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The acclaimed French action thriller movie series, Lost Bullet, has released its third and supposedly final entry, Last Bullet, which lives up to the standard of entertaining action spectacle set by its predecessors. While the ingenuity in hard-hitting combat choreography, practical stunts, and streamlined, fast-paced storytelling have been key highlights of the franchise, characterization plays a key role in holding it all together. There is no crazy complexity involved in the character arcs; the intrigue arises from the personalities and decision-making capabilities of the key players, all of whom belong to either side of the law. Most importantly, the trilogy charts the growth of the characters so well that the conclusion of the journey feels satisfying.

Lino, played by Alban Lenoir

French Actor/Stuntman Alban Lenoir started his career as a theater actor before veering to work in several acclaimed action movies like Taken, Aka, and Point Blank to follow...

"You ready for the next adventure, pal?"...

Action movie icon Jean-Claude Van Damme is back in action in the new trailer for next month’s The Gardener. And "The Muscles from Brussels" will flex his comedy biceps as well as his action ones in this tale of a mysterious gardener who finds himself protecting U.S. senior official Serge Shuster and his family after he finds himself on a hit list. Thankfully, Van Damme is no ordinary gardener and boasts a particular set of skills far beyond pruning. You can check out the new trailer for The Gardener below.

Directed by David Charhon (The Last Mercenary) and written by Charhon, Vincent De Brus, and Sebastien Fechner, The Gardener stars Michaël Youn, Nawell Madani, Kaaris, Matthias Quiviger, Jérôme Le Banner, and Carla Poquin alongside Van Damme. The Gardener is all set to land in theaters and on VOD on June 6, 2025, and alongside the newly released footage, you can...

A24 is best known for releasing films like The Witch, The Florida Project, The Killing of a Sacred Deer, Lady Bird, The Disaster Artist, Hereditary, Midsommar, The Lighthouse, Uncut Gems, Best Picture winners Moonlight and Everything Everywhere All at Once, etc. They’ve largely been considered to be an arthouse company – but we’ve known for a while now that they’re trying to shift their strategy from arthouse films to more commercial films, including action and big IP projects. This strategy includes the recently released war movie Warfare, Adam Wingard’s gonzo horror action movie Onslaught, the UFC movie The Smashing Machine, a Barney movie from Ayo Edebiri and Daniel Kaluuya, the Friday the 13th Peacock series Crystal Lake, which recently got Linda Cardellini to sign on to play Pamela Voorhees, and possibly even a Bloodsport remake. Now, there’s a rumor floating around that a film adaptation of...

Jean-Claude Van Damme. The Muscles from Brussels. If you grew up in the early nineties, this handsome Belgian was everywhere. With his unique accent, good looks, and a butt he was all but too happy to show off at least once a film, he was the rare action star that was just as popular with the ladies as the dudes. Changing tastes in the mid-nineties meant that his career as a viable lead in theatrical films started to dry up, which wasn’t helped by some off-screen issues he had with drugs (a Hollywood tale as old as time). But, while his contemporary, Steven Seagal, became something of a parody of himself, Jcvd got clean and doubled down on his craft, emerging as a surprisingly potent actor in some Dtv movies that are way better than anyone gives them credit for.

While his days as an A-list lead might be behind him,...

Why Was Jean-Claude Van Damme Fired From Predator?(Photo Credit –Prime Video/Instagram)

Here’s a wild Hollywood nugget: Jean-Claude Van Damme got kicked off Predator in 1987. And the reason? That iconic alien hunter suit almost took him out. It wasn’t just uncomfortable, it was a nightmare for the muscles from Brussels. Van Damme wasn’t shy about how awful the Predator suit was. In a 2019 interview, he said, “It was disgusting,” he said (via The Hollywood Reporter).

“I like to breathe… they put in my mouth like a tube.” It was so bad that he had full-on panic attacks. He even had a buddy on standby to help him out: “If you can’t breathe, just move your finger, and I’ll pull that stuff off you,” his friend said. But Van Damme was stuck in that rig for what felt like forever—boiling, barely able to breathe,...

First off, today is John Cena’s birthday, so Happy Birthday! The professional wrestling superstar won a record-setting 17th World Championship by beating Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes on April 20 at WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas. And don’t sleep on John Cena…. he’s taking a page out of the Dwayne Johnson play book and making a pretty big name for himself outside of the ring.

Heads Of State reunites Cena and Idris Elba, ya know, they guys in The Suicide Squad — but this time, they’re not trying to kill each other…probably. The two played Bloodsport and Peacemaker in James Gunn’s 2021 movie.

