The Kickboxer remake was announced earlier this year with a very impressive lineup both in front and behind the camera: Tai Chi Hero director Stephen Fung would be at the helm. Alain Moussi, who plays the lead is a relative newcomer acting-wise, but he boasts an impressive stuntman resume and it seemed like he would be surrounded by a very strong supporting cast including Scott Adkins, George St Pierre, Dave Bautista (Guardians of the Galaxy) and Tony Jaa as Xian, while Larnel Stovall (Undisputed 3) would be handling the films fight choreography.
But things haven't been running smoothly, Adkins dropped out of the project some time back and this week has seen Jaa announcing he is no longer attached to the project due to scheduling issues. On top of that it now seems that Stephen Fung is no longer at the helm and that John Stockwell (Into The Blue) and the man behind Gina Carano's In The Blood action thriller has now taken up the directorial reigns. While Bautista is still attached to the movie, he has been getting a lot of attention since Guardians of the Galaxy including possibly joining the new James Bond movie as a Jaws-styled villain. We wonder if filming doesn't start soon if he'll be able to stay on board. UFC veteran GSP is still attached to the film, there's been no word on who is replacing Adkins and Jaa.
There'll be more news as we get it - whether the project progresses, changes or is indefinitely delayed. Meanwhile Albert Pyun is developing his own continuation of the Kickboxer movies he helmed, with Sasha Mitchell as the youngest of the Sloan brothers.
In the meantime we can revisit the trailer for the Van Damme original:
