Action movie legend Jean-Claude Van Damme returns to the genre in the first look at Darkness of Man, the upcoming neo-noir thriller that finds the Bloodsport and Kickboxer star as a former Interpol operative who goes up against all manner of merciless gangs in an all-out turf war. The first images from Darkness of Man have been unveiled by Collider, and find Van Damme doing what he does best in what looks like a dark and gritty thriller akin to the likes of much of the action star’s recent efforts such as JCVD.
Saban Films
Darkness of Man will follow Van Damme as he once again demonstrates his particular set of skills in Los Angeles as former Interpol operative Russell Hatch. According to the synopsis for the thriller, Van Damme will take on “the role of father figure to Jayden, the son of an informant killed in a routine raid gone wrong.”
“Years later, Hatch finds himself protecting Jayden and his uncle from a group of merciless gangs in an all-out turf war, stopping at nothing to protect Jayden and fight anyone getting in his way — including supposed allies with hidden agendas and nefarious intents.”
Close
Written and directed by James Cullen Bressack, who is best known for the likes of Fortress with Bruce Willis and Hot Seat starring Mel Gibson, Darkness of Man has been called a “passion project” for Van Damme and the filmmaker.
Alongside Jean-Claude Van Damme, Darkness of Man stars Shannen Doherty (Charmed), Kristanna Loken (Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines), Spencer Breslin (The Cat in the Hat), Emerson Min (Always Be My Maybe), and Kirk “Sticky Fingaz” Jones (Flight of the Phoenix).
Jean-Claude Van Damme Will Also Star as a Fictionalized Version of Himself in What’s My Name?
Close
Darkness of Man is just one of several exciting projects currently in the pipeline for Jean-Claude Van Damme. The action icon will both direct and star in the action-drama Frenchy. The project has had a difficult journey getting to screens, first debuting back at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival. After it failed to find a distributor, parts of the movie were reshot in 2012, with Van Damme trying again in Cannes in 2018. In 2020, the movie was re-edited, and in 2022 the title was changed from The Eagle Path to Frenchy, and sees Van Damme writing, directing, starring, editing, and producing.
Van Damme is also due to return to the Kickboxer franchise in Kickboxer: Armaggedon alongside fellow action hero Scott Adkins, and will also reportedly star as a fictionalized version of himself in What’s My Name?, which finds Van Damme stricken with amnesia and fighting different opponents from throughout his career.
