The French action-comedy “The Gardener” presents a familiar premise filtered through a distinctly European sensibility. In a tranquil, remote island home, the stage is set for a violent disruption of domestic life. At the center of this world is Serge Shuster, a self-important politician whose verbosity and pompous nature define him.
He is a man built of words and ambition, vacationing with his exhausted wife, social-media-focused teenage daughter, and a newborn. His foil is Leo, the property’s gardener, played by the iconic Jean-Claude Van Damme. Leo is a figure of quiet mystery, a man of earth and action who communicates through stoic silence.
When a team of mercenaries descends upon the home to assassinate Serge, this carefully constructed peace shatters. Leo is forced to shed his unassuming persona, revealing a past as a lethal operative and becoming the family’s unlikely, and only, guardian. The ensuing conflict establishes a...
He is a man built of words and ambition, vacationing with his exhausted wife, social-media-focused teenage daughter, and a newborn. His foil is Leo, the property’s gardener, played by the iconic Jean-Claude Van Damme. Leo is a figure of quiet mystery, a man of earth and action who communicates through stoic silence.
When a team of mercenaries descends upon the home to assassinate Serge, this carefully constructed peace shatters. Leo is forced to shed his unassuming persona, revealing a past as a lethal operative and becoming the family’s unlikely, and only, guardian. The ensuing conflict establishes a...
- 6/8/2025
- by Enzo Barese
- Gazettely
Plot: Serge holds a state secret. He, his family, and gardener Leo appear on a government death list. They attempt to devise a plan to stay alive.
Review: The natural progression for any aging action star is to try out comedy to try and lighten the load. The body just can’t take those stunts the same way. And over the years, we’ve seen Jean-Claude Van Damme dip his toes in comedy, and have some success with projects like Jean-Claude Van Johnson. Now we’re seeing him in a film that desperately wants to be a comedy, but can never escape the “Geezer Teaser” mold of being a generic action film. The Gardener is rough viewing, especially for lifelong fans of the actor.
The Gardener follows Serge, an eccentric politician who finds out he’s on a hit list. Thankfully for him, his gardener has a shady background and...
Review: The natural progression for any aging action star is to try out comedy to try and lighten the load. The body just can’t take those stunts the same way. And over the years, we’ve seen Jean-Claude Van Damme dip his toes in comedy, and have some success with projects like Jean-Claude Van Johnson. Now we’re seeing him in a film that desperately wants to be a comedy, but can never escape the “Geezer Teaser” mold of being a generic action film. The Gardener is rough viewing, especially for lifelong fans of the actor.
The Gardener follows Serge, an eccentric politician who finds out he’s on a hit list. Thankfully for him, his gardener has a shady background and...
- 6/4/2025
- by Tyler Nichols
- JoBlo.com
Jean-Claude Van Damme is now 64 years old. As hard as it is to believe for some of us who have seen the Belgian martial artist rock the silver screen in the late 80s and early 90s, the action star’s charisma is intact, even though he can’t move as fast as lightning anymore. Everyone, including Van Damme, in David Charhon’s French action-comedy “The Gardener” (Le jardinier) is completely aware of the star being old, making the quick pivot to doubling down on the goofiness of his charm. The result is a tonally inconsistent but fun ‘’a-force-to-reckon-with” hero’s possibly last battle cry when intruders step on his land (quite literally).
While this is a typical assassination plot gone wild, the low budget and constraints of the location flip the genre over its head and turn it into a home invasion of sorts. Michaël Youn plays Serge Shuster – a...
While this is a typical assassination plot gone wild, the low budget and constraints of the location flip the genre over its head and turn it into a home invasion of sorts. Michaël Youn plays Serge Shuster – a...
- 6/2/2025
- by Shikhar Verma
- High on Films
Action movie icon Jean-Claude Van Damme is back in action in the new trailer for next month’s The Gardener. And "The Muscles from Brussels" will flex his comedy biceps as well as his action ones in this tale of a mysterious gardener who finds himself protecting U.S. senior official Serge Shuster and his family after he finds himself on a hit list. Thankfully, Van Damme is no ordinary gardener and boasts a particular set of skills far beyond pruning. You can check out the new trailer for The Gardener below.
Directed by David Charhon (The Last Mercenary) and written by Charhon, Vincent De Brus, and Sebastien Fechner, The Gardener stars Michaël Youn, Nawell Madani, Kaaris, Matthias Quiviger, Jérôme Le Banner, and Carla Poquin alongside Van Damme. The Gardener is all set to land in theaters and on VOD on June 6, 2025, and alongside the newly released footage, you can...
Directed by David Charhon (The Last Mercenary) and written by Charhon, Vincent De Brus, and Sebastien Fechner, The Gardener stars Michaël Youn, Nawell Madani, Kaaris, Matthias Quiviger, Jérôme Le Banner, and Carla Poquin alongside Van Damme. The Gardener is all set to land in theaters and on VOD on June 6, 2025, and alongside the newly released footage, you can...
