General Motors looks to remake The Cannonball Run

Can’t wait to see this. Who do you think would be better for the remake – Ben Stiller or Brad Pitt?

It’s hard not to love The Cannonball Run. The 1981 film was essentially a live action Wacky Races and was a hell of a lot of fun, featuring crazy car action, sharp comedy and a great cast. It now seems as though it’s another film in line for the remake treatment, though, although how the project is being approached is slightly different from your average movie.

General Motors is the company backing the project, and is looking to partner with a studio to get the film made. No doubt, then, that it will act as a rather nice advert for its cars, which include the likes of GMC, Buick, Chevrolet and Cadillac.

Product placement is by no means a new concept in cinema, and Morgan Spurlock’s latest documentary, Pom Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, takes a look at how product placement is sourced and what role it plays in financing films. But to my knowledge, a company such as General Motors playing such an overt role in getting a film made is a little unconventional. Although I’m sure there are other examples.

Two production companies are in the running to get the film motoring, and both have a director and star good to go. 20th Century Fox want Shaun Levy and his Night at the Museum star Ben Stiller involved whereas Warner Bros is looking to Guy Ritchie and his Snatch star Brad Pitt to lead the project.

We'll have more news on GMC Presents: Cannonball Run as we get it.

Read more: http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/1100398/general_motors_looks_to_remake_the_cannonball_run.html