Stop me if you’ve heard this one before… Jason Statham’s newest movie will see him beat up a ton of people and try to clear his name after being accused of a heinous crime. While I could be describing the hotly anticipated Beekeeper 2 that’s been building some buzz, I’m referring to another upcoming action movie starring the prolific butt-kicker and man of a thousand wisecracks: Mutiny.

Months after his Shelter bombed at the box office despite finding a big fan in Stephen King, Statham will be dishing it out again when his second action thriller hits the 2026 movie schedule. This time, Statham will play a former Special Forces operator and police officer trying to uncover an international conspiracy after being framed for murdering his billionaire friend. Somehow, he ends up on a container ship, hence the name. Despite the generic premise, this looks right up my alley.

Mutiny Doesn’t Look Like It’s Going To Reinvent The Wheel, But This Looks Great

Based on the Mutiny trailer, it doesn’t look like Jean-François Richet’s Mutiny is going to be reinventing the wheel or introducing anything revolutionary for the action genre, but that’s totally okay. Not only do I have a soft spot for Jason Statham action thrillers (I was one of A Working Man’s defenders) and movies where a one-man-army dishes out one beating after another, but I’m also a fan of Richet’s previous efforts like Plane and his 2005 remake of John Carpenter’s Assault on Precinct 13.

What I am expecting is multiple scenes where Statham’s Cole Reed comes up with inventive ways to brutally take down armed goons on a container ship in the middle of the ocean as he attempts to get to the bottom of his friend’s murder. It’s a simple premise, but if pulled off properly, it could make for one exciting adventure before the end of the summer blockbuster season.

I Haven’t Seen This Much Maritime Butt-Kicking Since Under Siege, And I’m So Ready

Say what you will about Steven Seagal, but Under Siege is still one of the best action movies of all time and perhaps the greatest example of “Die Hard on a [insert noun here]” of the ‘90s and beyond. Going off what I’ve seen and heard about Mutiny, we could be talking about the best maritime butt-kicker of a movie since Casey Ryback took down William Stranix and Peter Krill on the USS Missouri back in 1992.

I don’t know if there will be any models jumping out of a cake or naval officers dressing up in drag for some reason, but Jason Statham’s Cole Reed is seen in the trailer taking out at least two dudes with hooks to the mouth. He’s no fisherman, but he’s definitely caught my attention with that movie. If this is just a taste of what’s to come, this landlubber is going to be having a good time watching Mutiny unfold.

Mutiny is set to open on August 21, 2026, and I cannot wait to hit the open seas with Jason Statham’s intense action thriller. And don’t get me started on his upcoming reunion with Hobbs & Shaw director David Leitch.

Thanks to macro-scale ugly developments in our world, Stephen King hasn’t been nearly as active on social media in the last couple years as he used to be, and that’s a shame. In addition to it just being nice to get regular updates from the author and preview what’s going on in his mind, his posts are fun – be they groan-worthy dad jokes or pictures of his delightful corgi, Molly aka the Thing of Evil. The biggest loss, however, has been his commentary/mini-reviews of new movies, shows and books he’s been checking out. Fortunately, he does still post occasionally, and this week, he offered thoughts about a new Jason Statham action flick that most people ignored on the big screen earlier this year.

That’s not the only story I have for you in this week’s edition of The King Beat, however, as the past seven days have also seen news about an anniversary re-release of Rob Reiner’s Stand By Me and the first information about a new Stephen King novel set for 2027. There’s a lot to discuss, so let’s dig in!

Jason Statham’s Shelter Hasn’t Made Much Of An Impression On Audiences, But Stephen King Calls It ‘Terrific’

Between Meg 2: The Trench, The Beekeeper and A Working Man, Jason Statham has had some solid box office wins in the last few years. His projects don’t tend to be acclaimed blockbusters, but they tend to find worldwide success… or at least they did, until the arrival of his latest film: director Ric Roman Waugh’s Shelter. Released in late January, the 2026 movie definitely qualified as an early-in-the-year bomb – but in the search for any positive outcomes, it can at least be said that Stephen King is a fan.

Shelter arrived in theaters on January 30, and the weekend had so much big box office news (Send Help debuting at number one, Iron Lung making a huge impression as an independent release, and Melania proving to be a terrible investment) that its arrival and disappointing performance was mostly overlooked. One of the most beloved authors of all time recently made a point of seeing the movie, however, and in a post on Bluesky, he hails it as “terrific.” He writes,

Also starring Bill Nighy, Naomi Ackie, and newcomer Bodhi Rae Breathnach, Shelter stars Jason Statham as Michael Mason: a government assassin who has made the call to leave his violent world behind and find peace secretly living alone on a Scottish island. Unfortunately, this peace proves to be short-lived, as his location is discovered, and when his former handler sends killers to try and take him out, he is forced to go on the run.

The movie can’t exactly be called a big budget blockbuster, with Variety reporting that it was produced with a $50 million price tag (a figure that doesn’t include publicity and marketing costs), but it cost enough to be considered a major box office disappointment. Despite playing in over 2,700 locations in the United States and Canada, it only made $5.5 million in its opening weekend and placed sixth in the weekend Top 10. Its theatrical presence faded through February, resulting in it earning just $12.8 million to date, and circumstances aren’t really being improved by its overseas performance either, as the film has only made $29.3 million in foreign markets (I’ll save you the math: its global earnings to date total just $42.1 million).

At this stage in the game, an endorsement from Stephen King probably isn’t improving the legacy of Shelter at the box office (its theatrical run is already over)… but it at least can be said that the social media review has earned the film some very positive notice at a time when practically nobody is paying attention to it. Hell, I’m writing about it in this column, right? If you’re now curious to see the title that has successfully earned the stamp of approval from the author, the movie is now available to rent and/or purchase digitally from all major online retailers.

Stand By Me Is Returning To Theaters To Celebrate The Classic’s 40th Anniversary

To put it plainly, Stand By Me is a special movie. It was released in theaters 40 years ago, and features a story that is principally set nearly 70 years ago, and yet, its story is perfectly timeless – capturing something beautiful and universally true about the experience of growing up and the powerful friendships that we forge when we are young. For fans, there is no number of times one can watch the film without being awed by it, and if you consider yourself such a person, you should be aware that a special big screen re-release is on the way.

While Stand By Me won’t technically celebrate its official anniversary until August (on August 22, to be exact), the film’s landmark birthday is being celebrated later this month with a new theatrical engagement. The classic Stephen King adaptation will be scheduling screenings in select cinemas for a full week starting on March 27.

Of course, what adds extra significance to this event is that this anniversary is the first following the tragic death of director Rob Reiner at the end of last year. Stand By Me has been much discussed in the months since that news broke, as it’s easily considered one of the man’s greatest accomplishments in his dazzling career, and what better way to celebrate the work and the man than by seeing it as it was originally intended to be seen?

To find a cinema location nearest you where Stand By Me screenings will be held, simply head over to the release’s page on Fandango, plug in your zip code, and check the listings.

In The Wake Of The Other Worlds Than These News, A New Stephen King Novel Has Been Announced For 2027

When it came to Stephen King’s book announcement for 2026, Constant Readers had to exhibit an extra touch of patience. While King spent much of 2025 hyping his work on the third book in the Talisman series, he kept us waiting for an official release announcement, and it wasn’t until just a couple weeks ago that he finally revealed the title (Other Worlds Than These) and a publication date (October 6). I suspect that a lot of you have already put in pre-orders for your version of choice – be it hardcover, eReader or audiobook editions – but you should keep your wallet open, as pre-orders are also now available for a new King book coming in 2027.

Last summer, I wrote a segment of The King Beat dedicated to a new serial project that the author was contributing to called The End Times – a fictional newspaper published for a post-apocalyptic world – and that project is now being turned into a full-length novel. The tome, which will be titled The End Times: Volume One, is the result of a collaboration between King and comic book writer/novelist Benjamin Percy, and it’s being published by Bad Hand Books.

The thrust of The End Times is Mary Poole – a dedicated writer and editor living in Minnesota in the aftermath of a deadly pandemic devastating global society. When she discovers an old printing press, she gets to work starting to produce a small-town newspaper, but her purely positive intentions end up finding serious consequences. Per the publisher, “Mary soon discovers there are other, more sinister agendas at work as well.”

As a special extra bonus for Stephen King fans, the project expands on the “lore” of Richard Bachman – King’s pseudonym originally used to publish books including The Long Walk, The Running Man, and Thinner. One of the contributors to Mary’s local newspaper is none other than Claudia Inez Bachman, who is Richard Bachman’s “wife.”

