While I can’t bring you definite progress on the next Quentin Tarantino-directed flick, I can at least confirm the latest “Quentin Tarantino Presents” flick in the same vein as Hostel and Iron Monkey. Word has been lingering since 2004 about a biker pic called Hell Ride that would star Larry Bishop and Michael Madsen that was due to produced in some capacity by Tarantino. Madsen claimed in late 2005 that the pic was “greenlighted,” but official word was sparse and since then, movement has been almost non-existent.
Now, it’s finally hit the trades due to Dimension revving her up again. Despite Tarantino’s attachment, the pic is totally Bishop’s baby, as he worked on the script for the past several years. Bishop, who the less familiar may recognize from his turn as Madsen’s strip club boss in Kill Bill Vol. 2, is a vet of the motorcycle gang genre having starred in fixtures like The Savage Seven, The Devil’s 8, and, of course, C.H.O.M.P.S. (okay, that’s not a biker pic, per se, but he was in it and was great, damn you.)
He’ll be writing, directing, and starring in it as the leader of a gang he rallies together to avenge the death of one of their own. Madsen is also still attached, but there’s not much word yet on who else will be in it though Tarantino is sure to revive some other mainstays of these flicks for true fans. QT basically made this happen by pre-selling Bob Weinstein on the idea to the point where he called Bishop with a budget figure and a guaranteed greenlight should Bishop be able to make said budget. Although I’m a little tired of the constant stream of homages courtesy of QT, I think this is still a great story of how a film gets made, and I wish it happened more with film vets who still have something to offer like Bishop.