EuropaCorp announced on Wednesday, April 28, that the popular film trilogy, The Transporter, starring Jason Statham, would become a television series.

With a budget allotment of $4 million per each one-hour episode, the series promises to be as action-packed and colorful as the film series which inspired it. $4 million per episode is a huge deal, making it one of the most expensive television shows filmed in Europe, though it’s hardly comparable to most major U.S. television series. The Transporter film trilogy earned about $238 million world wide, all three of which were shot on a budget just around $31 million.

The Transporter television series, which will be shot in English, plans to start releasing episodes in early 2011 in Europe and Canada, and the producers are currently negotiating with international television networks.

No casting announcements have been made yet, but because the series is being filmed in Europe, stars will more than likely be actors unknown to most viewers in the U.S. Will that effect the quality or likelihood of the show’s success in the States? Highly unlikely, considering the same company who produced the film trilogy is also behind the scenes of the television series. It’s also doubtful that Statham will sign on for the series, but I have hope they’ll cast his character well.