(The information provided for this article by Platform Media Group has since been retracted)
New production company, Flagship Films, and producers Alison Semenza (Zig Zag, Green Dragon) and Todd Moyer (Wing Commander, Virus) are bringing together two of the '80s' hottest fading action stars for the first time in the same film. The film, called Weapon, will star Steven Seagal (Under Siege) and Jean Claude Van Damme (Hard Target).
If this was 15 years ago, I would probably be more excited than I am, but I would be lying if I did not admit to being a little giddy at the prospect. It will be fun to see these two non-actors go toe to toe. I can picture Seagal's constantly constipated expression used in reaction to a Van Damme split.
The plot reminds me of Assassins, which featured Antonio Banderas and Sylvester Stallone as a pair of rival - you guessed it - assassins. In Weapon Seagal and Van Damme will be assassins who form an alliance to take down a DEA-backed drug cartel. The former will be a sharpshooter, while the latter will be a knife man.
Sounds like the perfect set-up for some fisticuffs! Well, perhaps not. It looks like they are setting up a shield to cover up Seagal's inability to move like he once could, not to mention hiding the girth he has grown over the years. If the two were to fight today, I think you would have to give the edge to Van Damme. I just hope that if the two do fight, that it looks better than the Jet Li/Jason Statham chopped mess in War.
The film is set to go before cameras in July with a screenplay by Aaron Rahsaan Thomas (Numb3rs, Friday Night Lights). I wonder if the plan is for a theatrical release? I cannot believe that it is, as there is probably not a large enough audience that still cares about these two all that much. On DVD/Blu-ray, however, it could do well with a wider casual audience.
Article comments
1 - Ian Dunsford
Forget De Niro & Pacino. This is what I'm talking about.