Star raps Death Race warning

by Frances Cronin
Newsbeat Entertainment reporter

Jason Statham said he loved getting involved in all Death Race's driving stunts

Hollywood action star Jason Statham has spoken out over a warning sign which has been added to the credits of his new film Death Race.

Movie-makers were forced to put up a notice urging the public not to recreate the realistic car crashes which appear in the film.

The movie is a remake of the 1975 cult classic which sees criminals racing to the death in souped-up armed cars.

Jason wasn't convinced though. "As if that's going to happen," he said.

He added: "'Dad I'm just going take the Escort out and I've just bolted two of those mini guns onto the bonnet. Is that alright? I'm just going to Asda'."

Stunt school

There's no CGI in the action flick and all the crashes are real which is why the filmmakers were forced to put a big warning on the blockbuster.

I wouldn't say I've made it, it's a long road. I'm still working and I've managed to do a big studio picture Jason Statham

Jason told Newsbeat that he loved getting involved in all the driving stunts.

"I've a great appetite for stunt driving. I was sent to stunt schools and spent a couple of weeks with all these top class stunt drivers," he said.

"The studio in particular, did allow me to do more and more in this film but they are still very protective these days."

But the Snatch star also said he does have his limits.

"You know some of the stuff I'm very pleased to not do. Burning cars and head on collisions - I'm not really interested in doing that stuff," he added.

It turns out this is actually Jason's first ever leading Hollywood studio role.

"Universal studios is quite exciting. A lot of the films I've done - the action movies - have had a smaller budget and smaller feel. This was big and glitzy and very posh," he explained.

Jason Statham with co-stars Tyrese Gibson and Natalie Martinez

'Spoilt rotten'

Working for a big studio means a much bigger budget and a few luxuries, something Jason admits he could get used to.

"You get spoilt, you get the nice trailers, the food's great and the whole pace slows, there's no rush. It's a very comfortable pace to work at, it spoils you rotten," he said.

Jason noticed the rise in budget in one scene in particular where he's stripped naked and hosed down before he goes into prison.

"I'm not particularly keen on getting my white pasty a**e out on the big screen," he admitted.

"But I must say the hose down was a very Hollywood scene, the temperature of the water was 85 degrees. Can you imagine making that in London. It'd be much colder?"

So does he feel like he's made it in Hollywood?

"I wouldn't say I've made it, it's a long road. I'm still working and I've managed to do a big studio picture. Let's hope I can do some more, he said.

"I don't think you ever think you've made it - what goes up must come down. You always hope you never get that full of yourself."