This news comes via an MF reader:
Finally there is word on the sequel to the remake of The Italian Job. Yet sadly there is still no confirmation on the return of the cast’s most important members, the three MINI Coopers. From this posting on Dark Horizons it looks as though
Paramount may actually be considering blasphemy by courting other car manufactures to provide the film’s cars. Is anyone else here interested in setting up a petition?
“Director David Twohy (“Pitch Black”, “Below”, “The Arrival”) has set up a trio of writing assignments, one of which will turn his original heist pic premise into “The Brazilian Job,” the sequel to Paramount hit remake “The Italian Job” reports Variety.”
“Paramount is expecting the entire original cast to head to Rio de Janeiro for the sequel, and the studio is already being courted by automakers eager to exploit the resurgence that the original pic created for the Mini Cooper.
F. Gary Gray will return to direct.”
- Avitor
<p>Where do I sign the petition?
That would be unthinkable!</p>
<p>I remember when James Bond didn’t drive an Austin Martin. I cant see Mini providing the cash to put there cars in the movie. Lets say hello to some other car. Mabey a Cirton?</p>
<p>I will personally boycott any sequels of the Italian Job that don’t feature MINIs in them.</p>
<p>So what are they going to use this time? KIAs, Scions or Yugos?</p>
<p>Paramount: WAKE UP!</p>
<p>yup, i’ll sign the petition in a heartbeat. i’ll be very sad if paramount sells out to some other country. no one wants to see charlize theoron (ok, we all want to see her) driving a tC or something of that sort. but my big concern about the movie, even if they use MINI’s is, what more can they possibly do with the story? steal something and then make the get away in the MINI’s? sorry, it was done a few years back. as much as i look forward to another Italian Job, i can’t see this movie doing very well.</p>
<p>Paramount is probably still pissed at MINI about the advertising for the first movie. Paramount approached MINI with the idea for a joint advertising campaign for the first movie and MINI said they didn’t want to fork over any $$$. You can’t blame MINI they took the free exposure but paramount was pretty upset.</p>
<p>It’s hard to imagine what other car they would use. If not the Mini, maybe a car shouldn’t be a main character at all, or maybe there should be a much diminished focus on the novelty of a car as a charater. Now that Charlize Theron is an Oscar Winner, she’s not going to want to compete with a car for screen time. (More Charlize is fine by me).</p>
<p>If they did use a different car, it would have to remain something inexpensive, otherwise the common-man charm of original remake (ha ha) becomes lost, and the movie is about a bunch of rich guys (think Ocean’s 12). </p>
<p>Browsing through the catalog of cars in my head, I’d recommend a series of one-off single seat roadsters, but something tells me they’ll use the Lotus Elise – small, light, visually unique, and even more extreme performance than the Mini. They have a greater chance of actually fitting into a plot, the way the size of the Mini did in the original.</p>
<p>I’m thinking a few Deux Chevaux’ (2CV) would be a good choice. Most of the public could really give a sh…t as most aren’t into the whole MINI culture as we on this site are.</p>
<p>I drive a MINI and I don’t care. SORRY.</p>
<p>ninjamini it’s……..Citroen</p>
<p>Bob…..It wasn’t the 1st one made.</p>
<p>I find it hard to believe that they would change cars for an Italian Job sequel, since they just opened a ride at their theme parks, which features MINI Coopers, then turn around and change cars in the sequel. </p>
<p>Plus, the new MINI will be out or at least ready to be introduced by then. BMW will want to promote the new generation MINI.</p>
<p>If they decide to use another car, the car will have to quit being one of the central parts of the movie.</p>
<p>I agree that it wouldn’t be the same without the MINIs. But movies today are all about $$$$. If they can ‘sell’ the opportunity to another car maker, they will. It’s not about MINIs it’s about $$$$$.</p>
<p>imagine thousands of smarts driving around with little brazilian job balls on their antennae.</p>
<p>Maybe Paramount could save a few bucks and use counterfeit Mini’s….</p>
<p>Whatever the issues, I think it would be incredibly foolish to bypass a car that has such history with the movies, and in this case, truly have been staring cast members.</p>
