Driver series delivers

Chris Vance is the Transporter. Photo supplied.
Chris Vance is the Transporter. Photo supplied.
He'll take anything, anywhere - no questions asked. As long as the price is right. Nigel Benson rides shotgun with the Transporter.

All roads lead to roam, when the latest high-speed action series blasts into New Zealand homes tonight.

Transporter: The Series is based on the 2002 French action thriller film The Transporter, which starred Jason Statham as ex-Special Forces operative Frank Martin.

Martin (now played by English actor Chris Vance) hits the small screen as a mercenary driver for hire, who will deliver anything, anywhere, as long as the price is right.

And he has the same three rules: Never change the deal, no names and never open the package.

Rules are boring, of course, and these rules get shredded like squealing tyres on an Audi A8.

This is more poor man's James Bond, but there is also plenty of slapstick.

The series premiere features Vance saving a female client from baddies in a lingerie shop by attacking them with bras, knickers and mannequins.

As with Frank Martin, the job was a case of being in the right place at the right time for the 42-year-old Vance, who said it was an enjoyable challenge reprising a role so closely associated with Statham.

''I loved the idea of playing Frank Martin and was lucky enough to be cast. I was approached through my agent in LA and the timing was right for me to undertake the role,'' Vance said.

''I very much liked Jason's performance in the original movie franchise, but television is a different medium and I've been free to deliver my interpretation of the character in the stories that we are telling,'' he said.

''I love playing Frank Martin. I have an empathy for him. It's subjective, but I think I can relate to Frank being the way he is.

"We began shooting the first season in Toronto in April 2011. We have subsequently shot in various locations around the globe, including Paris, Nice, Marseille, Berlin, Casablanca, Ouarzazate and Prague.''

However, while Statham had a background in kickboxing, karate and Wing Chun kung fu, Vance is more a lover than a fighter and has the bruises to prove it.

The role involved a big gear change from his previous series, such as Dexter and Prison Break.

''I mostly drive an Audi A8 in Transporter: The Series, but not always. Frank Martin can drive anything; it's part of the fun of it. But there are a lot more action sequences for me to get my head, and body, around,'' he admitted.

Vance has had to put his body on the line in the series and was injured filming an action sequence last year.

''Nearly losing an eye wasn't so hot and rupturing a disc in my spine was a little uncomfortable. I've had some moments.

"Chasing down a private jet on a runway and learning how to pull off a 180-degree smoking slide in the car. Enacting many of the outrageous hand-to-hand fight sequences. And many more.

''If I could give some friendly advice to Frank Martin, it would be: 'Mate, you're too old for this nonsense'.''

Vance is based in Los Angeles and Paris, when not shooting, and has previously appeared in Prison Break, Dexter, The Bill, Blue Heelers, Stingers, The Secret Life of Us and All Saints.

The series also features Andrea Osvart (Aftershock) as Martin's handler, Carla, and Francois Berleand (who appeared in the Transporter films) as his nemesis, Inspector Tarconi.

However, Vance threw on the handbrake when questioned about some of the merchandise he would be transporting.

''That would be a spoiler alert, so I'd rather not say. But there will be heroes, heroines, villains, guns, beautiful girls, fights, cars and the escape of it all. Red lights and speed cameras don't mean much on TV. I guess that's the fantasy. At least I hope so.''

 

Transporter: The Series premieres tonight at 8.30pm on The Box.

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