John Wick: Chapter 4starScott Adkinswill continue to ply his trade as he joins the upcomingKickboxerreboot,Kickboxer: Armaggedon. According toTHR, Adkins, who has long been the best kept secret in martial arts and action cinema thanks to the likes of theUndisputedseries,Avengement, andAccident Man, has now joined the final chapter in theKickboxerreboot trilogy.
Based on the 1980s action franchise which began way, way back in 1989 with the firstKickboxer. StarringJean-Claude Van Dammeas Kurt Sloane a young man out for revenge, theKickboxerfranchise is now made up of several sequels starring different action movie leads.
The recent reboot trilogy, meanwhile, began with 2016’sKickboxer: Vengeance. Led by actor, stuntman, and martial artist Alain Moussi as Sloane, the reboot brings back Jean-Claude Van Damme as a different character. Featuring the likes of Dave Bautista, Gina Carano, and Georges St-Pierre, theKickboxerreboot continues withKickboxer: Retaliation. Once again led by Moussi and Van Damme, the sequel also features the likes of Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, Highlander star Christopher Lambert, and Mike Tyson.
So where will Scott Adkins fit into proceedings whenKickboxer: Armageddonhigh-kicks its way onto screens? TheDay Shiftstar will play sadistic cult leader Cesare in theKickboxerfinale, leading “the descendants of the REG (The Royal Elite Guard) of Burma. Cesare’s teaching philosophy involves learning through pain.”
Scott Adkins Should Have Played James Bond & Batman, Says Undisputed Director
Undisputed III: Redemption director Isaac Florentine thinks its time for Scott Adkins to lead a major franchise.
Directed by Dimitri Logothetis, who has been involved in both writing and directing theKickboxerreboot trilogy, heaped praise on Adkins, calling him “a martial arts legend.”
“Scott is an exceptional actor as well as a martial arts legend, and I am looking forward to working with him. I know our Kickboxer fan base cannot wait to see Scott and Alain in Kickboxer: Armageddon. From Undisputed to Accident Man, as well as The Bourne Ultimatum, Scott has impressed us all with his unique action style.”
While maintaining their action B-movie charm, theKickboxerreturn has won praise for its use of physical stunts and highly-skilled, exciting fight choreography and action sequences.Kickboxer: Armageddonwill begin principal photography in Biloxi, Mississippi, in April.
Scott Adkins Has Played a Part in a Jean-Claude Van Damme Revival Before…
Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning
This is not the first time that Scott Adkins has joined a franchise started by Jean-Claude Van Damme. The actor led the way in 2012’sUniversal Soldier: Day of Reckoning, as a man who awakes from a coma and engages in a personal vendetta after his wife and daughter are murdered. Featuring both Van Damme and fellow action star Dolph Lundgren, both of whom reprise their respective roles from the 1992Universal Soldieroriginal,Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoningwas met with praise for its action and atmosphere, and remains one of thebest examples in Adkins' back catalog.
After the “best kept secret” that is Scott Adkins was somewhat outed thanks to his role inJohn Wick: Chapter 4,Adkins recently joined Frank Grillo inLights Out, which has been described as “Road House meets Kickboxer,” and will share the screen withGuardians of the GalaxystarDave Bautista inThe Killer’s Game, which sees a veteran assassin fending off fellow killers after placing a hit out on himself.