For the book, the material from The End Times newspaper will be reformatted, but for those of you who already read the serialized version, the bound release apparently won’t just be a reprinting of what already exists, as there are plans for the release to include “exclusive material not included in the original serial” as well.

At a pre-shipping cost of $29.99, the novel is available now for pre-order on the Bad Hand Books website. A specific release date has not yet been announced (they are targeting shipping in “early 2027”), but part of the proceeds will go towards a good cause, as Ben Percy is a Minnesota native, and $1 of every book sold from the publisher will go to benefit mutual aid efforts in Minneapolis amid the current strife taking place in the city.

That brings me to the end of this week’s edition of The King Beat, but the flow of new Stephen King updates never stops, so you can expect me to be right back here on CinemaBlend next Thursday with a fresh roundup of all the big news going on concerning the writer and his work.

Seven years ago, the Fast & Furious franchise delivered its first spinoff in the form of Hobbs & Shaw, which paired Dwayne Johnson’s Luke Hobbs and Jason Statham’s Deckard Shaw together as allies after being adversaries/rivals in Furious 7 and The Fate of the Furious. Although the movie achieved financial success in the midst of mixed critical reaction, it doesn’t look like Hobbs & Shaw 2 is going to be made. However, I am pleased about the alternate way Statham plans to reunite with director David Leitch.

The actor and filmmaker are set to team up again for a bid-budget action comedy called Jason Statham Stole My Bike. According to Deadline, the movie, which is up for sale in Berlin’s European Film Market, will see Statham “in the role of a lifetime, playing global action superstar Jason Statham.” The budget is reportedly set at a little over $80 million, and filming is set to begin in May. The report also mentions that Jason Statham Stole My Bike is “being conceived as a PG-13 with tongue in cheek,” as indicated by the title, and that it will boast “a number of major action set pieces.”

No further details needed, I’m in! Ok, I would welcome more information, but this sounds like it could be another good showcase of Jason Statham’s comedic skills, which he’s previously shown off not just with Deckard Shaw’s banter with Luke Hobbs in the Fast & Furious movies, but also in alongside Melissa McCarthy in 2015’s Spy. This tongue in cheek approach combined with Statham playing himself reminds me of Nicolas Cage’s hilarious The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.

The big difference in this case is that with a title like Jason Statham Stole My Bike, presumably he would be playing an antagonistic role rather than be the main protagonist like Cage was. Or maybe there’s just been a simple misunderstand with the bike in question, and this faux Jason Statham isn’t all that bad a guy. Either way, I’m looking forward to learning who will star with Statham in the movie and hopefully see it in theaters sometime next year.

David Leitch is also a fantastic choice to direct Jason Statham Stole My Bike, and not just because of his established connection with Statham. The man has also directed action-heavy movies like Atomic Blonde, Deadpool 2, Bullet Train and The Fall Guy. I have no doubt he’ll crush the action set pieces in Jason Statham Stole My Bike.

But we don’t have to wait until its release to see new projects from David Leitch and Jason Statham. The former is delivering a heist flick called How to Rob a Bank to the 2026 movies schedule in September. Following the release of Shelter a few weeks ago, the latter will also be seen later this year in Mutiny, and The Beekeeper 2 is additionally set for release in 2027.

There are a lot of actors who really enjoy doing their own stunts on screen, and Jason Statham can be counted among that number. In fact, as one of many actors who got his start in the ‘90s and is still going strong, Statham has thrilled audiences with dozens of action-packed movies across his nearly 30 years on the big screen, frequently doing many of his own spectacular stunts. However, the 2026 movie schedule star has now been pretty candid about performing stunts he probably shouldn’t have.

What Jason Statham Said About Doing Stunts He Probably Shouldn’t Have Tried

Jason Statham is a bonafide action movie star, to the point where you’d be hard pressed to find a film on his extensive resume that doesn’t feature at least a couple of scenes that show off his daredevil prowess. From franchises like the amazing Crank, The Expendables, The Meg, and the Fast & Furious movies, to stand-alone stories like Homefront, The Bank Job, Parker, and A Working Man, he’s always ready to run, gun, and fight.

When speaking about his upcoming movie, Shelter (which hits theaters on January 30), he revealed to Filmfare that in his desire to fully commit to every action role that’s come his way, he’s definitely done some stunts that he should have left to those who call stunt work their main profession. As he said:

Honestly, after watching some of Statham’s movies and thinking about the stunts he must have done, it feels like a miracle that he’s, apparently, never had any really serious injuries. Though it’s clear that he has some regrets because of the injuries he has sustained, that doesn’t mean it’s easy for the star to take on action-heavy roles and sit back when the rubber hits the stunt-scene road. He added:

And “get stuck in” he does. While he was among those who advocated for stunt performers to get Oscar nominations (and previously called them “unsung heroes”), Statham rightfully has faith in his ability to pull off complicated action and stunt scenes. Hopefully, however, he’s able to also use his experience getting hurt and has learned when to hand the reins over to the pros so that all those potentially dangerous shots are pulled off without a hitch.

It’s the start of a new year, and that means it’s time to kick off the 2026 movie schedule. Though there are still some holdovers from the 2025 movie calendar I plan on checking out this month, I’m more excited about two upcoming action movies I’ve been following for way too long. Seriously, I’m all kinds of jazzed up for Gerard Butler’s Greenland 2: Migration and Jason Statham’s Shelter, and it’s getting ridiculous.

As you can imagine, for someone who loves watching movies to keep warm in the colder months, I’m going to be spending a lot of time with these two action stars (and kings of the January box office). That said, I’ve been thinking about who will come out on top. Will it be Butler in his disaster film sequel or Statham in his latest action thriller? Let’s talk it out…

Gerard Butler Has Greenland 2: Migration Opening In Early January

On January 9, Gerard Butler will reprise his role as John Garrity in Greenland 2: Migration, the long-in-the-works sequel to one of the biggest box office surprises of 2020. This movie, which takes place five years after Garrity led his family – Allison (Morena Baccarin) and Nathan (now played by Roman Griffin Davis) – to safety in a bunker deep beneath the mountainous terrain of Greenland, will see the trio attempt to find a better and more sustainable future in Europe.

Though January is typically a pretty chilly month at the box office, Butler has found a great deal of success over the years. Den of Thieves (as well as its sequel) and Plane have both become hits for the actor, and there’s no reason to think Greenland 2 will be any different. There is some competition during the film’s opening weekend, but I see this rising to the top.

Jason Statham Has Shelter Coming Out To Close The Month

On January 30, Jason Statham will kick off what could become another action franchise for himself when he stars in Shelter. As has been the case in the past, Statham will take on the role of a former assassin who is forced to go to great lengths to save a young girl from a dangerous organization he used to call home. It looks dramatic, thrilling, and action-packed, and it’s definitely something I plan on seeing on the big screen this month.

Statham has also had some success in the first month of the year, as his 2024 action thriller, The Beekeeper, mopped the floor with the competition when it opened a couple of years back. I don’t know if Shelter will reach those heights or not, but I suspect audiences will come out for some more action this January.

Regardless of the outcome this month, there are two people who will be winning no matter what. First, there’s director Ric Roman Waugh, who helmed both Greenland 2: Migration and Shelter, which is wild to think about. And then there are people like me who can’t get enough of these types of movies. It’s going to be a good time, that’s for sure…

Many of the biggest action stars of all time, in the best action movies, got their start in the 1980s and 1990s when action movies really started to dominate Hollywood. Stars like Tom Cruise, Angelina Jolie, and Keanu Reeves all started making their mark in those seminal decades in film. This gallery is a tribute to all the action stars who are still making movies today, but began their careers decades ago.

Keanu Reeves

While he broke out in comedies like Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure and Parenthood, it wasn't long before Keanu Reeves was starring in big action flicks like Point Blank and Speed. Reeves isn't just an action star, but with the lead in two now-iconic franchises, The Matrix and John Wick, he definitely belongs near the top of any list like this.

Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie's career started early. She was just 6 years old when she appeared in her first movie in 1982 alongside her dad, Jon Voight. By the late '90s, she was on her way to becoming one of the biggest stars in the world. She got into action movies with films like Gone In 60 Seconds and her biggest franchise, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, and while she has always kept one foot in more indie-type movies (including as a director), she's been a steady action star for decades.

Nicolas Cage

It's hard to come up with a Hollywood star with a more diverse acting career than Nicolas Cage. His rage is actually pretty amazing, and that certainly includes starring in some great action movies, like the iconic Con Air and the National Treasure movies.

