Joan Allen, who was previously announced to be in talks for Paul W.S. (not the good one) Anderson’s Death Race remake has been confirmed as a member of the cast. With that expected news comes an unexpected surprise, however, as the movie plot appears to have been altered quite a bit for the new movie.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the movie now involves a race between inmates instead of willing participants. Jason Statham takes on a variant of the David Carradine character “Frankenstein” who is now coerced into participating in the race by his prison wardon, played by Allen. Also joining the cast is “Deadwood” favorite Ian McShane who will play a trainer for Statham’s racer.

Originally the movie was about a cross-country race where bonus points could be earned by running over pedestrians (the “bonus round” of geriatrics being dumped in the road is still a favorite cult moment of mine). Now the race is in an enclosed arena. Sooner or later, I predict we’ll start getting the attempts to cash in on NASCAR properties.

It’s not like the original Death Race 2000 is some great work of art that shouldn’t be touched, but there’s no real reason for these changes to what was already a pretty good concept. No reason, that is, other than the fact that Anderson loves to meddle with properties like this. We’ve watched the director lay waste to time honored franchises. Why do I have the feeling we’re not about to see him butcher cult classics just as easily?