Well, this is a tad surprising, but Michaela Coel‘s (“The Christophers”) next film project will be a reimagining of the Jean-Claude Van Damme martial arts actioner “Bloodsport,” which sees her reteaming with A24. According to reports from outlets like Deadline and THR, Coel is set to both write and direct her new version of the story (exploring a brutal martial arts tournament set in Hong Kong). What this reimagining will look like isn’t exactly known at this time.
“I have long been in awe of fighters, and astounded by the discipline, intensity, and isolation the sport demands of them. I am excited to explore this world, especially so with A24 as my collaborators. LET’S F***ING GO,” Coel said in an official statement.
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This might seem like a weird idea for Coel to tackle, but after an action-focused part in Ryan Coogler‘s “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” as one of the Dora Milaje (female warriors of Wakanda), maybe she simply got into the fighter mode and wanted to explore the action world in a bigger way. Coel will be seen next in the David Lowery-directed A24 movie “Mother Mary,” which she stars opposite Anne Hathaway.
Released back in 1988, the original “Bloodsport” helped launch Van Damme’s action star career after he had exited the “Predator” shoot (had been playing the first version of the alien but left after being “injured,” leading to the iconic creature redesign and recasting) to take the main part in the Cannon Films action flick instead.
In the movie directed by Newt Arnold, JCVD (considered one of his better outings) played Frank Dux, a young but skilled martial artist traveling to Hong Kong to enter an underground tournament and facing a deadly fighter played by Bolo Yeung, best known for appearing in Bruce Lee‘s “Enter The Dragon” (the two would later reunite with JCVD for the twin actioner “Double Impact“). The film was “inspired” by the real Dux, a Canadian-American “martial artist” who claimed the tournament was real and would later be exposed as a bit of a con artist telling tall tales to Cannon.
While it doesn’t mention if Coel will also be involved as an actor and getting in front of the camera, we can’t really rule anything out. Marc Toberoff is set as the producer of this new version of “Bloodsport” with Stuart Manashil and Peggy DiSalle as executive producers.
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