Dolph Lundgren in "Command" as director, star

By Borys Kit

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Dolph Lundgren will star in and direct "Command Performance," an action thriller the Swede describes as "'Die Hard' at a rock concert."

Lundgren will play the drummer in the warm-up band for a big American act performing for the Russian premier. Naturally, the bad guys break up the show. And just as naturally, the drummer is an ex-Marine.

"I got the idea from Madonna," said Lundgren, who wrote the script with Steve Latshaw. "She did a concert for (outgoing Russian President Vladimir) Putin a few years ago."

Lundgren, 50, will do all the complicated scenes himself, including the percussion sequences. "I used to play when I was a kid. Now I play at wrap parties after I've had a few tequila shots," he said with a laugh. "It'll be fun."

"Command," set up at indie financier Millennium/Nu Image, is scheduled to shoot in Moscow and Bulgaria in the summer.

Lundgren, a one-time karate champ who was discovered modeling in New York, burst onto the international stage in 1985 sparring opposite Sylvester Stallone in "Rocky IV." While his Hollywood star dimmed during the '90s, he makes movies that are seldom seen in the U.S. but pack 'em in around the world.

Not that all the films have been that great, as even Lundgren will attest.

"While the quality has been up and down, I think things are going a little better now that I am directing," said Lundgren, who has spent the past few months in post-production on his previous directing and acting vehicle, "Missionary Man." It will debut at next week's AFI Dallas festival.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter