Looks like Jason Statham just can't stay away from New Orleans.
This fall, Statham will star in a remake of the 1972 Charles Bronson hitman tale "The Mechanic," which as recently as June had been set to shoot in Shreveport. According to the state's film office, the project is now prepping to set up shop in New Orleans.
Cameras will roll in town for nine weeks starting in mid-October. Pre-production is expected to crank up in a few weeks.
The movie is being described as "a spy thriller in a post-9/11 world," suggesting it will take little but inspiration and the title from Bronson's movie. That one was about an aging hitman (Bronson) who finds himself betrayed after taking an up-and-coming hitman (Jan Michael-Vincent) under his wing.
Aside from Statham, no other cast has been announced.
Simon West ("Con Air," "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider") will direct, based on a script by Karl Gajdusek. The movie will be produced by Millennium Films, the same outfit behind "The Expendables."

Written by: Mike Scott, The Times-Picayune

Susan B. Anna

Jason Statham is in final negotiations to star in "Blitz," a London-set thriller about a serial killer targeting police officers. Lionsgate U.K. is fully financing the project, which is an adaptation of Ken Bruen's bestseller of the same name. Mandate Intl. will handle international sales. "Blitz" will be Lionsgate U.K.'s first British project since it announced its plans to beef up its local production last year. It will also mark the first collaboration between Statham and Lionsgate U.K. since last year's "The Bank Job," which was a hit at the Blighty box office. Statham will play a tough, uncompromising cop assigned the task of tracking down the killer. Paddy Considine will play his partner. Nathan Parker wrote the script; Elliott Lester is directing. Lionsgate U.K. topper Zygi Kamasa, Steve Chasman, Brad Wyman and Donald Kushner are producing. Project begins lensing Aug. 10 in London. "Jason and I are excited about the opportunity to be working here again as we are keen to continue supporting British films," Chasman said. While its U.S.-based parent company has been the subject of boardroom unrest with speculation over the intentions of shareholder and corporate raider Carl Icahn, Lionsgate U.K. has been gradually ramping up its production activities. Lionsgate U.K. projects in the hopper include the $15 million contemporary sci-fi thriller "83," which Noel Clarke will write, direct and star in; and laffer "Stiff," from "Borat" writer Dan Mazer and producer Andrea Calderwood about a 1980s rock star who falls into a coma on stage and wakes up 20 years later.
- Variety

Jason Statham will star in the $40 million action thriller The Killer Elite, says Variety.


The movie will be directed by commercial's helmer Gary McEndry and is based on Ranulph Fiennes' best seller, "The Feathermen."

Based on real events, the story follows a group of former British special forces members who are being hunted by assassins. Statham will play a former Navy Seal who is forced out of retirement to save his closest friend.

Filming will begin in the fall in London, Paris and Australia...

Susan B. Anna