What’s My Name? is reported to be the final action movie of Jean-Claude Van Damme. Across his storied career, the “muscles from Brussels” has squared off against some brutal enemies on screen. However, his biggest challenge is right around the corner.
Although he waned from the Hollywood radar in the early 2000s, Jean-Claude Van Damme has been on somewhat of a comeback trail ever since 2012’s The Expendables 2. Despite such a resurgence, the athletic superstar is looking to leave the action genre behind. So, here’s everything we know about What’s My Name?, Van Damme’s last hoorah.
What Is the Movie About?
In 2008, Jean-Claude Van Damme wowed audiences and critics with a dramatic turn in the Belgian comedy/drama JCVD. The movie saw the iconic tough guy soften his persona to play a fictionalized version of himself as he is caught up in a bank robbery. Although some went in expecting an action flick, what they got was an understated rendition that was rather introspective for Van Damme as his character reflects on his life in the terrifying situation. The film was equipped with a powerful monologue from the Sudden Death star that showcased dramatic chops most didn’t realize he had. Eight years later, he decided to build on this, portraying a fictionalized version of himself yet again in the TV series, Jean-Claude Van Johnson.
Perhaps recognizing that this is where he shines brightest, What’s My Name? will once again see Van Damme play himself. Written by Van Damme alongside writing duo Paul Sloan and Nick Vallelonga, the movie will see the martial arts savant wake from a coma, unaware of who he is and having to battle iconic antagonists from his movie career. The film is described as an action/adventure, however, it is rumored that there will be animation elements thrown in. This makes sense considering that Jeremy Zag is directing the movie, a filmmaker known for a string of animated TV shows and movies.
When Will What’s My Name Be Released?
This ambitious project was first announced in 2022, with Deadline breaking the story. It was reported that Wild Bunch International would be handling foreign sales, and CAA Media Finance would representing the film’s domestic distribution rights. As of writing, the film is yet to start filming. This brings us to the grand scale of the project.
As mentioned, Jean-Claude Van Damme slipped off the mainstream radar in the early 2000s. As a result, he began churning out straight-to-DVD movies that went largely unnoticed. With such low-budget films, the actors are considerably cheap compared to A-listers. So, these actors may be easy to wrangle together for What’s My Name? However, stars like Dolph Lundgren, Lance Henriksen, and the emerging Scott Adkins may come with a slightly higher price tag. But it’s not just about price. Putting such an ensemble together is hard work due to conflicting schedules and prior commitments. It would also be impossible for Van Damme to fight all of his former adversaries, as sadly, many have passed away.
So, over three years since What’s My Name? was announced, it is still listed as being in pre-production on IMDB. This means a release date is hard to decipher. Also, Van Damme is the only actor attached, and the trail has gone somewhat cold. However, early on, Bolo Yeung (Bloodsport), Michel Qissi (Kickboxer), and Dolph Lundgren (Universal Soldier) expressed interests to board the picture.
Will This Really Be Van Damme’s Final Action Movie?
When speaking about the film with Deadline in 2022, Van Damme explained how he is ready to leave action movies behind, saying: “I wanted to leave the stage but with a revisit of my career, starting with Bloodsport, the one where I started to become famous. I want this to be a new Bloodsport but on a higher level.” Since then, he has starred in action movies like Darkness of Man, Netflix’s The Last Mercenary, and The Gardener. However, it’s worth noting that the latter two movies were heavily sliced with comedy, something he has been leaning into more and more recently.
While What’s My Name? may be Van Damme’s last chance to show us that iconic roundhouse kick, chances are he’s sticking around for other genres. He has proven to be way more eclectic than people ever realized. He’s done drama, comedy, and even voice work in big movies like Kung Fu Panda 3, and Minions: The Rise of Gru. So, it’s hard to imagine he will retire from acting altogether. Maybe he just needs to retire his legs and fists.
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