how much longer will his life be? Saban Films has revealed an official trailer for the action thriller titled Darkness of Man, another film by filmmaker James Cullen Bressack in partnership with Jcvd. It's set for a direct-to-digital debut in May, another of these junk action films being dropped into the streaming cloud. The film comes from a story co-written by Jcvd. Russell Hatch (played by Jean-Claude Van Damme) is a washed-up, former Interpol agent who takes on the role of father figure to Jayden, the son of an informant killed in a routine raid gone wrong. Years later, Hatch finds himself having to protect Jayden as well as his grandfather from a group of merciless gangs in an all-out turf war, stopping at nothing to defend Jayden and fight anyone getting in his way.

Jean-Claude Van Damme returns to the action genre in Darkness of Man. The film follows Van Damme protecting an informant's son and battling gangs in LA turf war. Van Damme's Darkness of Man is a passion project for the actor, and stars Shannen Doherty among others.

Action movie legend Jean-Claude Van Damme returns to the genre in the first look at Darkness of Man, the upcoming neo-noir thriller that finds the Bloodsport and Kickboxer star as a former Interpol operative who goes up against all manner of merciless gangs in an all-out turf war. The first images from Darkness of Man have been unveiled by Collider, and find Van Damme doing what he does best in what looks like a dark and gritty thriller akin to the likes of much of the action star’s recent efforts such as Jcvd.

Darkness of Man will follow Van Damme as he once...

Jean-Claude Van Damme is snapping back into action in a string of exclusive images for the action star’s upcoming movie, Darkness of Man. In his latest high-octane performance, the legendary actor will appear in the role of Russell Hatch, a former Interpol operative who has seen better and more fulfilling days. Hatch’s tumultuous past is coming back with a vengeance after a turf war breaks out between rivaling street gangs with a young man that the ex-Interpol agent was tasked to protect caught in the middle of it. Prepared to fulfill his promise by any means necessary, Hatch grabs his gun and seamlessly transitions into a life he thought long buried in the past.

Vmi Worldwide has boarded worldwide sales to the thriller Fluxx starring Tyrese Gibson and Shelley Hennig and is launching sales at the EFM in Berlin next week.

Brendan Gabriel Murphy directed from a screenplay he co-wrote with Keyaunte Mayfield.

Fluxx follows Vada, an actor who awakens in her bathtub unsure how she got there and soon lerns her home has been ransacked and her husband (Shiloh Fernandez) is missing.

When she tries to leave her house, she is awakens again in her bathtub. Trapped in a seemingly never-ending loop, Vada is visited by two unwanted guests who engage her in...

Exclusive: Vmi Releasing, the North American distribution arm of Vmi Worldwide, has hired Dan Fisher as Executive Vice President.

Fisher has previously served as Director of Worldwide Acquisitions for Entertainment One, Senior Director of Acquisitions for Gravitas Ventures, and VP of Acquisitions for Freestyle Digital Media. Before Vmi Releasing, he was the founder and principal of Poppy Pictures, a boutique film distribution and sales consulting firm. He also recently served as a visiting professor of film at Kenyon College in Ohio.

Vmi Worldwide launched in 2010 under CEO Andre Relis. They’ve produced titles such as Darkness of Man, The Price We Pay, The Last Son, Come Out Fighting, Arkansas, Wander, and The Humanity Bureau. Vmi Releasing first launched in 2021. They have released Freaks vs The Reich, a Venice 2021 selection, Defining Moments, starring Burt Reynolds in his final performance, Death on the Border, starring Shannon Elizabeth and Danny Trejo. Vmi’s...

Q1 2024 theatrical release targeted.

Saban Films has acquired US rights to Michael Keaton’s thriller Knox Goes Away following its world premiere at Toronto International Film Festival.

Keaton directed and stars in the story of a contract killer with a rapidly evolving form of dementia who is offered the opportunity to redeem himself by saving the life of his estranged adult son.

The cast includes Al Pacino, James Marsden, Marcia Gay Harden, Suzy Nakamura, John Hoogenakker, Joanna Kulig, Ray McKinnon, and Lela Loren.

Saban Films is targeting a 2024 first quarter theatrical release.

The deal was negotiated by Bill Bromiley for...

Vin Diesel has significant control over who can join the Fast and Furious franchise, including the power to deny major stars like Jean-Claude Van Damme. Van Damme was close to joining the cast of Fast and Furious but was denied the opportunity by Diesel. This is not the first time Van Damme has missed out on a major franchise, as he was unable to complete his performance as the alien in the first Predator film due to discomfort with the suit.

Vin Diesel is the great leader of the Fast and Furious saga, especially since the tragic death of Paul Walker. But the actor has much more control over the franchise than fans imagine, being able to prohibit certain actors from joining it. Even if they are major stars. Since its inception in 2001, Fast and Furious has added many big names to its cast. From acclaimed actors like Charlize Theron or Kurt Russell,...

