The unlikely worlds of Ridley Scott and Jean-Claude Van Damme are colliding. No, the action hero won’t be in "Alien: Covenant," but Scott is one of the producers of a new series brewing at Amazon, that actually sounds kinda great.
Slashfilm reveals the online merchant has ordered up a pilot for the awesomely titled "Jean-Claude Van Johnson." Much as he did in "JCVD," the actor will be playing a variation of himself, but the show apparently takes an even bolder parodic turn in the script penned by Dave Callaham ("The Expendables"). Here’s the synopsis:
READ MORE: The 25 Most Anticipated New TV Shows Of 2016
Jean-Claude Van Damme comes out of retirement to put on once again the mantle of his alter-ego, undercover private contractor Jean-Claude Johnson. “Johnson’s” cover as the lead role in a re-imagined action film version of “Huckleberry Finn” lands him right back in the midst of the danger he secretly always craves–but most importantly, back in the orbit of Vanessa, his fellow operative and the woman he loves.
The show is super-meta, using the premise that Van Damme’s movie roles (in projects like "Double Team" and "Street Fighter") were really just cover for his missions, that Van Johnson is his real identity, and it’s all taking place in a world where other actors are really undercover agents.
Longtime "Key & Peele" collaborator Peter Atencio (who is helming "Keanu") will direct, and production will begin May. Sounds like it could be a lot of fun, so let’s hope the pilot makes the grade.
