I was astonished to learn that there have been a total of five Universal Soldier films. Though only three of them feature Jean-Claude Van Damme. The other two are DTV retreads that are reminiscent of when Sasha Mitchell (best remembered as Cody Lambert on TGiF’s Step By Step) starred in three Kickboxer sequels sans Van Damme.
The 2009 release, Universal Soldier: Regeneration, from director John Hyams (son of director Peter Hyams), is a good barometer for rating the quality of direct-to-video releases. With a strong production design and balls-out action, it became an instant favorite in R0BTRAIN’s Bad Ass Cinema.
Well, this latest news is sure to delight action junkies that are familiar with the films of Scot Adkins. Adkins, the star of Undisputed II: Last Man Standing and Undisputed III: Redemption (he also played Weapon X in X-Men Origins: Wolverine), will headline the newest Universal Soldier installment, Universal Soldier: New Dimension.
To be shot in Baton Rouge, Louisiana later this year, the film will not feature Michael Jai White, who was originally rumored to be part of the cast. Both Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren will be reprising their roles, however, but their characters are little more than cameos.
While the story synopsis is not known, the story will involve Scott Adkins and Andrei “The Pitbull” Arlovski, who co-starred in Regeneration.
