Summary

  • Chuck Norris, known for his roles in '80s action films, is returning to the action genre after 11 years in the film Agent Recon.
  • Norris was one of the main challengers behind Stallone and Schwarzenegger for the title of the third-biggest action star of the '80s.
  • While Norris gained fame in action movies, his reputation as a tough guy also stems from his TV show Walker, Texas Ranger and his later family-friendly movies.

Expendables 2 star Chuck Norris returns to the action genre for the first time in 11 years in the Agent Recon. He originally gained fame as a stunt performer working with the likes of Bruce Lee, then became an action movie legend in his own right, thanks to a run of films including Lone Wolf McQuade, The Octagon, Missing in Action and many more. Later, Norris became a massive TV star thanks to his long-running, hugely-successful series Walker, Texas Ranger, then a legend of memes thanks to the internet’s obsession with jokes built around his famous tough guy image.

Now 11 years after ing Sylvester Stallone and the gang in the first Expendables sequel, his last go-around in the genre, Norris is returning to action movies for the film Agent Recon, which recently completed shooting and is now hitting the market. As reported by Deadline, the film teams Norris with Marc Singer and Derek Ting (who also directed), in a military/sci-fi action outing planned for North American release in 2024. Norris’ own son Dakota also ed the production to choreograph all his 83-year-old father's fights. The movie’s synopsis reads as follows:

Alastair (Norris), the commander of a covert Earth security task force, calls upon super-powered rookie Jim (Ting) to go on a mission led by battle-hardened Colonel Green (Singer) and his seasoned marines to track a mysterious energy disturbance at a base in New Mexico suspected of experimenting on alien technology. When the team encounters an unknown being of not only extraordinary strength and speed, but also the ability to control mindless warriors, the trio must fight through unstoppable hordes to uncover the truth behind the hostile alien fortress and prevent humanity’s demise.

Norris Was Arguably The Third-Biggest Action Star of the ‘80s (Behind Stallone and Schwarzenegger)

Chuck Norris gives a thumbs up in Dodgeball

Rambo star Stallone and his chief rival Arnold Schwarzenegger were almost unarguably the two biggest action stars of the 1980s. An argument can be had however about who belongs in third place behind those two, and Norris must be considered one of the main challengers. The Delta Force star never appeared in huge blockbusters, but he did enjoy a successful run in smaller-budget action movies, many made for the legendary company Cannon Films. Norris was also a legitimate martial arts expert, giving him a trump card in his battle with other action stars of the era.

Norris’ action output was indeed at one point quite violent and R-rated, but later his image was softened with family-friendly movies like Sidekicks, and still later with the hugely popular TV series Walker, Texas Ranger. Norris' reputation as a tough guy indeed rests today as much on his TV show as on his somewhat forgotten ‘80s films. Norris’ pre-Walker output is a treasure trove for fans of B-movie action however, thanks to strong genre examples like The Octagon, Silent Rage, Lone Wolf McQuade and Missing in Action. Now with Agent Recon it seems Norris has the itch to get back in front of cameras, with his first action film in 11 years.

Source: Deadline