<p>I gotta agree with BL that it should go that way, but knowing how they [Paramount Pictures] work, as I worked there once, and my wife still does, they really haven’t a clue as their recent movies would indicate…….but……my wife has noticed a different attitude since Brad Grey, the new head guy, took over. So maybe they’ll get it right.</p>
<p>I don’t care about money, except for the $8 the movie ticket costs me and the $22 the DVD will cost me. I care about getting to see a good movie.</p>
<p>As for the Mini/MINI heist thing having been done already, well Police Academy was still funny through at least the third film! Just kidding, but seriously all successful and enjoyable movies series have had a common thread aside from plot and cast to bring them together. Bond has his gadgets, Star Trek has the Enterprise, and the Star Wars trilogies have the same 2 droids in every single film.</p>
<p>An Italian Job film without MINIS (or Minis) would be like a Bond film with a zit-faced Frenchman, complete with bad accent, playing the title character in a plot where James leaves her majesty’s service to work at the Burbank, CA Department of Motor Vehicles. It would be like Superman in a pink and purple costume. It would be like the Batman costume, with nipples. It would be like Star Wars with out special effects technology. It would be like George Lucas going back to those terrible Ewok movies, and digitally adding Jar Jar Binks. It would be like World War II without the wisdom of Churchill. Simply put an Italian Job without MINIS (or Minis) would be atrocious, and if Paramount had the lack of sense to produce such a film sans MINIs… It would be one of the worst films of all time.</p>
<p>Maybe they could requistion the few last built ’06 models – then they would really be Brazilian Jobs!</p>
<p>bada-bing!</p>
<p>Let’s step back for a second and remember that as MINI enthusiasts, we have a slightly slanted view of the importance of the MINI an Italian Job sequel. I will certainly agree that when James Bond started driving a BMW, a little piece of all of us died, but let’s not forget that he also drove a Lotus that turned into a submarine and that was pretty damn cool, even if it wasn’t an Astin Martin. </p>
<p>Donna and Wayne Powers wrote The Italian Job not as a remake of the 1969 original, but as its own story with inspirations from the Michael Caine classic. Those iconic includes compose a gold heist, the traffic jam, the tunnel chase and the use of the MINIs. But at its core, The Italian Job is about the characters and the story. Now granted, The Italian Job gold heist without MINI getaway cars would be indeed lacking something essential. It also doubled as wonderful product-placement for the new MINI we all know and love. But let’s remember that at it’s core, the story is about Charlie and his crew of clever thieves on a mission of snatching revenge. The MINIs are ultimately appropriate to the story for their small size and quickness, and for their iconic belonging from the original. No one disputes, including F. Gary Gray, their importance in the film.</p>
<p>However, that doesn’t automatically mean that there should be MINI’s in an Italian Job sequel. Don’t get me wrong, I want any MINI to get as much screen time as possible, but what I would hate to see is a contrived inclusion of our little car that served no greater purpose than plugging in parts to a formula. If the only reason for including the MINIs is to placate folks like us, its going to come at the detrement of the film and ultimately to MINI’s image. Their inclusion in the remake just kisses the line of blatant product placement without actually crossing it. I would wager that THIS is more the reason that MINI didn’t launch into a cooperative advertising campaign with Paramount. Let the MINI stand on its own 4 wheels, rather than artificially inserting it into the film. These sort of formulaic and unnecessary character associations are the bane of the Star Wars prequels – including characters or elements simply because you are able or expected to and NOT because they progress the story. </p>
<p>So absolutely, I’d love to see another trio of MINIs tearing up the asphalt of South America, but not simply for the sake of having them. I’d much rather have a great movie to complement the other two. Including MINI Coopers in that episode is certainly encouraged, but perhaps should not be automatic. Let the writing lead the way.</p>
<p>The Italian Job is about MINIs.</p>
<p>I do remember some sort of storyline, but it was mostly about exploiting the wonder that is a MINI as they did in the original and the modern one.</p>
