David Farnor | On 16, Apr 2016

Phylicia Rashad, Kat Foster and Moises Arias have all signed up to star in Amazon’s new comedy series starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

Called Jean-Claude Van Johnson, the show sees Van Damme play a heightened version of himself – an action star who comes out of retirement to resume his undercover work as alter-ego, Jean-Claude Johnson. Foster will play Vanessa, an undercover agent who poses as a hair and make-up artist on film shoots, with whom Johnson has romantic history. Rashad will play Jane, the head of the secret network that employs Jean-Claude and Vanessa by night, and the actor’s agent by day. Arias will play Luis, another agent who works with Vanessa.

JCVD to star in Amazon comedy series Jean-Claude Van Johnson

Originally published: 25th February 2016

Jean-Claude Van Damme is reportedly heading to Amazon.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the action legend will star in a new scripted comedy series for the streaming site. Jean-Claude Van Johnson will see him play a version of himself – a famous actor and martial arts veteran by day, and a black ops agent by night. When Johnson’s role in an action-movie adaptation of Huckleberry Finn lands him back in the danger zone, he also finds himself having to contend with Vanessa, a fellow operative and the one that got away.

The series would mark a reunion for Van Damme with The Expendables’ Dave Callaham, who is reportedly on scripting duties, with Callaham also exec-producing alongside Scott Free Television’s Ridley Scott and David Zucker.

The project, which has been in the works since 2014, following a spec script by Callahan, will be directed by Peter Atencio, with shooting expected to start in May.

So far, Amazon, Van Damme’s people and WME, who represent Scott Free, have not officially commented or confirmed the production. THR says that Amazon has ordered a pilot for the show, which would see it join a future wave of Amazon Studios pilots, as they are put to the public vote to determine the ones that get made as full seasons.

If this all goes ahead as reported, the project would mark JCVD’s first appearance on the small screen, after a length feature career boasting such titles as Universal Soldier, Hard Target and even vocals in the Kung Fu Panda franchise. Scott Free and Amazon are certainly no strangers to each other – they previously teamed up on Amazon’s original The Man in the High Castle, which became the VOD service’s most popular show to date following its premiere at the end of last year.

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