Paul Anderson’s “re-imagining” of Roger Corman’s cult favourite Death Race 2000 has started filming in Montreal. The original gore-classic had the likes of Sylvester Stallone and David Carradine as whacky racers in a brutal cross-USA competition where points are scored for running over pedestrians. For the remake, directed by Paul W. S. Anderson and produced by Tom Cruise, things have been sizably altered with a Rollerball/Running Man makeover.
“This is even more violent,” delights British star Ian McShane. “This is set in the future, it’s like NASCAR to the death inside prison. On TV. And I play the guy who runs the race, coaches the racers, from inside prison. It’s a lot of fun.”
McShane’s “super-mechanic” features alongside Jason Statham as the crowd hero Frankenstein, and model Nathalie Martinez as Statham’s navigator Case who helps him plot an escape.
The former Deadwood star also mentions there is talk of putting together a Sexy Beast sequel: “I had lunch with Johnny Hurt and Ray Winstone the other day in LA,” he says. “We want to do a follow up…”