Jason Stathamremade not one, but two movies by Hollywood iconBurt Reynolds- it’s just a shame their only collaboration sucked so much. Despite making his name in Guy Ritchie gangster comedies, Statham soon made a dramatic gear shift in his career. TheJason Statham action movieera began in earnest with 2001’sGhosts of Mars, but it wasThe Transporterthat proved his big breakthrough. Like any leading man, he has had his peaks and valleys, but the box office success ofThe Beekeeperproves Statham is still on top of his game.
He has remade several cult classics in the action genre too.Statham fronted the remake of Charle Bronson’sThe Mechanicand played the lead in the reboot of theDeath Racefranchise. One of the earliest remakes young Statham appeared in wasMean Machine, where he played a violent prisoner named Monk who takes part in a soccer match between inmates and the guards. The film was a remake of 1974’sThe Longest Yard, and whileMean Machinewas actually a vehicle for footballer-turned-actor Vinnie Jones, Statham stole the show.
Jason Statham’s First Action Movie Was A Stealth Remake Of This 1959 John Wayne Classic
Jason Statham’s very first action role was in a sci-fi/horror movie from 2001, which was a stealth remake of one of John Wayne’s best Westerns.
Jason Statham Remade Burt Reynolds' Movies The Longest Yard & Heat
Mean Machine and Wild Card were both pulled from Burt Reynolds' filmography
Mean Machinewas an exceedingly British riff onThe Longest Yard,where Burt Reynolds played a disgraced quarterback sent to prison. He seeks redemption in a game between guards and prisoners, with the movie being one of the late star’s best outings of the 1970s. It was also the film that cemented Reynolds' stardom, following the praise he received forDeliverance. He then became one of the biggest box office draws of the decade, delivering hit after hit liketheSmokey and the Banditmoviesor 1978’sHooper.
Sadly,a string of box office disappointments during the 1980s likeCity Heat- which paired him with friend Clint Eastwood - andSticksaw Reynolds' A-list career fall into a steep decline. One of his more notable projects from the period wasHeat, an adaptation of the novel of the same name by acclaimed author and screenwriter, William Goldman (The Princess Bride).
This 1986 thriller cast Reynolds as a Las Vegas bodyguard who gets caught up in a series of violent misadventures. LikeStickbefore it,Heatwas another troubled production that grossed less than $3 million (viaThe Numbers) worldwide.Jason Statham later dusted off the screenplay forHeatwith 2015 thrillerWild Card, which was much closer to Goldman’s original intent. The film was intended to show more of a dramatic side to Statham, but likeHeatbefore it,Wild Cardwas a box office dud, earning $6.7 million on an estimated production budget of $30 million.
The Longest Yardwas remade again in 2005 as a comedy vehicle for Adam Sandler; Reynolds also appeared as Coach Scarborough.
Jason Statham And Burt Reynolds Co-Starred In The Worst Movie Of Their Careers
In the Name of the King still managed to launch a franchise
Director Uwe Boll became notorious for his video game adaptations during the 2000s, where he turned the likes ofAlone in the DarkorThe House of the Deadinto borderline unwatchable junk.In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Talewas Boll’s swing at making aLord of the Rings-style fantasy epic, with a cast that included Ray Liotta, John Rhy-Davies and Matthew Lillard.In the Name of the Kingis notable for being Jason Statham and Burt Reynolds only big screen collaboration, though they both probably regretted signing on.
In the Name of the Kingsits at 4% on Rotten Tomatoes, making it the lowest-ranking film on Jason Statham’s CV.
The film cast Statham as Farmer, who sets out to avenge the death of his son by an evil magician. Reynolds plays the titular King, with Farmer’s quest for vengeance pulling him into a bigger fight.In the Name of the Kingsits at 4% on Rotten Tomatoes, making it the lowest-ranking film on Statham’s CV. While Reynolds and Statham have appeared in their share of bad movies, Boll’sRingsripoff might just be their nadir.
Despite a $60 million budget,In the Name of the Kinglooks and feels chintzy, and is largely miscast- a critique that extends to Reynolds performance too. Despite the movie flopping hard (it earned $13 million), Boll later directed two STV sequels: 2011’sIn the Name of the King 2: Two Worldsstarring Dolph Lundgren and 2014’sThe Last Mission.