Scarlett Johansson

Like a lot of actors on this list, Scarlett Johansson can't be pigeon-holed as simply an action star. She is, however, one of the major players in the MCU as Black Widow, and has starred in other action flicks like Jurassic World Rebirth and Lucy.

Wesley Snipes

Most of the biggest box office successes of Wesley Snipes' early career were comedies like Major League, Wildcats, and White Men Can't Jump. In the early '90s he transistioned into action movies with leading roles in the likes of New Jack City, Passenger 57, and Rising Son. He also starred in Demolition Man with Sylvester Stallone, and, of course, as Blade in three movies.

Halle Berry

You might not think of Halle Berry as an action star... until you remember how many superhero movies she's starred in. Not only was she an important part of the X-Men franchise, but she was also Batwoman in 2004 and has also starred in John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, Kingsman: The Golden Circle, and others.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

This one is a little tricky. Technically, action movie legend Arnold Schwarzenegger had his first role way back in 1970 with Hercules in New York, but that was really a one-off B-movie that was soon forgotten. After he spent the 1970s winning every bodybuilding trophy on Earth, he entered Hollywood properly in 1982 when he starred in Conan the Barbarian. Everything since is action history.

Robert Downey, Jr.

Robert Downey, Jr. doesn't jump off the page as an action star. The Oscar winner has proven he can star in any genre, but as the anchor of the MCU movies for more than a decade, he definitely belongs on this list.

Tom Cruise

There's nothing to be said about Tom Cruise that hasn't already been written, right? One of the biggest stars in Hollywood history, Cruise has starred in action movies like Top Gun and its sequel, a couple of Jack Reacher movies, the Mission: Impossible franchise, and great one-offs like Edge of Tomorrow, War of the Worlds, and Minority Report, to name just a few. Plus, he famously does a ton of his own stunts, which shows just how much he belongs on any list of big action stars.

Milla Jovovich

Milla Jovovich started as a model, but transitioned to movies with films like Return to the Blue Lagoon and Dazed and Confused. Soo,n though, she started popping up in legendary action movies like The Fifth Element and, most notably, as Alice in six Resident Evil movies.

Jean-Claude Van Damme

In the '80s, a whole slew of action-first stars emerged, and one of the most popular was Jean-Claude Van Damme. Van Damme first gained fame in No Retreat, No Surrender, and followed that with hits like Bloodsport and Cyborg.

Linda Hamilton

Director James Cameron can be divisive, but you can't argue that he knows how to create female action star leads with great parts and great casting. Linda Hamilton is a legend from her appearances in the Terminator movies over the years.

Kurt Russell

Okay, we have to acknowledge that Kurt Russell's career started when he was a child star with Disney way back in the 1960s. In the '80s, he fully dove into action flicks in a big way with movies like Escape from New York, The Thing, and Big Trouble in Little China, all directed by one of the decade's best directors, John Carpenter. He's since been in a slew of action movies.

Mel Gibson

With the Mad Max franchise and the Lethal Weapon movies, Mel Gibson would be on this list even if those were his only movies. Of course, he has so much more, like Braveheart, Ransom, and many of the other best action movies of the '90s.

Thandiwe Newton

Thandiwe Newton debuted in 1991's comedy Flirting, and in the '90s and beyond, she's starred in action movies like Mission: Impossible 2, The Chronicles of Riddick, Solo: A Star Wars Story, and 2012. She's also starred in TV shows like Westworld that fit in this genre, too.

Dolph Lundgren

One of the pillars of cheesy (and awesome) '80s action is the great Dolph Lundgren. From fantasy heroes like He-Man in 1987's Masters of the Universe to communist boxers like Ivan Drago in Rocky IV, he's been a staple for decades in lots of action movies, including part of the O.G. cast in The Expendables franchise.

Lucy Liu

Lucy Liu kicked off her career in the early '90s, and before too long, she started doing some awesome action movies. Probably the most notable are the Charlie's Angels movies and the Kill Bill movies, but she's also got some less-well-known ones like The Man with the Iron Fists, directed by RZA, and even superhero movies, like Shazam! Fury of the Gods.

Jason Statham

Like other actors on this list, Jason Statham didn't start in true action flicks. His first roles were in the Guy Ritchie films Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch, but within a couple of years, he became a full-blown action hero in The Transporter and The Italian Job. Now it seems like he's in all the biggest action franchises, like The Expendables and the Fast & Furious movies.

Charlize Theron

Charlize Theron is one of the most versatile actresses in Hollywood. She won an Oscar for her portrayal of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in the terrifying true story Monster. She's also been in acclaimed dramas like The Road, Cider House Rules, and Bombshell. Of course, she's starred in a whole slew of great action movies like Mad Max: Fury Road, Atomic Blonde, Æon Flux, and a few of the Fast & Furious movies.

Jet Li

Jet Li started out in movies in Hong Kong in the early 1980s, where he quickly established himself as one of the great martial arts stars in Chinese-language films. After a decade and a half in Hong Kong, he moved to Hollywood in the late '90s, starring first as the villain in Lethal Weapon 4 in 1998. He became such a big action star that he was included in the first three Expendables movies.

Kevin Costner

Kevin Costner might not seem like the typical action star, but he definitely is. Movies like Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, The Postman, and the incredibly underrated Waterworld prove that when he wants to be, he can be a great action hero.

Michelle Yeoh

Like some other actors on this list, Michelle Yeoh starred in martial arts movies in Hong Kong in the '90s. Her breakout film in the West was as Wai Lin in the James Bond movie Tomorrow Never Dies, where she showed the whole world her stage fighting and stunt skills. Since then, she's been in hits like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and, of course, Everything Everywhere All at Once, for which she won the Oscar for Best Actress.

Bruce Willis

There's no way this list would be complete without the great Bruce Willis! Die Hard will always be one of the best action movies of all time and in many ways helps define what a action movie in the 1980s looked and felt like. Only Willis could have pulled off the the wit and charm of John McClane. He's been in a ton of action movies since, of course. He is now retired, due to his health, but he worked right up until he no longer could.

Cameron Diaz

Cameron Diaz took a long hiatus from acting, finally returning in the 2025 Netflix release, appropriately called Back in Action. While she may be best known for her roles in romcoms like There's Something About Mary and The Mask and dramas like Gangs of New York and Vanilla Sky, she's had her fair share of action hits too, like Charlie's Angels and Knight and Day.

Steven Seagal

It's easy to forget just how huge an action star Steven Seagal was in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He actually sort of dominated the box office with movies like Hard To Kill, Above The Law, Mark For Death, and Out For Justice. He reached the artistic pinnacle of his career with 1992's Under Siege. It's not just a great movie for teenage boys like his first four movies; it's legitimately a great movie, with great performances from Seagal, Tommy Lee Jones, and Gary Busey. Sure, he's not making movies on that level anymore, but he's still been churning out straight-to-video-type releases for decades.

Peter Weller

Peter Weller's breakout came in The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension in 1984, but he really hit the big time with 1987's classic RoboCop. Sure, it was insanely violent, but RoboCop had a unique political message, too. Weller's been going strong ever since.

Robert Patrick

The iconic T-1000 in Terminator 2 became one of the great action villains of the 1990s. Robert Patrick played the role of the callous, cold robot killer perfectly. It established him as a legit action star, and he's been busy ever since.

Mickey Rourke

Mickey Rourke isn't only an action star. In fact, most of his roles have been in serious dramas, starting with movies like The Pope of Greenwich Village and 9½ Weeks in the 1980s, but he's definitely proven his action bona fides with roles in Iron Man 2, Sin City, and The Expendables.

Matt Damon

Anyone who has starred as Jason Bourne in four films deserves to be on this list. Sure, Matt Damon might not be the first actor you think of as an action hero, but come on! You can't deny that he belongs on this list for those films alone. Throw in movies like The Martian and Elysium, and he definitely should be here.

Dwayne Johnson

We're making a slight exception here. Technically, Dwayne Johnson's first movie credit came in 2001 in The Mummy Returns, but he had been quite famous for years for his work in the WWE throughout the 1990s. So while he didn't get his start in movies until later, he was a well-established star years before that. Of course, in the two and a half decades since his first movie role, he's become one of the biggest action heroes of all time.

Zoe Bell

This is another interesting case. Zoe Bell's first acting role in a movie was in Quentin Tarantino's Death Proof in 2007. However, she had already built a legendary career as a stunt woman going back to the 1990s. With the Academy Awards (finally) adding a trophy for best stunts, we're going to include Bell here, because she's been performing in movies for decades.

