Jean-Claude Van Damme recently celebrated his 63rd birthday. Who in 2001 announced the flow before anyone else, which it was “Tough as a post, short-sighted as a mole, ugly as a louse” Before he became a star and could become a classical dancer, he established himself as one of the essential faces of action cinema from the late 80s.
Bloodsport, Kickboxer, Full Contact, Double Impact, Universal Soldier, Timecop… so many movies that created an aura “Muscles from Brussels” in the collective imagination. But JCVD could lend his name to several other notable films. Check them out below!
He turned down Welcome to Zombieland
According to Jean-Claude Van Damme, it is “The biggest mistake of his career”. While his rejection of a $36 million contract was arguably more damaging to him, his regret at not appearing in 2009’s Welcome to Zombieland illustrates the impact of the film’s huge cameo on pop culture. Spoiler alert… in this case a cameo from Bill Murray, who makes a memorable appearance as a zombie apocalypse survivor (playing himself and disguised as the living dead so he won’t be disturbed) opposite Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg. , Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin, with whom he sees a memorable scene from Ghostbusters. did you say bow
Before being entrusted to Wes Anderson’s favorite actor, this eye-catching role was developed for the late Patrick Swayze (who meanwhile fell ill), then for several Hollywood stars who all refused (Dustin Hoffman, Sylvester Stallone, Mark Hamill, Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Bacon or Matthew McConaughey … and Jean-Claude Van Damme, respectively). We’re obviously sorry that JCVD didn’t get this self-parody: after seeing his important scenes in front of the quartet Zombieland It would be really fun. He made up for it a few years later with the series Jean-Claude Van Johnson, in which we discovered that his identity as Jean-Claude Van Damme was just a cover for the most powerful spies who took advantage of his multiple takes. his missions.
He gave up on Mortal Kombat
Jean Claude Van Damme And Mortal Kombat, that’s a long story! Indeed, in the first opus of the video game saga (1992), the appearance, design and movements of the character of Johnny Cage, the star of the action movie that began in the bloody fights of Mortal Kombat, were directly inspired by the kumite champion Frank Dux. Played in JCVD blood sport (1988).
When the video game was made into a movie in 1995, it was logical for the producers to turn to the Belgian star for the role. Jean-Claude Van Damme has opted out of another video game adaptation, Street Fighter, in which he plays Colonel Ghul alongside Kylie Minogue. So it is Linden Ashby who inherits the role of Johnny Cage in front of the camera from Paul Wes Anderson, the future director of Resident Evil.
Almost thirty years later, in 2023, JCVD has finally joined the MK universe by lending his voice and face to Johnny Cage’s skin in Mortal Kombat 1’s additional Kombat Pack.
He almost starred in Demolition Man
Jean Claude Van Damme Facing the demolition man? This almost happened in the early 90s, when the project was under development. At the time, JCVD, playing the villainous Simon Phoenix, was set to meet not with Sylvester Stallone—who had yet to like the producer—but with Steven Seagal, the studios’ first choice for the script that Van Damme had. It turned out to be quite different from the final film.
The public finally gets an explosive face-off between Wesley Snipes (after Jackie Chan’s rejection) as the peroxidized and ultra-violent Simon Phoenix and Sylvester Stallone as John the Spartan, who can hold muscles… and cross-stitch. And to see the Sly / JCVD clash, you’ll have to wait for 2012’s Expendables 2, where the actor plays the aptly named “villain” against Barney Ross and his mercenary squad.
He refused to play for Dog
Released in 2018 and adapted by Samuel Benchetrit from his own novel (published by Grassette), the dog tracks down a meeting between a missing person and a pet shop owner and dog trainer who takes him home and turns his pet into a “pet”. The film’s tone, brutal and absurd, divided critics and audiences. but also questioned Jean Claude Van Damme, initially applied for the role of trainer. So JCVD wouldn’t be on the same wavelength as the director in relation to his character and the film in general.
“When I wrote the book, I had the image of Chuck Norris in mind: this tormenting figure of a man who is sure of his actions and who will never give up. In this case, this coach was disappointed in the men – and no doubt more. By women – an oath to animals and the violent power he exercises over them. He speaks of animals as he thinks of men.explained Samuel Benchetrit. “Physically, Jean-Claude seemed like a perfect match for what I had in mind. But I quickly realized that we didn’t have the same vision. I don’t know if he really understood the film I wanted to make. And the financial means, Which I had! So we parted amicably.” The filmmaker eventually gave the role to Bowley Laners, who had already directed I’ve Always Dreamed of a Heist, opposite “Dog” Vincent McCain.
He almost played Wolverine
In the late 90s, when Fox was working on a big screen adaptation of the X-Men, the question of who would play Wolverine was one of the main casting questions. If Russell Crowe is the studio’s original choice (he turned down the offer), other big Hollywood names are being considered to take the clutches (and favorites) of the fan-favorite mutant. The list includes Mel Gibson, Bob Hoskins, Keanu Reeves, Viggo Mortensen, Edward Norton, as well as Jean Claude Van Damme He was finally fired especially because of his accent.
Australian Dougray Scott was trusted to explode onto the international stage, but the role ended up running away from him due to a scheduling conflict with Mission Impossible 2, where he met Tom Cruise. Therefore, it is an unknown actor, his compatriot Hugh Jackman, who inherits the character with the success we know (nine appearances and the highly anticipated return in Deadpool 3 opposite Ryan Reynolds). But let’s just say we almost had a Belgian Wolverine and a very (very) agile one!
He almost played with Frank Dubosk
In 2007, in the wake of the first Camping and its huge popular success (around 5.5 million admissions), Franck Dubosc, director Fabien Onteniente and screenwriters Philippe Gillard and Emmanuel Bouz developed an ambitious project called Le Mexicain. A trilogy of adventures led by a tandem both unequal and complementary and inspired by Philippe de Broca films such as The Man from Rio.
Before Frank Dubosky, the idea of engagement Jean Claude Van Damme The formation of the second part of the explosion duet is strongly indented. Project Mexican In the end it fails and Onteniente and Dubosky end up at Disco, Camping 2, Camping 3 and All Inclusive. JCVD, for his part, went on to shine in several French comedies: Narco, Beur sur la ville and Le Dernier Mercenaire.
He left the Predator set
It is 1987 and Jean Claude Van Damme Not yet “exploded” thanks blood sport and kickboxer. Karate Tiger – Red Tiger, thanks to his role as a villain, he was asked to play another antagonist against Arnold Schwarzenegger: the Predator. Unfortunately for the Belgian karateka, who dreams of excelling in Schwartz vs. Dantesque battles, it’s a disappointment. The alien costume, uncomfortable and fuzzy, is ridiculous to say the least. “I’m like a superhero,” exclaims the actor.
And explanations from director John McTiernan and the head of special effects make him even more frustrated: he finds himself invisible for almost the entire film (remember that Predator has a stealth device in his high-tech arsenal)! This frustration causes great tension and Jean Claude Van Damme Finally leaves the project. The creature’s design, in turn, will change, and another great actor (Kevin Peter Hall, 2M19) will step into the suit, offering SF fans one of the most amazing monsters of the genre. But without JCVD, who would take Hollywood by storm the following year with Bloodsport.
False Connection – Jean-Claude Van Damme Spec
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
