For every Eric Bana, there is a Jason Statham. The Star Trek star is apparently out and The Mechanic star is almost in to Hyde Park International‘s Echelon, based on the novel Firewall, written by Andy McNab. Stunt coordinator Simon Crane (Titanic, The Island, The Tourist) is making his directorial debut with this action film, which sounds about as perfect as can be in terms of transition. [Deadline]
The plot: an ex-spy is commissioned to kidnap a Russian mafia boss. Western forces get involved, entangling underlords and undercover spies alike. And it stars a stuntman-turned-action star Statham. It’s like The Transporter meets The Mechanic meets, well, most everything Statham’s done thus far.
All that said, the Brit has yet to garner enough of a following to be box office gold. Luckily, Statham films are usually made on the cheap, generating enough worldwide revenue to make it worth it for all those involved. Will a stuntman’s take on a stuntman’s movie be enough to make Statham the star he should already be?
What do you think? Do you watch Statham movies?