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THE MECHANIC (2011) PRODUCTION NOTESSYNOPSISArthur Bishop (Jason Statham) is a 'mechanic' - an elite assassin with a strict code andunique talent for cleanly eliminating targets. It's a job that requires professionalperfection and total detachment, and Bishop is the best in the business. But when hismentor and close friend Harry (Donald Sutherland) is murdered, Bishop is anything butdetached. His next assignment is self-imposed - he wants those responsible dead.His mission grows complicated when Harry's son Steve (Ben Foster) approaches himwith the same vengeful goal and a determination to learn Bishop's trade. Bishop hasalways acted alone but he can't turn his back on Harry's son. A methodical hit man takesan impulsive student deep into his world and a deadly mentorship is born. But while inpursuit of their ultimate mark, deceptions threaten to surface and those hired to fixproblems become problems themselves.Jason Statham (The Expendables, The Italian Job) and Ben Foster (The Messenger, 3:10to Yuma) star, alongside Donald Sutherland (The Italian Job) and Tony Goldwyn (TheLast House on the Left), in The Mechanic for CBS Films in association with MillenniumFilms. A Chartoff Winkler <strong>Production</strong> and Nu Image <strong>Production</strong>, Simon West (LaraCroft: Tomb Raider, Con Air) directs from a screenplay by Richard Wenk (16 Blocks)and Lewis John Carlino (1972‟s The Mechanic, story also by Lewis John Carlino).The film is produced by David Winkler, Bill Chartoff, and Rene Besson. Irwin Winklerand Robert Chartoff are executive producers, alongside Avi Lerner, Danny Dimbort,Trevor Short and Boaz Davidson.This film has been rated R by the MPAA for “Strong brutal violence throughout,language, some sexual content and nudity.”www.TheMechanicMovie.com© CBS FILMS, All Rights Reserved 2
THE MECHANIC (2011) PRODUCTION NOTESABOUT THE PRODUCTIONA PROJECT OVER 15 YEARS, AND 2 FAMILIES, IN THE MAKINGBringing a new version of the 1972 genre classic, and Charles Bronson- starrer, TheMechanic to a modern day audience has been an incredibly memorable experience forproducers David Winkler and Bill Chartoff - this due in part to the fact that their fathers,the legendary producing team of Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff, produced theoriginal (and are serving as executive producers on the current version). After spendinga decade and a half developing the project, the sons‟ goal of bringing the property backto the big screen has finally come to fruition.The Mechanic isn‟t the first property they‟ve worked on with ties to their fathers (theyproduced 2006‟s Rocky Balboa, the most recent installment of the iconic Rockyfranchise their fathers launched in the „70s) but they have always held a special affinityfor this project throughout the years.“The 1972 Mechanic was essentially the first in what turned out to be an entire sub--genre – the hit man sub-genre,” notes Bill Chartoff. “It was a very interesting take on athriller and subsequently led to many other hit man films. David and I always thoughtscreenwriter Lewis John Carlino, who also wrote The Great Santini and many otherwonderful films, created a truly unique story, and a new kind of hero in main characterArthur Bishop.”As Irwin Winkler recalls, the character of Arthur Bishop was one of the primary factorsfor taking on the original project nearly 40 years ago. “Carlino sent over his script andBob and I responded to it immediately. Bishop was a very original character, especiallyfor the time - a lonely hit man who seeks human contact and companionship. He takeson an apprentice but, ultimately, that need for a fuller, more humanistic life becomes hisdownfall.”Though the original film was successful (particularly in the international marketplace), itdidn‟t reach „genre classic‟ status until years later. In the „70s, films didn‟t have theextended life after theatrical release that films have today. It was only when Cable andDVD surfaced in the following decade that The Mechanic ‟s exposure grew and anincreased fan base emerged.“People would come up to Bob and I to say they had just discovered The Mechanic andwondered if we ever thought about remaking it,” remembers Irwin Winkler. “Wehonestly were surprised by the interest because we had almost forgotten about the filmin some respects.”But the response was undeniable and, fifteen to twenty years after filming the original,the men soon found themselves teaming up with their sons to develop what IrwinWinkler refers to as a “re-imagining” of the 1972 version.The first order of business was the script.© CBS FILMS, All Rights Reserved 3
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