The film is an action-packed comedy about the U.S. President (played by John Cena) and the UK Prime Minister (played by Idris Elba), who must set aside their rivalry to thwart a global conspiracy and save the world — if they can work together.

Motley Crue...

Idris Elba and John Cena reunite for the first time since The Suicide Squad to headline Heads of State. The first trailer for the upcoming action comedy has just been released ahead of its streaming debut on Prime Video this July.

"The UK Prime Minister (Elba) and US President (Cena) have a public rivalry that risks their countries’ alliance. But when they become targets of a powerful enemy, they’re forced to rely on each other as they go on a wild, multinational run. Allied with Noel, a brilliant MI6 agent (Priyanka Chopra Jonas), they must find a way to thwart a conspiracy that threatens the free world," reads the synopsis for the buddy cop movie." Check out the official trailer and poster for Heads of State below.

Image via Prime Video

Heads of State was first announced in October 2020, with Ilya Naishuller coming aboard the project two years later as director.

The folks at Amazon have released a brand new trailer for the upcoming action/comedy "Heads of State." This is a two-hander that reunites Idris Elba and John Cena, who previously starred in "The Suicide Squad" together. This time, instead of playing villains turned heroes, they're playing government officials at the highest levels. Elba is the U.K. Prime Minister, and Cena is the U.S. President — and they don't like each other. Let the comedy ensue.

The new film, which is going straight to Prime Video in July, was directed by Ilya Naishuller, best known for his work on 2021's "Nobody" starring Bob Odenkirk. So this seems to be right in his wheelhouse. Much of the trailer focuses on the dynamic between Elba and Cena, which is very contentious, not unlike Peacemaker and Bloodsport in "The Suicide Squad." It doesn't look particularly original, but it certainly looks like the...

The Accountant 2 director reveals why his plans for DC's Suicide Squadsequel were scrapped. Before James Gunn was hired to write and direct a sequel/soft reboot of 2016's Suicide Squad, Warner Bros. had approached O'Connor to course correct the franchise. O'Connor had just directed The Accountant for Warner Bros. and had made a name for himself directing gritty character-centric stories like Warrior, Pride and Glory, and Jane Got a Gun. O'Connor signed to direct The Suicide Squad 2 in September 2017, but later departed the project in October 2018, moving over to re-team with The Accountant star Ben Affleck on The Way Back.

Speaking with Collider, O'Connor reveals that he left work on the Suicide Squad sequel due to disagreements with the studio. The director says how the constant changing leadership at Warner Bros. and DC led to a disagreement, as a newly appointed head of the company seemingly wanted O'Connor to...

Martial arts decide the fate, and the faith, of humanity in the first trailer for next month’s indie action thriller, Absolute Dominion. Combining action classics like Bloodsport, The Hunger Games, and Mortal Kombat, Absolute Dominion drops audiences in a dystopian future in which the world’s governments decide to end the ongoing holy wars that have devastated civilization by gambling everything on a martial arts tournament. Which, considering the state of the real world, is some political policy we could get seriously behind.

Directed by Lexi Alexander, who is best known for helming the likes of the Marvel movie Punisher: War Zone starring the late Ray Stevenson on the big screen, as well as Arrow, Limitless, Taken, and S.W.A.T. on the small screen, Absolute Dominion is all set to land on Digital and in select theaters on May 9, 2025. You can check out more about the movie, and the trailer,...

"We need to make sure he doesn't make it into the top 50." Giant Pictures has unveiled the official trailer for an indie martial arts action thriller film titled Absolute Dominion, the latest feature made by Punisher: War Zone director Lexi Alexander. This will be out on VOD in May to watch. It's sort of a modern reboot of Bloodsport or Mortal Kombat, set in the near future involving a grand tournament. In 2063, desperate for a solution to save humanity from a global holy war on religions, the world's governing bodies establish a fierce, no-holds-barred martial-arts tournament to determine a champion whose faith will govern humanity and restore peace for the future. Created by an internet personality (played by Patton) the event is called The Battle Of Absolute Dominion. All qualifying belief systems will send one representative to compete, the last fighter standing wins Absolute Dominion for one faith. Can you...

The following article is an excerpt from the new edition of “In Review by David Ehrlich,” a biweekly newsletter in which our Chief Film Critic and Head Reviews Editor rounds up the site’s latest reviews and muses about current events in the movie world. Subscribe here to receive the newsletter in your inbox every other Friday.

It’s been obvious for a while now that Hollywood is hoping to position video game adaptations as its next big meal ticket, but — in an industry that’s always braced for failure and blindsided by success — the blockbuster opening weekend of “A Minecraft Movie” still managed to take everyone by surprise. Even Warner Bros. seemed to be caught flat-footed by its own sudden windfall, as if the studio’s recent failure to make any money off a mega-budget space fascism satire from Bong Joon Ho and/or the imminent dread it feels...

