Do you know the incredible story behind the creation of Tong Po, Jean-Claude Van Damme’s formidable opponent in “Kickboxer”? We tell you everything!
Among all the big guns that Jean-Claude Van Damme has faced during his career, he is undoubtedly the most formidable. We are of course talking here about the terrible Tong Po, JCVD’s opponent in the classic Kickboxer! But do you know the astonishing story behind the creation of this cult character?
When Kickboxer was offered to Jean-Claude Van Damme at the end of the 80s, the Belgian actor was immediately won over to the point that he collaborated on the writing of this film which would be a milestone in his career. The story ? That of a man who wishes to avenge his brother, paralyzed for life by the terrifying Tong Po during a kickboxing match.
To play the famous Tong Po, the production turned to Harold Diamond, who had played the opposite Sylvester Stallone in Rambo III, but the training went badly and Van Damme, very involved in the project, did not want the actor . Problem: filming is fast approaching and time is running out. It was then that Mohamed Qissi, JCVD’s great friend with whom he arrived in the United States several years earlier, offered to join.
“He was JCVD’s right-hand man. He trained with him, did weight training sessions with him”says David Worth, the director of the film, in the excellent Arte documentary Coup sur coup dedicated to Van Damme. “For Kickboxer, he wanted to be Tong Po. We laughed in his face: you’re just Jean-Claude’s friend!” And Mohamed Qissi adds: “They said, ‘Mohamed, he’s good, but not Asian. It is not possible.””
Below, the story in detail and video of the creation of Tong Po:
In order to convince the director and producer that he is the right choice to play the bad guy in Kickboxer, Mohamed Qissi then undergoes an incredible physical transformation during a photo shoot. A few photos will then be discreetly placed among those of other actors vying for the role. “When they saw my picture, they all said, ‘We want that guy!’remembers Mohamed Qissi with a laugh.
It was in Asia, just before the start of filming, that the producer and director of Kickboxer discovered Mohamed Qissi’s bluff when the latter, wearing makeup,… transformed into Tong Po!
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“One day he came on set with his fake bald head. And everyone was like, ‘Oh, my God! It’s Tong Po”says David Worth. “He eventually convinced us and he became one of the most famous villains of all time. That was him, Tong Po. He did a good job.”
Mohamed Qissi, who had already opposite Van Damme in Bloodsport, therefore became an iconic villain by deceiving the production of Kickboxer. He will reprise his role as Tong Po in Kickboxer 2, released two years later but without the presence of Van Damme on the poster, then will make a winking appearance in Kickboxer: Vengeance, reuniting for the occasion with his long-time friend date.
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