Jean-Claude Van Damme believes he is braver than Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone because he is willing to take his talent for action movies international. Van Damme has been to "dangerous countries" that Schwarzenegger and Stallone have not, and he still receives plenty of work thanks to his willingness to travel for different projects. Van Damme has several intriguing projects in the pipeline, including a neo-noir thriller, a treasure-hunting adventure, and a film where he plays a fictionalized version of himself.

Bloodsport star and action movie legend Jean-Claude Van Damme has explained why he believes he is “braver” than both Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone. Speaking recently with the Daily Mail, Van Damme revealed that he is the more courageous of the three as he is prepared to take his talent for action movies international.

"It’s impossible for a guy like me to not work. I speak French, a bit of English.

Jean-Claude Van Damme reveals details of a possible fight with Steven Seagal in Las Vegas, but Seagal didn't take the offer. Van Damme believes that if a fight with Seagal happened, he would run faster and tire Seagal out before coming back to fight. The rivalry between Van Damme and Seagal began when Seagal questioned Van Damme's martial arts skills, and Van Damme challenged him to a fight at a party hosted by Sylvester Stallone.

Action movie icon Jean-Claude Van Damme reveals that there was once a discussion about pitting him against fellow action star and long-time rival Steven Seagal in Las Vegas. Speaking with The Telegraph, Van Damme began diplomatically when discussing Seagal and their rivalry, before revealing that the former head of Sony Pictures, Peter Guber, had once suggested a Van Damme versus Seagal fight at The Mirage. With the stars receiving $20 million apiece.

“The first movie I saw of his,...

Legendary British punk rockers The Sex Pistols are getting a new documentary, this time based on the memoir by one of its original bandmembers.

I Was a Teenage Sex Pistol, adapted from the tell-all 1990 novel by bassist Glen Matlock, is being developed, with Vmi Worldwide producing

The film will follow Matlock’s journey as a Pistols founding member and a musician who co-wrote 10 of the 12 iconic tracks on their only studio album, Never Mind the Bollocks, provided bass and backing vocals on “Anarchy in the U.K.” and then left in 1977. As the description goes, the doc will chart the “Pistols’ rise to global infamy with an honest, insightful account of a group of malcontents, determined to change the music business and to attack hypocrisy and stale conventions in society at large.”

In his book, Matlock describes the mind-set of the U.K. in the early ’70s and divulges a mine of information,...

Exclusive: Vmi Worldwide has acquired world rights to the action pic The Ballad of Davy Crockett from producer-director Derek Estlin Purvis, starring William Moseley (The Chronicles of Narnia) and Colm Meaney (Con Air)

Set in 1815, the pic tells the story of an American Legend whose wife has fallen deathly ill, leaving his young children to survive on their own. Davy must set out on a perilous journey fighting off danger and enemies across the wild frontier.

The deal was negotiated by Jessica Bennett, COO Productions and Acquisitions, and Michael Mailer with Derek Purvis. The pic was also produced by Michael Mailer.

“The Ballad of Davy Crockett is an action-packed epic showcase of an American Hero and how far he will go to save his children. We are excited to introduce this to buyers in TIFF,” said Andre Relis, CEO of Vmi Worldwide.

Purvis added: “We wanted to explore the larger-than-life...

Exclusive: Vmi Worldwide has acquired world rights to the WWII title Liberation, formally known as Avenue of the Giants, starring Stephen Lang (Avatar), Elsie Fisher (Eighth Grade), Robin Weigert (Deadwood) and Luke Blumm (Where The Crawdads Sing).

Written and directed by filmmaker Finn Taylor, the film tells the true story of Herbert Heller (Blumm), who kept his experience as a teenage boy surviving for years in Auschwitz hidden from his family. That is until he meets Abbey (Fisher), a young teenager whose own brush with pain and death inspires him to open up as well, leading the two of them to exchange their stories as a meaningful and healing friendship is born.

The deal was negotiated by Jessica Bennett, COO of Productions and Acquisitions, Mickey Guerin, VP of Legal and Business Affairs for Vmi, and Mark Halloran and Executive Producer Noah Lang on behalf of the filmmakers.

The film was...

Exclusive: Vmi Worldwide has hired Scott Freije, former Vice President of Global Sales at XYZ Films, as President of Global Sales.

“I am excited to join Andre and the great team at Vmi. The company is well-positioned for success, and I am thrilled to contribute to its growth in an ever-changing market,” Freije said of his appointment.

Freije was at XYZ Films for over seven years, working as Director of Sales before being promoted to VP. At the company, he brokered deals for the Berlin Competition pic BlackBerry, Arctic starring Mads Mikkelsen, and Mandy starring Nicolas Cage.

Prior to joining XYZ, he worked for Artist View Entertainment. He is a University of North Carolina School of the Arts graduate.

