Kickboxer and Universal Soldier star Jean-Claude Van Damme says he was turned down for a Fast & Furious film — and it’s all down, allegedly, to Vin Diesel.
During an interview with The Telegraph, the legendary action star claimed Diesel didn’t want him on board the Fast & Furious franchise. “They want me in Fast & Furious,” he claimed. “But Vin Diesel said, ‘No, I don’t want him.’ ”
Unfortunately, Van Damme didn’t expand on what film he was eyed for, or what his role would have been. Of course, he did board another popular blockbuster franchise as the villainous... err... Vilain, in The Expendables 2. After previously turning down a role in The Expendables, he jumped aboard the sequel. Now, Van Damme claims there’s a hint that he could return someday, despite his character already being killed off.
“Yeah! That’s what Stallone told me,” he said, laughing. “Well, there’s always Expendables 5. Or 25.” The idea that Van Damme could return to The Expendables isn’t exactly new, with fans previously suggesting that Jean Vilain could easily have a twin brother... Claude Vilain.
“Mr. Stallone is an inventive man,” he said back in 2014, via Empire. “He may even create a stronger character than Claude Vilain, the twin brother of Jean Vilain. Some fans ask me if the next Vilain — if there is a next — is going to be a good guy or a bad guy. I would leave it to Mr. Stallone to decide, as I trust his way of imagination."
That hasn’t panned out... yet. But after The Expendables 4 bombed at the box office, who knows what’s next?
As for the Fast & Furious franchise, it looks as though Van Damme won’t be making an appearance, at least not that we know of. Here’s hoping for Fast & Furious 11.
Want to read more about the Fast & Furious movies? Check out our rankings of all the Fast & Furious movies and find out the exact moment the Fast & Furious franchise completely left reality.
Image credit: Photo by Don Arnold/WireImage
Ryan Leston is an entertainment journalist and film critic for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.
