Jason Statham is back for another round of honey-drenched havoc. The Beekeeper 2 is officially happening, with Miramax setting production for fall and bringing in Nobody 2 director Timo Tjahjanto to take the reins.
Statham, who thrives in these no-nonsense action thrillers, will reprise his role as Adam Clay—a retired assassin-turned-actual beekeeper who ditched the deadly life until a cyber scam targeted his kind-hearted landlady (played by Phylicia Rashad in the first film). What followed was an all-out vengeance rampage, complete with the kind of bone-crunching action Statham fans eat up. The first film, directed by David Ayer, pulled in $152 million globally, proving that audiences were more than happy to follow Statham’s grizzled, honey-coated justice spree.
Emmy Raver-Lampman, Bobby Naderi, Josh Hutcherson, Phylicia Rashad, Jemma Redgrave, and Jeremy Irons rounded out the cast
This time around, Tjahjanto—known for his high-octane, no-holds-barred action style—will direct from a script by Kurt Wimmer, who also wrote the first film. Tjahjanto is currently wrapping up Nobody 2 for Universal, which sees Bob Odenkirk returning alongside Sharon Stone and Connie Nielsen. If his past work on Netflix hits like The Night Comes for Us and The Big Four is any indication, expect The Beekeeper 2 to dial up the mayhem.
While plot details are under wraps, it’s safe to assume Statham’s Clay will have another excuse to unleash havoc in the name of justice. Miramax is looking to bring Ayer back as a producer, keeping some continuity from the first film. Meanwhile, Amazon/MGM Studios—who handled the first film’s domestic release—are in talks to take the sequel under their wing as well.
Statham isn’t just starring—he’s also producing under his Punch Palace Productions banner, with Chris Long producing through Long Shot Productions. Both are repped by attorney Patrick Knapp.
Miramax, on a hot streak lately with the international success of Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, isn’t slowing down. In addition to The Beekeeper 2, they’ve got Roofman with Channing Tatum, Liam Neeson’s 4 Kids Walk Into a Bank, and a brand-new Scary Movie with the Wayans Brothers in the pipeline. Plus, they’re gearing up for Scandalous, directed by Colman Domingo and starring Sydney Sweeney and David Jonsson.
With production kicking off this fall, expect more buzz (literally and figuratively) as details emerge. Until then, fans of Statham’s brand of action can gear up for Nobody 2, hitting theaters on August 15.