Dolph Lundgren will star
in and direct "Command Performance," an action thriller the
Swede describes as "'Die Hard' at a rock concert."
Lundgren will play the drummer in the warm-up band for a
big American act performing for the Russian premier. Naturally,
the bad guys break up the show. And just as naturally, the
drummer is an ex-Marine.
"I got the idea from Madonna," said Lundgren, who wrote the
script with Steve Latshaw. "She did a concert for (outgoing
Russian President Vladimir) Putin a few years ago."
Lundgren, 50, will do all the complicated scenes himself,
including the percussion sequences. "I used to play when I was
a kid. Now I play at wrap parties after I've had a few tequila
shots," he said with a laugh. "It'll be fun."
"Command," set up at indie financier Millennium/Nu Image,
is scheduled to shoot in Moscow and Bulgaria in the summer.
Lundgren, a one-time karate champ who was discovered
modeling in New York, burst onto the international stage in
1985 sparring opposite Sylvester Stallone in "Rocky IV." While
his Hollywood star dimmed during the '90s, he makes movies that
are seldom seen in the U.S. but pack 'em in around the world.
Not that all the films have been that great, as even
Lundgren will attest.
"While the quality has been up and down, I think things are
going a little better now that I am directing," said Lundgren,
who has spent the past few months in post-production on his
previous directing and acting vehicle, "Missionary Man." It
will debut at next week's AFI Dallas festival.
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
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