The Mighty Bean

While he's probably best known as part of the FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING (or the seemingly infinite "Sharpe's" movies, if you're a Brit), Sean Bean enjoys a paycheck as much as the next guy. Especially when the next guy is Luke Goss, Ving Rhames or Danny Trejo.

 

Bean has been confirmed as joining that list of DVD-friendly dudes for DEATH RACE 2, the prequel to Paul WS Anderson's recent remake of the Corman classic. Goss dons the pre-Statham mask of Frankenstein for the straight-to-vid flick, currently shooting in South Africa with Roel Reiné (THE MARINE 2). Frederick Koehler (“Oz,” “Touching Evil”) and Lauren Cohan (“Supernatural”) are also part of the cast, and Anderson is producing.

 

The official synopsis, as per the just-received press release: DEATH RACE 2 takes place in the very near future, as the United States economy begins to decline and violent crime starts to spiral out of control. To contain the growing criminal population, a vast network of for-profit, private prisons springs up, creating a lawless subculture ruled by gangs, cold-blooded killers and sociopaths. The worst of these prisons is Terminal Island. Convicted cop-killer Carl Lucas arrives on the Island to serve his life sentence just as ruthlessly ambitious television personality September Jones launches the ultimate reality show, Death Race. A brutal prison yard demolition derby that pits prisoners against each other in steel reinforced, heavily armed vehicles, Death Race offers the winner the ultimate prize: freedom — if he can survive to enjoy it. When Lucas signs up to be a driver, the stage is set for the birth of a legendary racer.

http://www.joblo.com/index.php?id=31056

 

The Hitcher is back! Or at least in spirit. Heat Vision confirms that Sean Bean and Luke Goss have both been cast in Death Race: Frankenstein Lives, the sequel/prequel to Paul W.S. Anderson's Death Race remake from 2008. Since Anderson is preparing to shoot The Three Musketeers (in 3D), Dutch filmmakerRoel Reiné is taking over directing duties on this prequel. The only bad thing is that it looks like this is going straight-to-DVD as part of Universal's new DVD Originals banner, which recently put out Smokin' Aces 2: Assassins' Ball on DVD as well. I don't have high hopes for this, but it could potentially turn out pretty cool.

 

Death Race: Frankenstein Lives (the full title) is actually a prequel, not a sequel, that tells the origin story of the legendary driver known as Frankenstein. Goss will play a convicted cop killer in a declining "American Empire," where a racing reality show is about to be born inside the corrupt prison system. Also in the cast: Lauren Cohan, Ving Rhames, Danny Trejo, and Frederick Koehler, but no Ian McShane or Tyrese Gibson. I know this is going straight-to-DVD which means it'll probably be pretty bad, but damnit I actually enjoyed the first one enough to check this out once it hits shelves. Besides, I'm always down for seeing Sean Bean in any movie. He was awesome in The Hitcher and it'll be great to see him behind the wheel again. Thoughts?

http://www.firstshowing.net/2010/03/01/luke-goss-and-sean-bean-both-cast-in-the-death-race-prequel/

Sean Bean has agreed to appear in the DEATH RACE prequel (which was actually a remake of DEATH RACE 2000), DEATH RACE 2. And yes I do think that having the number 2 in the title for a prequel is a little confusing, but we can make it past this issue and not let the confusion get the best of us. I believe in us.

 

Bean has a natural intensity and wonderful “Motherfucker you talking to me?” scowl that should work well in the DEATH RACE 2. I’m sure Bean will have many solid chances to get angry or frustrated in the film.

 

DEATH RACE 2 is about the origins of the character Frankenstein:

“A convicted cop killer in a declining American empire where a racing reality show is about to be born in the country’s corrupt prison system.”

 

Jason Statham’s character posed as Frankenstein in DEATH RACE, wearing the man’s uniform after the original Frankenstein allegedly died. Luke Goss (the villain in HELLBOY II: THE GOLDEN ARMY, which he was awesome in) is set to play Frankenstein.

Bean’s casting would be more exciting if the film was getting a theatrical release, as it’s difficult to have even moderate hopes when talking straight-to-DVD, but still Bean being involved is definitely a plus for the project.

http://gordonandthewhale.com/sean-bean-signs-up-for-death-race-2/

Universal Pictures has released a press release for the production start of Death Race 2 and in it they point out that Sean Bean has been cast for the sequel. Since I'm a huge fan of Sean Bean, I couldn't be happier to hear it.

Death Race 2 Gets a Production Start

Start your engines…and load your weapons. The explosive, all-new high-octane Death Race 2 began principal photography on February 13, 2010 in Cape Town, South Africa. The spectacular prequel to Paul W.S. Anderson’s audacious re-imagining of the Roger Corman cult classic stars Luke Goss, Ving Rhames, Sean Bean, Danny Trejo, Frederick Koehler and Lauren Cohan and promises even more outrageously outfitted muscle cars and death-defying stunts in a deadly driving competition. Director Roel Reiné takes the helm of the adrenaline-fueled chronicle of Frankenstein, the greatest Death Race driver of all time, in an all-out thrill ride through a dystopian future.

 

The screenplay is by Tony Giglio, from a story by Paul W.S. Anderson. A top-flight production team has also been assembled, including director of photography John McKay, production designer Johnny Breedt, editor Josh Galvin and costume designer Moira Meyer.

 

The latest in the hugely successful line of DVD Originals™ from Universal Studios Home Entertainment Productions, Death Race 2 is produced by Paul W.S. Anderson and Jeremy Bolt and executive produced by Paula Wagner and Mike Elliott. Death Race 2 is an official South African/German Co-Production, produced in South Africa by Universal Pictures Productions GmbH and Moonlighting Death Race Films C.C. and co-produced by Genevieve Hofmeyr and Ralph Tuebben.

Since its introduction in 2005, Universal’s extensive DVD Originals™ slate of new live-action and animated content has dominated sales charts, scored impressive ratings on television network and cable outlets, performed successfully in multi-international markets and helped to shape the made-for-DVD arena. The high profile string of hits includes multiple installments of the powerhouse Bring It On and American Pie franchises as well as the epic saga Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior and most recently the explosive action release, Smokin’ Aces 2: Assassins’ Ball.

Death Race 2 takes place in the very near future, as the United States economy begins to decline and violent crime starts to spiral out of control. To contain the growing criminal population, a vast network of for-profit, private prisons springs up, creating a lawless subculture ruled by gangs, cold-blooded killers and sociopaths. The worst of these prisons is Terminal Island. Convicted cop-killer Carl Lucas arrives on the Island to serve his life sentence just as ruthlessly ambitious television personality September Jones launches the ultimate reality show, Death Race. A brutal prison yard demolition derby that pits prisoners against each other in steel reinforced, heavily armed vehicles, Death Race offers the winner the ultimate prize: freedom — if he can survive to enjoy it. When Lucas signs up to be a driver, the stage is set for the birth of a legendary racer.

http://www.canmag.com/nw/15462-death-race-2-production-sean-bean