Will Smith

He started as a rapper, then got into acting with comedy, and in the '90s, Will Smith became a big action star with movies like Independence Day, Bad Boys, and Men in Black. He's proven to be a very versatile actor over the years, starring in every genre of film you can think of.

Everyone in the world knows Jason Statham as an action star leading films like Crank, The Meg and The Beekeeper in addition to his part within the Fast And Furious franchise... but did you know that he has a serious background as a diver? Years before his breakout in Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels and even before his modeling career (yes, he had a modeling career), Statham spent a dozen years on Britain's National Swimming Squad and competed in multiple events in the 1990 Commonwealth Games.

Knowing this, it's weirdly not at all surprising to see photos of the actor performing some extreme dives off of a yacht in a new Instagram post filled with vacation pictures – but one nonetheless has to appreciate the love shared in the comments section by some of his Fast & Furious castmates. Check out the gallery of photos below:

If you didn't know about Jason Statham's history as a legit diver, you probably could have figured out that he has some kind of background in the sport from that first photo. The guy might be decades removed from his heyday in the pool, but that shot demonstrates the form of an Olympian (and kudos to the uncredited photographer!).

As for the reactions... I think you can also probably guess what Vin Diesel had to say about this collection of vacation photos. The actor doesn't comment on Jason Statham's diving prowess or skills while operating a jet ski. Instead, he focuses on who his co-star is hanging out with and cites what he has long said (and oft-repeated) is the core theme of the Fast & Furious franchise:

Perfectly on brand.

Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, on the other hand, left a comment suggesting that he is well aware of Jason Statham's background as an athlete and complemented his maintained skills with three words of adulation and a pair of knowing emojis:

It's fun to see Jason Statham, Vin Diesel and Ludacris interacting on social media... but when will we get to see Deckard Shaw, Dominic Torretto, or Tej Parker back together again? That question doesn't have a firm answer quite yet, but at the very least we do now have a release window for Fast X: Part 2 / Fast And Furious 11. At the end of last month, Diesel attended an event in Southern California and told the audience gathered there that Universal Pictures is targeting an April 2027 release date – meaning that production will likely begin at the end of next year or the start of 2026.

Director Louis Leterrier is back in the director's chair after helming Fast X, and Diesel has made three promises about the sequel: the action will return to Los Angeles, the story will return to be about car culture, and Dom will have an on-screen reunion with Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker's character, who has not appeared in a Fast & Furious movie since Walker's death during the production of Furious 7). The film will also need to provide a conclusion to the many cliffhangers in the previous chapter, including the return of Dwayne Johnson's Luke Hobbes; the resurrection of Gal Gadot's Gisele Yashar; the fate of the flight that had Tej, Roman (Tyrese Gibson), Han (Sung Kang), and Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel) on board; and the peril faced by Dom and his son below a breaking dam.

Stay tuned for more updates about the project here on CinemaBlend, and check out our Upcoming Action Movie guide to learn about all of the ass-kicking projects on the horizon.

Model-turned-Hollywood starlet Rosie Huntington-Whiteley has been in a relationship with Jason Statham since early 2009, who was first drawn to him after getting to know his “charismatic and energetic” personality. The engaged couple has two kids, with their son born in 2017 and shapely baby bump posts revealed she was pregnant with her daughter, who was born in 2022. Now that the Transformers star is a London girl after leaving Hollywood, she has a completely sweet reason for the move, and it involves her loving fiancé.

Back in 2020, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Statham made the bold move to go back to their U.K. origins and leave their Hollywood life behind. According to her interview with The Sunday Times (via US Weekly), the face of Burberry Body explained the incredibly sweet reason for the big transition:

Aww, what a family man! That really is an incredible way for an actor to juggle their work and personal life. Now Jason Statham can continue kicking ass in his action flicks and then come home to his dedicated fiancé and kids. A lot of celebrities have left Hollywood to put their family first, like Josh Duhamel, who built a home for his family in Minnesota to teach his boys basic things they couldn’t do in L.A.. At the end of the day, it comes to deciding where you want your children to be raised and if it can be done in an environment where you don’t have to give up your career.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley may have been born in Plymouth, England, but she also developed a personal history in Los Angeles. It was in the City of Angels that she made her American debut at a Victoria’s Secret fashion show in 2006. The English model/actress got real about how moving her family to London was an adjustment in the beginning:

It’s good that Rosie Huntington-Whiteley was able to adapt to London life again. I’m sure the city’s vibrant fashion scene and familiar surroundings made the transition a smooth one. London has been a hot spot for plenty of A-listers like Johnny Depp, who reportedly moved to the British city to escape the hustle and bustle of Hollywood and New York. In London, the Edward Scissorhands actor felt like he could relax and adapt to the European lifestyle.

With Jason Statham and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley both being from the U.K., at least they didn’t move into unfamiliar territory. Not to mention, the Mad Max: Fury Road actress admitted it’s the best place to raise their kids, Jack and Bella:

It looks like settling into London life is the best way for Jason Statham and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley to raise British-born kids. This is a smart move to ensure their kids grow up English compared to having to adopt a more Americanized lifestyle.

It was through their London move that Rosie Huntington-Whiteley previously said she discovered The Beekeeper actor’s unexpected talent of picking out good furniture and architecture for their home. She also told US Weekly what a dedicated father Statham is in always playing around with their little kiddies and even family school drop-offs on their electric bike. I’m sure London has given the family plenty of opportunities for togetherness and loving memories.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley leaving Hollywood for London to ensure the whole family can be together is the sweetest reason for a big move. While leaving L.A. wasn’t easy at first, it looks like she, Jason Statham, and their kids have found their forever home in the U.K.

SPOILER WARNING: The following article contains major spoilers for A Working Man. If you’ve yet to watch the 2025 movie for yourself, please turn back now before an angry Jason Statham tracks you down (just kidding about the last part).

With the upcoming Fast & Furious 11 and the announced Beekeeper sequel on the way, it’s safe to say that Jason Statham is going to be a very busy guy for the foreseeable future. However, after watching A Working Man, which dethroned Snow White during its first weekend at the box office, I think we could be looking at Statham’s next big action franchise.

Though critics haven’t been too excited about Statham’s most recent offering, originally titled Levon’s Trade (CinemaBlend’s official review didn’t necessarily sing its praises), the ending of A Working Man did leave the door open for future installments and might even provide a clue for where David Ayer’s franchise could go if everything works out. That said, let me break it all down.

What Happens During A Working Man's Ending?

In A Working Man, Levon Cade (Jason Statham), a former Royal Marine Commando and current construction worker, is tasked with finding his boss’ college-age daughter after she is abducted by human traffickers. Starting in Chicago before expanding his search to surrounding areas, Levon (pronounced Levin) takes on low-level criminals, bikers, crooked cops, obscenely wealthy human traffickers, and the Russian mob.

In the end, Levon tracks down and saves Jenny Garcia (Arianna Rivas) from what can best be described as a clandestine casino and sex dungeon in a run-down mansion somewhere south of the Windy City. Taking out pretty much everyone responsible for the kidnapping, torture, and other sketchy stuff going on, Levon and Jenny survive the night and live to see another day. However, one loose end is left untied when Symon Kharchenko (Andrej Kaminsky), the leader of the Russian mafia, survives the onslaught and doesn’t get his wish to avenge his sons after they were killed by Cade.

But The Unfinished Business With The Russian Mob Could Lead To A Civil War (And More Problems For Levon)

If A Working Man ends up leading to more movies, I could totally see the unfinished business with Symon Kharchenko not only leading to more problems for Levon Cade (and his family) down the road but also a civil war within the criminal organization. At the end of the movie, when Symon calls the “War Council” to say that Levon survived the attack, he is told that the organization is going to let things be, which doesn’t go over too well with the grieving father, as you could imagine.

I’ve watched enough great action movies and gripping crime thrillers over the years to know that a parent consumed by grief and pain isn’t going to let things go, even if his allies tell him to lay low. This would be a great setup for a sequel or sequels for A Working Man as it would continue Levon’s story and his path towards a confrontation with Symon as well as continue to build the world around them, adding more stakes in the process.

There Will Also Surely Be Some Major Ramifications In Levon's Personal Life After The Movie's Events

Levon Cade makes a case for himself as being one of the most lethal characters the action genre has seen in quite some time, and he’s a caring father for his young daughter throughout the movie, but boy, he can’t stay out of trouble. Throughout the movie, he’s constantly going at it with his father-in-law, Dr. Jordan Roth (Richard Heap), who still holds Levon responsible for his daughter’s suicide. Though he does end up saving Dr. Roth when the Russian mob sets his house on fire and leaves the retired surgeon for dead, Levon is the reason they came there in the first place.