- 5/9/2025
- by Jonathan Fuge
- MovieWeb
Tell me you watched David Ayer’s The Beekeeper without telling me you watched David Ayer’s The Beekeeper. Blue Fox Entertainment is getting in on the unsuspecting hero action today with a trailer for The Gardener, starring martial arts legend Jean-Claude Van Damme and Michael Youn.
David Charhon directs The Gardener from a script he co-wrote with Vincent De Brus (The Ballad of Titus) and Sebastian Fechner (A Mighty Team). The Gardener has the official logline: Serge, his family, and their gardener must escape a death list after he uncovers a state secret.
Here’s the official synopsis for The Gardener courtesy of Blue Fox Entertainment:
“Every year, the Prime Minister keeps a secret list of his political enemies to be removed. Serge Shuster, a senior official close to the presidency, finds himself named on the list — meaning he will be assassinated within 48 hours by a team of elite government hitmen.
David Charhon directs The Gardener from a script he co-wrote with Vincent De Brus (The Ballad of Titus) and Sebastian Fechner (A Mighty Team). The Gardener has the official logline: Serge, his family, and their gardener must escape a death list after he uncovers a state secret.
Here’s the official synopsis for The Gardener courtesy of Blue Fox Entertainment:
“Every year, the Prime Minister keeps a secret list of his political enemies to be removed. Serge Shuster, a senior official close to the presidency, finds himself named on the list — meaning he will be assassinated within 48 hours by a team of elite government hitmen.
- 5/7/2025
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
Stars: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Michaël Youn, Nawell Madani, Carla Poquin, Jérôme Le Banner, Matthias Quiviger, Kaaris | Written by David Charhon, Vincent De Brus, Sebastien Fechner | Directed by David Charhon
The Gardener (Le Jardinier), not to be confused with the Gary Daniels/Robert Bronzi film, reunites Jean-Claude Van Damme and David Charhon who directed him in The Last Mercenary. And like that film, it’s an action comedy, but with the comedy dialed up a bit higher, and the action a bit more on the brutal side.
This time out, The Muscles From Brussels plays Leo, a man who simply wants to tend to plants on the large estate owned by Serge Shuster Special Adviser to the President of France. Nobody seems quite sure how he ended up with the position, and they think he’s a bit odd, but he does a good job so they’ve let him stay on.
The Gardener (Le Jardinier), not to be confused with the Gary Daniels/Robert Bronzi film, reunites Jean-Claude Van Damme and David Charhon who directed him in The Last Mercenary. And like that film, it’s an action comedy, but with the comedy dialed up a bit higher, and the action a bit more on the brutal side.
This time out, The Muscles From Brussels plays Leo, a man who simply wants to tend to plants on the large estate owned by Serge Shuster Special Adviser to the President of France. Nobody seems quite sure how he ended up with the position, and they think he’s a bit odd, but he does a good job so they’ve let him stay on.
- 1/14/2025
- by Jim Morazzini
- Nerdly
Jean-Claude Van Damme is the gardener who people want dead in The Gardener. More details on the 2025 film right here…
Go right back to the start of the year, and Jason Statham got things off to a rollicking start with The Beekeeper. In it, The Statham not only beat seven shades out of people, but also tended his hive and was your go-to man for fresh honey.
Now, Jean-Claude Van Damme is getting in on the act with Le Jardinier, which I will happily translate into English for you: The Gardener.
This is described as an action comedy, from director David Charhon. It shot last year, and Michael Youn, Nawell Madani, Kaaris, Matthias Quiviger, Jerrome Le Banner and Carla Paquin in its cast as well.
The plot? Well, it involves a bit of work around the back of the house. Van Damme is Leo, the gardener for a man called Serge.
Go right back to the start of the year, and Jason Statham got things off to a rollicking start with The Beekeeper. In it, The Statham not only beat seven shades out of people, but also tended his hive and was your go-to man for fresh honey.
Now, Jean-Claude Van Damme is getting in on the act with Le Jardinier, which I will happily translate into English for you: The Gardener.
This is described as an action comedy, from director David Charhon. It shot last year, and Michael Youn, Nawell Madani, Kaaris, Matthias Quiviger, Jerrome Le Banner and Carla Paquin in its cast as well.
The plot? Well, it involves a bit of work around the back of the house. Van Damme is Leo, the gardener for a man called Serge.
- 12/16/2024
- by Simon Brew
- Film Stories
It will be a very merry Christmas for Jean-Claude Van Damme fans. Three months after its release on digital, the action movie icon's latest movie will hit a major streaming platform this month.
Kill 'Em All 2 will arrive on Netflix on December 25. Directed by Valeri Milev and written by James Agnew, the direct-to-video action film sequel premiered on September 24 starring the returning Van Damme as Phillip. Following the events of 2017's Kill 'Em All, Philip is out of spy game retirement, having lived peacefully off the grid as he becomes the target of Vlad, the brother of the first film's antagonist. The movie also stars Jacqueline Fernandez as Vanessa, Peter Stormare as CIA Agent Holman, and María Conchita Alonso as FBI Agent Sanders.
