The Cannonball Run film franchise is being relaunched by Warner Bros, Deadline Hollywood reports.
Warner Bros acquired all the sequel and remake rights to the franchise from the original owners. Rawson Thurber has reportedly been given the green light to direct the film, while Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben will write the script.
The original film was based on the famous Cannonball Baker Sea-To-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash, an illegal cross-country street race run five times in the 1970s. Released in 1981, the film starred Burt Reynolds, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Roger Moore, Sammy Davis Jr and Dom DeLuise. A Lamborghini Countach was the vehicular highlight. The film was followed up by a sequel in 1984 and a third film was released in 1989.
Speaking to Slashfilm about a new Cannonball Run last August, Thurber said the film won’t look to mimic the stunts from the Fast and Furious franchise.
“I think we’re living in a post or current ‘Fast and Furious’ world. So I don’t think ‘Cannonball’ can out-‘Fast and Furious’ the ‘Fast and Furious.’
“That’s its own thing, but we definitely want to harness that with the fun of ‘Oceans 11’ and put those together. It’ll have to be a different thing than ‘Fast,’ but should have some great car action, obviously,” Thurber said.