Seth Green

In September 2004, Variety reported that Paramount Pictures was in negotiations to bring back the stars of The Italian Job for a sequel titled The Brazilian Job. Almost nothing has been heard since.

Screenwriter David Twohy (The Chronicles of Riddick) finished his draft of the script in January 2006. Reports back then claimed that Paramount was planning to start production in late spring, hoping for a Summer 2007 release. But now, it doesn’t look good.

"There’s nothing locked down," Jason Statham told press while doing publicity for Crank. "What do I know about it? It’s looming, it’s out there."

Statham claims he doesn’t know if any of the cast are signed on for the sequel, but admits he’s more than interested: "I would definitely say that I’d love to be a part of that. It’s a great crowd."

The Italian Job starred Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, Seth Green, Mos Def and Jason Statham.

"Mark’s a good friend of mine, Charlize, Mos Def I don’t see much, I know he lives over here, but every time I see him it’s a pleasure. Seth Green is a funny ol’ bastard, can’t get enough of him," gushed Statham.

The Crank actor speculates that actors schedules might be what is causing the delay: "Yeah, so many moving parts, so many actors that are busy. How do you nail everyone down to the gate? I don’t know. Maybe that’s one of the reasons."

Mark Wahlberg previously confirmed to MTV that all the original actors were interested in returning.

"A lot of people really liked [’The Italian Job’], and a lot of movie sequels don’t live up to the original, so we want to make it as good, or better; and we’re all patient," Wahlberg said. "Charlize [Theron] and everybody is in, so we’re just waiting for the right script. Hopefully, I think, probably around summertime we’re gonna film it."

Director F. Gary Gray (Be Cool, A Man Apart) is signed on to return to the series. The film is expected to shoot on location in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.