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A "Cannonball Run" Remake Is in the Works


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If you've never seen the classic '80s road race action/comedy The Cannonball Run, you wouldn't believe the stars that are in that flick even if we told you. We're talking Burt Reynolds, Roger Moore, Farrah Fawcett, Dom Deluise, Jack Elam, Jamie Farr, Bert Convy, Adrienne Barbeau, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., and even freakin' Jackie Chan. Throw in some incredible car-based hijinks, and you've got the makings of the ultimate comfort movie.

We love looking back on classic American car flicks, but there's something about the fast all-star cast that really makes this cross-country movie what it is. Maybe it's because it's based on the real outlaw race that ran five times during the 1970s. The race first started at 31st St Red Bull Garage in New York City (later migrating to Connecticut) and ended at the scenic Redondo Beach in California. One can imagine that the scenic route made this race an easy pick to turn it into a film.

Well, according to Deadline Hollywood, it looks like The Cannonball Run is in the works to get the Hollywood remake treatment.

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In 2016, talk first turned to a remake when Andre Morgan and Alan Gasmer took on the task of producing. While there haven't been any updates regarding the remake since June 2018, Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity, Mr. and Mrs. Smith) has been in negotiations with Warner Bros. to sign on as director. Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant (Reno 911, Night at the Museum) are expected to write the script.

The Cannonball Run: Remembering the Original

We love looking back on classic American car flicks, but there's something about the fast all-star cast that really makes this cross-country movie what it is. Maybe it's because it's based on the real outlaw race that ran five times during the 1970s. The race first started at 31st St Red Bull Garage in New York City (later migrating to Connecticut) and ended at the scenic Redondo Beach in California. One can imagine that the scenic route made this race an easy pick to turn it into a film.

Racking up around $72 million at the box office when it premiered back in 1981, The Cannonball Run (directed by renowned stuntman/filmmaker Hal Needham) is about a law enforcement-dodging cross-country car race from New England to Los Angeles, California. It was based on the Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash, a race designed to protest the 55 mph speed limit by Car and Driver editor-in-chief Brock Yates, who also wrote the film's script.

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Let's just say it featured such ridiculous antics as Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin dressed as priests riding around in a Ferrari 308 GT and Jackie Chan speeding in a rocket-propelled 1980 Subaru DL.

Oh, and then they decided to make Cannonball Run II in 1984, which (spoiler alert) wasn't very good.

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But, if you're looking for a good summer popcorn, The Cannonball Run remake should probably deliver. At least we'd go and see it.

This post was originally published on June 22, 2018.

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