Van Damme dons 'Monk' robes

Story centers on Shaolin monk in America

By DANA HARRIS

Van Damme

Jean-Claude Van Damme will star in the kung-fu actioner "The Monk" for Avi Lerner's Millennium Films and director Ringo Lam ("City On Fire").

Written by Les Weldon ("The Order"), story centers on a Shaolin monk who journeys to America in search of his father and finds himself in a battle with an evil crime lord.

Set to begin production Nov. 1 and budgeted at $25 million, pic will be shot in China, Bulgaria and New York. Lerner, Danny Dimbort and Danny Lerner will produce.

Van Damme recently wrapped "The Order," which will be distributed domestically by Columbia Pictures.