Fame is a double-edged sword, and sometimes, it cuts deeper than a roundhouse kick. Now, we’re not one to throw shade without receipts, but when a martial arts icon like Jean-Claude Van Damme — yes, The Muscles from Brussels himself — ends up in headlines for all the wrong reasons, you’ve gotta raise an eyebrow… or two. The actor, who once high-kicked his way into our hearts with Bloodsport and Timecop, is now allegedly caught in a murky tale involving trafficked women at a TV launch party.

Romanian authorities are now circling the wagons, as a police complaint was filed on April 2nd, hinting at a potential criminal probe. Reports say he was “gifted” five trafficked women at a club — and no, that’s not some bad subplot from an 80s B-movie.

Jean-Claude Van Damme in Welcome to the Jungle | Credits: Universal Pictures From action star to accused: Dark turn...

The 1988 Jean Claude Van Damme favourite Bloodsport has emerged as a remake candidate for A24. More here.

Who knew that 2025 would be the year of Bloodsport? While the 1988 martial arts flick may hold a cherished place in the heart of many a Jean-Claude Van Damme fan, there surely aren’t too many folks out there that put a Bloodsport revival on their bingo card for this year.

However, the signs have been present for some time that the film’s enduring legacy would lead us to a remake getting off the ground. A couple of attempts have already been made over the years, with Dead Calm director Philip Noyce and V For Vendetta's James McTeigue both trying to get a version of Bloodsport off the ground but without success.

Then this year launched with the news that a group of former Call Of Duty developers were working on a...

If there’s one universal truth we all come to realize, it’s that success isn’t simply handed to you on a silver platter. It’s earned, often the hard way, as Jean-Claude Van Damme will attest. Before he became synonymous with gravity-defying roundhouse kicks and martial arts glory, his life was far from glamorous.

Yes, the very man who would later rake in millions, kicking his way to stardom, was once struggling to survive on the unforgiving streets of Los Angeles. But Van Damme made a last-ditch effort that would eventually change his fate. Yes, and that’s how he earned his golden ticket: Bloodsport.

Jean-Claude Van Damme in Bloodsport | Credit: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios The relentless pursuit of Jean-Claude Van Damme’s big break: From streets to stardom

Jean-Claude Van Damme arrived in Hollywood in the 1980s, determined to make it big. But five years later, the best he...

Cannon Films weren’t satisfied with their 1988 martial arts tournament movie Bloodsport, but when they reluctantly sent it out into the world in 1988 it proved to be a big hit, launching Jean-Claude Van Damme’s career as an action hero. The film was followed by three sequels, none of which starred Van Damme – and for the last couple of decades, there have been rumblings about a revival. Twenty years ago, Bloodsport co-writer Sheldon Lettich tried to get a film called Bloodsport: A New Beginning off the ground, but the project fell apart. In 2011, Phillip Noyce (Dead Calm) was attached to direct a “reinvention,” working from a screenplay by The Karate Kid creator Robert Mark Kamen. In 2013, James McTeigue (V for Vendetta) replaced Noyce at the helm. The project never made it into production. In 2019, there was a rumor that John Wick directors David Leitch and Chad Stahelski were considering making a Bloodsport remake.

Ever since Rocky took the world by storm in 1976, people have been enamored with the idea of an underdog fighting his way to victory. There is something about two people entering an arena and just seeing who is the best. Movies help us find the themes and metaphors we can use for this mentality in our everyday life. If you’re in a funk and then play the Rocky theme, you suddenly become more motivated than ever to get over that mountain called life. With Creed IV reportedly in the works, we figured this would be a great time to put together a list of the best fighting movies of all time… other than Rocky.

W​arrior (2011)

Tommy returns home after a stint in the Marines to find his father has cleaned himself up. They begin training for an upcoming mixed martial arts tournament offering the sport’s biggest payday.

Netflix’s martial arts comedy-drama series Cobra Kai reinvigorated nostalgia for the Karate Kid franchise and garnered a whole new audience. The show’s committed ensemble cast, effective comedy and heartfelt drama speak to viewers of all ages. While the series has set a high bar for martial arts storytelling, the world of cinema, including these classic movies, offers up some of the genre’s all-time greats.

By emphasizing action, interesting characters and top-notch filmmaking, many of these martial arts films capture a similarly enjoyable atmosphere as Cobra Kai. They offer a nuanced narrative that resonates with audiences through intense drama or entertains viewers with clever comedy.