With all the high-dollar attorneys Dr. Roth used in the early part of the movie to make it pretty much impossible for Levon and his daughter to see each other, combined with the fact that he almost died because of the former Royal Marine Commando. It’s hard to imagine there won’t be some kind of ramifications for him after all the dust settles. I mean, that’s what the opening chapter of a sequel is all about, right?

It Also Feels Like Certain Characters Were Introduced To Be Expanded Later

Do you ever get the feeling that a movie will introduce a character and kind of hold back in hopes that they can be expanded in a sequel? Well, I experienced that with David Harbour’s Gunny Lefferty, one of Levon Cade’s old military buddies who lost his eyesight while fighting in a war. Though the wise-cracking and resourceful character has some incredibly powerful scenes, and he protects Levon’s daughter during the big climactic action sequence, I almost feel like we haven’t seen all he can do.

There’s a scene early on when Gunny, who can’t see anything, fires an arrow right next to Levon’s head. Another scene later on shows him detailing all these guns in specific locations without using his eyes. Yeah, he gets time to shine, but it feels like there’s much more to explore here.

This Could Become One Of Jason Statham's Big Franchises Like The Beekeeper, The Transporter, And The Meg

I’m buzzing with excitement for The Beekeeper 2, but there’s enough room in my heart for more Jason Statham action franchises. Revisiting The Transporter before the release of A Working Man was a killer experience, and it got me wanting even more movies featuring the British action star moving forward. I think Levon Cade could be up there with the Frank Martins and the Adam Clays of the world, especially with the massive collection of books Chuck Dixon has written about the character.

You could fill up the entire schedule of upcoming book-to-screen adaptations with the adventures of Levon Cade, as there are 10 (and counting) entries in the series thus far. With so much source material and intense action sequences to explore, this could be huge! Who knows, maybe this could even lead to another addition to The Meg franchise.

But All Of This Depends On How A Working Man Performs At The Box Office

The only way A Working Man is going to get a sequel and turn this into the next Jason Statham franchise is for it to perform well at the box office. As mentioned above, it did well enough with audiences to take the top spot during the opening weekend with $15.5 million in receipts, according to Box Office Mojo.

While that’s not the best opener of Statham’s career, it was just $1 million less than what The Beekeeper pulled in its first weekend of release back in January 2024. According to Box Office Mojo, the David Ayer action flick ended its run at $162.6 million, which was enough to get a sequel. The pair’s latest outing isn’t guaranteed to get that far, but if it does, we could be looking at more Levon Cade in the future.

While I anxiously wait with bated breath for more information on A Working Man and its future as a franchise, there are a handful of upcoming action movies that will hold me over in the meantime.

I’ve been on what you can call a Jason Statham binge as of late as I await A Working Man’s arrival on the 2025 movie schedule, and that has consisted of me spending countless hours watching some of the best action movies. This little exploration recently took me back to 2002’s The Transporter, a movie that was seriously all the rage when I started out in high school. And let me tell you… this movie still goes hard 23 years later.

However, it’s been years (I’d say at least 20) since I sat down and watched Statham’s Frank Martin make and break his own rules and the bones of anyone who got in his way, and so there’s some stuff I completely forgot about over the years. Plot points, the wild music, and even two of the best action sequences to ever feature the actor and stuntman advocate. Let’s take a trip down memory lane as I break it all down…

First Off, The Transporter Is Just As Fun As I Remembered

Though the Transporter franchise got a little out of hand and eventually lost Jason Statham as the leading man, the first movie in the series is pretty much all killer and no filler. If you take a look back at any compilation of the actor’s best fights, a large chunk of those videos are going to consist of Frank Martin whooping ass all up and down the French Mediterranean coast like it’s nothing.

From start to finish, The Transporter is a fun, chaotic, and brutal action flick with a pacing that is remarkably refreshing looking back. With a runtime of a little over 90 minutes, the movie wastes no time getting things going or keeping up with that pace. But that doesn’t mean the movie doesn't have time for jokes or Statham’s signature quick-witted attitude, because it flourishes throughout this movie.

But I Completely Forgot That The Movie Starts With One Of The 2000s Best Car Chases

Long before Jason Statham was drifting around and taking things one quarter-mile at a time in the Fast & Furious movies – hell, before he popped up in The Italian Job – he was pushing cars to the limit in The Transporter. And I just have to say that the sequence that opens up the movie is legitimately one of the best car chase scenes of the 21st century (and perhaps of all time). But I also have to admit that I completely forgot about this badass scene until I rewatched the movie. Shame on me, I know!

From introducing us to Frank Martin’s rules – never change the deal, no names, and never open the package – to racing around the streets of Nice, France, with cops on his tail after a bank robbery to that miraculous jump where he drives onto a semi-truck carrying vehicles down below, this was honestly one of the best opening scenes I’ve seen in a long time. And while I am mad at myself for forgetting about it, watching the chain of events with no recollection was pretty grand.

I Remembered There Being Incredible Fights, But The Oil Brawl Legitimately Took Me By Surprise

The Transporter is a Jason Statham movie (one written by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen and directed by Corey Yuen and Louis Leterrier), so you know it’s going to have some killer fight sequences. And boy, does it have some gnarly brawls before everything is said and done. That said, I completely forgot about what is by far the best in the movie and perhaps one of Statham’s most absurd movie moments: the oil brawl.

Near the end of the movie, Frank Martin is in a bus depot where he takes on a small army of unnamed goons. Though the group initially has the upper hand on account of outnumbering Frank, this dude spills old motor oil all over the place, rips off some of the bike pedal straps for better traction, and puts a beating on these guys. It’s seriously some of the coolest stuff I’ve seen, and I couldn’t get enough of it.

In Their Own Way, Both Of These Scenes Pretty Much Established Jason Statham As An Action Star

Jason Statham was already a star in the making by the early 2000s thanks to his roles in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch – two of Guy Ritchie’s best movies – but The Transporter made him one of the biggest action stars on the planet. Though he had small parts in a few action flicks before wearing Frank Martin’s signature suit and tie, this performance was his coming out party. And we have these two scenes to thank for it.

Whether Statham was driving, shooting, fighting, and finding unique ways to take out henchmen, he looked absolutely badass, believable, and fun to watch through it all. No wonder he would follow this up with The Italian Job, Cellular, and subsequent Transporter movies before eventually joining the Expendables and Fast & Furious franchises. Without Frank Martin, there’s no Lee Christmas, and there’s no Deckard Shaw, and I don’t want to live in that world.

I Know It's Off-Topic, But I Don't Remember The Transporter Soundtrack Being So Sexy

The Transporter came out in 2002, so I knew there was going to be some music giving off serious early 2000s vibes. And there are thanks to bangers like Nate Dogg’s “I Got Love,” Missy Elliot’s “Scream a.k.a. Itchin’,” and Benzino’s “Rock the Party,” but I completely forgot about tracks that can best be described as sexy, if that doesn’t sound too weird. Gerald Levert’s “Funny,” is one good example, as is Nadia’s “Life of a Stranger,” but the track that takes the cake is the song that plays as Frank and Lai Kwai (Shu Qi) swim to escape an explosion about halfway through the movie. I can’t find any information on this track for the life of me, but it’s so moody, sultry, and random compared to everything else in the movie. There are hints of new age, there are horns, and there’s even a little flare that sounds like a James Bond movie. It’s great!

With Jason Statham being part of two of my most anticipated action movies of 2025 and beyond, maybe I’ll have to go back and revisit even more of his old movies.

Last year Jason Statham and David Ayer teamed up for The Beekeeper — a movie that was dubbed “torturous” by critics , but was actually a pretty fun experience, especially if bee puns are your thing. While fans are likely excited that The Beekeeper 2 is happening, the even-better news is that we don’t have to wait that long to see Statham and Ayer’s next project. In fact, A Working Man is hitting the 2025 movie calendar soon, so let’s see what critics think about this one.

