In 1975, there was the low-budget cult classic Death Race 2000. Shot in about 17 days, the story was about scoring points for running down pedestrians. Despite all its cheapness, it was a massive hit. Now in 2008, we have the remake (but not a sequel): Death Race 3000. But it’s now officially just called Death Race, directed by the upcoming Paul W.S. Anderson, featuring British tough guy Jason Statham.

(picture by draven99)

Like The Running Man or The Condemned, Death Race has the same premise, ie what you can imagine to be the most depraved thing has become a spectator sport in the future. In this remake, it’s a fatal cross country car race with Jason Statham battling against Tyrese, while in the original it’s Sly Stallone against David Carradine.

The new Death Race takes place in prisons, and on closed-circuit television. It’s set in the post-industrial wasteland of the future, with the world hungry for the most brutal sporting event. Given a prison full of criminals, the jail administrators create a grisly, lucrative pastime. The lawless jailers, adrenalized prisoners, a global audience hungry for televised violence, plus a spectacular arena, come together to form the Death Race.

That’s right, it’s not like the original Death Race 2000 in which people were run over for points. This remake is decking cars out with guns and armor to fight each other to get the ultimate prize: freedom from imprisonment.

Jason Statham plays a three-time speedway champion Jensen Ames. Wanting to turn his life around from being an ex-con, he was framed for a gruesome murder he didn’t commit. The warden (Joan Allen) gives Ames an easy choice: take part in the race to satisfy the audience as the mythical driver Frankenstein (a crowd favorite who seems impossible to kill), or rot away in a cell. Yearning to be back with his daughter, Ames is forced to participate in the Death Race to gamble for his prize of freedom.

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