By Christina Radish

In Universal Pictures’ action thriller Death Race, directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, the world’s hunger for extreme sports and reality competitions has grown into reality TV bloodlust. While the demand for more bloodshed increases, the most extreme racing competition has emerged on Terminal Island, and its contestants are murderous prisoners. The rules of the Death Race are simple -- win five events, and you’re set free; lose and you’re road kill, splashed across the Internet.

International action star Jason Statham leads the cast as three-time speedway champion Jensen Ames, an ex-con framed for a gruesome murder. Forced to wear the mask of the mythical Death Race crowd favorite driver Frankenstein, who seems impossible to kill, Ames is given an easy choice by the ruthless Warden Hennessey (Joan Allen): suit up and drive, or never see his little girl again. To claim the prize, Ames must survive a gauntlet of the most vicious criminals, including nemesis Machine Gun Joe (Tyrese Gibson), behind the wheel of a monster Mustang V8 Fastback, outfitted with two mounted mini-guns, flamethrowers and napalm.

British actor and car aficionado, Jason Statham, took time out while at the recent San Diego Comic Con, to talk to MediaBlvd Magazine about being an action hero and doing his own stunts.

MediaBlvd Magazine> For those racing scenes, were you in an actual fast-moving car, or were you being pulled?

Jason Statham> They had many stunt cars. Any action movie that involves cars has multiple copies of the same car, so when they get mangled and bashed, they just slip in the next one. One of the most difficult things was the fact that the cars were covered in armor, and there was very little vision that you could really draw any confidence from. It was quite nerve-wracking to know where you are, and who’s coming up and who’s not coming up. The track was just full of dangerous pylons and steal girders. One mistake, and it’s over. So, it was a massive concern for the stunt coordinators involved, just because of the danger that those kind of things present. We just had to do the best we could.                            

MediaBlvd> How many of those Mustangs did you go through?

Jason> I can’t remember. We had a truck load of them.

MediaBlvd> How fast were you going when you were driving in those cars?

Jason> It’s hard to say. The track was made of bits and pieces. We shot in different locations and made it look like it was one big track, but there were different locations to make up the different areas. We were not really going as fast as you might imagine, but it’s pretty fast. It depends on what you call fast.

MediaBlvd> How well could you see out of the mask?

Jason> Not very well. That presented a big problem. So, I didn’t drive in that thing.

MediaBlvd> Could you even walk in it?

Jason> Yeah. They made different ones with bigger eye pieces. They had various ones. It was all to do with the aesthetics. They didn’t really give a shit whether I could see or not.

MediaBlvd> A lot of filmmakers are pushing away from CGI-heavy movies. Death Race looks like it was primarily a big practical movie. Do you see more practical stuff going on, and less CGI-heavy films being done?

Jason> Yeah, because CGI is so boring. People just switch off to that. If it’s a little bit pushed in a direction where it just doesn’t look possible, then people are just completely turned off by it. I know Paul wanted to shoot as much as possible, in through the camera lens. That’s always more interesting, and that’s what I’ve always wanted to do, with all the action movies that I’m a part of. I like to do the stunts and show that we’re actually doing it, so people don’t just switch off. I find CGI very boring. Paul’s very conscious of that and he wanted to shoot real people, in real cars, doing real stunts, and just use a limited amount of CGI.

MediaBlvd> You looked extremely lean in this film. Were you leaner then, than you are now?

Jason> Oh, yeah, a lot. That is the leanest I’ve ever been. Paul wanted me to change and get fit. He had an idea of me being really skinny and ripped. It’s sometimes good to give yourself a little challenge, and give yourself some discipline. It works rather well.

MediaBlvd> You trained with the guy who did 300?

Jason> Yeah. He’s an ex-Navy Seal. He’s like a machine. He’s very knowledgeable, and a great motivator. I did about 10 weeks with him and was on a very strict diet, and it all just fell away.

MediaBlvd> Were you okay with having your shirt off so much in the film?

Jason> I had more than my shirt off. I was naked in the prison scene.

MediaBlvd> Normally, you’re more of a modest action star. Was it Paul’s idea to have you stripped down and working out?

Jason> We had to make people believe that he had a bit of a misspent youth and that he has all these prison tattoos. He’s trying to make a better life for himself now. He’s got a family. And so, we had to try and make people understand that he has done time and when he goes back in he’s familiar with the surroundings, so he doesn’t get stepped on and crushed. He can handle himself in the prison, but the idea is that he’s put there because he is wrongly accused of murdering his wife. The only way that you can keep your sanity in those prisons is to keep a clear head and train. We went to Corcoran Prison. We had a whole day up there, and it was one of the most frightening places that I’d ever been. It was like soldiers preparing for war. He wanted me to get all lean and prison-ready. It’s a great discipline, and I enjoy that kind of discipline. I’d get up at five o’clock and get on the row machine and do some crazy sessions with this Navy SEAL, and then go to work.