Bloodsport Helped Launch an Action Star’s Career

Striking a balance between cheesiness and unabashed charm, the 1988 martial arts film Bloodsport effectively crafts its fight sequences. It draws viewers into a storyline centered on an illegal martial arts tournament featuring Jean-Claude Van Damme as the lead.

Plenty of action stars rose to prominence through roles in iconic films in the '80s. Arnold Schwarzenegger had The Terminatorand Predator, Sylvester Stallone had Rambo, and Harrison Ford had Raiders of the Lost Ark. For Jean-Claude Van Damme, his rise to fame came with 1988's martial arts movie Bloodsport. Bloodsport's premise is simple, yet engaging: Frank Dux (Van Damme) enters the deadly fighting tournament known as the Kumite. However, he ends up deserting the Army to do so, meaning that he has to fight for his life and his freedom! As one does.

A martial arts classic that helped shape the genre and inspired Mortal Kombat is now available for a new generation of action fans to discover.

One of the most iconic martial arts films of the 1980s,Bloodsport, is now streaming on Prime Video. This cult classic introduced audiences to the underground world of the Kumite, a secretive martial arts tournament, and showcased Kill 'Em All's Jean-Claude Van Damme's athleticism and charisma in one of his earliest film roles. The film's high-energy fight sequences and memorable training montages have cemented its status as a must-watch for martial arts fans around the world.

RelatedAlex Garland's 92% Fresh Sci-Fi Masterpiece Is Now on Paramount+

The writer behind 28 Days Later wrote and directed this sci-fi classic

The Legacy of Bloodsport

Released in 1988, Bloodsport became a defining film for martial arts cinema. The movie follows Frank Dux, a skilled fighter who enters a...

Two action titans throwing down both on screen and seemingly off in front of thousands of reporters; a director now known for tentpole disaster flicks working with a big budget for the first time; Replacing another director who couldn’t make it work; a script that dips its toes into at least four different genres; multiple required shots of Jean Claude Van Damme’s naked body; bullets, bombs, and a whole lotta killin’. This is what happened to Universal Soldier.

If you were a fan of action movies with a darker, sci-fi edge to their storylines in the 80s and 90s, Carolco Pictures was likely behind some of your favorites. By the time Universal Soldier darkened their desks around February of 1990, the company had already been involved with films like First Blood and They Live. This even before Terminator 2 and Total Recall. If you had a dark action flick,...

The ‘80s saw an explosion of martial arts movies that remain, to this day, milestones of cinema. Classics such as The Karate Kid and Bloodsport helped to popularize the genre in the tradition of Bruce Lee and his influence on action movies overall. Among the various underrated gems of the decade that paid tribute to Lee in a unique fashion was Berry Gordy’s The Last Dragon.

2016’s Suicide Squad was an unmitigated disaster on most fronts, completely demolishing the IP’s perception among the general audience. Furthermore, the first movie’s reputation, followed by the Covid-19 pandemic and Max’s same-day release policy, ended up contributing to The Suicide Squad‘s underwhelming box office numbers.

The Suicide Squad | Credit: Warner Bros.

Fortunately for James Gunn, the critical reception proved to be quite positive, and given Gunn’s reputation as a Cbm director, Warner Bros. rolled the ball on the spin-off, which surprisingly didn’t involve Idris Elba.

Was money the issue regarding the lack of Idris Elba’s Bloodsport show? The Suicide Squad | Credit: Warner Bros.

One of the biggest highlights of The Suicide Squad was Idris Elba‘s Bloodsport, a huge improvement over his Suicide Squad counterpart, Deadshot, played by Will Smith. As a result, most fans felt a spin-off about Bloodsport was likely. But to fans’ surprise,...

There comes a time in the life of every avid action film fan when something shifts. All of a sudden the invisible becomes tangible. It's like moment Neo embraces his One-hood in The Matrix, predicting the flightpaths of bullets and nodding them to the ground. The components of how action scenes are conceived and executed becomes as easy to read as Ikea instructions. It all starts with admiration for the behind-the-scenes technicians who prioritize safety and verisimilitude; for the directors who know the consequences of each follow-through, calling upon compositional prowess and necessary coverage to convey the most believability, and, most importantly, for the performers who give their bodies to the altar of a genre that never gets enough respect. The downside is that it becomes all too apparent just how few people are really good at producing decent action. For a supposedly lowbrow art form, it certainly seems like...

The Dcu’s canon has been a point of confusion ever since it was announced that The Flash was going to reboot the Dceu. There were plans for Michael Keaton’s Batman to serve in a NIck-Fury-esque sort of role within the Dceu, Batgirl was a major player, Supergirl was going to replace Superman, and more. It was certainly a confusing time.

