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Jean-Claude Van Damme Officially Returns to Martial Arts With New Yakuza Movie
Jean-Claude Van Damme will star in *Katana*, a martial arts action film that marks a return to the fighting roles that helped establish his career. The story follows a retired fighter drawn back into competition after the Yakuza kidnap his daughter.
The cast will also include MMA fighter Melsik Baghdasaryan and Muay Thai and kickboxing champion Cyril Benzaquen. Jeremy Zag is writing and directing; filming is planned in Japan, France and Los Angeles from spring 2027, with the project to be presented at the American Film Market. No release date has been announced.
In short
- Van Damme returns to martial arts cinema in *Katana*.
- The plot centres on a retired fighter and his kidnapped daughter.
- Filming is planned across three locations from spring 2027.
Explained simply
Jean-Claude Van Damme is a Belgian actor and martial artist who became known for action films built around hand-to-hand fighting. His screen roles often draw on his experience in martial arts, including kickboxing.
The yakuza are organised crime groups associated with Japan. In Katana, the central conflict begins when a retired fighter’s daughter is kidnapped, drawing him back into a world of fighting.
The film also features professional fighters Melsik Baghdasaryan and Cyril Benzaquen, with Jeremy Zag as writer and director. Its planned filming across Japan, France and Los Angeles connects the story’s Japanese setting with an international production.
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