Jean-Claude Van Damme Returning To Martial Arts Roots In Yakuza Action Pic ‘Katana’ For Jeremy Zag & The Veterans — AFM — SkimNews
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- Jean-Claude Van Damme plays a former world champion fighter and father forced back into combat after yakuza take his daughter in Japan, reconnecting the star with the martial-arts genre of Bloodsport, Kickboxer and Double Impact.
- Jeremy Zag is writing and directing the film, calling the Van Damme collaboration a lifelong dream after 30 years of practicing Kyokushin karate at an elite level.
- Melsik Baghdasaryan, an Armenian MMA fighter, joins Van Damme alongside Cyril Benzaquen, a French Muay Thai and kickboxing world champion, in the fight cast.
- Division Z produces Katana with Japan-based Wowow Bridge, and filming is scheduled for April, May and June 2027 in Japan, France and LA.
- The Veterans will handle international rights and have a screenplay and sizzle reel ready for AFM buyers, while CAA Media Finance represents U.S. rights.
- Katana appears to have evolved from What’s My Name?, the Zag-Van Damme collaboration first announced in 2022.
- Jean-Claude Van Damme had resisted returning to the genre for years, but chose to work with Zag on what Zag calls “one last great martial arts film.”
Why it matters: The Veterans gains a preproduction sales package for international buyers at AFM, while CAA Media Finance represents U.S. rights. The April, May and June 2027 production schedule, Division Z partnership and Wowow Bridge involvement give buyers concrete production and location details before filming.
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