Home Entertainment Check out Dave Bautista as Tong Po in the KICKBOXER remake!

Check out Dave Bautista as Tong Po in the KICKBOXER remake!

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I spent far too many years of my childhood imitating martial arts movie stars, especially Jean Claude Van Damme (hey, this was the 90’s when he was still super cool!). But when it came to his iconic movie Kickboxer, I couldn’t care less about his character Kurt Sloane. The only person I wanted to be is Tong Po, the towering, glass-licking, kickboxing demon that uses reinforced concrete pillars as sparring partners and cripples Sloane’s older brother sparking off this tale of vengeance (and sweet, sweet dancing).

Now as you may have heard, there’s a remake of Kickboxer on the way titled Kickboxer: Vengeance, and up until now we’re didn’t really have much info for it other than the cast, which would see Van Damme return, but in a different role as a mentor to our new hero played by martial artist/stuntman turned first time lead actor Alan Moussi. Also in the cast are MMA stars Georges St. Pierre and Gina Carano, and professional wrestler turned green skinned movie alien badass Dave Bautista. And somehow in the last few months, I overlooked the announcement that Bautista was actually playing none other than a new version of Tong Po.

Not that I’ll ever overlook anything about this Tong Po ever again, because he seems to be composed entirely out of nightmares and muscles! Just look at these pics that was recently revealed on the film’s official Facebook page!

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That may just be the scariest dreadlock/top-knot combo in the history of hair. Along with Tong Po, we’ve also got our first look Van Damme’s Master Durand. Who is really just a disheveled Jean Claude Van Damme in a crumpled hat and sunglasses.

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We’re still yet to actually see an official pic of Moussi in character in the movie, so you’re going to have to settle for this set pic of  the actor along with Van Damme and screenwriter/producer Dimitri Logothetis.

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Kickboxer: Vengeance is directed by John Stockwell (Turistas, Into the Blue, Blue Crush) and also stars Darren Shahlavi, Sara Malakul Lane, Joseph John Valtellini and Matthew Ziff. It is scheduled for release sometime in mid-2016. Here’s the synopsis:

The film follows Eric and Kurt Sloan, the descendants of a California dynasty of champions. After Eric wins the Karate World Championship, a promoter lures him to Hong Kong despite his brother’s protests. When Eric dies, Kurt turns to his former mentor Master Durand to seek revenge on the vicious Tong Po

Last Updated: November 5, 2015

3 Comments

  1. Kickboxer is still one of my favourite action movies of all time… I can’t tell you how many times I watched it as a kid – must been hundreds (seriously)! But this… Honestly not sure about this – too many unknowns for my liking. But will give it a chance – see how it turns out. Bautista definitely looks full-on badass in that getup!

    Reply

    • Kervyn Cloete

      November 5, 2015 at 15:01

      Well, to be fair. The first Kickboxer was basically a bunch of unknowns as well.

      Van Damme was just known for Bloodsport and nobody had seen Cyborg (or at least admitted to in public).

      Reply

      • Rock789

        November 5, 2015 at 16:12

        Talking about unknown factors, more than actors. 🙂

        Reply

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