Van Damme Films Kickboxer and Bloodsport to be Rebooted

Two Jean-Claude Van Damme films will be getting a reboot - 1989s "Kickboxer" and 1988s "Bloodsport".

"Kickboxer" will be given an overhaul by Radar Pictures, who also did "The Last Samurai" and  "Riddick". Director Stephen Fung will be at the helm, and casting is currently underway. The original film featured Van Damme as a fighter who trained in Muay Thai to avenge his brother's crippling injury by a kickboxing champ.

"Bloodsport" will be getting its remake by Relativity and will be directed by James McTeigue.  In the original, Van Damme played Frank Dux, an Army officer who uses his training in ninjutsu to help battle in the underground tournament known as the Kumite.  For the update, the focus will be on the morally conflicted life of 21st-century mercenaries who clash with the world of Brazilian Vale Tudo.