Universal Soldier: The Return (1999)

The "universal soldiers" must fight the whole army, when the military's supercomputer S.E.T.H gets out of control.

Director:

Mic Rodgers

Writers:

Richard Rothstein (characters), Christopher Leitch (characters)

Stars:

Jean-Claude Van Damme, Bill Goldberg, Heidi Schanz

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jean-Claude Van Damme	...	Luc
Michael Jai White	...	SETH
Heidi Schanz	...	Erin
Xander Berkeley	...	Dylan Cotner
Justin Lazard	...	Capt. Blackburn
Kiana Tom	...	Maggie
Daniel von Bargen	...	General Radford
James Black	...	Sergeant Morrow
Karis Paige Bryant	...	Hillary
Bill Goldberg	...	Romeo
Brent Anderson	...	2nd Technician
Brent Hinkley	...	Squid
Woody Watson	...	RL Gate Guard
Jacqueline Klein	...	Betty Wilson
Maria Arita	...	Kitty Anderson

Storyline

Luc Devereaux, the only surviving member of the original Universal Soldier Team. He now works with Dylan Cotner, on a project to create and improve a new Universal Soldier. Their plan is for the Universal soldier or UNISOLS to be controlled by a computer they call SETH. When the government decides to terminate the project, which includes shutting down SETH. SETH, not wanting this to happen, takes steps to prevent this. He first kills Dylan. He then has himself transfered into a body. He then seeks out Luc Devereaux, who is the only person who knows the code that will stop his program from being deleted. So he sends out all the UNISOLS to get him. Luc must try and stay away until SETH program is deleted. But SETH has targeted his daughter as possible leverage.

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Plot Keywords:

time bomb | computer | combat | general | reporter | 

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Taglines:

Prepare to become obsolete

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Genres:

Action | Sci-Fi

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for nonstop strong violence, and for language and nudity

Did You Know?

Trivia

The role of Romeo was originally intended for WWE wrestler "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. However, without notifying Steve, his agent turned down the offer of $55,000 to star in the film. The role was subsequently offered to WCW star Bill Goldberg, who accepted the role, for a fee of $250,000. When Austin found out about this, he expressed his anger to Vince McMahon for not letting him know about the movie offer.

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Goofs

(at around 1h 12 mins) During the final fight sequence between SETH and Luc, SETH grabs Luc by the neck with his right hand and holds him into the chair. Whilst holding him into the chair, the hand holding the neck switches to his left hand and then back his right hand again between shots.

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Quotes

Maggie: [about Romeo] I don't care if he's dead. If he grabs me again, I'll kill him.

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Alternate Versions

The German version was cut for violence to secure a 'Not under 16' rating. This version was released on video, the video sleeve carries the note "Original Cinema version". The uncut version has been released to video shops and DVD and is rated 'Not under 18'.

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Connections

Featured in In Search of the Last Action Heroes (2019)

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Soundtracks

Magic #3
Written by Ted Hutt and Andy Frank
Performed by JACT
Courtesy of Trauma Records

User Reviews

Late night TV movie

There are really only 3 reasons to watch this: Michael Jai White has some quality screen time; Kiana Tom is quite gorgeous except for her dismal second incarnation, and this film has the most hilariously gratuitous T & A sequence since Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder hid out in the poledancing club in Stir Crazy.

Actually I quite like Van Damme - he makes martial arts look attainable. You can go to your classes and think "I'll never be as good as Jet Li, the guy's superhuman. But I might just get as good as Van Damme someday."

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 August 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Universal Soldier IV

Filming Locations:

3458 Old Buena Vista Rd, Waxahachie, Texas, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$45,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,605,167, 22 August 1999

Gross USA:

$10,667,893

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$10,667,893

Company Credits

Production Co:

TriStar Pictures, Baumgarten-Prophet Entertainment, IndieProd Company Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

83 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1