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Kill 'Em All 2 will arrive on Netflix on December 25. Directed by Valeri Milev and written by James Agnew, the direct-to-video action film sequel premiered on September 24 starring the returning Van Damme as Phillip. Following the events of 2017's Kill 'Em All, Philip is out of spy game retirement, having lived peacefully off the grid as he becomes the target of Vlad, the brother of the first film's antagonist. The movie also stars Jacqueline Fernandez as Vanessa, Peter Stormare as CIA Agent Holman, and María Conchita Alonso as FBI Agent Sanders.
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- 12/2/2024
- by Nnamdi Ezekwe
- CBR
Jean-Claude Van Damme stars in the upcoming action-comedy film Le jardinier, which Amazon Prime Video acquired for France and Other Angle Pictures will handle international sales for the film.
As reported by Variety, Other Angle Pictures secured sales in the United States with Blue Fox and in Germany with Plaion Pictures. Russia's All Media and Media Squad in Eastern Europe also bought distribution rights from Other Angle. Le jardinier begins filming on February 5 in Belgium and France, with the iconic Van Damme starring opposite Michaël Youn (Bde). Other members of the stellar cast include Nawell Madani (Jusqu'ici tout va bien), Kaaris (Braqueurs), Ragnar Le Breton (Un Stupéfiant Noël), Carla Poquin, and Jérôme Le Banner. Sébastien Fechner at Rose Prods will produce the film.
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Le jardinier reunites...
As reported by Variety, Other Angle Pictures secured sales in the United States with Blue Fox and in Germany with Plaion Pictures. Russia's All Media and Media Squad in Eastern Europe also bought distribution rights from Other Angle. Le jardinier begins filming on February 5 in Belgium and France, with the iconic Van Damme starring opposite Michaël Youn (Bde). Other members of the stellar cast include Nawell Madani (Jusqu'ici tout va bien), Kaaris (Braqueurs), Ragnar Le Breton (Un Stupéfiant Noël), Carla Poquin, and Jérôme Le Banner. Sébastien Fechner at Rose Prods will produce the film.
Related Disney Officially Abandons Another Jonathan Majors Project The Jonathan Majors-starring movie reportedly had an awards campaign planned before it was officially canceled.
Le jardinier reunites...
- 1/17/2024
- by Nnamdi Ezekwe
- CBR
Jean-Claude Van Damme, the global martial artist turned action hero whose 2021 movie “The Last Mercenary” was a hit on Netflix, has another film on the horizon. He will star opposite Michaël Youn (“Bde”) in “Le jardinier,” another high-voltage action-comedy reuniting him with “The Last Mercenary” director David Charhon.
Amazon Prime Video has acquired “Le jardinier” for France, while Other Angle Pictures is handling international sales on the movie and has already secured sales in the U.S. (Blue Fox), Germany (Plaion Pictures), Russia (All Media) and Eastern Europe (Media Squad).
Filming will kick off Feb. 5 in Belgium and France with a popular cast including Nawell Madani (“Jusqu’ici tout va bien”) Kaaris (“Braqueurs” ), Ragnar Le Breton (“Un Stupéfiant Noël”), Carla Poquin (alias “Poqssi”) and Jérôme Le Banneur. “Le jardinier” is produced by Sébastien Fechner at Rose Prods.
The movie follows Serge and his family, who turn up on the death...
Amazon Prime Video has acquired “Le jardinier” for France, while Other Angle Pictures is handling international sales on the movie and has already secured sales in the U.S. (Blue Fox), Germany (Plaion Pictures), Russia (All Media) and Eastern Europe (Media Squad).
Filming will kick off Feb. 5 in Belgium and France with a popular cast including Nawell Madani (“Jusqu’ici tout va bien”) Kaaris (“Braqueurs” ), Ragnar Le Breton (“Un Stupéfiant Noël”), Carla Poquin (alias “Poqssi”) and Jérôme Le Banneur. “Le jardinier” is produced by Sébastien Fechner at Rose Prods.
The movie follows Serge and his family, who turn up on the death...
- 1/17/2024
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
‘Sulak’ is the first production from Alain Goldman’s Pitchipoï Productions.
Amazon Prime Video France is reteaming with director Melanie Laurent for the feature Sulak and has greenlit five new French feature films and three original series. Laurent directed Amazon’s first French-language original The Mad Women’s Ball in 2021.
Sulak will star newcomer Lucas Bravo as Bruno Sulak, a notorious real-life French criminal known for his non-violent heists on multiple jewelry stores in the 1980s. Sulak managed to escape from prison several times in order to reunite with his lover and accomplice, becoming public enemy number one in the process.
Amazon Prime Video France is reteaming with director Melanie Laurent for the feature Sulak and has greenlit five new French feature films and three original series. Laurent directed Amazon’s first French-language original The Mad Women’s Ball in 2021.
Sulak will star newcomer Lucas Bravo as Bruno Sulak, a notorious real-life French criminal known for his non-violent heists on multiple jewelry stores in the 1980s. Sulak managed to escape from prison several times in order to reunite with his lover and accomplice, becoming public enemy number one in the process.
- 6/19/2023
- by Rebecca Leffler
- ScreenDaily
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