by FilmInk Staff
Action icon Jean-Claude Van Damme confirmed to lead supernatural action-comedy Nuns With Guns.
Industry rumours are swirling that the “Muscles from Brussels” could soon be swapping roundhouse kicks for papal robes, with Jean-Claude Van Damme in active discussions to play The Pope in upcoming supernatural action feature Nuns With Guns.
The film follows an elite order of heavily armed assassin nuns, Manus Dei, operating under the direct command of Pope Van Damme. Tasked with defending humanity from a rising supernatural threat, our Manus Dei nuns team up with unlikely co-killers from another clandestine group.
Van Damme said “the script feels like a classic Tarantino saga and it has beautiful cinematic appeal. I cannot wait to bring something this new and exciting to fans of the genre and of course to create a brand new cinematic world. I hope we get to film this one in Australia because I have such love for the Australian people and of course the beautiful land of Australia”.
Producer, and co-star Alex Fleri, confirmed discussions are now finalised with JCVD to play The Pope whilst casting other key roles continues.
Fleri said “we were very conscious that we didn’t want to simply make a Zombie Plane 2. Nuns With Guns has its own identity. It is darker, bigger and much more supernatural, but it still has that sense of fun that allows you to do something completely outrageous. Since recently taking control of the CIAO Universe franchise, which spawned Zombie Plane, I have been able to work closely with the creator of CIAO, William Strong, and combine his talent with that of our Nuns creator, Victoria Wharfe McIntyre. The result is something truly outrageous which will have us crossing ourselves and praying for forgiveness. There’s something wonderfully unexpected about putting JC in that world; but at the same time, it makes perfect sense. Of course the genre and tone of Nuns With Guns is very different from anything JC has done before, and yet it somehow feels natural to combine the elements of the supernatural, martial arts, religious oversight and Jean Claude Van Damme.”
The screenplay has continued to evolve following feedback with leading international streamers and key cast. Wharfe has done an incredible job developing a world that can be genuinely dark and cinematic, while still embracing the fun insanity of the concept. Nuns With Guns reunites elements of the creative team behind celebrity action-comedy Zombie Plane, which Fleri co-produced, but the new project is heading into considerably darker territory. Further casting and production announcements are expected to follow.
CO-STAR and PRODUCER ALEX FLERI
Alex Fleri started his acting career in the international hit Avarice. Filmed in Perth during Covid peak, Alex played a mercenary who kidnapped a hedge fund manager for his computer access. Director, John V. Soto, was so impressed with Alex’s first day on set, Soto extended the role and screen time for Alex to develop the forceful and menacing nature of the character. Adding to the intensity of the story line in the smash hit thriller.
Sons of Summer, starring Temuera Morrison and Isabel Lucas, was Alex’s next project. Shot in various locations around The Gold Coast, the heist movie which was grounded in the world of surfing, and paid homage to Animal Kingdom was a hit on streaming platforms such as Amazon.
Bring Him To Me, by Luke Sparke, required an agile enforcer to keep lead Barry Pepper in line. Starring an array of Aussie household names, Alex’s tough guy performance stood up against the likes of Sam Neill, Rachel Griffiths and Liam McIntyre.
The long awaited Zombie Plane, starring Chuck Norris, Vanilla Ice, Ice-T and Aussie stars, Sophie Monk, Nat Bass and Amy Shark is the one we are all waiting for. Zombie George is one ‘jacked’ zombie resembling the physique of the wolverine. A Wolverine Zombie … now there’s a terrifying thought.
Dead Howling, back with Soto in Perth. Soto was embarrassed to ask Alex for a caricature performance. But Soto needed someone with a large muscular frame to be able to wear the enormous werewolf suit for 10 hours a day. Soto explained that the role would be challenging due to the limitations of senses whilst inside the suit, whilst also having to perform fast paced fight choreography without injuring the main stars and supporting cast. Ironically, whilst dressed as the killer werewolf, Alex had to rush to the aide of one of his on set victims, as a real life health emergency took place when the actor went into hypothermic shock. Alex brought the actor back around from unconsciousness, just so he could kill him again in the next take!
Whilst Alex has earned his place as a cinematic tough guy, his tough guy reputation began long ago growing up in London where rough street confrontations were a regular occurrence. Alex still has a knife scar on his left shoulder from an attempted mugging in London by three lads who enquired after his watch. With Black Belts in Taekwondo, Aikido, Judo and gradings in several other martial arts, Alex has applied his talents to the action movie business by training at the Stunt Academy in Nerang.
When he’s not landing punches, he’s closing multi-million dollar deals at Amir Prestige Real Estate on The Gold Coast. Alex’s background in sales and marketing, combined with strategic negotiation skills, makes Alex the perfect combo of Agent, Actor and Producer.
