Jean-Claude Van Damme to star in new sci-fi thriller

Jean-Claude Van Damme is set to star in a new sci-fi thriller titled UFO, which begins filming in England this week. THR reports that the Van Damme will play "a retired military advisor" in the movie written and directed by Dominic Burns.

This marks his first writing and directing debut. The project is being produced by Andy Thompson, Tim Major and Simon Phillips via the trio’s Hawtorn Productions banner. According to a statement made by Burns to BBC News, he contacted Van Damme by emailing his wife and was “astonished when the star agreed to play the role.”

The cast also includes Bianca Bree in her first leading role, Sean Brosnan, Simon Phillips and is shooting in Derbyshire, England. The story follows "five friends who wake up on a seemingly normal morning to find the power's out, there's no mobile phone reception and the radio can tune nothing but static. Two nights later with little more information a city-sized UFO appears above the town as tension and fear of attack grips the five."

At this time the project does not have a distributor, but they plan to have the film ready for a 2012 release. I like Van Damme in his classic films and am interested in seeing him in The Expendables 2. I worry he is getting a bit old to be doing the splits though, What are your thoughts?