When Gunn took over, it didn’t really become less confusing, just confusing in a different way. Gunn initially said that some things in the Dceu would become canon in the Dcu, but did not specify at first. It was clear to fans, however, that what would stay canon are the films that were popular and made money. Slowly, it was clear that The Flash would not be canon after it bombed, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom would not be canon after it also bombed but not quite as bad,...

The Dcu’s canon has been a point of confusion ever since it was announced that The Flash was going to reboot the Dceu. There were plans for Michael Keaton’s Batman to serve in a NIck-Fury-esque sort of role within the Dceu, Batgirl was a major player, Supergirl was going to replace Superman, and more. It was certainly a confusing time.

When Gunn took over, it didn’t really become less confusing, just confusing in a different way. Gunn initially said that some things in the Dceu would become canon in the Dcu, but did not specify at first. It was clear to fans, however, that what would stay canon are the films that were popular and made money. Slowly, it was clear that The Flash would not be canon after it bombed, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom would not be canon after it also bombed but not quite as bad,...

The Dcu’s cannon has been a point of confusion ever since it was announced that The Flash was going to reboot the Dceu. There were plans for Michael Keaton’s Batman to serve in a NIck-Fury-esque sort of role within the Dceu, Batgirl was a major player, Supergirl was going to replace Superman, and more. It was certainly a confusing time.

When Gunn took over, it didn’t really become less confusing, just confusing in a different way. Gunn initially said that some things in the Dceu would become cannon in the Dcu, but did not specify at first. It was clear to fans, however, that what would stay cannon are the films that were popular and made money. Slowly, it was clear that The Flash would not be cannon after it bombed, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom would not be cannon after it also bombed but not quite as bad,...

When Peacemaker Season 1 debuted on Max in 2022, the dance sequence during the opening credits became an instant fan-favorite. John Cena, who plays the series' titular antihero, says Season 2 will feature a new song with new choreography.

Speaking to Collider, Cena said that he was initially unsure if a quirky intro, set to Wig Wam's "Do You Wanna Taste It," would resonate with viewers. "I will say filming the dance number in Season 1, even though it was written in the script the whole way through, so I knew months out we were going to film it, you still kind of scratch your head, like, 'Is this going to work?'" he explained. Fortunately, everyone loved it and its popularity led to a new creation for Season 2.

Related James Gunn's Dcu Batman Still Has a Perfect Director to Turn to Amidst Andy Muschietti Controversy

Andy Muschietti helming The Brave and the Bold...

Superman was the first fictional character to fully embody the archetype we now call a "superhero" — and as with any prototype, he didn't arrive fully formed. The Superman we know today is a fair bit different from the one who debuted in Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster's "Action Comics" #1. He didn't fly, for one, nor were there any glowing green rocks called "Kryptonite" to weaken him.

As the good folks at DC Comics will tell you, Kryptonite first appeared in 1943 on the "Adventures of Superman" radio show. It then made it to the comics in 1949 and got its trademark green color in 1951.

When Superman is near Kryptonite, he'll show several classical symptoms of weakness: losing his equilibrium and collapsing, struggling to move, bleeding from his nose, etc. Depending on the version, the mineral either explicitly negates Superman's powers or just makes him too weak to fight. Generally, Kryptonite is...

Jean-Claude Van Damme has had a long and storied career, but the follow-up projects to his biggest hit, Timecop, went ahead without him. Hailing from Belgium, the famous "Muscles from Brussels" made the move to Hollywood in the mid-1980s. Once there, Jean-Claude Van Damme came to global prominence with hits such as Bloodsport and Kickboxer.

The 1990s only saw Van Damme's star rise even higher. Alongside Universal Soldier and Hard Target, Van Damme made fan-favorite cameos in such films as Last Action Hero and the ever-popular series Friends. Though there were some missteps, such as the campy 1994 adaptation of Street Fighter, Van Damme nonetheless left an indelible mark on the decade. That was never more true than when he signed on to star in Timecop. Despite receiving middling reviews, Timecop grossed over $100 million at the box office and remains Van Damme's biggest hit to date. Still, he didn't return for the Timecop sequel.

After starring in a number of lackluster VOD movies, action legend Jean-Claude Van Damme returns to action comedy—the combination of genres that has rejuvenated his recent phase of acting career—with The Gardener. Taking the role of the titular greenskeeper with a secret past, Van Damme delivers a brutal brand of justice through his fists and deadpan humor. It would have made for more entertaining fare if co-lead Michael Youn’s comedic flair had complemented him well instead of mostly comprising annoying caricatures, which goes as far as impersonating a Nazi officer. While the veteran action star looks to be in great shape for a man reaching his mid-60s, the majority of the action sequences involving him are badly shot, wasted by incorporating too many cuts and shaky cams. Overall, The Gardener is an alright one-time watch if you are a fan of the Bloodsport star, although it...

