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  June 11, 2011 10:51 p.m. JoeyM SuperDork

  http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118038421

  Renner, Paramount pair on 'Slingshot' Underdog story centers on rally racing By Dave McNary Jeremy Renner Renner Exclusive: Jeremy Renner has made a deal with Paramount to produce and star in ''Slingshot,'' an underdog story set in the high-octane world of rally racing. Pic is the true story of Bill Caswell, who competed against professional race teams in the World Rally Championships in Mexico with a $500 BMW he bought on Craigslist. Renner and Don Handfield will produce through their recently minted production company, The Combine. Handfield will also write the screenplay. Renner and Handfield previously announced that they are also developing Steve McQueen biopic ''McQueen'' as the first project for The Combine. Between it and ''Slingshot,'' whichever bows first will be Renner's first producing credit. Ivan Zacharias is attached to direct and James Gray is attached to write the script for "McQueen." Caswell went up against pro teams in the Mexican event in a 1991 BMW 318i. Formerly a finance banker, Caswell left his job in 2009 to focus on rally racing in cars that he built, modified and fabricated himself -- and gained recognition by placing third in the Rally America class of Rally Mexico. Renner has also been tapped by Universal as ''The Bourne Legacy'' lead and has been filming ''Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters.'' He'll be seen next fin ''Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocol'' for Paramount'' followed by ''The Avengers'' for Disney. Handfield directed football drama ''Touchback,'' starring Kurt Russell, for Emmett/Furla Films and Freedom Films.

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  June 12, 2011 7:00 a.m. Jay_W HalfDork

  What planet is this again?

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  June 12, 2011 9:37 a.m. 92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork

  Somebody kick me.

  SCAVENGE THE SEA FLOOR FOR NUTRIENTS

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  June 12, 2011 10:04 a.m. Luke SuperDork

  Caswell is a berkeleying superstar

  His is certainly a great "underdog" story, though I think I'd have rather seen a documentary than a dramatisation. But, whatever. Beats the hell out of another Fast & Furious!

  "Just as a proverb says, one should always ny escort prepare for a rainy day." - GRM canoe

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  June 12, 2011 10:08 a.m. JoeyM SuperDork

  Well, I once saw it described as, "the most epic third place finish in the history of motorsports."

  "Meh. Jalopnik is like the National Enquirer of automotive journalism." - Racer1ab

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  June 12, 2011 10:13 a.m. N Sperlo HalfDork

  

  - N. Sperlo -:-:- "Never take life seriously. No one ever gets out alive anyway." ~ ~ A strong tail wind can't hurt either...~~ K0HOF

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  June 12, 2011 1:42 p.m. HiTempguy Dork

  JoeyM wrote: Well, I once saw it described as, "the most epic third place finish in the history of motorsports."

  Wasn't he third out of three cars that finished in his category?

  Rallying; It's like skydiving, except you have to dodge trees on your way down!

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  June 12, 2011 6:26 p.m. Ian F SuperDork

  HiTempguy wrote: Wasn't he third out of three cars that finished in his category?

  To finish first, you first must finish.

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  June 12, 2011 7:12 p.m. Will HalfDork

  You know...

  I appreciate the fact that the guy entered a big-time event with almost no budget, in an ancient platform, and finished. That's cool.

  But I'm bored with Jalopnik, and others, trying to make him into some mythical folk hero.

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  June 12, 2011 11:35 p.m. friedgreencorrado SuperDork

  Ian F wrote:

  HiTempguy wrote: Wasn't he third out of three cars that finished in his category?

  To finish first, you first must finish.

  (nodding head)
  

  And for the folks who aren't suspicious of the entire process, I'll add the caveat that Stallone & crew followed the Indycars around for an entire season before they made that abortion called "Driven".

  How can it be a midlife crisis, when I've driven sportscars my entire life?

