"Ex-Call of Duty Devs Launch First Official Kickboxer Game: Will Jean-Claude Van Damme Star?"

Excitement is brewing as former Call of Duty developers at Force Multiplier Studios in Los Angeles team up with filmmakers Dimitri Logothetis and Rob Hickman to bring the iconic Kickboxer martial arts film franchise into the gaming world. This collaboration aims to create the first-ever video game based on the Kickboxer series, tapping into the rich legacy started by Jean-Claude Van Damme in the 1989 original.

The Kickboxer saga, which began with Van Damme's star turn, has since expanded into multiple sequels and a rebooted trilogy. Van Damme himself returned for the 2016 reboot, Kickboxer: Vengeance, and its 2018 follow-up, Kickboxer: Retaliation, alongside wrestler-turned-actor Dave Bautista. The third film in the reboot trilogy, Kickboxer: Armageddon, is slated to start shooting this spring.

The upcoming Kickboxer video game is still in its early stages of development. Force Multiplier Studios promises a blend of the franchise's compelling narrative with high-energy martial arts action, crafting an intense brawler experience. The game will feature iconic characters and settings from the series, originally led by martial arts legend Jean-Claude Van Damme.

When asked if Van Damme would reprise his role in the video game, Force Multiplier Studios remained coy. Brent Friedman, the studio's Chief Creative Officer, expressed enthusiasm about the project, stating, "We're all massive fans of the Kickboxer movies, and we have the licenses to many characters and likenesses from the Kickboxer universe that we're very excited about. We'll have much more to share later in the year."

Force Multiplier Studios, co-founded by Jeremy Breslau, Brent Friedman, and Charnjit Bansi, boasts a team with experience on major titles like Call of Duty, Borderlands, Halo, Tomb Raider, and Mortal Kombat. Their previous venture, Karnivus, a combat shooter released within Fortnite, sets the stage for their ambitious take on the Kickboxer franchise.

Dimitri Logothetis, writer and director of Kickboxer: Armageddon, shared his enthusiasm for the project, saying, "Kickboxer is more than just a film; it's a cultural phenomenon that has inspired generations of fans and martial artists alike. I'm thrilled to collaborate with the incredible team at Force Multiplier Studios. We're going to create a gaming experience that pays tribute to the original film while introducing exciting new gameplay elements."

Jeremy Breslau, CEO of Force Multiplier Studios, added, "Our passion is innovation, and just as we're innovating on Fortnite Creative with our own environmental combat shooter experience Karnivus, we can’t wait to innovate the fighting genre with a dynamic brawler that will empower players to be the best kickboxers in the world, traveling to exotic locales and introducing new environmental combat mechanics to deliver a martial arts experience like never before."

While fans eagerly await more details, no screenshots or trailers have been released yet. Stay tuned for more information later this year as Force Multiplier Studios continues to develop this exciting new addition to the Kickboxer universe.