Sofia Vergara to star with Jason Statham in "Heat"

After Jason Statham worked with Latina Jennifer Lopez in “Parker” earlier this year, Statham will now work with another Latina, perhaps the biggest Latina of the moment in Sofia Vergara. There is no doubt that, slowly but surely, Sofia Vergara is taking over Hollywood. The Colombian model, TV hosts, comedian and actress will star in Robert Roriguez’s sequel to Machete – Machete Kills and is now in negotiations to play the female lead in the remake of the 1986 “Heat.”

The story revolves around Nick Escalante, played by Jason Statham, a compulsive gambler in Las Vegas that takes hired body guard positions in the streets in order to support his addiction. After his prostitute friend (Sofia Vergara) is brutally attacked by a merciless member of the mob, Escalante heads out for revenge. 

The 1986 “Heat” and the modernized version are both adaptations of an original novel written by the renowned writer William Golman, who also wrote the screenplays for both films.

Simon West, helmer for “The Expendables 2,” will be directing the film although initially Brian DePalma had the job. As the action director and fight choreographer is Cory Yuen, who co-directed Statham in “The Transporters.”