Before Jason Statham (The Beekeeper) became one of Hollywood’s most dependable action stars, he was Handsome Rob, the impossibly cool getaway driver responsible for some of the best moments of 2003. The Stath joined a ridiculously stacked cast to take part in a simple premise: steal the gold, get betrayed, and steal it all over again, and turned a fleet of Mini Coopers into some of the coolest getaway cars in movie history. More than two decades later, Paramount is finally preparing another job.
A new Italian Job movie is officially in development at Paramount Pictures, with Paul Feig (The Housemaid) in early talks to direct a follow-up to the movie, 23 years later. The studio is currently searching for writers, meaning development remains at an early stage, and no cast members are currently attached.
Directed by F. Gary Gray (Straight Outta Compton), the 2003 movie was inspired by the 1969 British classic starring Michael Caine. It followed Charlie and his team after successfully stealing a fortune in gold during a meticulously planned heist in Venice. Their celebration didn’t last long, as fellow crew member Steve betrayed them, stole the gold, and left them for dead.
Charlie subsequently brought the surviving team back together and recruited Stella, the daughter of their murdered safecracker John Bridger, for an elaborate revenge operation in Los Angeles. Their plan ultimately involved manipulating the city’s traffic system and using three Mini Coopers to transport the stolen gold through streets and subway tunnels while avoiding Steve’s men.
Wahlberg led the ensemble as Charlie alongside Theron as Stella, Edward Norton (Fight Club) as Steve, Seth Green (Austin Powers) as Lyle, Statham as Handsome Rob, Yasiin Bey (The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy) as Left Ear, Franky G (Saw II) as Wrench, and Donald Sutherland (The Hunger Games) as John Bridger.
Why Was There No ‘Italian Job’ Sequel Earlier?
It never worked out, until now. Back in 2009, director F. Gary Gray spoke with Collider‘s Steve Weintraub about the prospects of a sequel, but those looked to have fallen by the wayside until today’s news emerged:
“You know I’d love it if they were to come up with a concept that tops the first movie. That’s the goal, to make sure that whatever the sequel is that it’s as inventive, as creative as the original….if not better. That’s where all the energy is being spent, making sure you don’t do a sequel for the sake of doing a sequel. You want to make sure you top it.”
The Italian Job is streaming now.
via Collider