Mike Tyson Lands Role in Reboot of The Kicboxer Franchise
Former undisputed heavyweight world champion Mike Tyson has been cast as a violent criminal who is forced into a world of brawling behind bars, according to Variety.com.
He joins another professional athlete, mixed martial arts star Paige VanZant, in Kickboxer: Retaliation, which will also feature Game of Thrones actor Hafthor Julius Bjornsson, who portrayed The Mountain in the hit fantasy drama series.
Production is already underway in California and Nevada, but producer Robert Hickman has promised more casting surprises for sporting fans.
"This is a monumental moment for us," Hickman told Variety. "We have already signed on 14 champions from the sporting world, mostly decorated fighters from the UFC, and being able to add Mike Tyson as a cast member adds a whole new element and excitement to the film."
Kickboxer: Retaliation will serve as the follow-up to the upcoming Kickboxer: Vengeance, a remake of Jean-Claude Van Damme's original 1989 film Kickboxer.
Van Damme returns to the franchise for the reboot, which was directed by John Stockwell. The film features Fast & Furious 6 actress Gina Carano and Guardians of the Galaxy's Dave Bautista and is set for release in September (16).
Dimitri Logothetis, who wrote the screenplay for Vengeance, will direct Retaliation, and he cannot wait to get started.
"The passion I have for this genre just keeps getting bigger and the cast we have assembled is phenomenal," he said. "Expect to see spectacular, non-stop, action-packed martial arts from real fighters."