This upcoming action film has a familiar premise: Ex-Royal Marines commander Levon Cade (Statham) is forced to dip back into his old ways when his boss’ teenage daughter is taken by human traffickers. It sounds like the film could hit the same notes as Statham’s 2024 offering, but in CinemaBlend’s review of A Working Man, Eric Eisenberg says it fails to capture that same fun energy. He gives it 2 out of 5 stars, writing:

Derek Smith of SlashFilm gives the movie 1.5 out of 5 stars, saying Jason Statham’s protagonist is dead behind the eyes, with his untreated PTSD serving more as a superpower to assist his vigilantism than lingering psychological anguish. Smith also says:

Brianna Zigler of AV Club gives A Working Man a D, calling it “a largely tiresome action flick that can’t overcome the pedestrian trappings of its filmmakers’ own banality.” Zigler writes:

Jeremy Mathai of SlashFilm acknowledges that there is definitely room for empty calorie entertainment in our movie theaters, but while we are craving the silliness that Ayer and Statham’s previous outing provided, A Working Man is merely a pale imitation of better movies we've seen before. Mathai gives it 5 out 10 and says:

For Bill Bria of Discussing Film, however, A Working Man is a solid product, thanks to Jason Statham and David Ayer proving yet again that together they’re a formula for great action cinema. Bria rates the movie 3.5 out of 5 stars and says:

It sounds like if you’re headed to the theater hoping for more of the B-movie fun (no pun intended) of The Beekeeper, you might be disappointed at A Working Man’s more serious tone. But if it’s Jason Statham kicking ass you’re going for, I think we know that he can deliver. Catch his latest film in theaters starting Friday, March 28.

When it comes to celebrity fashion, certain themes come and go. Sometimes, everyone seems to be having a sheer moment, or everywhere you look, you see a corseted waist. I love one of the latest trends that shows people aren’t afraid to show their sparkle. After Millie Bobby Brown rocked sequins for the premiere of her movie that’s hitting the 2025 movie calendar, Jason Statham’s fiancée gave her own take on the look.

Action movie star Jason Statham and his partner, model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, stepped out during Paris Fashion Week for Le Grand Diner du Louvre, and I can’t help but be reminded of Millie Bobby Brown’s ruby red number, as Huntington-Whiteley was a portrait of glamour in her own black sequined gown:

I’m simply obsessed with this sparkling black Balenciaga piece, which is reportedly from the Fall '24 collection. Unlike Millie Bobby Brown’s sexy strapless gown, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley’s featured thin straps above a sweetheart neckline. The floor-length dress had a side slit, with the sequins flowing all the way down to a train that the fashionista could be seen carrying over her arm in a post on Threads:

Post by @wwd

View on Threads

She paired the sexy, backless dress with pointed-toe pumps, wearing gorgeous diamond earrings as her lone piece of jewelry. Her hair was pulled back into a sleek bun.

I love seeing celebrities sparkle in their sequined gowns, and we’ve been enjoying a lot of that lately.

In addition to Millie Bobby Brown’s look at The Electric State premiere — which came after she fired shots at critics for “bullying” her about looking old and defended her fashion choices as those of a girl becoming a woman — there were quite a few dresses sparkling under the lights of the Academy Awards red carpet earlier this week.

Demi Moore nodded to her character Elisabeth Sparkle from The Substance in her silver gown. And even though she ultimately didn’t take home the Best Actress trophy, she was definitely winning in that look — as was Sydney Sweeney in pink sequins for an Oscars after party.

Also, it was just a few weeks ago that Great American Family actress Danica McKellar rocked a sequined silver minidress to celebrate her 50th birthday. Honestly, what better way to show that you’ve still got it as you enter a new decade?

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and the star of The Meg (who have been together since 2010 and got engaged in 2016) were in good company at the inaugural dinner event at the Louvre in Paris, where fashion-forward celebs including Michelle Yeoh, Gigi Hadid, Keira Knightley, Doechii and Kelly Rutherford showed off their own amazing ensembles. Even with all that star power, I’m sure Huntington-Whiteley’s sparkles made her hard to miss.

You may not see the model on the big screen, but you can check out Jason Statham in A Working Man, which hits theaters on Friday, March 28, or in 2024’s The Beekeeper, which is getting a sequel and can be streamed with an Amazon Prime Video subscription.

People who love Jason Statham movies are in for some good news now that The Beekeeper 2, the follow-up to the surprisingly fun 2024 action thriller about a man going to great lengths to get revenge, is actually happening. And while I’m buzzing for the franchise’s next steps, I’m even more excited about the director stepping in for the departing David Ayer.

Miramax announced that the upcoming action movie will be helmed by Timo Tjahjanto, who not only is working on the upcoming 2025 movie, Nobody 2, but also has a stellar record when it comes to gritty, explosive, and hard-hitting action flicks. Over the years, the Indonesian filmmaker has worked on films like The Night Comes for Us, The Big Four, and The Shadow Strays, all of which can be watched right now with a Netflix subscription.

It will be interesting to see how Statham, who is no stranger to kicking all kinds of ass in all kinds of inventive ways, works with Tjahjanto, a director known for hard-hitting action and jaw-dropping fight scenes. This was especially true in The Night Comes for Us, in which the actors got physical with their punches and kicks. Putting these two together is a dream come true for action fans and has a lot of potential to take the franchise in a new direction. And I can’t wait to see where it goes.

Tjahjanto has teased some changes for Nobody 2, but it remains to be seen if his Beekeeper movie will be similar in style to David Ayer’s version or if it will take a completely different direction.

Thankfully, we may not have to wait all that long to see the fruits of their labor, as production is slated to kick off on The Beekeeper 2 at some point this fall. No plot information has been revealed at this time, but expect that to change as development continues this year. Who knows, maybe some of us will get our wish and see Conor McGregor show up alongside Statham.

Though David Ayer won’t be returning to direct The Beekeeper 2 (he did reteam with Statham for A Working Man), Kurt Wimmer, who wrote The Beekeeper, as well as other movies like The Thomas Crowne Affair, Law Abiding Citizen, and The Recruit, will be back to pen the script. Deadline has reported that the studio and filmmakers are looking to bring Ayer back as a producer. He is currently working on The Heart of the Beast, Paramount’s upcoming survival thriller starring Brad Pitt.

Overall, though, I'm very excited about the direction The Beekeeper 2 is headed in, and I think The Beekeeper hive should be very excited about all these developments.

This is an evolving story, so make sure to check back for all the latest details on what could be one of the biggest, baddest, and most bone-crunching action flicks in quite some time.

In the final weeks and days of 2024, I played a serious game of catchup with movies I wanted to see but never got around to watching. One of those, Jason Statham’s The Beekeeper, ended up being one of the most fun experiences from the entire 2024 movie schedule, as wild as that sounds., and I’m bummed I slept on it for so long.

Though our official review of the David Ayer-directed action flick called it “too stupid to be great, too grim to be properly entertaining,” I found myself laughing, pumping my fist in the air, and having a hell of a time. That said, I think that while it’s not the best action movie ever made, The Beekeeper is a fun and thrilling experience that a lot of people are sleeping on, and I think that needs to change.

I Expected This To Be A Simple Revenge Thriller

When I saw The Beekeeper’s first trailer, I thought the movie would be like a lot of Jason Statham’s action movies from the past decade-and-a-half, in that it would be a rather simple revenge-focused thriller where he kicks a lot of ass. And yeah, that is somewhat true, considering the movie follows Adam Clay (Statham), a highly skilled assassin-turned-beekeeper who goes on a violent rampage, but it was still a ton of fun.

This action thriller starts like a lot of other similar movies from the genre with Clay getting back into the game after his only friend in the world is scammed out of millions of dollars before killing herself, but that’s just the beginning. I even thought that Clay showing up at a call center and burning it to the ground would be about as crazy as the movie would get. Oh, how it has never felt so good to be so wrong.

Instead, The Beekeeper Is An Over-The-Top Action Spectacle That Goes To The Top Of The U.S. Government

I love action movies that get more and more over the top as the story unfolds and reveal that what initially felt like something small is in reality part of something much larger. In the case of The Beekeeper, the call center scheme that kicked off the story is actually part of a massive nationwide scheme involving high-ranking members of the United States government.

This progression of the story (which reaches some wild heights in the final act) creates an over-the-top action spectacle that is a whole lot of fun to watch. Was it ridiculous watching Jason Statham come up with unique ways of killing people (more on that next) or listening to all kinds of “beekeeper” puns through it all? Yeah, but David Ayer’s ability to find a proper balance of comedy, action, and explosive set pieces ended up creating an exciting and thrilling experience.

I Can't Get Over Adam Clay's Inventiveness And How He Doesn't Rely On Guns

One thing I really love about The Beekeeper is the fact that Adam Clay doesn’t always rely on guns to do his dirty work. Sure, he shoots a henchman or two by the time everything is said and done, but he mostly maims, kills, and blows up all kinds of bad guys in highly inventive ways.