Vmi Worldwide was launched in 2010 under CEO Andre Relis. Recent Vmi titles include Darkness Of Man, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme; Corner Office, starring Jon Hamm; Come Out Fighting, starring Kellan Lutz...

Saban Films has acquired the rights to Art Camacho’s action thriller “Ruthless” starring Dermot Mulroney and Javier Reyna’s “Palido” starring Kellan Lutz.

Saban will distribute the titles throughout North America, the United Kingdom, Germany, Benelux and Australia. Jonathan Saba, Cco of Saban Films, negotiated the deal with Devin Carter, SVP of sales at Premiere Entertainment.

“Ruthless” follows a high school coach (Mulroney) who takes matters into his own hands by going after the men who kidnap his female student for their human trafficking operation, according to a snyopsis.

In addition to Mulroney, “Ruthless” also stars Jeff Fahey. Reyna, James Dean Simington and Camacho penned the film, while Elias Axume, Al Bravo, HemDee Kiwanuka and Camacho produced the film.

“Palido” follows an attorney (Lutz) with a military past, who focuses on finding and killing the gang that murdered his wife and kidnapped his daughter.

Fahey also stars in “Palido,...

Exclusive: V Channels and Sandaled Kid Productions have formed a partnership to finance, produce and distribute a slate of ten micro-budget feature-length genre films.

Each of the projects will be from emerging international filmmakers. V Channels will fully finance, with Sandaled Kid overseeing production and handling the curation of the titles. Under the deal, the slate of films will be released on V Channel’s network of YouTube movie channels alongside outside distributors, including theatrical and streaming.

Production is currently underway on the first pic of the partnership, Washerwoman, directed by Bonnie Jean Tyer, starring Katie Lynn Stoddard, Tyer, Travis Cox, Loren Hayes, and Justin Hankinson. The film is produced by Tyer, Stoddard, Hankinson, and Craig Ouellette. Executive producers are James Cullen Bessack, Mario Niccola Messina, and Valentina Cau. The film follows an abandoned pregnant woman who is expecting soon, and to find a midwife, she’ll need to trespass...

Exclusive: Saban Films has taken worldwide rights to action-thriller Hellfire, starring Stephen Lang, Harvey Keitel and Dolph Lundgren here at the European Film Market.

The title, which is directed by Isaac Florentine and written by Richard Lowry, follows a drifter (Lang) with a mysterious past who arrives in a small town and finds the residents in the grip of a ruthless crime boss and realizes he has to help them.

Currently in post-production, Hellfire is produced by Sasha Yelaun, Robert Paschall Jr, Daniel Lief, and Johnny Remo. It’s executive produced by Dominic Burns, Rob Simmons, Ante Novakovic, Jeff Miller, Ronnie D. Lee, Sterling Griffin, Adam Sigal, B.I. Rosen, Frederic Demey, Grant Palmer, Krystyna Swiecka, Cecil Chambers, Seth Sklar, Keli Price, Jenny Shakeshaft, Brian Katz, Thomas Zambeck, Matthew Ianniello Jr, Mehrdad Moayedi, Chad Oliver and Ryan Hicks.

The deal was negotiated by Shanan Becker for Saban Films and Sasha Yelaun.

Jcvd gets mean in this exclusive first-look still from neo-noir action film Darkness of Man.

Directed by James Cullen Bressack, the L.A.-set feature — news of which was first unveiled by The Hollywood Reporter at the American Film Market in 2022 — sees the Jean-Claude Van Damme, the Muscles from Brussels, play an out-of-shape (well, for him) Interpol agent alongside a cast that includes Kristanna Loken, Emerson Min, Sticky Fingaz, Spencer Breslin, Andrey Ivchenko, Peter Jae and Nick Diaz.

Production has now wrapped on the film, which was written by Alethea Cho and Bressack from an original story devised by Bressack and Van Damme.

In Darkness of Man Van Damme portrays Russell Hatch, an Interpol operative who witnesses the death of his last informant in a routine raid gone wrong. Years later Hatch takes on a father figure role to the son of the informant, Jayden (Min). Set against the backdrop of Los Angeles,...

Saban Films has acquired the U.S., U.K. and other international rights to Jean-Claude Van Damme action-spy thriller “Darkness of Man.”

Directed by James Cullen Bressack, the film sees Van Damme playing Interpol operative Russell Hatch, who witnesses the death of his last informant in a routine raid gone wrong. Years later, he takes on a father figure role to the son of the informant, and finds himself protecting the boy from a group of merciless gangs in an all-out turf war.

Alongside the U.S. and U.K., Saban Films has picked up Australian/New Zealand, African, Spanish and Scandinavian territory rights to the film, which also stars Kristanna Loken (“Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines”), Peter Jae (“Blackhat”), Spencer Breslin (“The Kid”), Emerson Min (“Black-ish”) and rapper Sticky Fingaz.

The film is written by Alethea Cho and Cullen Bressack and based on an original story by Cullen Bressack and Van Damme.