MediaBlvd> Had you seen the original film, Death Race 2000?

Jason> No, I didn’t see it. Paul asked me not to see it, until after the movie. He just didn’t want anything that would interfere with his idea of the film. It’s not a remake, it’s just an homage. So, he said, “If you can, try not to see it.”

MediaBlvd> Since it’s really difficult to remake really well done movies, was it easier to remake Death Race and give it a more modern sensibility because the original was such a cheesy B-movie?

Jason> Yes, because Death Race 2000 has almost a bad quality to it.

MediaBlvd> What did you enjoy most about making this movie?

Jason> I just liked working with the people, and kicking around with Ian McShane and Joan Allen. That’s not too much of a bad thing, is it? I just liked the whole atmosphere that Paul brings to the set. It’s a very relaxed one. And it’s just a pleasure to go in and do some work. We were running around in souped up, tuned up cars. I have a big passion for cars, and always have.

MediaBlvd> What is your favorite scene in it?

Jason> I liked a lot of the car stuff. It’s a car movie. It’s not The Godfather. Some of the deaths are just gory and hilarious. I like the fact that death can be gruesome and funny. I think it’s important not to take it too seriously. This is entertainment. Everyone who sees it, seems to get their money’s worth. The big action pieces with the cars are just terrific. I think it’s one of the best car action movies for the last 10 years, at least.

MediaBlvd> What kind of cars are your favorites?

Jason> I like the old Aston Martins, the BB5’s. I’m a big fan of those and the early Jags, the XK120’s, the E Types, just to mention a few British cars. I also like a lot of the muscle cars, like the Shelby Cobra. My friend’s got a really beautiful version, and he won’t let me drive it. The American muscle cars are very, very powerful. They’re ridiculous. They’re so hard to control. Unless you know what you’re doing, you’ll end up wrapped around a tree.

MediaBlvd> What do you drive?

Jason> I drive a 2008 GT2 Porsche, the new one. And, I’ve got a black Audi that I kick around in as well. I’m a big fan of the Audi.

MediaBlvd> When did this passion for cars start with you?

Jason> I’ve always liked cars, since I was a kid. It’s not like I have posters on the wall or miniatures strung around the house. I just like cars. It’s not like I’m a fanatic, like a stamp collector, only with cars.

MediaBlvd> Is there a certain thrill that you get when you’re behind the wheel?

Jason> If you ever go to a track, or you ever go-cart racing, it’s really exciting. There’s a great go-cart track, not so far from where I live, back in the U.K. We’ve been there many times. When we made Snatch, we took Brad and Benicio, and the whole cast, go-carting. We had a great time! It was a great day. Obviously, I won.

MediaBlvd> What do you think about how your character ends up in the film?

Jason> That was actually a re-shoot. That was a piece that they stuck on, almost six months later. We pretty much shot that about two and a half weeks ago.

MediaBlvd> What was the thinking behind going back in and adding that to the end?

Jason> I think it makes sense because it needed some kind of resolution. It made my character look a little bit better, at the end.

MediaBlvd> What can you say about Crank 2? How crazy is it going to get?

Jason> That was one of the most enjoyable films that I’ve shot in the last decade. It is absolutely madder than you could imagine. It is nuts. It’s like the first one, times a thousand. It’s just ridiculous. It’s high voltage, and that’s an understatement.

MediaBlvd> Were you surprised that they were going to make another film, considering how your character was left at the end of the first one, falling out of a helicopter?

Jason> If you look closely, in the first one, when he lands, you’ll see that there’s a heartbeat and the blink of an eye. That’s always been there. So, people who thought he died probably weren’t looking close enough.

MediaBlvd> How have Mark and Brian changed, as directors, from Crank to Crank 2?

Jason> They just drink a lot more tequila. They’re absolutely bonkers. They’re just very, very confident and know what they’re doing. It’s an unusual set-up that they have. Normally, you’d think one would take care of the script and the dialogue, and the other one would take care of the camera and the lighting, but they just flip it. They’re like, “You go hold the camera this time.” They’re so interchangeable with their roles.               

MediaBlvd> Who’s the better roller-blader, since they like shooting on roller blades?

