The Transporter movies, starring Jason Statham, centered around an expert driver, who can also more than hold his own in a fist fight, who could get you from point A to point B no matter what was in your way or what the cargo happened to be. Now, much like the unstoppable hero from the film trilogy, Transporter: The Series, refuses to quit.
According to IGN, TNT has acquired the rights in the U.S. to the previously shelved series made for Cinemax. The network will begin airing the first episodes of the first season later this fall.
While it's based on the Luc Besson film series, Transporter: The Series, replaces Statham with Chris Vance as Frank Martin, the action hero, driver-for-hire who never fails to finish the job and knock out various bad guys who dare cross his path. Vance will be a familiar face to TNT viewers thanks to his recurring role on the network's hit series Rizzoli & Isles as Lieutenant Colonel Charles "Casey" Jones.
Other fans might recognize the actor from his regular appearances on shows like Burn Notice, Mental, Prison Break and Dexter. While the title role has been replaced, French actor Francois Berleand will reprise his role from the films as the friendly yet capable Inspector Sarconi.
Cinemax initially obtained the U.S. broadcast rights in 2011 before production ran into some hiccups. According to IGN, Vance experienced a serious injury during an action sequence and the departure of the original executive producer/showrunner team. Transporter: The Series, never aired on Cinemax but it has found an unexpected success abroad. Because of that, the producers have greenlit a second season, which begins filming in Morocco, the Czech Republic and Canada next month. TNT has the U.S. distribution rights to both seasons according to Deadline.
Will you be tuning in to see Frank Martin's televised adventures? Comment and share your thoughts on the Transporter TV show with us below.
