Action icon Jean-Claude Van Damme (Darkness of Man) is gearing up for a return to the martial arts genre that made him a household name. The Bloodsport and Kickboxer star is set to headline Katana, an upcoming Japan-set action thriller that will see him take on the dangerous world of the Yakuza.
The project is being written and directed by Jeremy Zag, the French filmmaker and creator of the hit Miraculous franchise. International sales company The Veterans is introducing the film to buyers ahead of the American Film Market (AFM).
In Katana, Van Damme will portray a former world champion fighter who has walked away from his violent past to embrace life as a father. However, his peaceful existence is shattered when his daughter is kidnapped by the Japanese criminal underworld, forcing him to return to combat for one final mission.
Zag hopes to deliver a combination of hard-hitting martial arts action and emotional storytelling, drawing inspiration from classics like Bloodsport, alongside the relentless intensity of Taken and John Wick. The filmmaker also brings an extensive martial arts background to the project, having spent 30 years practicing Kyokushin karate.
Joining Van Damme are Armenian MMA fighter Melsik Baghdasaryan and French Muay Thai and kickboxing world champion Cyril Benzaquen. Their involvement suggests the film will place a strong emphasis on authentic fighting choreography and physical action.
Zag expressed his excitement about working with Van Damme, crediting the action legend as one of the inspirations behind his own martial arts journey. He also described the opportunity as a lifelong dream, explaining that the two share a common understanding of martial arts and combat filmmaking.
The director further revealed that Katana will explore Japan’s striking beauty, darker criminal underworld, and rich martial arts traditions, with the samurai code of honor and the intensity of katana combat playing central roles in the film’s visual identity.
Interestingly, Zag acknowledged that Van Damme had been reluctant to revisit this particular genre for several years. However, their shared passion for martial arts ultimately brought the two together, with the filmmaker describing the project as a potential celebration of the genre and a tribute to an action star who inspired generations of martial arts fans.
Production is being handled by Division Z in partnership with Japan-based Wowow Bridge, while The Veterans is overseeing international sales. CAA Media Finance is representing U.S. rights.
Filming is currently scheduled to take place across Japan, France, and Los Angeles during April, May, and June 2027.
For longtime Van Damme fans, Katana sounds like a particularly exciting prospect. With a premise that brings the action legend back to his fighting roots, a Japanese Yakuza setting, and a cast featuring legitimate martial arts champions, the film could deliver the kind of old-school action showcase that helped establish Van Damme as one of the defining martial arts stars of the 1990s.
SOURCE: Deadline