I miss plenty about the Dceu now that it has definitively ended, including one of the coolest suits ever adapted for DC movies. The supersuits of the Dceu were relatively contentious, but there is no denying that some fans are now lamenting the loss of the darker, more realistic outfits that both superheroes and supervillains alike opted to wear in DC's erstwhile cinematic franchise. Looking back, I think the wardrobe was one area where the Dceu excelled, even when it took bold creative decisions with such supersuits as Superman's.

To be clear, I am a huge fan of the vivid outfits depicted in the new Superman trailer, and I can't wait to see a trunk-wearing David Corenswet bring the comic book page to life. Nevertheless, after looking back at one of the Dceu's highest-rated movies, I think that James Gunn shouldn't shy away from picking the best bits from the...

Two survival movies starring Idris Elba have ascended Netflix's Global Top 10 chart. The English actor began his career in television, rising to prominence for his compelling performances as the ambitious drug kingpin Stringer Bell in the HBO series The Wire and as the titular brooding detective in the BBC series Luther, the latter earning him four Emmy nominations. Elba has also made notable appearances in other TV shows, including a recurring role as Charles Miner on the NBC sitcom The Office.

Transitioning to film, Elba's career reached new heights with a series of high-profile roles in blockbuster films, including Heimdall in six Marvel Cinematic Universe movies and Bloodsport in James Gunn's The Suicide Squad. His versatility was on full display in more blockbuster movies like Prometheus, Pacific Rim, Star Trek Beyond, Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw, and Sonic the Hedgehog. In recent years, Elba has continued to captivate audiences with survival movies,...

James Gunn is sitting comfortably atop the superhero movie throne as the new co-president of DC Studios alongside Peter Safran. Gunn is also the director of the upcoming Superman, redeemer of The Suicide Squad, writer of Creature Commandos and Peacemaker, and has one of the McU's most successful trilogies – Guardians of the Galaxy – under his belt. But cast your mind back a few years, and you might remember things weren't always so peachy for James Gunn. In between his long string of successes, the filmmaker's career was nearly destroyed overnight.

Gunn's brother and frequent collaborator, Sean Gunn, recently spoke with Kristian Harloff about his upcoming roles in the DC Universe, including playing Maxwell Lord in Superman. During the conversation, the pair discussed James Gunn's brief stint in the Phantom Zone. "It was really devastating to me, personally, but I also was more worried about my brother, who I know, he...

Jean-Claude Van Damme does not always star in his own franchise sequels, but the legendary action star appears in Kill ‘Em All 2, which is currently trending on Netflix. Jean-Claude Van Damme is one of the world’s most iconic 1980s action stars, but while many of his movies began franchises, he does not always star in their sequels. Van Damme’s movies have often been described as “the most remade” of all time, based on the success of their franchises. However, until Kill ‘Em All 2, Jean-Claude Van Damme had only played three recurring characters.

In Kill 'Em All 2, Van Damme reprises his role as Philip, a former spy on a revenge mission. The movie takes place seven years after Kill 'Em All, with Philip discovering that the brother of one of the men he killed in the original film is also out for revenge. The cast of...

James Gunn's Dcu can still bring back Will Smith's Deadshot and give him the Suicide Squad spinoff the actor originally wanted. From David Corenswet's Superman and Milly Alcock's Supergirl to The Brave and the Bold's Batman and a yet-to-be-cast Wonder Woman, the Dcu will introduce a new set of DC characters in both animation and live-action. However, various Dceu characters have survived the Dcu reboot — mostly those related to James Gunn's The Suicide Squad: John Cena's Peacemaker, Freddie Stroma's Vigilante, Viola Davis' Amanda Waller, Sean Gunn's Weasel, among others.

The Suicide Squad was itself a soft-reboot of Suicide Squad. Characters such as Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn and Jai Courtney's Captain Boomerang appear to be the same version of the characters in both movies, but The Suicide Squad doesn't directly reference the events of the first movie. Now that Dcu...

There are few action legacies quite as gargantuan as that of Jean-Claude Van Damme’s. The professional kickboxer, martial artist, and all-around badass has been a huge name in the world of high-octane productions since he first busted skulls in 1988’s Bloodsport. In the years since, he’s only continued to solidify his mark on the genre through titles like Street Fighter, Legionnaire and The Expendables 2. Over the last several years, the performer has largely stuck to limited and direct-to-video releases, reaching a different niche crowd. Right now, one of those movies is blowing up on streaming, with this year’s Kill ‘Em All 2 punching and kicking its way up Netflix’s Top 10.

