Genre film icon Roger Corman starts production on sequel to cult hit.
Disregard the glossy DEATH RACE 2000 remake DEATH RACE and its direct to video sequels as SHOCK just learned that legendary indie genre film maverick Roger Corman is sculpting a direct sequel to his original 1975 splatter action/satire.
Principal photography on ROGER CORMAN’S DEATH RACE 2050 (oddly, the original 1978 DEATH RACE 2000 companion picture, DEATHSPORT was also released in some quarters under the handle DEATH RACE 2050) has just begun in Peru. The film is directed by G.J. Echternkamp (FRANK AND CINDY) from a script by Matt Yamashita (Corman’s SHARKTOPUS VS PTERECUDA) and Echternkamp. DEATH RACE 2050 is produced by Corman and Luis Llosa (director of ANACONDA).
This is an amazing opportunity for me and millions of DEATH RACE 2000 fans to experience the intensity, thrills and dark humor of the original, fueled by a terrific young cast, spectacular vehicles and side-splitting action, literally said Corman in the official press release ROGER CORMAN’S DEATH RACE 2050 puts the pedal to the metal to bring this enduring franchise to a whole new level.
Here’s the synopsis:
In the not-too-distant future, America is controlled by an all-powerful corporate government that keeps the masses placated with violent virtual-reality entertainment. The event of the year is the Death Race, where a motley assortment of drivers compete in a cross-country road race, scoring points for running down pedestrians and killing each other. The reigning champion and popular favorite is half-man, half-machine Frankenstein (THE HOBBIT’s Manu Bennett, taking over for the original’s David Carradine) but little does he know hes taken on a rebel spy as his co-pilot. Cult film icon Malcolm McDowell also stars as the sinister Chairman.
ROGER CORMAN’S DEATH RACE 2050 will be released via Universal 1440 Entertainment on DVD, Blu-ray and Digital later this year.
