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Jason Statham, Tyrese Gibson, Joan Allen line up in "Deathrace 3000"

Director Paul W.S. Anderson revealed that the 28-year-old Transformers and 2 Fast 2 Furious star Tyrese Gibson is set to take to the road once more — this time behind the wheel — as a contestant in his Death Race 3000, an update of the 1975 classic starring David Carradine and Sylvester Stallone.

Tyrese joins previously confirmed cast member Jason Statham — two tough dudes about to get their clock cleaned by the most unlikely of opponents, Anderson announced…Joan Allen.

“She kicks the most ass out of everybody,” Anderson smiled, revealing for the first time that the three-time Oscar nominee will join the cast as well.

The film, a “faithful remake,” said Anderson, follows a group of contestants on a cross-country race who score points for running down pedestrians.

It is set for release in 2008.



Paris singing in Darren Lynn Bousman's "Repo!"

After spending most of the year living a soap opera, Paris Hilton(YUCK!:rolleyes:) (House of Wax) will be part of a real opera this fall. Hilton has joined Alexa Vega and Paul Sorvino in the cast of Repo! The Genetic Opera, a full-blown musical thriller co-financed by "Saw" makers Twisted Pictures and Lionsgate.

Darren Lynn Bousman, director of three "Saw" films, including the fourth entry, which opens Oct. 26, has spent several years working on the movie version of an opera hatched with screenwriter-composers Darren Smith and Terrance Zdunich. Dan Heffner and Twisted's Carl Mazzocone, Mark Burg and Oren Koules are producing.

Hilton will sing in a futuristic thriller framed around musical numbers that range from opera to rock. The setting is 2056, when a plague nearly destroys the human race and survival is dependent upon being able to finance a pricey organ transplant.

Hilton plays a daughter of the organ transplant magnate (Sorvino) who is the villain of the piece.

"This movie has become my life," said Bousman. "I have auditioned at least 30 actresses for this role -- Paris came in and owned it. She is this role."

"We saw many actresses for the role, and Paris sang it better than all of them," added Mazzocone.

Singing gig won't be Hilton's first, as she released the self-titled album "Paris" last year. Aside from her long run in reality show "The Simple Life," Hilton has acted in films such as "House of Wax" and "Raising Helen."

"Repo!" is her first film job since her brief jail stint, and since she's agentless, her deal was negotiated by Paris Hilton Entertainment's Jason Moore, who manages her.



(References - bloody-disgusting.com, mtv.com, variety.com, aintitcool.com, movies.ign.com, hollywoodreporter.com)