2024 has proven to be one of WWE's most successful and memorable years as a professional wrestling company. 2025 is expected to be even bigger as WWE prepares for a WrestleMania in Las Vegas and a Raw premiere on Netflix. As 2024 comes to a close, it's important to reflect on the moments that shaped 2024 into one of WWE's biggest years yet.

Moments like Cm Punk costing Drew McIntyre the World Heavyweight Championship, Damian Priest's Money in the Bank cash-in, Sami Zayn's surprise Intercontinental Title win over Gunther, and Chelsea Green becoming the inaugural WWE Women's United States Champion all rank among the year's best moments. With 2025 already shaping up to be a fundamental year for the future of the company, the best moments in 2024 helped shape that transaction, and this year won't be forgotten any time soon.

Tna Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace Debuts in the WWE Royal Rumble 2024

It's...

Jean-Claude Van Damme's Kill 'Em All 2 gained popularity on Netflix, and it's largely due to the film's talented cast. The Kill 'Em All series follows Phillip (Jean-Claude Van Damme), a former spy who decided to take revenge against some criminals who escaped from the former Yugoslavia. Seven years after the original Kill 'Em All, Phillip and his estranged daughter Vanessa (Jacqueline Fernandez) are attacked by the brother of one of the men Phillip killed in the first film. The result was an action-packed romp that could be one of the best action movies on Netflix.

Though Jean-Claude Van Damme is the main attraction of Kill 'Em All 2, the movie actually has a surprisingly deep and talented cast of actors. From Bollywood stars to renowned foreign-language voice actors, Kill 'Em All 2 is bursting at the seams with international celebrities. Those skilled actors certainly helped the movie reach...

Jean-Claude Van Damme may not necessarily be considered a phenomenal actor, but it's hard to find another star who shows the same level of commitment when performing exciting fight scenes. Although Van Damme doesn’t necessarily have the range that contemporaries like Bruce Willis or Arnold Schwarzenegger had, his actual experience in martial arts made him the ideal choice to star in many classic B-movies. Cult classics like Hard Target and Lionheart are praised as being among his best, but there isn’t another film within Van Damme’s filmography that is as important as Bloodsport. The simple story and blunt brutality of the 1988 martial arts film from director Newt Arnold launched a subgenre of fighting movies, and succeeded in turning Van Damme into an international star.

Quick Links Weasel's Introduction in The Suicide Squad Made Him the Worst Villain James Gunn's Weasel Is Very Different from His Comics' Counterpart Creature Commandos Reveals the Weasel's Heartbreaking Origin Story Why Weasel's History in Creature Commandos Is Not a Retcon

The following contains spoilers from Creature Commandos, Season 1, Episode 4, "Chasing Squirrels," now streaming on Max.

The only overlap between Creature Commandos and The Suicide Squad -- both written by James Gunn -- are the characters of Amanda Waller and Weasel. The latter character was only in a few scenes of the film as part of the distraction squad sent into Corto Maltese. Weasel also survived the trip with the Creature Commandos, and viewers learn that a devastating fact about the former Suicide Squad member wasn't true at all.

While it's fair to suggest Creature Commandos' similarity to Gunn's other work is a mistake, he can make the formula work.

The canon connections between the Dcu's Creature Commandos and the Dceu's The Suicide Squad have an exciting implication for David Corenswet's Superman. Creature Commandos' two-episode premiere establishes a clear bridge between the Dceu and the Dcu through Amanda Waller, Rick Flag Sr., and Task Force M, all of whom find themselves on a mission to protect Pokolistan from Circe in part because Waller is forbidden from assembling a human team after the events of The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker. Meanwhile, the fate of the surviving Task Force X anti-heroes is currently unknown.

Since Creature Commandos' Task Force M is composed strictly of non-human anti-heroes, Weasel is the only member of Amanda Waller's Task Force X that returned. However, the fact that Creature Commandos confirms that Rick Flag Jr.'s death and Project Starfish are part of Dcu canon suggests that Dceu characters like Harley Quinn, Ratcatcher II, and Bloodsport...

There are a few things from comics that are better left outside of the mainstream audience’s minds. While there is some sillier stuff that gets adapted out for the sake of the story being palatable to the mainstream audience, there are also some…downright disturbing aspects of the comics that are left out…for the most part.

Deathstroke || Credit: The CW

Manu Bennet managed to deliver a great performance as Deathstroke, but there was one aspect of the character that the Arrowverse saw fit to adapt out, even if it showed up in some of the animated versions of the Dcu. Given that Slade is very famously a pe**phile in the comics, fans could rest easy that that part of the character was completely cut out in The CW’s version of the Dcu.

Manu Bennet might have left out the p**ophile part of Deathstroke, but the...

