Jean-Claude Van Damme showed an admiral ability to laugh at himself in 2009's comedy crime drama JCVD. And now he's riffing on his own personality again for a new Amazon pilot called Jean-Claude Van Johnson.

The potential series would see Van Damme playing the title character, a private contractor (read: mercenary or secret agent for hire) who uses the Jean-Claude Van Damme name and career as cover for his more dangerous work. Which explains why he made movies such as Street Fighter and Timecop – they were smokescreens for covert operations.

His latest "acting job" is the lead role in a re-imagining of Huckleberry Finn, one that will plunge him back into the world of danger that he craves, and get him closer to Vanessa, his fellow operative, and the woman he loves. Prepare for laughs about Van Damme – or Van Johnson – feeling depressed that he's no longer the man he was, worries about doing the splits (it wouldn't be Van Damme otherwise, would it?) and envy over family photos in the Christmas cards he receives from Dolph Lundgren.

Sounds like it could be a chucklesome idea, and Expendables writer Dave Callaham has come up with the pilot script, which will be in the hands of regular Key & Peele director Peter Atencio, who has Keanu headed to our screens this year. The pilot is reportedly set to go before the cameras in May, and will be up on Amazon at some point in the future, hopefully turning out well enough that it will lead to a full series.

Jean-Claude Van Johnson

If you need to eliminate a political rival, debilitate a multinational corporation, or overthrow an entire government - and you need it done with the utmost secrecy - there's only one person to turn to: one of the most internationally recognizable movie stars in the history of film. Jean-Claude Van Johnson stars Jean-Claude Van Damme (JCVD) playing "Jean-Claude Van Johnson," a global martial arts and film sensation... and, operating under the simple alias of "Johnson," the most dangerous undercover private contractor in the world. Lucky for the world's bad guys, he's been retired for years... unlucky for them, a chance encounter with a lost love is about to bring him back to the game... and this time, he'll be deadlier than ever. Probably. Jean-Claude Van Johnson stars Van Damme along with Kat Foster (Your Family or Mine), Moises Arias (The Middle), and Phylicia Rashad (Creed). The show is executive produced by Peter Atencio (Key and Peele), Ridley Scott (The Good Wife), David W. Zucker (The Man in the High Castle) and Van Damme. From Scott Free Productions, the pilot is directed by Atencio and written by Dave Callaham (Mortal Kombat).