Jason> I’ve never seen anyone as good as Mark Neveldine, period. He’s completely amazing on a set of skates, and fearless to the point of suicide. It’s very worrying. I don’t know how they let him get away with it.                                             

MediaBlvd> Was there any new or different pressure in making Crank 2 because of the surprising success of the first one, or were they just free to do exactly what they wanted to do?

Jason> They’re not aware of any pressure. They wrote Crank 2 in like a week. I think it was a weekend, actually. They locked themselves in a room and just put three bottles of tequila there, and drank and wrote the script. I remember reading it and thinking, “No, this is just too far out. There’s no way they’re ever going to make it. No, you can’t do this. No, you so can’t do that. That’s so offensive.” I mean it really is. It’s beyond offensive. And, they said, “Do you want to do it?” and I said, “Fuck it! Why not?” So, it was literally like that.

MediaBlvd> As an action hero, you have your signature franchises now, with The Transporter and Crank. Do you see Death Race as something that could be a franchise also?

Jason> I hope so, yeah. I really enjoyed working with Paul, and all the cast was great. It sets itself up for the sequel being in Mexico somewhere. I’d be very happy to shoot another one.

MediaBlvd> Do you see these characters, Frank from The Transporter and Chev from Crank, going down in movie history like Rocky, Rambo and John McClane from the Die Hard films?

Jason> Oh, they’re not quite as big as Rocky and Rambo. We’ve got a much smaller audience. But, we had so much fun. When we finished Crank 2, we said “Shall we do another one?” I said, “Yeah, let’s do Crank 3 in 3-D.” So, yeah, I’m sure the next episode will not be too far away.

MediaBlvd> Is there a particular allure to you with sci-fi, or is it just the action that attracts you to these types of films?

Jason> I’m not exactly a massive sci-fi fan. I love some of the old movies, like Blade Runner. The Matrix was terrific. It has to be done well. Every now and again, there is a sci-fi movie that makes me go, “Wow!” I’m just doing what comes to me. I don’t have any massive game plan or a calendar of what I need to achieve by a specific date. I just end up doing whatever makes sense, at the time.

MediaBlvd> Have you finished The Transporter 3?

Jason> I just finished The Transporter 3, yeah.

MediaBlvd> Will that take things to another level also?

 Jason> We hope so. We’re always trying to make it go that way.

MediaBlvd> Was there something you specifically wanted to do with the third one?

Jason> I wanted to make it better than the first two. I always thought the first one was the best one. I thought we could do better with the second one. We’re always trying to do better. We just need more time and more money, and that’s hard to get. If we were indulged with a little bit more money, a bit more of a budget, more time, more preparation, we could do something really, really good, but sometimes we don’t get that. I think the third one is probably the best out of the three.

MediaBlvd> With each action movie that you do, it seems that it has to be more intense than what you’ve done before. Does it ever feel too risky or dangerous for you to do?

Jason> You always have to try and exceed what you did before. We’re always striving for perfection and doing something that’s fantastic and amazing. That’s what keeps you going and keeps you motivated, trying to do something that’s bigger and better than you’ve done before. I don’t think I’ve really done what I really truly can do in an action movie. I’ve been jabbing and jabbing, and I’m just waiting to throw the right.

MediaBlvd> You have a certain quality that harkens back to an older style of acting. Who are some actors that have inspired you with your acting, before you became an actor?

Jason> My favorite actors are people like Paul Newman, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson and Clint Eastwood. They’re the ones that I’ve always loved. They’re the real movie stars. I can watch all their movies, time and time again. They’re the ones that I really admire.          

MediaBlvd> You started out as an Olympic diver. Do you marvel at what you’ve done, becoming a big action star?

Jason> I think it’s all to do with my good friend and manager, who scooped me off of the streets when I came to Hollywood and has been instrumental in finding me things that play to my strengths. I had a very physical early few years, learning martial arts and gymnastics, which all lend themselves to me being confident in doing my own stunts. There was no actual transition from sportsman to being a good actor. I just fell into it.

MediaBlvd> The movies you do are exciting and bring people to the theaters, but you won’t get an Oscar for them. Do you feel like, at some point, you’ll want to get away from genre films and do something else?

Jason> I’m very happy doing what I’m doing. There’s nothing to say that I wouldn’t be happier doing a romantic comedy, but I’m not really stuck or fixated on anything that’s going to keep me locked down, doing the same thing for 10 years. The fact is that people seem to enjoy me doing that kind of stuff, more than other stuff. I did a movie called The Bank Job, which was a step in a different direction, and I was very pleased with that. We’re trying to break it up and not do the same thing, time and time again.

MediaBlvd> Do you know what you’re doing next?

Jason> I’m not signed on to do anything, at the moment, but there are a couple of things brewing.