Quick Links What Happened to Rick Flag Jr. in The Suicide Squad? How Does Creature Commandos Bring Up Rick Flag Jr.'s Death?

The following contains spoilers for the first two episodes of Creature Commandos, now streaming on Max.

When Frank Grillo's Rick Flag Sr. was announced as part of Creature Commandos, fans were curious to know how he would handle the death of his son, Rick Flag Jr. The new Dcu hasn't explained much about how Rick Jr. and James Gunn's The Suicide Squad would tie into this new superhero universe.

It was natural that coy viewers would be interested in answers regarding how this old piece of continuity would carry over. After the first two episodes, Rick Sr. does come face-to-face with what happened to his son a couple of years prior. However, it's not a conversation that would please inquisitive minds. If anything, it keeps...

Creature Commandos is set to launch a brand new DC Universe, although several components of the previous Dceu have informed some of the new series. With the canonicity of certain events called into question, it is difficult to know exactly what will apply to the Dcu and what will not, even after James Gunn's recent comments. It is now clear that certain elements of Amanda Waller's appearances in The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker will be canon, while others, including in Black Adam, will not. As a result, it is worth having a resource to know what to expect.

Several features from the Dceu may still come into play during the run of the Dcu, although how this will play in remains to be seen. Gunn has spoken about how certain elements from the Dceu may be acknowledged, and therefore become a part of the series' canon. Until that is done,...

Peacemaker gets a new ride in a Peacemaker Season 2 set photo. This comes after Peacemaker series creator and DC Studios co-head James Gunn confirmed the return of Nhut Le's Judomaster in Season 2.

Shared on to the Secret Society X account, the photo sees Peacemaker, who's wearing a long sleeve suit, and Emilia Harcourt on a motorcycle. Above the photo is text that reads, "Peacemaker and Harcourt on [Peacemaker's] special bike (new set photo)." Putting the spotlight on Peacemaker itself, John Economos actor Steve Agee hyped up Peacemaker Season 2, avouching that it "definitely" has "a more epic storyline," going to further note that "more characters are involved this time, and it's a massive story in a massive world." He concluded, "I think anyone who likes season 1 is going to love season 2."

Related James Gunn Announces Peacemaker 2 Filming Wrap With Final Set Photo

James Gunn shares a set photo taken after filming the...

DC Studios' co-head James Gunn confirms one fan-favorite character is returning for Peacemaker Season 2.

Per a November 28 post on Threads, Gunn confirmed the return of Nhut Le's Judomaster in the upcoming second season of Peacemaker. When asked if the character would be making a return to the small screen, Gunn replied simply, "He is."

Related This Controversial DC Movie Can Fix Peacemaker’s Confusing Justice League Problem

Peacemaker's next season will address its season one Justice League cameo as part of the Dcu, and a failed Dceu film can easily explain it.

The name Judomaster has been picked up by several characters in the pages of DC Comics, most often by Ripley "Rip" Jagger, a United States Army sergeant who faced off against all manner of foes in his years-long career. Over the course of his time as a hero, Rip served alongside both the All-Star Squadron and the Living Assault Weapons teams,...

While Bloodsport, the 1988 martial arts tournament movie, is widely considered by fans to be Jean-Claude Van Damme’s best film, it almost never saw the light of day. Indeed, according to Nick De Semlyen’s book, “Last Action Heroes” (buy it here), the film was deemed unreleasable by Cannon Pictures head Menachem Golan. The film sat on the shelf for fourteen months and was considered so bad that Golan intended to release the movie direct-to-video. Things got so heated that Golan refused to go ahead with a proposed sequel to Lone Wolf McQuade, which would have featured Van Damme teaming up with Chuck Norris (who was an early mentor to Jcvd). He wanted Michael Dudikoff instead.

According to the book, Van Damme, who had returned to his old job as a limo driver when Bloodsport wrapped, convinced the studio to allow him to re-edit the film with Towering Inferno editor Carl Press.

Over the years, a number of movies in the martial arts genre have offered some truly unbelievable action sequences. While some of the best martial arts movies do opt for realism, over-the-top moves that would be impossible to perform in real life have become a long-time staple of the genre. They can come across as silly in certain instances, but when handled correctly, they can add extra levels of excitement to the action.

Such moves are particularly common in the traditional kung fu movies that were pumped out by studios like Golden Harvest and Shaw Brothers in the 1970s and 1980s. They're often associated with the careers of martial arts stars like Jackie Chan, Gordon Liu, and Alexander Fu Sheng. Sometimes, they can lead to a moment of brevity, and in other cases, they can be used to execute an epic finish to an intense fight scene.

The Ten Tigers...