<p>I’ll sign a petition for it too.</p>
<p>I’d like to see MINIs in a sequel too but in reality the MINIs are not as relevant today as they were in the sixties since they are not the same car. The cool part of the original was the fact that the MINIs could go where no other cars could. Through the tunnel that was too small for other cars. Across the levee thanks to front wheel drive and across the pedestrian foot bridge due to it’s small size. Jumping from roof tops and through plazas, etc, made the car unique. This was also not long after the MINIs had won Monte Carlo beating out much larger and more powerful cars. It was of the era.</p>
<p>As entertaining as the new Italian Job was, the MINIs didn’t really do anything any other car couldn’t have. Since the MINI is as wide and tall as any 3 series it doesn’t have the size advatage. Lots of cars are front wheel drive, are more powerful and can haul more. There wasn’t really anything clever or new about what they did with the MINIs. The movie was a great promo for the introduction of the new MINI and I hope the use them again but they are more creative. </p>
<p>The original was a true car picture with one enduring star, Michael Caine. The new one was a star block buster where the cars were cool props.</p>
<p>How about some EVO MR’s going through the rain forest(s) in a rally type chase. That would be pretty cool.</p>
<p>“Maybe they could requistion the few last built ’06 models – then they would really be Brazilian Jobs!”</p>
<p>Now that’s funny, yet insightful! There’s a plant where they build those engines in Brazil, right? And the Fiat plant played host to much of the original film’s principle photography. Why not harken back to the old film, and shoot a crap load of trick stunt driving at the plant where the current generation engines are built?</p>
<p>You MINI nuts need to chill out and that is coming from a fellow MINI nut.</p>
<p>This is not MINI the Movie. It’s a story about some characters and events that unfold in their life. It isn’t about the MINI. Just because the MINI was in the recent IJ doesn’t mean it needs to be in every sequel that may come about.</p>
<p>That movie would have been entertaining if they hadn’t have used MINIs. And like others on here I hope they use a different type of car this time around otherwise it’ll be like watching the same movie again.</p>
<p>I dunno, it wouldn’e be quite the same without the MINI’s running around…</p>
<p>At the same time, I can somehow envision the use of the new Pontiac Solstice….don’t ask me why, the Solstice just seems like a car that…fits the role.</p>
<p>What a bunch of Solstices (Solsti?) would be doing in Brazil, I have no idea…</p>
<p>Maybe the new Italian Job could entail a heist of supercharged engines stolen from a Brazil plant in anticipation of the evil domination of the forthcoming turbocharged PSA Peugeot Citroen engines to debut in the new Mini ?</p>
<p>Then again I think that might seem silly to the un-educated audience.</p>
<p>I do not want to sound as a sour grape but… the new Italian Job movie was really bad. Besides Charlize waking up at the beginning of the flick the rest is boring. The car chases are unimaginative and too over done. It is a sad remake, too much of nothing. I agree with Damon 100% and I will stick to the original. They could have done the movie with a Scion xB or whatever and it would have had the same limited success at the box office. No doubt it was a marketing achievement for MINI as how well they positioned a new brand here in the US but as a true car movie, it isn’t.</p>
<p>Maybe GM will pony up the most cash and place the Hummer H3 in the movie…</p>
<p>Bond NEVER drove an “Austin Martin.” He faithfully drove ASTON Martins. BIG difference. Kind of surprised to read it on a car board.</p>
<p>TJM</p>
<p>Maybe the “Austin Martin” comes from the same planet as the “Cirton”!</p>
<p>I always thought Mr. Bond drove an Aston Martini, Shaken not stirred!</p>
<p>honestly, i haven’t even seen the Italian Job. I’m still wondering if the movie did good or bad for the car. Seems like a lot of people only enjoyed/liked the MINI because of the movie. Also it made the car into something that was just a cool thing to have rather than truly wanting a MINI for it’s lovable characteristics. </p>
<p>also, Damon makes a very good point. I definitely need to get a classic mini.</p>
<p>“Hang on a minute lads, I’ve got an idea” said Charlie in the IJ1. And the boss was named “Mr Bridger” – any relation to Gabe?
