Jean-Claude Van Johnson (2017)

Jean-Claude Van Johnson (2017) is an American action comedy-drama streaming television series starring and produced by Jean-Claude Van Damme, Ridley Scott, and Amazon Studios. The show follows the retired martial arts and action movie star as he plays himself, but it’s soon revealed that his movie career and personal history are just a facade. In reality, Jean-Claude is a secret agent known as Jean-Claude Van Johnson, with his personal assistant and make-up specialist serving as his covert accomplices. After five years away from the spy world, Jean-Claude reunites with his former handler Vanessa, rekindling their work partnership and past relationship. He embarks on a mission to take down a major drug lord, only to discover an even larger threat from terrorists who possess a weather control machine.

The show’s supporting cast includes Jean-Claude’s manager Jane, who is actually his superior and in charge of his covert operations agency. On their missions, Jean-Claude and Vanessa are joined by new weapons specialist Luis, a former child soldier. He longs to be a hairstylist and make-up artist instead. To maintain his cover, Jean-Claude reluctantly agrees to star in Huck, a violent action film that puts him at odds with the self-absorbed director, Gunnar. As the series progresses, Jean-Claude encounters Filip, a fan who happens to share his face. Their relationship eventually turns sour. Throughout the show, Jean-Claude’s fragile ego is a recurring joke as he constantly references his own films and becomes disappointed when others don’t recognize him. Another running gag is that Jean-Claude often finds himself in situations resembling those from his movies, which others find unrealistic.