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  June 13, 2011 5:45 a.m. JoeyM SuperDork

  friedgreencorrado wrote: And for the folks who aren't suspicious of the entire process, I'll add the caveat that Stallone & crew followed the Indycars around for an entire season before they made that abortion called "Driven".

  I own a copy of that.

  "Meh. Jalopnik is like the National Enquirer of automotive journalism." - Racer1ab

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  June 13, 2011 12:25 p.m. N Sperlo HalfDork

  JoeyM wrote:

  friedgreencorrado wrote: And for the folks who aren't suspicious of the entire process, I'll add the caveat that Stallone & crew followed the Indycars around for an entire season before they made that abortion called "Driven".

  I own a copy of that.

  Consider your man card under suspension until the issue at hand is corrected.

  - N. Sperlo -:-:- "Never take life seriously. No one ever gets out alive anyway." ~ ~ A strong tail wind can't hurt either...~~ K0HOF

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  June 13, 2011 12:33 p.m. rebelgtp SuperDork

  Luke wrote: But, whatever. Beats the hell out of another Fast & Furious!

  Aww come on they have two more FF movies planned and if you watched the after credits of the fifth movie they will bring back someone they killed in the fourth movie for the sixth movie.

  "Well, my time of not taking you seriously is coming to a middle."

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  June 13, 2011 12:41 p.m. HiTempguy Dork

  Ian F wrote: To finish first, you first must finish.

  I mean, it's cool that you don't know who I am IRL, but I'd like to think I know what I am talking about in regards to this... and the fact still remains that when you put in all of the facts (finishing on the podium because no one else finished), it just doesn't quite have the same "now that's a captivating story" to it. I've been there, I've Pressed on Regardless, and while getting to the end feels great, I don't usually get too excited about a podium where I just had to finish.

  Knowing Ben Slocum personally (having caused him to go for a swim in an Ontario lake 2 years ago), I hope he doesn't take offense to what I write, but at this point in time, I'm calling it like it is. People get upset at Ken Block and company for their shenanigans, I get upset about a story that is overblown with hyperbole to make it seem more epic than what 95% of rally-ists in North America do every event.

  Now, that doesn't take away from the fact that Mr. Caswell is apparently a genius in marketing, his story is interesting (and there are some bits that don't usually happen in the USA/Canada) and congratulations to everyone involved that gets the film started. I mean, I haven't had a movie made about myself yet, so he's definitely doing SOMETHING right, and it definitely will be cool! I don't blame Bill for being successful, I just really don't like the omitting details.

  Did you know I'm a Canadian Rally Champion? E36 M3, that's pretty cool isn't it? In fact, we won 4 events out of 6. Too bad it was in an undersubscribed class and somebody probably could have beat us if they competed at all 6 events plus finished them = not nearly as cool.

  Rallying; It's like skydiving, except you have to dodge trees on your way down!

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  June 13, 2011 2:23 p.m. Brett_Murphy HalfDork

  In reply to HiTempguy:

  Just the fact that you're getting out there and racing is a story in and of itself. I enjoy the fact that a grassroots kind of guy has gotten attention way above and beyond what you might expect.

  The fact that the movie might generate more interest in different kinds of racing is a huge bonus.

  If brute force isn't solving your problem, you're not using enough.

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  June 14, 2011 5:46 a.m. JoeyM SuperDork

  N Sperlo wrote:

  JoeyM wrote:

  friedgreencorrado wrote: And for the folks who aren't suspicious of the entire process, I'll add the caveat that Stallone & crew followed the Indycars around for an entire season before they made that abortion called "Driven".

  I own a copy of that.

  Consider your man card under suspension until the issue at hand is corrected.

  I'm keeping it. His character starts the movie using a mallet, shot bag and wheel to shape panels for an old car. That's good enough for me. (I also believe that if I can learn to hum a tune well it will lower my times at the autocross.)

  "Meh. Jalopnik is like the National Enquirer of automotive journalism." - Racer1ab

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