DEATH RACE Arrives Early

By: Associate News Editor
Date: Monday, May 12, 2008
Source: Universal Pictures

Universal Pictures has moved the release date of its remake of DEATH RACE 2000 from September 26th to August 28th, 2008.

DEATH RACE stars Jason Statham, Joan Allen, Tyerse Gibson and Ian McShane. Paul W.S. Anderson wrote and directed.

The story is 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.

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Death Race Interview IV: Paul W.S Anderson: Blood on the Tracks
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Death Race Interview: Joan Allen is Ready to Be Sinister
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SDCC: Universal Shows Off Mummy, Death Race and Latest From Raimi
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DEATH RACE 2000: Days of Future Passed, Part 3
(Thursday, February 3, 2000)
DEATH RACE 2000: Days of Future Passed, Part 2
(Thursday, January 27, 2000)
DEATH RACE 2000: Days of Future Passed
(Thursday, January 20, 2000)

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Comments/Responses

AzuLTaLoN • May 12, 2008, 12:07am •

freaky plot, but could be awesome.

kimbroo • May 12, 2008, 12:53am •

The original is a Corman classic with people like Ron Howard and Sylvester Stallone. This sounds a "little" different, though.

TayDor • May 12, 2008, 04:25am •

David Carradine starred in one of these.

Carmaggeddon was a great video game based on this concept.

The twisted part of the race is how they got points for running down pedestrians. one of the originals has some people pushing a bunch of old people in wheelchairs out onto the road just in time to get run over.

WISEGUY562 • May 12, 2008, 05:19am •

TayDor is right about Carradine. He was the star, Sly was a bad guy. Great film for its time and it's still enjoyable today. I'm looking forward to this and hopefully they'll stay loyal to the original's spirit and keep it as violent, brutal and depraved as the original it's meant to be.

lovedeath • May 12, 2008, 05:44am •

I love the original. it is hard to get a better plot. (that was sarcasm) I did like the original. I think that the new one will be along the same lines. The only thing that thing that I am not sure I want to see or not is the Hand Grenade. anyone who has seen the original knows what I am talking about. (Hand Grenade... Gotta love that one) This movie has great potential.

fft5305 • May 12, 2008, 08:05am •

Never saw the original, but always wanted to. This one will depend on how it looks when the first trailer & pictures show...

Gargoyle • May 12, 2008, 09:16am •

I think it was the very 1st film that TCM showed on it's late night "TCM Underground" programs. It came on at midnight or 1am central and ran uncut (there were commercials, but all the T&A (not that there was a lot) was in it). Personally, while I like the idea of the new flick, they shouldn't call it "Death Race". Sort of like the re-imagined Rollerball.

bgm1975 • May 12, 2008, 09:31am •

Hmm..I didn't notice any mention of running down pedistrians for points. So really this isn't a remake but a film simply using the title of a classic film for marketing but having little to do with the original film. Will they have a classic scene like the hospital staff wheeling out old patients, and then our hero Carradine missing the old people and running down the hospital staff instead. Classic. Still, Statham is in the movie, which at least has my attention. And as long as its not as headache inducing, gravity defining CGI junk from Speed Racer, it could be good.

bjjdenver • May 12, 2008, 11:19am •

I was lucky enough to see this (and many other underground type classics) at the drive-in when it came out. I was only around 6 years old (Thanks Mom!!) and it left a lasting impression on me and I still try to catch it whenever it is on.

I actually think Statham is a decent choice, I just hope they don't soften it up or try and make it to PC. They should have just rolled out a sequel and have Carradine return as Frankenstein and have Statham play his son or up and coming new guy in the race.

Statham is pretty good at playing the conflicted hero or bad guy that you aren't really sure is that bad.

rgtchtiger • May 12, 2008, 12:06pm •

I'm a little surprised that no one has mentioned Paul W.S. Anderson wrote and directed the remake. Doesn't that trouble anyone else here?

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