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A long casting notice discovered by SpoilerTV revealed the title, storyline, and characters of the prequel to Paul W.S. Anderson's Death Race. For anyone familiar with Anderson's remake of Roger Corman's 1975 cult classic Death Race 2000, and even for those unfamiliar, the story for Death Race: Frankenstein Lives shouldn't come as a huge surprise.
Newly arrived at Terminal Island, a prison for the most nonredeemable of convicts, CARL "LUKE" LUCAS must prove his mettle in a race to the death...
Much like the remake, "death" and "race" aren't arbitrary words in the title. The casting notice describes the two lead characters Lucas, replacing Jason Statham, and September Jones, filling in for the Warden character Joan Allen played in the remake.
[CARL "LUKE" LUCAS]
In his 20s-30, American, European, British, Australian, Latino, etc., handsome and confident, with a hint of danger, Lucas has been in trouble since the age of 12. Right-hand man to a notorious mobster for twelve years, he is sent away for life after killing a cop in the course of robbing a bank. Offered a deal by the DA if he turns state's evidence, Lucas opts to take his chances behind bars, where he soon captures the attention of a violence-peddling television producer. Possessed of some serious driving skills, assertive, strong, and charismatic, Lucas is a natural fit for the ultimate test, aka, the "Death Race."...LEAD (2) STAR NAMES PREFERRED - ANY NATIONALITY, ANY ETHNICITY
[SEPTEMBER JONES]
In her 20s - early 30s, a model turned journalist, September is "insatiably ambitious and eye-poppingly gorgeous," a woman who knows how to use what she's got to get what she wants. She's callous and self-serving, dressed provocatively, with the soul of an ice-pick, but the brains to know how to market violence to the masses. When ratings for her gladiator-style television show begin plummeting, September is quick to come up with the "Death Race" concept, thrilled by its stunning success sptv050769...LEAD (2) STAR NAMES PREFERRED - ANY NATIONALITY, ANY ETHNICITY
Screenwriter Tony Giglio told ShockTillYouDrop that Death Race: Frankenstein Lives is an "an origin film, in every sense... not simply of the Death Race or Frankenstein, but of [characters] Lists and [Elizabeth] Case." Both characters are listed in the casting notice along with Gunner and 14K, all of whom were characters in Anderson's version. Whether or not the original actors will return is uncertain.
Giglio says the prequel will be closely tied to Anderson's Death Race.
I also took painstaking efforts to make certain that this prequel organically sets up a lot of the stuff that was in the original. Frankenstein is a bad ass. Unlike Statham's character in the original, Carl Lucas is a bad guy. He wasn't framed. He's not fighting to get out to save his children. He's a convicted cop killer. A guy who's worked for the mob his whole life. A true anti-hero. The idea was Mad Max. He'll do the right thing, but only if it serves him. I hope that gives this film an edge most don't.
Death Race: Frankenstein Lives is currently seeking a director. Anderson and Jeremy Bolt will executive produce the movie, which will start production on February 22, 2010.
Posted 11.17.09 by Ryan -
Speeding toward head-on collision with moviegoersthis weekend is Death Race, starring Jason Statham, Tyrese Gibson and JoanAllen. Does this action-packed update of Roger Corman's 1975 B-movie classicDeath Race 2000 measure up to the original? Check out our Death Race review to findout.
Posted 08.22.08 by reelz -
Just because it's packed with fast cars, hot chicks and big guns, don't think for second that Paul W.S. Anderson's ultraviolent Death Race is just some mindless guys' movie. But don't take our word for it -- listen to Death Race co-star Joan Allen, who recently instructed us on the film's female-friendly qualities:
"If you don't care about the characters and their relationships and those don't really work, then the action stuff doesn't really pay off as much," the three-time Oscar nominee told us with a straight face. "I think what makes (Death Race) more appealing to women is that Jason Statham is in this situation where his wife has been killed and he can't get to his baby."
It's practically Fried Green Tomatoes, Beaches and The Notebook, all rolled into one. With cars.
Posted 08.21.08 by reelz -
With 50-caliber Brownings and Vulcan cannons blasting from the sides of tanks and cars, the firepower in Death Race is impressive...and very real. Director Paul W.S. Anderson prepped for more than a year to achieve his goal: "The most spectacular car stunts ever on film." See our our interview with director Paul W.S. Anderson for other interesting "making of Death Race" bits.
Posted 08.20.08 by reelz -
Badass British import Jason Statham returns toaction this week in Death Race, director Paul W.S.Anderson's (Resident Evil, Alien vs. Predator) high-octane "re-envisioning" of RogerCorman's 1975 cult classic. We recently sat down with Statham, who bravely foughtthrough a vicious hangover (he'd celebrated his birthday the night before) todiscuss all things Death Race. He also updated us on hisupcoming sequels The Transporter 3 and Crank 2: HighVoltage. What a trooper.
Check out our Jason Statham interview.
Posted 08.18.08 by reelz -
Until recently, we've been quite concerned about Death Race's believability issues. To wit: Badass convicts set loose from the big house to engage in a cross-country demolition derby/road race and the winner gets his freedom? Not when taxpayers have to shell out $4 per gallon to fund this free-for-all! But now that gas prices have dropped to $3.95 a gallon, we're totally on board.
Guardian movie critic Anna Pickard is too -- she especially likes the fuel efficiency of Death Race's trailer: "For never before has a trailer's plot so accurately and succinctly described the plot of a movie," she writes. "The entire plot. All of it. In under two and a half minutes."
Actually, two and a half minutes is about two and a half minutes more than is necessary to sum up the plot of this flick. In fact, we think we can do it in two words: Death race. Got it? It's a race! With some death involved! Do you really need to know more? Okay, here: Joan Allen, who looks like a sadistic, tight-lipped evil prison warden in every role she plays, finally actually plays a sadistic, tight-lipped evil prison warden. (Bottom image actual Death Race still.) We are already revving our engines.
Posted 07.29.08 by reelz -
We have the trailer for Death Race and it looks like the movie will satisfy fans of fast cars, explosions, and eye candy. Jason Statham takes the wheel in the remake of the 1975 cult classic Death Race 2000, starring Sylvester Stallone.
It's not been made clear why Jason Statham needs a navigator on a closed track and we can't help but think having former model Natalie Martinez riding shotgun might prove to be more of a distraction than benefit. Or maybe not.
Posted 06.19.08 by Blake -
ReelzChannel has an exclusive interview with action king Jason Statham. During a quick-paced, fun-spirited interview, the actor talks about his latest, the real-life heist film The Bank Job as well as Death Race, Transporter 3 and Crank 2.
Check out our full exclusive interview with Jason Statham for all the latest news from one of action's top stars!
Posted 03.05.08 by reelz