Logan Lucky is a new movie set to be released in the fall of 2017 that centers around the NASCAR world and hopes to be a hit with racing enthusiasts. NASCAR has been the subject of a few movies that fans could relate to over the years.
Stroker Ace was the first NASCAR themed movie to become a hit on the big screen. It premiered in 1983 and had Burt Reynolds starring as NASCAR driver Stroker Ace. Hal Needham directed the comedy that pitted the title character, a race car driver, who clashes with his fried chicken sponsor. The flick also starred some other well known actors such as Ned Beatty, Jim Neighbors and Loni Anderson.
There was Days of Thunder, a action-packed NASCAR-themed movie featuring Tom Cruise. Cruise was as a young hot-shot driver who was getting his chance to compete in the NASCAR circuit. The movie shot several scenes at different NASCAR venues across the country. Scenes at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Daytona International Speedway and Bristol Motor Speedway were all used in the motion picture. It was considered a success when it grossed over $140 million dollars.
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby was released to the racing world 16 years later. It was a laughable flick that starred Will Farrell, with cameos from racing legend Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jamie McMurray. The movie was a big hit in America and still is featured at racing events for their fans enjoyment.
Fast forward to 2017 and welcome in another movie that involves the NASCAR scene. Logan Lucky is a film that centers around a heist at Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina. The robbery is set to take place during the Sprint Cup race. It’s kind of a mix between Days of Thunder and Ocean’s Eleven.
Acclaimed director Steven Soderbergh will be overseeing the direction of the movie. Soderbergh also directed the Ocean’s Eleven movies and Erin Brockovich. He also won the Academy Award for Best Director for his crime drama Traffic in 2000.
Logan Lucky is Steven Soderbergh’s last movie since he gave up directing in 2013. The producer and director has been concentrating his efforts on television since his departure from the big screen. He has introduced shows such as The Knick and The Girlfriend Experience.
Logan Lucky has a similar plot line as Ocean’s Eleven and also is filled with a star-studded cast of talented actors. Channing Tatum and Daniel Craig, the most recent James Bond, will star alongside actress Katherine Heigel and Family Guy’s creator Seth McFarland.
The Emmy Award winning Steven Soderbergh has teamed up with Channing Tatum in the past. They worked together in Magic Mike, Haywire, and his last movie Side Effects.
The appearance of Daniel Craig makes you wonder if it’s true that the actor lost interest playing the iconic spy James Bond. It also has fueled speculation that the actor is leaving the 007 franchise behind altogether. Earlier report said that Matt Damon, who has starred in Steven Soderbergh’s Ocean’s Eleven series, would be involved in Logan Lucky, but it seems that it’s just another Hollywood rumor.
Logan Lucky will be produced by Gregory Jacobs. The movie is currently a mystery but rumor has it that Steven Soderbergh read the script and quickly fell in love with the story-line. Variety magazine reported that many of the big-time studios like Fox, Sony and Warner Brothers are all interested in acquiring the new movie.
The movie that was initially referred to as Hillbilly Heist has the full backing of NASCAR and it’s governing body. Filming began a week after NASCAR’s All-Star racing weekend during the Coca-Cola 600. Logan Lucky is expected to be unshackled in movie venues sometime in the fall of 2017.
“We are excited to work with Steven, Channing and all of Logan Lucky’s incredible cast and producers,” said Zane Stoddard, NASCAR vice president of entertainment marketing and content development. “It’s a big-hearted, fun story that showcases NASCAR and Charlotte Motor Speedway as the world-class sports entertainment property and venue that they are. Much like the Bellagio in Steven’s Ocean’s Eleven.”
