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Dimitri Logothetis helms the latest film sequel in the martial arts franchise that began with Jean-Claude Van Damme’s 1989 original.
By Ryan Gajewski
Senior Entertainment Reporter
Kickboxer: Armageddon is ready to hit the ground running.
The latest sequel in the rebooted Kickboxer franchise has landed distribution from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment in the U.S. and Canada. This long-running martial arts film series first launched with Jean-Claude Van Damme playing Kurt Sloane in the 1989 release Kickboxer, which has earned a cult following.
Dimitri Logothetis is helming Kickboxer: Armageddon from a script he co-wrote with Jim McGrath. Shooting is set to begin this spring, with Logothetis, Rob Hickman and Joel Shapiro serving as producers. A planned release date has not yet been announced.
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The Hollywood Reporter has learned that Mark Dacascos is joining the cast alongside previously confirmed stars Alain Moussi and Scott Adkins.
After Van Damme’s original film spawned four sequels in the 1990s, Logothetis has been instrumental in relaunching the franchise that returned with 2016’s Kickboxer: Vengeance and was followed by Kickboxer: Retaliation in 2018. The latter was directed by Logothetis, who co-wrote and produced both films. Logothetis also directed Luke Hemsworth and Morgan Freeman in Gunner, which was released last year after being picked up by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.
For the rebooted Kickboxer trilogy, Moussi has taken over the lead role of fighter Kurt Sloane. Van Damme, who played Kurt in the first five films, co-starred in the two previous movies as Master Durand.
Kickboxer: Armageddon centers on Kurt (Moussi) seeking to track down his wife’s killers. Through the Thai underground fight world, he meets Cesare (Adkins), a martial arts master who leads a sadistic cult, with Kurt soon finding himself in the fight of his life.
In 2022, Van Damme spoke with THR about the Kickboxer franchise’s enduring legacy. “A lot of people tell me that those movies haven’t aged,” the star said at the time. “Maybe I know why. It’s about sincerity. If you’re sincere in your role and believe in your part, that — plus all the martial arts — helps the audience ignore the poor background.”
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