Why would Paramount spend all that money on the new Roller coaster rides we have just been reading about, only to make them redundant when the IJ3 comes out?
I think they should have made a sequel to the original and let us know what happened to the gold in the bus at the top of the cliff, and then carried on the theme – but hey I’m old fashioned!
Maybe like the original IJ1 which was initially snubbed by BMC and made them buy the cars for the movie, Paramount is putting the heat on MINI to come up with extra cash – let’s face it human actors demand millions – perhaps the MINIs want a pay rise as well?
If other makes are used it will lose the historical and iconic factor and will just be another B-grade movie for DVD and TV.
Regards
“The Self-Preservation Society”
p.s. if you aint seen the original go get a copy.</p>
<p>Hey they messed with the formula for oceans 11 and 12 wasn’t nearly as good as the first, even with all the actors back.. I also think they shouldn’t change the name to brazilian job. I think it should be the mini again in some aspect.. maybe the convertables this time. and i think it should take place in italy, unlike the last one which primarliy took place in LA.</p>
<p>why not be in italy again, there are a thousand great venues there.. and even if the movie bled out to other eurpean countries at least the feel would be kept.</p>
<p>What’s the Italian Job without MINIs?</p>
<p>So the question under discusion here is: </p>
<p>Which automotive “products” will be “placed” in a predictably awful sequel to a very mediocre remake of a reasonably entertaining film made more than 30 years ago?</p>
<p>Thanks, but I’ll pass…</p>
<p>In the original ‘Italian Job’, with Michael Caine, the star vehicle was a BUS! The movie ends with the bus hanging over a cliff. Maybe they could get one of those colorful South American buses–or a VW Vanagon. Speaking of Brazil–do you smell a FOX?</p>
<blockquote>
<p>“Hang on a minute lads, I’ve got an idea” said Charlie in the IJ1. And the boss was named “Mr Bridger” – any relation to Gabe? </p>
</blockquote>
<p>The only relation is a good old English surname :)</p>
<p>While I do love the “Mr. Bridger” character from the orginal IJ, I think I’d rather be related to <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.imdb.com/gallery/ss/0317740/Ss/0317740/IJ-C1009-20A.jpg?path=pgallery&path_key=Theron,%20Charlize">Stella Bridger</a> of the new Italian Job 🙂 </p>
<p>Wait… now that I think of it, that seems very wrong.</p>
<p>Petition!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</p>
<p>Any Brits here??? We need your opinion!! IMO, The thing that made the original Italian Job a cult classic is the Minis. Not the characters…not the plot…not even the music. The Italian Job lived to be re-made only (or at least primarily) because of those Minis. If they want to make another heist movie…fine. Call it something else. If they want to do “The Brazilian Job” and spin off a new international “Job” series…fine. But w/o MINIs I won’t be going to see it….not even curious.</p>
<p>Guys, I just found out through an anonymous source what the new auto will be for the upcoming “brazilian Job” film. You won’t believe it.</p>
<p>Pontiac Aztecs.</p>
<p>Hehehehehe…</p>
<p>More important, does anyone really think that the second (third) will be as good as the first (second) which already wasn’t as good as the origional (first)? I’d be suprised if this movie did anything else but tank, and I’d rather not see MINIs star in a what I’d guess to be a terrible movie. It’s bad enough that there was a MINI or two hanging around the background of 2F2F, but an apperance in one steaming turd of a movie is quite enough for me. Forgive the spelling, I’m tired…:)</p>
<p>I think someone here asked a very good question..what ever happened to them the gold and the bus?</p>
<p>My wife and I saw I J 2 while waiting to PU my used Mini in Florida. We thought it was quite fun.</p>
<p>It was just a fun, silly, escape movie, give it a rest.</p>
<p>Quote >:Imagine thousands of smarts driving around with little brazilian job balls on their antennae.</p>
<p>I’m trying to imagine 1000’s of Smarts, and no it’s not happening, great idea the car and the concept, but MCC are losing money hand over fist, and have you actually driven one ???. Then theres the bits that fall of, or stop working. I had one for a week as a loaner, and boy was I glad to see the back of it. About the film ?, oh sorry, Nah, its not important what the car is, there is no way it can beat the original IJ with the classics, IJ2 was a nice idea ,was ok to watch and sold a lot of MINI’s, but the car did’nt need the film as much as the film needed the car. Paramount should use 05 Mustangs in my opinion, the Shelby Cobra version :-)</p>
<p>The Mini is still the international automotive icon for cool. Hello!</p>
<blockquote>
“Donna and Wayne Powers wrote The Italian Job not as a remake of the 1969 original, but as its own story with inspirations from the Michael Caine classic.”
