It looks like Van Damme has snubbed the upcoming Street Fighter film, for artistic reason! We get the story from mtv.ca via the moviehole:
Talking to MTV.ca, the former time-traveling law-enforcer says he knocked back an offer to join Kristin Kruek and Michael Clark Duncan in the new “Street Fighter”.
”I would have been well paid but I didn’t want to do it. I’ve made enough money. I don’t want to make a movie and then come home and be unhappy about it. Life is short. I’m 47 years old. I’ve got 10 years to go where I can be the best I can be. I want those 10 years to be precious, not like before, cranking two or three movies a year. I’ve made a ton of movies in my life, but so what? It’s time for me to do things I like so I will be happy, my wife will be happy, my friends will be happy. I just want to do something I’m proud of. It’s time for me to change. I could sign with a company for 10 movies and I’m the king of video and so what?”
Well my hat is off to JCVD. I agree with him, he doesn’t need the money and with 10 years of work left – I can certainly appreciate that he wants to do films that he is excited about. With hope, he will still consider action roles, because I have no strong desire to see him in romantic comedies and supernatural thrillers. In the next decade if he does just one more kick-ass action film; I would be content.
I have always said that when an actor earns enough money, it makes sense for them to either slow down and/or retire. Time is our most valuable resource and if you can’t enjoy the fruits of your labor; what’s the point.
The best part of this news is that he said no to another Street Fighter film. I am glad he is still embarrassed from the last one, the film sucked and was an insult to the legendary video game. The emotions he feels are appropriate, and I am glad he is being true to himself.
Who knows what the future holds for JCVD; like baby birds we stretch our mouths towards the heavens, awaiting further projects.
