Introduction

Universal Soldier: Regeneration is a 2009 American science fiction action film directed and edited by John Hyams and starring Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren.

It is the third theatrical instalment in the Universal Soldier series.

The film is a direct sequel to the original Universal Soldier from 1992, unrelated to the two Universal Soldier television sequels that were produced in 1998 (Universal Soldier II and Universal Soldier III) and completely ignores the events from the 1999 theatrical sequel Universal Soldier: The Return.

Mixed martial artist Andrei Arlovski stars as “NGU” (Next Generation UniSol), a Universal Soldier of the latest type, along with fellow fighter Mike Pyle as Captain Kevin Burke.

Tekken star Jon Foo appears as a cameo in the film as one of the four UniSols.

The film was released theatrically in the Middle East and Southeast Asia and directly to video in the United States and other parts of the world.

The film has received average to mixed reviews, but it has since developed a notable cult following.

It is the fifth film in the Universal Soldier Franchise.

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Outline

A group of terrorists led by Commander Topov (Zahari Baharov) kidnap the Ukrainian Prime Minister’s son and daughter and hold them hostage, demanding the release of their imprisoned comrades within 72 hours. In addition, they have taken over the crippled Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant and threaten to detonate it if their demands are not met. It is revealed that among the ranks of the terrorists is an experimental Next-Generation UniSol (NGU) (Andrei Arlovski), who was smuggled in by rogue scientist Dr. Robert Colin (Kerry Shale). US forces join up with the Ukrainian Army at the plant, but quickly retreat when the NGU slaughters most of them effortlessly. Dr. Richard Porter (Garry Cooper), Dr. Colin’s former colleague on the Universal Soldier programme, revives four UniSols to take down the NGU, but they are systematically eliminated.

Former UniSol Luc Deveraux (Jean-Claude Van Damme), who is undergoing rehabilitation therapy in Switzerland with Dr. Sandra Fleming (Emily Joyce) with the goal of rejoining society, is taken back by the military to participate in the mission. As the deadline nears its expiration, the prime minister announces the release of the prisoners. The terrorists, having gotten what they wanted, rejoice and shut off the bomb. Dr. Colin, however, is not pleased with the outcome, as he feels his side of the business is not done. As the NGU is programmed not to harm the terrorists, Dr. Colin unleashes his second UniSol: a cloned and upgraded version of Andrew Scott (Dolph Lundgren) – Deveraux’s nemesis – who quickly kills Commander Topov. However, Dr. Colin never considered Scott’s mental instability, and he is killed by his own creation. Scott then reactivates the bomb before heading out to hunt the children.

In the midst of the chaos, Capt. Kevin Burke (Mike Pyle) is sent in to infiltrate the plant and rescue the prime minister’s children. He is successful in locating them and leads them toward safety. On their way out, they encounter the NGU. The children flee as Burke tries in vain to hold off the NGU, who stabs him to death after a brutal fight.

With 30 minutes remaining on the bomb’s timer, a re-conditioned Deveraux is geared up and sent to the plant, where he kills every terrorist he encounters. He searches the buildings and finds the children cornered by Scott. Scott, who has distorted memories of Deveraux, is about to kill the children when Deveraux attacks and a gruelling fight ensues. In the end, Deveraux impales Scott on the forehead with a lead pipe and fires a shotgun through it, blowing his brains out.

As Deveraux escorts the children to safety, they are attacked by the NGU. Deveraux and the NGU take the fight to the site of the bomb, with less than two minutes remaining. During the melee, Deveraux removes the detonator and jams it in the back of the NGU’s uniform as they both jump out of the reactor chamber. NGU pulls the detonator off his back as it explodes, taking him with it. US soldiers quickly arrive on the scene and tend to the children as Deveraux leaves. Burke’s body is placed in a black bag and taken away, as well as recovered pieces of the NGU.

In Langley, Virginia, Burke’s body is shown stored in a cryogenic chamber as a new UniSol, along with multiple clones made of him.

Cast

• Jean-Claude Van Damme as Private Luc Deveraux.
• Dolph Lundgren as Sergeant Andrew Scott.
• Andrei Arlovski as NGU.
• Mike Pyle as Captain Kevin Burke.
• Corey Johnson as Colonel John Coby.
• Garry Cooper as Dr. Richard Porter.
• Emily Joyce as Dr. Sandra Fleming.
• Zahari Baharov as Commander Topov.
• Aki Avni as Colonel Petrov.
• Kerry Shale as Dr. Robert Colin.
• Yonko Dimitrov as Dimitri.
• Violeta Markovska as Ivana.
• Stanislav Pishtalov as Prime Minister Musayev.
• Marianna Stanisheva as Olga.
• John Laskowski as Captain.
• Kristopher Van Varenberg as Miles.
• Jon Foo as UniSol 2.

Trivia

• On 01 October 2009, a surprise screening of the film took place at the Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas, US.

Universal Soldier Series

You can find a full index and overview of the Universal Soldier franchise here.

Production & Filming Details

• Director(s): John Hyams.
• Producer(s): Craig Baumgarten, Mark Damon, Moshe Diamant, and Courtney Solomon.
• Writer(s): Victor Ostrovsky.
• Music: Kris Hill and Michael Krassner.
• Cinematography: Peter Hyams.
• Editor(s): Jason Gallagher and John Hyams.
• Distributor(s): Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
• Release Date: 01 October 2009 (Austin Fantastic Fest) and 02 February 2010 (US).
• Running Time: 97 minutes.
• Country: US.
• Language: English.