Jason Statham May Go Bronson in The Mechanic Remake

Posted by Neil Miller (neil@filmschoolrejects.com) on April 21, 2009

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In 140-characters via Twitter, Production Weekly is giving us all the relevant details this afternoon about a new project in development involving awesome action guy Jason Statham and Con Air director Simon West. West, who is currently filming the Antonio Banderas led historical drama Dali in Spain, is said to be in talks to direct Statham in a “reinvention” of the 1977 Michael Winner directed film The Mechanic starring Charles Bronson. The film followed the story of an aging hitman who is looking to retire from the business when he takes on a ruthless and efficient apprentice. The veteran killer teaches his new apprentice everything he knows, creating a deadly team of assassins that travels together — that is, until the pupil’s ruthless nature puts them at odds.

Having just seen Crank: High Voltage this past weekend, I’m once again convinced that Jason Statham is the ultimate B-movie action guy of our generation. That said, why not start remaking the films of Charles Bronson, the ultimate B-movie action guy of a past generation? It seems to be the natural order of things.

The problem I have with this news is that this project would just pile on top of the already deep development list for Simon West. He’s currently attached to three films with 2009/10 release dates as well as a pilot for Fox called Human Target starring Fringe’s Mark Valley. I’m not saying that West can’t get these projects in, I’m just saying that we should probably wait and see before we start talking seriously about this project.

Have you seen The Mechanic? If so, what do you think of Jason Statham starring in a remake?


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  • What happened to Stallone? I read he was going to star in the remake...it was also rumored that Ryan Gosling, Cillian Murphy, Ben Foster and Elijah Wood were wanted for the pupil role....
  • My immediate instinct is to hate this idea because Statham pretty much sucks and will drag this movie down into shirtless ruin. But you're right when you say Bronson was a "B-movie action guy" which means Statham might be okay here. The only worrisome part remaining is them calling it a "reinvention." There's not much reinventing you can do with the film's original premise before it stops being The Mechanic. Mentor assassin trains student assassin and then they try to outwit each other. Period.

    But here's hoping they get Zac Ephron to play the younger hitman!
  • Rhys Paine
    Niel's right, after Crank 2, which completely bleeds badass (mainly because of Statham), I am willing to watch anything that sounds like a promising B-movie starring him.
  • Rob Jamal 24
    Jason Statham is badass, i love his movies (All 3 transporter movies, both Crank movies [of course], death race, snatch, italian job, bank job, two lock stock and smoking barrels---the only movie i hated was WAR pretty much the last 10 minutes was just horrendous)-- I do agree when people say that he is the ultimate badass and the ultimate B movie guy. I cant wait to see him in 13, the highly anticipated Expendables movie, and anything else--especially after the great Crank sequel.
  • I'd rather see "Death Wish". Instead of a little .32 caliber revolver how about a bichin' .50 Desert Eagle?
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