What can we expect from Michaela Coel and A24’s Bloodsport remake?
Sometimes cinema throws out a head-scratching surprise. This week, it was the news that A24 and Michaela Coel are combining to remake the Jean-Claude Van Damme star-maker, Bloodsport. It’s a bizarre combination of creative forces to say the least, and one that doesn’t immediately scream “Bloodsport.”
As a Van Damme aficionado and fan of the original (I’m listening to the epically good and majestically cheesy soundtrack as I write this article), I’m exactly the type of person who should be repelled by the idea. In truth, reboots and sequels and continuations have been rumoured for years, with and without Van Damme’s name tentatively linked (occasionally by himself). Some of the headline readers rubbing their chins in bemusement may not even realise that Bloodsport already spawned three sequels back in the day (minus Van Damme). My reaction as a Van Dammite to reading those headlines should be something like, “My eyes, my eyes!”
However, my reaction is very different. For one, I’m not overly fussed about the franchise being rebooted one way or the other. Were Netflix to step in and reboot it with Van Damme being a key part, perhaps taking on the mentor role, well, hell, I’ve seen that with the Kickboxer reboots. I am curious, though, about the A24 factor and Michaela Coel taking on the writing and directing duties. A pale imitation, more of the same, weighted heavily in lazy nostalgia, would be about as interesting as watching a freshly painted wall, dry. The likelihood we get that from A24 and Coel is very slim, but what could we expect?
Coel is becoming a regular fixture in Hollywood as an actress. As a creative force behind her British shows, Chewing Gum and I May Destroy You, Coel has also proved adaptable and skilled at juggling the writing, directing (on I May Destroy You), and being the lead actress. Two shows that were insightful and observational, but with very different tones. The more overtly comedic nature of Chewing Gum is less likely to mirror Coel’s upcoming approach to Bloodsport, not that I May Destroy You would necessarily be the way, though it has psychological drama, which might well be an element in the new Bloodsport.
Whatever tone Coel decides to go for, the film will more than likely fit within the A24 library’s penchant for the cerebral. It’ll certainly delve more into intense character study than Newt Arnold’s original Van Damme vehicle for Cannon Films. If we can expect one thing, and this is the positive part of this project, it’s something markedly different. The niche group of fans who grew up on the original aren’t substantial enough to have a big bearing on the success (or failure) of this, so whilst the response has been predominantly negative from them, it’s a little moot. Fans often forget the simplest notion: you have a choice to watch something or not.
Will it still be loosely connected with Frank Dux, the man whose self-promoted stories inspired the original film? Whether you believe grains of truth in Dux’s stories (those from Bloodsport and beyond) or that he’s a Walter Mitty-esque fantasist, that source material is certainly interesting. It may be more beneficial to just remake the film in name only, with MMA brawls still involved. It would also make more sense to make the titular blood sport far more grounded and gritty than the showstopping theatricality of Van Damme’s movie.
As majestic as a JCVD jumping 360 kick is, it’s not really based in reality. Try that in the Octagon, and you’ll probably get sparked out. Though if the film needs one similarity with the original, it needs to have a trained fighter in the leading role. A genuine hardass will make the brawls more convincing. I suspect the casting approach will be completely different, but it would be great to see Scott Adkins or Bren Foster as the lead. Both guys are 50 this year, and it would be unlikely the leading star would be north of that, and you’d wager more akin to the age Van Damme was in the original film (26). Or would Coel lead the film too and flip the gender? She took up mixed martial arts training shortly after getting her role in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
Another thing the film should avoid is call-backs and fan-bait nostalgia. We don’t need a Van Damme walk-on. We don’t need Bolo Yeung to pop up, or a jukebox playing some of Paul Hertzog’s great soundtrack from the original (or a Stan Bush banger). If I want Van Dammian Bloodsport elements, guess what, I’ll watch the original. Go all in on the A24 style and Coel’s vision for the film. She’s already proven that creative vision is important to her, having turned down a big-money deal from Netflix for I May Destroy You, which would have effectively given the streamer all the rights. She held firm and retained control, making the show her way. It’s unlikely A24 would take the corporate approach, of course, as they tend to allow filmmakers a pretty hefty amount of freedom. No matter how idiosyncratic the auteur might be.
It’ll certainly be interesting to hear more details the closer this gets to potentially hitting the camera (if it gets that far). Colour this Van Damme fan intrigued.
What are your thoughts on the Bloodsport remake? Let us know on our social channels @FlickeringMyth…
Tom Jolliffe
