What to Anticipate from A24's Bloodsport Remake

      What should we anticipate from the Bloodsport remake by Michaela Coel and A24?

      Occasionally, the film industry delivers surprising twists. This week, A24 and Michaela Coel announced their collaboration to remake the classic Jean-Claude Van Damme film Bloodsport. It's certainly an unusual pairing of creative talents, and at first glance, it doesn’t scream “Bloodsport.”

      As a fan of Van Damme and the original film (I’m currently listening to its wonderfully cheesy soundtrack while writing this), I should ideally be against this idea. In reality, there have been rumors of reboots, sequels, and continuations for years, sometimes even with Van Damme's name associated (occasionally by him). Many readers scratching their heads may not realize that Bloodsport already had three sequels in the past, none of which featured Van Damme. My instinctive reaction as a Van Damme enthusiast to seeing those headlines should probably be something along the lines of, “Oh no, my eyes!”

      However, my response is quite the opposite. For the most part, I’m not particularly concerned about the franchise being rebooted. If Netflix were to take it on with Van Damme playing a mentor role, I’ve already seen that with the Kickboxer reboots. What piques my interest is the A24 involvement and Michaela Coel stepping up as writer and director. A bland copy, filled with lazy nostalgia, would be as engaging as watching paint dry. Fortunately, it seems unlikely that A24 and Coel would go that route, but what can we expect instead?

      Coel is becoming a familiar face in Hollywood as an actress. With her British series, Chewing Gum and I May Destroy You, she has showcased her versatility and talent in writing, directing (for I May Destroy You), and leading her projects. Both shows are insightful and observational but have different tones. The more comedic Chewing Gum probably won’t reflect Coel’s approach in Bloodsport, while I May Destroy You’s psychological elements might inform the new interpretation.

      Regardless of the tone Coel chooses, the film will likely align with A24’s tendency for more thought-provoking content. It will probably focus more on in-depth character exploration than Newt Arnold’s original Van Damme feature for Cannon Films. One thing we can expect positively from this project is that it will be distinctly different from its predecessor. The small fan base that grew up with the original may not considerably impact the project’s success or failure, so while their feedback has generally been negative, it’s somewhat irrelevant. Fans often overlook the simplest concept: they always have the choice of whether or not to watch something.

      Will the storyline still be loosely tied to Frank Dux, the individual whose self-promoted tales inspired the original film? Regardless of whether you believe there’s any truth to Dux’s accounts (from Bloodsport and beyond) or view him as a fantasy storyteller, that foundation is undeniably intriguing. It could be more useful to remake the film in title only, while still incorporating MMA fights. It would also be more sensible to make the titular blood sport more realistic and gritty than the theatricality displayed in Van Damme’s film.

      As impressive as JCVD’s spinning 360 kick is, it isn’t really grounded in reality. Attempt that in the Octagon, and you’ll likely end up knocked out. However, if the film should keep one element from the original, it must feature a trained fighter in the lead role. A true tough guy would enhance the believability of the fights. I suspect the casting will take a different path, but it would be fantastic to see Scott Adkins or Bren Foster take the lead. Given that both are turning 50 this year, it’s doubtful the main star will be older, and you can expect them to be closer in age to Van Damme when he made the original film (which was 26). Or, could Coel star in the film herself and change the gender dynamics? She began mixed martial arts training shortly after landing her role in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

      Another aspect the film should steer clear of is nostalgia-driven callbacks. There’s no need for a cameo from Van Damme or appearances from Bolo Yeung or a soundtrack filled with tracks from Paul Hertzog. If I want elements reminiscent of Van Damme’s Bloodsport, I’ll simply revisit the original. The focus should solely be on A24’s style and Coel’s vision for the film. She has already demonstrated that creative integrity matters to her, having declined a lucrative Netflix offer for I May Destroy You that would have given the streaming service all rights. She stood firm and retained creative control, crafting the show her way. It’s also unlikely that A24 would adopt a corporate mindset, as they typically grant filmmakers a significant degree of freedom, regardless of how unconventional their creative vision may be.

      As we approach the production phase