Although he shone in action movies, Van Damme was close to embodying an iconic cinema monster. An unexpected turn changed its destiny in Hollywood.
Jean-Claude Van Damme It is a legend of action cinema. Born in Belgium, this martial arts expert reached Fame with films like bloody contact (1988) and Kickboxer (1989). However, before shining on the screen, it almost stars in a blockbuster Hollywood That he could change his destiny.
In the 80s, Van Damme had the opportunity to work with Arnold Schwarzenegger in Predator (1987), one of the most remembered action and science fiction films in history. But his passage through production was not as expected, and his participation ended abruptly. What really happened?
Jean-Claude Van Damme 2.WEBP
The movie that Jean-Claude Van Damme was going to star but could not be
To understand this story, you have to go back to the 80s, when Jean-Claude Van Damme tried to make his way in Hollywood. At that time, it was already a Karate champion And he was looking for the opportunity that would lead him to stardom. His great moment seemed to have arrived when he was chosen to play the Calien riature in DEPREDEDra film directed by John McTiernan and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Van Damme’s initial emotion faded quickly when he discovered what his role really implied. According to production testimonies, the Belgian actor had no idea that his face would not be seen on the screen. He believed that he could show his martial skills facing Schwarzenegger, but instead, he had to carry a heavy alien suit that covered him completely.
The design of the suit was another point of conflict. When the actor saw the costume for the first time, he was horrified. He did not like the appearance of the creature and felt that he made him look like a superhero instead of an extraterrestrial terrifying. In addition, the suit weighed about 90 kilos, which hindered his movements and generated extreme discomfort in the filming set.
The situation became unsustainable. Van Damme, frustrated because his talent would be hidden after a costume, had constant friction with production. He did not want to be simply a specialist inside a faceless suit, but an actor recognized for his physical skill. Finally, His discontent and difficulties With the costumes they took those responsible for the film to make a drastic decision: to say goodbye to the project.
Instead, the production team opted for Kevin Peter Hall, An actor of 2.20 meters high, who played the predator in the film and his sequel. Hall had the stature and physical presence necessary to give life to the fearsome alien, something that Van Damme could not offer due to its lowest complexion compared to the creature that filmmakers had in mind.
Despite losing this role, Van Damme’s fate changed quickly. In 1988, he starred in bloody contact, a film that catapulted him to fame and opened the doors to other successful productions such as double impact (1991) and Universal Soldier (1992).
Source: Ambito
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