From waltzing into a giant scamming operation with cans of gasoline, explosives, and a device that’ll set it all off to tying a low-level thug to his truck and then driving it off a bridge to giving audiences one of the best elevator scenes since the iconic fight in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, there’s a lot to love here.

As much as I love seeing action heroes like John Wick fire round after round into a seemingly never-ending line of goons, seeing Clay come up with different and unique ways to kill, or at least maim bad guys was a whole lot of fun.

The Chain Of Increasingly Wild Villains Was So Much Fun

I’ve watched my fair share of action movies over the years, and though I’ve seen something like this play out hundreds of times, I never get tired of watching a hero work their way up the food chain of increasingly wild villains. Much like a video game where the player works their way through thugs, stage bosses, and level bosses before reaching the top of the pecking order of whatever criminal outfit they're fighting, The Beekeeper keeps making the next villain look so much worse than the one before.

You’ve got low-level guys like Mickey Garnett (David Witts) at the call center, Derek Danforth (Josh Hutcherson) as the CEO of Danforth Enterprises (the company behind the call center scheme), and even high-ranking members of the United States government that Clay has to take on before his mission is complete. And the nameless henchmen have a similar trajectory, as we go from security guards to mercenaries, to outrageously-dressed assassins between each of the bosses.

The Beekeeper Ending Has Me Hungry For More

Spoiler Warning: The final section contains major spoilers for The Beekeeper. If you’ve yet to watch the movie and don’t want the ending spoiled, read no further!

As soon as The Beekeeper ended, I immediately got online to find out if David Ayer was making a sequel. Though I found an interview with Yahoo! Entertainment where the Suicide Squad director alluded to further exploring the whole “beekeeper” mythology (Adam Clay is a retired assassin from a government program known as the Beekeepers), I haven’t been able to find any concrete details about what a sequel will be about or if it will happen.

After watching Clay pretty much help reveal the top-secret program to people outside the intelligence community, save the President of the United States by killing her son before he could kill her, and then escape more Secret Service agents than have ever been in one place at one time, I need to see more. I honestly think that this could turn into the next Jason Statham action franchise, one that’s full of as many puns as unique kills.

The Beekeeper, though not my favorite 2024 action movie, was one hell of a spectacle and one I won’t soon forget. And while I wait for more news on a possible sequel (or sequels), there are plenty of kickass options on the 2025 movie schedule to hold me over.

Stream The Beekeeper on Prime Video.

Kristin Cavallari has been living life in the public eye for literal decades now, ever since Laguna Beach set up cameras to film her and her high school friends for the 2004 MTV series. She’s faced a lot of scrutiny as a reality TV villain, but that hasn’t stopped her from always speaking her mind (even when she’s voicing wild theories about Kanye West and Britney Spears being clones). Her love life is apparently fair game as well, as she got called out by her best friend for having a fling with action movie star Jason Statham.

The big revelation came out when The Hills veteran and her longtime friend Justin Anderson were doing the “Suspect Challenge,” where two people roast each other by taking turns pretending to be an officer pursuing a suspect. Kristin Cavallari and Anderson traded hilarious and sometimes biting shots, which you can see on her Instagram:

These besties look like they’re having the best time delivering some painful truths and A+ lies, with Kristin Cavallari accusing Justin Anderson of riding her coattails (which he admitted was true) and him playing into a fan’s conspiracy theory that Cavallari is a man and has an Adam’s apple (a topic they've discussed on her podcast Let's Be Honest). Then Anderson dropped this bit of tea about the Very Cavallari star:

While laughter followed each “suspect” description, sometimes the friends would confirm or deny the accusations thrown at them, but in this case, Kristin Cavallari only put her hand to her mouth and said, “Oh my God, Justin!” Fans in the comments went absolutely wild over this supposed hot hookup we never knew about, writing:

• Okay, we need more tea because some of these are juicy af 😂💀🔥 – brittanykeaton601
• This is soooooo fucking good! Back on IG! 🙋‍♀️ – kcjoyhodges
• Jason statham!?! You lucky girl!!!!!! – trish_barczak
• Odd way to brag about screwing Morgan Wallen and Jason Statham – tucksroyalsxlix
• This is the funniest one I’ve seen on this trend 🤣 – jenna.b_hair
• Jason is engaged and has 2 kids …. Was this before 2010? – jenner_ben

In regards to that last question, it does appear that the tryst between Kristin Cavallari and Jason Statham is far behind them now, with a source telling US Weekly the 37-year-old reality star was in her 20s at the time. It was apparently more than a casual fling, too, as the insider alleged they dated for six months, saying:

Outside of a vague age range, it’s not known what year that all went down, but The Meg star has been with his partner Rosie Huntington-Whiteley since 2010, which was also the same year Kristin Cavallari started dating NFL quarterback Jay Cutler, who she was married to until their separation in 2020.

It may not be a scandal, but it’s still some pretty hot tea, as was Justin Anderson’s claim that country singer “Morgan Wallen hurt [Kristin Cavallari’s] feelings and she kept going back.” It was long thought that the two dated briefly in 2023, and her BFF seemed to confirm it here.

If you want to take a trip back to Kristin Cavallari’s youth, both Laguna Beach and its spinoff The Hills are available to stream with a Paramount+ subscription.

The brand new, revamped and rebooted DC Universe (DCU) has opened up endless possibilities. A new Superman has already been cast and is ready to take flight in the first movie in the new universe, which is replacing the old DC Extended Universe (DCEU). 

Producer James Gunn has shown he has a clear vision to wipe away most of the past and move forward with new actors and new stories, so for the purposes of this daydreaming, we're going to leave out the great actors who have appeared in DC-related films in the past, including the most recent movies starring the likes of Jason Momoa, Gal Gadot, and Ben Affleck, though we're not against them returning, too. 

Ryan Gosling

Ryan Gosling is one of the biggest stars in the world, and also one of the most versatile actors in Hollywood. He's the kind of actor you could cast in almost any role and you just know he'd hit it out of the park. He could play a hero or a villain and audiences would be transfixed no matter what. We probably want him as one of the most famous heroes though, someone befitting his star status. 

Daisy Ridley

We know she can carry a franchise, and we know she's a tough woman, so Daisy Ridley just has to find her way into the DCU. Of course, she'd have to be a hero, but who knows, maybe a change of pace from the Star Wars movies could be cool and she could play a villain. Either way, she has to have powers greater than The Force. 

Tom Cruise

It's time. It's hard to believe Tom Cruise has never been in a superhero movie. One of, in not the, biggest action stars of the last few decades still has that "hole" on his resume and it's time it got filled. Of course, we'd all love to see Cruise as a hero, but it would be awesome for him to be in any role, even a cameo like his turn in Tropic Thunder. Just get him in there, James Gunn! 

Jennifer Lawrence

Sure, Jennifer Lawrence appeared in the X-Men franchise, but that was years ago, and the comic book movie scene is a whole lot different today. Lawrence is a perfect fit for any number of roles, and even though she's great as Mystique, what about a hero as big as Wonder Woman or Black Canary? Surely she'd be fantastic. 

John Krasinski

John Krasinski delighted fans with his cameo as Dr. Reed Richards in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. MCU fans have been dying to see him as Mister Fantastic in the Fantastic 4 in the future, but so far, there's only been cold water thrown on the idea. That opens up the DCU for the former The Office star and he needs to step in. 

Zendaya

There isn't a bigger star on the scene right now than Zendaya. Sure, she's played MJ in the MCU and Spider-Man movies, but let's give her some real superpowers and let her run wild in the DCU. 

Jacob Elordi

Sure, Jacob Elordi says he's not interested in playing a superhero, having turned down an opportunity to read for Superman in the new DCU, but that doesn't mean we can't dream, right? There are so many heroes in the universe he could play. Elordi has been a hit in recent years with his role on HBO's Euphoria and movies like Saltburn and Pricilla, so he doesn't really need to be in the DCU, but we need him to be. 

Timothée Chalamet

Timothée Chalamet has a knack for picking great roles for himself. At this point, he can pick and choose anything he wants, given how often his movies are hits. Chalamet could probably just tell James Gunn what role he wanted and they'd find a way for it to happen. So let's do it! 

Meryl Streep

Let's be real, there is nothing Meryl Streep can't do. The greatest actor of her generation, bar none, and yet, she's never appeared in a superhero movie. She's flirted with the idea, according to some reports, and she even did the Wakanda salute at the 2024 Golden Globes, but alas, we still haven't seen her in one. The new DCU must have a spot for her, right?

