East Peoria native to star in new Hollywood action film. Here's what we know

East Peoria-born actor Zach Scheerer will star in a Hollywood action film to be shot this year.

Scheerer previously appeared in the 2023 comedy "The Re-Education of Molly Singer." He co-hosted a red carpet screening of the movie in September at AMC Classic Grand Prairie 18 in Peoria.

More: Villain you'll 'love to hate': Actor from East Peoria has role in upcoming comedy movie

Scheerer's new film is titled "A Mouthful of Knuckles" and will be directed by Sheldon Lettich, who wrote the screenplay for "Bloodsport," which kick-started the career of Jean-Claude Van Damme. Scheerer has a black belt in tae kwon do.

Scheerer said preproduction on the film recently began in Mansfield, Ohio, with shooting to be later this year. He said "Knuckles" was "in the vein of" the 1990 martial arts film "Lionheart," which Lettich also directed. "Get ready for some 360 roundhouses and JCVD helicopter kicks!" Scheerer added.

"A Mouthful of Knuckles" is about a man who must "fight through corrupt city officials and an underground street fighting syndicate to gain financial freedom and revenge for the death of his friend," reported the Mansfield News Journal. It won't be the city's first time as a movie locale. The historic Ohio State Reformatory served as a primary location for "The Shawshank Redemption."

More: 'A Mouthful of Knuckles' to be filmed in Mansfield later this year

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: East Peoria-born actor Zach Scheerer to star in A Mouthful of Knuckles