Movies

'Con Air' Simon West to direct Jason Statham's 'Heat' remake

Published Friday, Nov 2 2012, 10:52 GMT | By Tom Eames | Add comment

Simon West has signed up to star in the upcoming remake of Heat.

Jason Statham will lead the cast in the updated version of the 1986 action thriller, originally starring Burt Reynolds.

Jason Statham arriving for the UK Premiere of The Expendables 2, at the Empire Cinema, Leicester Square, London.

West previously worked with Statham on 2011's The Mechanic and The Expendables 2 earlier this year.

The filmmaker also directed the action films Con Air and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.

Oscar-winning screenwriter William Goldman, who scripted the original, will also pen the new version.

The thriller follows Nick Escalante (Statham), a gambling addict who arrives in Las Vegas taking security jobs to support his addiction. However, he is soon forced to tackle the mob after his friend is badly beaten.

Heat is scheduled to begin principal photography in France in late 2012 or early 2013.

Watch a trailer for West and Statham's The Expendables 2 below: