The kickboxer franchise returns as a television series. Deadline reports that a new show based on the movies, called Control: Kickboxer, is now in the works. Gary Scott Thompson (The Fast and the Furious) serves as showrunner on the series executive produced by Todd Garner (Mortal Kombat) and Dimitri Logothetis (Jiu Jitsu).
Jean-Claude Van Damme played a famous star in 1989 kickboxer, the original installment in director David Worth’s film series. In the film, Van Damme plays Kurt Sloane, a man who turns to martial arts to avenge his brother after a vicious attack in a kickboxing match. Sasha Mitchell played Kurt’s brother, David Sloane, in three sequels, while Redeem: Kickboxer 5 starred Mark Dacascos as Matt Reeves, a friend of the Sloane family. Van Damme did not appear in any of these sequels.
the TV series, Control: Kickboxer, is described as a “martial arts-driven espionage” show that follows the youngest Sloane brother, Michael Sloane, who “push into the world of international geopolitical intrigue. To earn his freedom, Sloane must go undercover as an MMA fighter. contender, using his clout to access targets around the world while staying in the fight for the championship title.” While the description mentions the “youngest brother” of the Sloane family, the report doesn’t make it entirely clear whether this series is related to any of the previous ones. kickboxer movies or if it will serve as another reimagining.
Will Jean-Claude Van Damme Be Involved in Operation: Kickboxer?
At the moment there is no indication that Jean-Claude Van Damme will be involved in Control: Kickboxer. It’s worth noting, though, that he returned to the franchise when it rebooted in 2016. The John Stockwell-directed reboot starred Alain Moussi as a new incarnation of Kurt Sloane, although Van Damme also starred in a key role as Muay Thai trainer Master Durand. Moussi and Van Damme reprise their roles for the 2018 sequel Kickboxer: Retaliation. There have been rumors of a third part called Kickboxer: Armageddonbut the current status of the project is unclear after it was originally announced in 2016 with plans to shoot in 2018.
Since Van Damme was willing to return for these reboot movies, it’s possible he could be eligible for a return in Control: Kickboxer. If the series is set in the same timeline as the original movies, that would open the door for Van Damme to return as the original Kurt Sloane. Given the rising popularity of legacy sequels in recent years, this seems like something that will excite fans of the franchise far more than a Kickboxer: Armageddon. For now, we just have to wait for more details to be announced.
Control: Kickboxer does not yet have its own, and therefore no fixed release date at the moment.