</blockquote>
<p>Donna and Wayne Powers never saw the original film before penning the <strong>remake</strong>. How could the possibly have been inspired by it? And it’s not simply a Michael Caine classic, as Peter Collinson was a great director. Give credit where credit is due, and don’t give credit where it isn’t.</p>
<p>A little off topic but I heard the next edition of Herbie of the Herbie movies (the Love Bug, Fully Loaded, Rides again, Goes Bannanas, Goes to the Monte, etc.) Will be played by a Hummer H1.</p>
<p>Agree with the ‘who cares’ lot to be honest.</p>
<p>I’m a brit through and through. The original IJ was a classic, original, funny, & with an amazing chase which as stated before, actually made use of the Mini’s unique abilities.</p>
<p>The remake was better than I had thought, but was also as predictable as expected. The MINI chase was a nice product placement, but was fairly boring and they were doing nothing that any number of cars couldn’t do.</p>
<p>If they decide to make a sequel then you can be sure that regardless of which fad-car of the day is chosen it will be the same predictable, semi-decent film hollywood studios are known for.</p>
<p>All I can say is that this is Hollywood, they just want to make money. Personnal I think that using athing other than a mini is this movie would be horrible, Paramount should be paying BMW for the use of the mini.</p>
<p>You all are silly.
Using the MINI in it again would be retreading another old tired tire.</p>
<p>A new Film with exciting chases is all we need.
Brand matters not. </p>
<p>I dig the idea of the EVO MR’s tho… That’s a fun thought.</p>
<p>Remember, the inclusions of MINI’s in the remade Italian Job is what made the film fun for YOU. </p>
<p>According to Statistics, YOU are not important or large enough to warrant them to be featured again. </p>
<p>Who knows they MAY use MINI’s again.</p>
<p>You all are silly.
Using the MINI in it again would be retreading another old tired tire.</p>
<p>A new Film with exciting chases is all we need.
Brand matters not. </p>
<p>I dig the idea of the EVO MR’s tho… That’s a fun thought.</p>
<p>Remember, the inclusions of MINI’s in the remade Italian Job is what made the film fun for YOU. </p>
<p>According to Statistics, YOU are not important or large enough to warrant them to be featured again. </p>
<p>Who knows they MAY use MINI’s again.</p>
<p>i think this is just gonna be yet another sequel flop. i mean seriously, i love the italian job, but i don’t see how they can make a spin-off of it. there’s really nothing to continue. the only thing i guess they could feed off of is the relationship between charlie and stella. cause remember at the very end, it shows them together and charlie says something to the extent of, “and i’m gonna hold on to her forever.” so im anxious to see how that all plays out. well i guess all i can do is wait and see.</p>
<p>Why not feature a Volkswagen and rename the movie, “Herbie’s Job in Brazil?” Duh!</p>