Jean-Claude Van Damme returns to the big screen in the remake of his 1989 film Kickboxer, now titled Kickboxer:Vengeance. The action star plays Master Durand, a martial arts trainer that will help Kurt Sloane (played by Alain Moussi) avenge his brother Eric’s (Darren Shahlavi) death. His brother, who was world champion at the time of his death, died while fighting Tong Po (played by former WWE star Dave Bautista) in Thailand.
“You trained my brother, Muay Thai,” Kurt asks Durand in the trailer. “Yes I did,” he responds. Kurt asks, “Why did you let him fight that monster?” Durand answers, “I train people. I don’t tell them when to fight and who to fight.”
Here’s the official description from RLJ Entertainment:
Eric and Kurt Sloan are the descendants of a well-known Venice, California-based family of martial artists. Kurt has always been in older brother, Eric’s shadow, as he lacks the instincts needed to become a champion. Against Kurt’s concerns, Eric accepts a paid offer and travels to Thailand to challenge the Muay Thai champion Tong Po and fails with dire consequences. Kurt sets out for revenge. He trains with his brother’s mentor, Durand, for a Muay Thai fight against the merciless champion, Tong Po. Durand first thinks Kurt is impossible to train, but through a series of spiritual exercises and tests, Durand discovers that Kurt has a deeper strength that will carry him through his final showdown with Tong Po.
The film opens in select theaters on September 2.
