In an interview with MTV, B-movie and martial arts legend Jean Claude Van Damme claims he was approached to reprise his role of muscle man Guile in the new Street Fighter movie but although the money was good, the actor surprisingly turned the part down, claiming he has turned over a new leaf.

It would seem he wants to be taken seriously from now on…

In fact they called me for that movie, to do the sequel. Again, 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?

Van Damme was the poster child and lead actor of the terrible mid 90’s Street Fighter movie and although the new flick is not thought to be connected to the previous tale, Hyde Entertainment presumably still thought that Van Damme was perfect casting for the film.

And I guess he would be. I don’t know if you have seen any of Van Damme’s recent movies but he seems to have grown as an actor lately and quite honestly, if someone like Tarantino gave him a decent part to chew on for Inglorious Bastards (it was rumored a while back) then I think he could surprise us all with what he can really do.

The new movie titled Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li will star Kristen Kreuk in the lead role of the titular character, and will co-star Michael Clarke Duncan (as Balroq), Chris Klein (Nash), Rick Yune (Gen), Moon Bloodgood, Taboo (from the Black Eyed Peas), Edmund ChenCheng Pei Pei and .

Andrej Bartkowiak (Romeo Must Die) is directing from a script by Justin Marks (recently greenlit Voltron) and will begin filming soon.

source - moviehole