BLITZ
Year: 2010
USA: Lionsgate
UK: Lionsgate UK
Cast: Jason Statham, Paddy Considine, David Morrissey, Aiden Gillen, Zawe Ashton, Mark Rylance, Luke Evans, Chris Wilson, Richard Riddell, Elly Fairman, Gregory Finnegan, Nabil Elouahabi, John Burton, Taya De La Cruz, Nicky Henson
Director: Elliott Lester
Country: UK
USA & UK: 97 mins
USA Rated: R for strong brutal violence, language, some drug use and nudity
UK Certificate: 18 contains strong bloody violence and very strong language
USA Release Date: 2011
UK Release Date: 20 May 2011
Official US website
Synopsis
"It’s cop killer vs killer cop."
Lionsgate UK’s big screen adaptation of Ken Bruen’s celebrated crime thriller BLITZ is filming on location in London during 2009. Jason Statham (THE BANK JOB, SNATCH) heads the cast as the tough, uncompromising and un-PC detective “Brant”, who is teamed with unlikely partner, Sgt Porter Nash played by Paddy Considine (THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM). Joining this exciting line-up are BAFTA and Tony Award-nominee Aidan Gillen (HBO’s THE WIRE) and fellow BAFTA-nominee David Morrissey (CAPTAIN CORELLI’S MANDOLIN, STATE OF PLAY, NOWHERE BOY).
Directed by Elliott Lester whose debut feature LOVE IS THE DRUG was selected for Slamdance 2006, BLITZ is adapted for the screen by Nathan Parker (MOON) and focuses on a cop-hating serial killer who targets the officers of a South East London police station.
A fast-paced thriller set in contemporary London, BLITZ reflects the challenges faced by a group of police officers working in a modern, multi-cultural society. A raw, gritty tale of moral ambiguity, outsiders and the sacrifices the police make to keep crime off British streets.
Tough, uncompromising and totally un-PC London cop Brant (Jason Statham) gives a group of teenage hoodies a lesson in why you shouldn’t break into someone’s car and then threaten to kill them. An incorrect version of the story, suggesting the hoodies were innocent victims, written by hack crime reporter and Brant nemesis Harold Dunlop (David Morrissey) makes the national press and Brant is hauled in to see police psychologist Dr Leonard (Bill Champion).
Brant lives and breathes work and it’s starting to take its toll. Brant's friend WPC Falls (Zawe Ashton), a former undercover drug cop and only recently out of rehab is also feeling the pressure. Brant's mentor and boss, Roberts (Mark Rylance), who has just lost his wife, turns to his one true friend Brant for support. While still grieving, Robert finds his wife's ashes have gone missing.
Life for these south London cops is never dull and it’s just about to take a turn for the worst when a psychotic cop-killer starts picking off officers from their station one-by-one, starting with young WPC Bates (Elly Fairman), who is shot on night patrol at point-blank range by a hooded figure…
The strong supporting cast includes Tony Award winner Mark Rylance (Jez Butterworth’s production of JERUSALEM), Zawe Ashton (ST TRINIAN’S II: THE LEGEND OF FRITTON’S GOLD), Richard Riddell (THE IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR PARNASSUS), Luke Evans (CLASH OF THE TITANS) and Nicky Henson (VERA DRAKE).
Produced by Zygi Kamasa, Steve Chasman (THE BANK JOB), Brad Wyman and Donald Kushner, Lionsgate UK are fully financing the film and it marks Lionsgate’s first British production following its commitment last year to expand into the UK production arena.