Death Race
Cast: Jason Statham, Ian McShane, Joan Allen, Jacob Vargas, Robert LaSardo, Natalie Martinez, Frederick Koehler, Max Ryan, Janaya Stephens, Jason Clarke, Benz Antoine, Nathalie Girard, Sharlene Royer, Melantha Blackthorne, Ruth Chiang, Brandon Blue, Carolyn Day, Marcello Bezina, John Canoe, Lydie BounayDirector: Paul W.S. Anderson
Writer: J.F. Lawton, Paul W.S. Anderson
Producers: Paul W.S. Anderson, Jeremy Bolt, Roger Corman, Tom Cruise, Paula Wagner
Executive Producer: Dennis E. Jones
Casting: Victoria Burrows, Robin D. Cook, Helene Rousse
Costume Design: Gregory Mah
D.O.P.: Scott Kevan
Editor: Niven Howie
Production Design: Paul D. Austerberry
Jason Statham leads the cast of an action-thriller set in the post-industrial wasteland of tomorrow, with the world's most brutal sporting event as its backdrop. A penitentiary full of felons has inspired the jailers to create a grisly pastime ripe for lucrative kickbacks. Now, adrenalized inmates, a global audience hungry for televised violence and a spectacular arena come together to form the "Death Race."
Three-time speedway champion Jensen Ames (Statham) is an expert at survival in the harsh landscape that has become our country. Just as he thinks he has turned his life around, the ex-con is framed for a gruesome murder he didn't commit. Forced to don the mask of the mythical driver Frankenstein -- a crowd favorite who seems impossible to kill -- Ames is given an easy choice by Terminal Island's warden (Joan Allen): suit up or rot away in a cell.
His face hidden by a metallic mask, one convict will be put through an insane three-day challenge. Ames must survive a gauntlet of the most vicious criminals in the country's toughest prison to claim the prize of freedom. Driving a monster car outfitted with machine guns, flamethrowers and grenade launchers, one desperate man will destroy anything in his path to win the most twisted spectator sport on Earth.
Three-time speedway champion Jensen Ames (Statham) is an expert at survival in the harsh landscape that has become our country. Just as he thinks he has turned his life around, the ex-con is framed for a gruesome murder he didn't commit. Forced to don the mask of the mythical driver Frankenstein -- a crowd favorite who seems impossible to kill -- Ames is given an easy choice by Terminal Island's warden (Joan Allen): suit up or rot away in a cell.
His face hidden by a metallic mask, one convict will be put through an insane three-day challenge. Ames must survive a gauntlet of the most vicious criminals in the country's toughest prison to claim the prize of freedom. Driving a monster car outfitted with machine guns, flamethrowers and grenade launchers, one desperate man will destroy anything in his path to win the most twisted spectator sport on Earth.
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Filming Locations: Montreal, Canada
Production Budget: $18 million
Production Companies: Dark Castle Entertainment
Production Schedule: August 2007 - December 2007
Web Sites: The IMDb
Filming Locations: Montreal, Canada
Production Budget: $18 million
Production Companies: Dark Castle Entertainment
Production Schedule: August 2007 - December 2007
Web Sites: The IMDb
Ian McShane confirms to Empire Online that Paul W.S. Anderson's "Death Race" remake at Universal Pictures is a prison film. "This is even more violent. This is set in the future, it's like NASCAR...
Director Paul W.S. Anderson has revealed that Tyrese Gibson and Joan Allen have joined the cast for his remake of 1975 cult racing flick "Death Race." Jason Statham stars in the project as Frankenstein, a racer...
- In March 2002, director Paul W.S. Anderson revealed that he was directing a remake of 1975's "Death Race 2000" entitled "Death Race 3000" at Paramount Pictures based on a script by J.F. Lawton. The remake would be produced by the producer pair Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner.
- Anderson described the remake as a riff on the first film. "It's not a straight remake at all. The first movie was an across-America race. This will be an around-the-world race. And it's set further in the future, so the cars are even more futuristic. So you've got cars with rockets, machine guns, force fields; cars that can split apart and re-form, a bit like Transformers. Cars that become invisible," the director explained.
- In 2004, producer Roger Corman elaborated that he had an option agreement with producer Tom Cruise, and that Cruise would portray the lead role. The director said that Cruise had not been happy with the first two screenplays and that a third one was underway.
- In August 2006, Paramount ended its relationship with Cruise/Wagner Productions, and Death Race was placed in turnaround. According to reports, when the project was discovered available, Universal Pictures acquired it. Cruise and Wagner resumed their roles as producers, and Anderson returned to write and direct the film.
- Anderson described that Death Race would take place in a prison, and that the film would be "super-violent" like its predecessor. "It has little echoes of the original - a lot of people get run down, but rather than having the points system, which had no pay off anyway, it's a pure race. It's more like Gladiator, with the last person standing - or driving, winning."
- Anderson described the remake as a riff on the first film. "It's not a straight remake at all. The first movie was an across-America race. This will be an around-the-world race. And it's set further in the future, so the cars are even more futuristic. So you've got cars with rockets, machine guns, force fields; cars that can split apart and re-form, a bit like Transformers. Cars that become invisible," the director explained.
- In 2004, producer Roger Corman elaborated that he had an option agreement with producer Tom Cruise, and that Cruise would portray the lead role. The director said that Cruise had not been happy with the first two screenplays and that a third one was underway.
- In August 2006, Paramount ended its relationship with Cruise/Wagner Productions, and Death Race was placed in turnaround. According to reports, when the project was discovered available, Universal Pictures acquired it. Cruise and Wagner resumed their roles as producers, and Anderson returned to write and direct the film.
- Anderson described that Death Race would take place in a prison, and that the film would be "super-violent" like its predecessor. "It has little echoes of the original - a lot of people get run down, but rather than having the points system, which had no pay off anyway, it's a pure race. It's more like Gladiator, with the last person standing - or driving, winning."
None Presently Available
26 September 2008: Denmark,
Norway, Sweden, Turkey, UK
2 October 2008: Netherlands
9 October 2008: Germany
10 October 2008: Spain
15 October 2008: Belgium, France
17 October 2008: Finland, Mexico
Norway, Sweden, Turkey, UK
2 October 2008: Netherlands
9 October 2008: Germany
10 October 2008: Spain
15 October 2008: Belgium, France
17 October 2008: Finland, Mexico