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In the two decades between 1992 to 2012, Belgian action star Jean-Claude Van Damme starred in a very successful and popular film franchise that made him a household name and one of Hollywood’s most bankable action heroes. TheUniversal Soldierfilms series which comprises a total of 6 films, carved a unique identity for Van Damme which made him hold his own amongst superstars like Arnold Schwarzenegger.
With the 6th and final installmentUniversal Solider: Regeneration, theBloodsportstar cemented his place as an action hero who could bring out his dramatic side too. Another interesting aspect of this film was the surprising number of days that Van Damme spent on the set.
Also Read:Jean-Claude Van Damme Was Charging 24X More in Just 3 Years After Being Paid Just 25,000 for Bloodsport
Jean-Claude Van Damme completedUniversal Solider: Regenerationin 20 Days
TheUniversal Soldierfilms which started in 1992 sawJean-Claude Van Dammebecome a cult action figure in Hollywood. The sci-fi thrillers were based on deceased soldiers in the Vietnam war being brought back to life in a secret military experiment to become superhuman warriors. The innovative theme and the narrative of the first film made it a big blockbuster at the box office thereby encouraging the makers to create 5 more sequels.
The final installment of the franchise titledUniversal Solider: Regenerationalso lived up to expectations, making a 70 million dollar profit upon its release in 2009. Despite more ambitious action scenes and visual effects, the film was completed in quick time with the 2 main stars, Van Damme andDolph Lundgrenfilming for an extremely short schedule. According to IMDb, Lundgren who reprised his role as the antagonist Sergeant Andrew Scott, completed his role in just 5 days while the Belgian star who portrays Private Luc Deveraux the protagonist, was present at the set for a mere 20 days for his role.
Also Read:“I was completely f**ked up. Made a big mistake”: Jean-Claude Van Damme Regretted Rejecting $36,000,000 Paycheck as He Wanted the Same Offer as Jim Carrey
Jean-Claude Van Damme Is A Devoted Animal Rights Advocate
Jean-Claude Van Damme may not be a prominent figure in Hollywood right now but the actor has other passions that have taken up his time and money. The Muscles from Brussels who was last seen in the action comedyThe Last Mercenaryin 2021, is now spending his energy as an avid supporter and advocate for animal rights. Van Damme was one of the many celebrities who vocalized the dire need to protect the world’s fauna and save them from extinction.
“Please, help me and let us all together try our best to save endangered species and take them into a safe harbor”
The Belgian martial arts star was also famously known for his softer side when he jumped into the fray between Norway and Bulgaria to save a 3-month-old Chihuahua from euthanasia due to the animal being given a fake passport. Van Damme who used his influence to step in a prevent the tragedy from happening, was instrumental in saving the dog’s life and putting it up for adoption.
Also Read:Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Daughter Bianca is a Combat Goddess Who Can Break All 206 Bones in Your Body in a “Nice, feminine way”
Sharanya Sankar
Senior Writer
Articles Published :1230
Sharanya Sankar, Writer for FandomwireHaving completed her Masters degree in Journalism and Mass Communication, Sharanya has a solid foundation in writing which is also one of her passions. She has worked previously with Book My show for a couple of years where she gained experience reviewing films and writing feature articles. Sharanya’s articles on film and pop culture have also been published on Film Companion, a popular film-based website. Apart from movies and pop culture, her interests include music and sports. She has contributed over 650 articles to Fandomwire so far.