Heat & Wild Card Suffered Similar Fates
Heat’s two adaptations were oddly cursed
Sharing a title with the 1995 Michael Mann crime masterpiece has seen to it that whatever slim cultural impact Reynolds’Heatleft, the film has been all but forgotten now. Goldman all but disowned the final product and estimated in his memoirWhich Lie Did I Tell?that the project went through no less than six directors.The final version ofHeatis credited to Dick Richards and Jerry Jameson, with the former quitting after Reynolds hit himduring production; he later sued the actor for assault and was awarded $500,000 in damages.
Richard also wanted his name taken offHeat, having only directed 13 days of production; however, a Directors Guild of America ruling decided Richards was responsible for 40% of the final movie.Richard was a replacement for the legendary Robert Altman, who signed on to directHeatbut exited when his preferred DP wasn’t given the necessary work permitsto join the production. Jerry Jameson took over when Richards quit, though he went uncredited for his contributions.
In the cases of Heat and Wild Card, both Jason Statham and Burt Reynolds were coming off the back of multiple duds.
Wild Carddidn’t suffer through as cursed a production, but it found Statham in a similar place in his career. The remake was originally meant to be directed by Brian De Palma;while the pairing of Statham and De Palma got movie fans excited, the latter eventually dropped out ofWild Card.Con Air’sSimon West took over, but despite Statham committing to a more grounded thriller, the film didn’t connect with critics or viewers.
In the cases ofHeatandWild Card, both of its stars were coming off the back of multiple duds. It found them at a career crossroads, but while Statham decided to branch out to a wider audience with theFast & Furioussaga orThe Meg, Reynolds’s career never fully recovered. The star later went back to television, scoring a hit sitcom withEvening Shade. During the 1990s, he moved into supporting roles, with some of his most notable projects includingBoogie NightsandMystery, Alaska.
The Planned Burt Reynolds Remake Jason Statham Would Be Perfect For
Sharky’s Machine is ripe for a Jason Statham-shaped update
After a long stretch of comedies during the 1970s, Reynolds was eager to move into harder-edged fare during the 1980s.Reynolds found his own take on Eastwood’sDirty Harrywith 1981’sSharky’s Machine, about a vice cop chasing after a relentless hit-man. The thriller was surprisingly well received at the time, and it was later announced in 2006 that Mark Wahlberg would front a modern update. FutureJohn Wickproducer Basil Iwanyk was behind that version but stated in 2023 that it fell apart when Warner Bros moved away from more mid-level action thrillers (viaAbove the Law).
4
$315,536,842
2
$79,397,662
$840,842,411
$202,077,028
The Fast and the Furious
11
$7,321,468,458
$921,566,988
Indeed, if aSharky’s Machineremake ever does come together,Jason Stathamis the obvious choice. Not only does he have previous experience redoingBurt Reynoldsmovies, there are few stars of his caliber who could front a new take on such a gritty crime thriller convincingly. A reboot would have a hard time topping the incredible real stunt that closesSharky’s Machine, but it’s a story that could use a fresh coat of paint.
Source:The Numbers,The Numbers,Rotten Tomatoes, Which Lie Did I Tell?,Los Angeles Times,Above the Line
Mean Machine
Cast
Mean Machine is a British sports comedy-drama film, directed by Barry Skolnick. Vinnie Jones stars as Danny Meehan, a former professional footballer who is sent to prison and coerced into coaching a team of inmates for a match against the prison guards. The film features performances by Jason Statham, David Hemmings, and David Kelly, blending elements of humor and sportsmanship within the prison setting. Based on the 1974 film The Longest Yard.
Wild Card
Wild Card is an action thriller directed by Simon West, featuring Jason Statham as Nick Wild, a Las Vegas bodyguard with lethal skills and a gambling problem. The film follows Nick as he enacts revenge against a brutally violent thug and finds himself entangled with the mob. Wild Card explores themes of redemption and survival amidst the gritty underworld of Las Vegas.
Sharky’s Machine
Sharky’s Machine is a crime thriller directed by and starring Burt Reynolds as Tom Sharky, a police officer demoted to vice. Released in 1981, the film follows Sharky as he uncovers a political conspiracy while assembling a team to gather evidence and becoming romantically drawn to a mysterious woman.
In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale
In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale, directed by Uwe Boll, is a fantasy adventure film starring Jason Statham as Farmer, who embarks on a quest to rescue his kidnapped wife and avenge his son’s death. Set in the kingdom of Ehb, the film features a host of characters including Ron Perlman and Ray Liotta. The narrative unfolds as Farmer confronts the malevolent forces threatening his homeland.
