There’s something about a world where sport is taken to the extreme and the competitors might end up dead that appeals to Hollywood. After all, working for one of the studios, it probably feels like you’re engaged in one of those battles most of the time. From Running Man to Death Race, deadly sports have held a strange fascination and now there’s a new flick along those lines that’s in the works.
THR reports that Kellan Lutz and Samuel L. Jackson have signed up for Deathgames, which may get this year’s prize for most inanely literal title. The story centres on a young man (Lutz) who is kidnapped and forced into the savage world of a modern gladiator arena, where men fight to the death for entertainment of the online masses. Jackson orchestrates the games, overseeing them from his computer lair with the help of twin ladies who see to his every desire.
Doesn’t exactly seem that original, does it? Perhaps they’ll find something new to add to what is becoming a bit of a hoary old cliche, but I doubt it. Just to ensure any possible excitement you might have about this film is well and truly muted, Jonah Loop, a visual effects supervisor on such pics as Collateral and A Perfect Getaway, is making his directorial debut with the film.
The $10 million movie starts shooting in Louisiana next month.