Jean-Claude Van Damme Makes History As He Signs Movie Contract, Via Social Media, To Star In “Kickboxer: Retaliation”

Jean-Claude Van Damme Makes History As He Signs Movie Contract, Via Social Media, To Star In “Kickboxer: Retaliation”

LOS ANGELES, CA (July 6, 2016) – Fans of the Kickboxer film franchise can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that their star fighter Jean-Claude Van Damme has officially joined the cast of Kickboxer: Retaliation; the sequel to this September’s Kickboxer: Vengeance (of which Van Damme also stars in alongside Dave Bautista).

The discussion of whether Van Damme would reprise his role of Master Durand in Kickboxer: Retaliation had been up in the air until July 4, 2016 when he, for the very first time in his acting career history, signed his contract live on video via his official Facebook page. For the past three months, Writer/Director Dimitri Logothetis was discussing Van Damme’s involvement and his character’s story arc in the second installment. Finally they have now come to a collaborative meeting of the minds.

“JC brings his charisma and martial arts talents to Kickboxer as no other actor can,” says Dimitri Logothetis, who also wrote and produced Kickboxer: Vengeance.

As the ink dried, Van Damme explained to his 17M followers that he has less than three weeks left to get back into tip-top shape for Kickboxer: Retaliation, scheduled to commence filming in Thailand next week. The anticipated sequel also stars other world class fighters, athletes and influencers such as Mike Tyson, Ronaldinho, and Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, to name a few.

The original 1989 Kickboxer film jumpstarted Van Damme’s career and now 2 1/2 decades later, it was certainly time to reboot the exciting series. Planned as a trilogy, Kickboxer: Retaliation is produced by Our House Films––one of the most exciting new names in independent film production. Founded in 2015, the firm’s executive staff is comprised of highly accomplished veterans of the trade including Rob Hickman, Jay Strommen, Larry Nealy, and Steven Swadling. Nealy, Swadling, and Hickman also serve as executive producers, and producer respectively on Kickboxer: Vengeance.

“We are so beyond thrilled to have Jean-Claude Van Damme sign onto Kickboxer: Retaliation,” says Rob Hickman. “It would have been almost impossible to not have him be a part of our sequel, especially since he means so much to both the franchise and fans.”

Upping the storyline where Kickboxer: Vengeance will leave off, Kickboxer: Retaliation will punch its way into theaters in 2017.

For more information on Kickboxer: Retaliation, or to interview Our House Films, please contact Eileen Koch of EKC PR, a full service Branding, Marketing and Public Relations firm at 310.441.1000 or email Eileen@ekcpr.com. Visit www.EKCPR.com.