Jean-Claude Van Damme returns for ‘Kickboxer: Retaliation’

Jean-Claude Van Damme is officially returning for “Kickboxer: Retaliation,” the sequel to “Kickboxer: Vengeance.”

The Belgian actor had starred in “Kickboxer: Vengeance” as a karate master. He played the lead in the original 1989 “Kickboxer.” Dimitri Logothetis (Stephen King’s “Sleepwalkers”), who holds two black belts, is the writer and producer of “Kickboxer: Vengeance,” and is directing the sequel.

Van Damme signed his contract live on video via his official Facebook page this week. “JC brings his charisma and martial arts talents to ‘Kickboxer’ as no other actor can,” Logothetis said.

Filming begins in Thailand next week. The sequel also stars Mike Tyson, Ronaldinho, and Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson.

“Kickboxer: Retaliation” is produced by Our House Film. Rob Hickman is producing and Larry Nealy and Steven Swadling are the executive producers.

“Kickboxer: Vengeance” is directed by John Stockwell, and starrs Alain Moussi, Dave Bautista, Gina Carano, Georges St-Pierre and Darren Shahlavi. RLJ Entertainment bought the rights to “Kickboxer: Vengeance,” a remake of the original 1989 “Kickboxer,” and plans to release it this September in theaters and VOD.

The sequel stars Moussi, playing the Kurt Sloane role, as he’s taken forcibly back to Thailand to fend for his life against a new formidable foe, portrayed by Björnsson. Ronaldinho is playing the role of an imprisoned expert martial arts kicker who shows Sloane how to refine his deadly kick.