Patina Miller

Patina Miller has won a Tony and she's starred in two hit shows (Madam Secretary and Power Book III: Raising Kanan), but she hasn't broken big on the big screen, aside from an important but too-brief role in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, and it's time that changed. She looks like a superhero and can act her socks off, so let's make it happen, let's make her a star in the DCU. 

Adam Driver

As Kylo Ren in the Star Wars sequels, Adam Driver showed he could play a first-rate villain. Now it's time to see him play a hero. Any hero, pick one, it doesn't matter, he'd kill it. Batman? For sure. Superman? Well, that role is taken, but yes. Aquaman? Oh yes. Martian Manhunter? Check. Wonder Woman? Sure, why not, he's got the hair for it. Let's go! 

Mark Wahlberg

Mark Wahlberg may be aging gracefully and while he says he's ready to play grandpa roles, we think he'll never be too old for a spot in the DCU. Somehow he's never been in either the MCU or any of the DC-related properties, so the time is right. 

Cailee Spaeny

She may not jump off the page as a possible superhero, but don't forget that Cailee Spaeny starred in Pacific Rim Uprising and clearly has the chops to be in a big action flick. She's an up-and-coming superstar and jumping into the DCU now would be perfect timing. 

Alan Ritchson

Reacher's Alan Ritchson is over six feet tall and built like a monster truck, is there anyone in Hollywood more perfect to play an intimidating villain in a comic book movie? Sure, he could play a superhero, too, but being a villain would be an awesome departure from his character on Reacher and it would be a ton a fun. And again, just look at the guy! 

Sterling K. Brown

Sterling K. Brown had an all-too-brief role as T'Chala's traitorous brother N'Jobu in Black Panther and it's high time he gets a chance to sink his teeth into a bigger superhero role. How about John Stewart/Green Lantern in the DCU? Brown has even campaigned for the role, so really, it's a perfect opportunity to get him into the DC Universe, it needs to happen, so we're putting it out there into the universe again. 

Peter Dinklage

Peter Dinklage has dabbled in superhero movies in the past, playing the villain, Bolivar Trask, in X-Men: Days of Future Past, as Eitri in Avengers: Infinity War, and as the Toxic Avenger, but it leaves us all wanting more. Let's be honest here, anything Dinklage does is awesome, so getting him into the DCU somehow would be amazing. He's also pretty good at carrying a wildly popular franchise, as he proved with Game of Thrones.

Taraji P. Henson

Taraji P. Henson has done it all, except star in a comic book movie. Henson is one of the best actors of her generation and yet, she's got this hole in her resume that, let's be honest, we all want to see filled. The DCU would be a perfect place for her to land, in just about any role, superhero, villain, regular human... anything, just get her in there! 

Charlize Theron

Audiences were teased with a Charlize Theron character in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and the actress stars in the Old Guard franchise, but she's not appeared in any DC-related projects yet and she sure deserves to. We'd love to see her in any number of roles, as she can play just about anything. 

Jason Statham

He's one of the biggest action stars in the world, and yet Jason Statham hasn't appeared in the MCU or anything DC-related. This is something that must be remedied! How about Cliff Steele/Robotman, whose origin story comes out of a race car crash, which would dovetail perfectly with Statham's past work as star of The Transporter movies and in the Fast franchise?

Jodie Comer

Jodie Comer has been taking the world by storm over the last few years and that means it's time to find her way into the DCU. Comer could be great in the MCU, but the possibilities in the DCU are endless and for someone like her, on the rise in Hollywood, the sky's the limit. 

Don Cheadle

Don Cheadle is pretty entrenched in the MCU, where he's played James "Rhodey" Rhodes/War Machine 10 times in various movies and TV shows. Still, Cheadle is awesome, and there has to be a way to get him into the DCU, too. He'd need to play a completely different kind of character, like a villain, but we're for it. 

Jenna Ortega

Wednesday star Jenna Ortega is clearly ready for the big time. She'd be great as Aquagirl, or, even better, the villain Lourdes Lucero/Encantadora. There are a lot of options, let's hope she fits into one, because it would be great. 

Zoe Saldaña

Zoe Saldaña is another star that most fans immediately associate with The Guardians of the Galaxy and the MCU, but with the Guardians franchise possibly winding down, and the franchise's director, James Gunn, now in charge over at DC, this could be a good time to switch it up for Saldaña, as there are a lot of different heroes she would be great for. 

Josh Gad

Hear us out. Josh Gad may not be the first person you think of when you think of an action movie or a comic book movie, but some of the best casting decisions are sometimes the ones you least expect. Think Michael Keaton as Batman or even Robert Downey, Jr. as Iron Man. Gad, with his blend of humor and "everyman" qualities, can be pretty chameleon-like and that could make him perfect for the DCU. 

Gwendoline Christie

How has this happened? How have we gotten dozens of superhero movies in the last couple of decades and Gwendoline Christie hasn't been in any of them? Sure, she's got the physique to play any hero out there, but it's her wit and comedic timing combined with that that makes the Game of Thrones star a no-brainer. This seems too easy.

Naomie Harris

Naomie Harris jumped into the comic book world by playing Shriek in Venom: Let There Be Carnage. She was predictably great, so why not have her cast as a character with a multi-film arc? She should be. With the James Bond Universe in flux with the departure of Daniel Craig, this would be a great time for Harris to find a new franchise to get attached to. 

Daniel Kaluuya

Black Panther star Daniel Kaluuya (who also starred as a real-life Black Panther in Judas and the Black Messiah) is an actor who could fit into the DCU in just about any role. He could be a charming hero, or an evil villain, or even a government bureaucrat. Kaluuya's acting toolbox has a lot of options, the DCU will do well to take advantage of that somehow. 

Natalie Dormer

Natalie Dormer is a veteran of a lot of big-time franchises. Game of Thrones, Hunger Games, and even the MCU. Unfortunately, she was in fewer Game of Thrones episodes than you would think, and her appearances in the other two were also fairly brief. The DCU has a great opportunity to feature her in a much larger role. 

Donald Glover

This is another absolute no-brainer. Donald Glover is one of the most talented and charming actors in the business, there are an endless amount of roles he could fill in the DCU, so someone out there needs to find a spot for him. 

Diego Luna

With Andor (and his other projects) Diego Luna showed the world how great he can be in a franchise. His performance was gripping, and bringing that same energy to the DCU would be fantastic. 

Jack Quaid

Let's take a sec to lament that despite starring in one of the wildest superhero franchises of all time, The Boys, Jack Quaid hasn't really had an opportunity to be a proper superhero (V-24 notwithstanding). So let's give him a proper chance here! Put him in the DCU! 

Hayden Panettiere

Save the cheerleader, save the world. It was a mantra for Heroes and it's time to see Hayden Panettiere play another superhero. She was so great in Heroes, there's no way she wouldn't be great in the DCU

The DC Universe is James Gunn's oyster, these are some of the pearls out there just waiting to be plopped onto his beach. 

Spoilers for The Beekeeper are ahead. If you haven’t seen Jason Statham’s buzzworthy project, you can catch it in theaters now. 

Sometimes, it’s important to ask questions that may seem dumb, because most of the time they aren’t. Case and point: When I saw The Beekeeper I was left wondering if all the agents who call themselves Beekeepers also actually keep bees, like Jason Statham’s character does in the film. It turns out, the director, David Ayer, has an answer to this seemingly silly question, and it provides fantastic insight into the people who make up this elite agency and how it relates to the actual profession of beekeeping. 

For some context, in this action flick on the 2024 movie schedule, Jason Statham’s character Adam Clay is both a legitimate beekeeper, who takes care of bees on a lovely lady’s land, as well as a retired secret agent who worked for a group called The Beekeepers. So, when I got the chance to speak with The Beekeeper’s director David Ayer about the film, I had to ask if it was common for these agents to take up beekeeping as a second interest. Let me tell you, his answer did not disappoint as he told me this during our interview for CinemaBlend:

As critics of The Beekeeper pointed out, in both positive and negative lights, this film leans into the bees. There are many comparisons to them and hives, especially when it comes to Jason Statham’s character, who is referred to as a “queen slayer” at one point, which yes, is a real kind of bee, and he works tirelessly to protect the hive (by hive I mean humanity) from evil. So, it seems logical that in the universe of the movie, the agents of this covert group would actually keep bees and learn from them.

Jason Statham obviously did, as he took down the queen – who in this film was an evil tech mogul played by Josh Hutcherson. So, as Ayer explained, it made sense for beekeepers to literally keep bees because they could learn valuable lessons from them.

Also, considering the nature of their day job, I’d imagine that literal beekeeping would provide these agents with an outlet that lets them move a bit slower and live in a less intense environment. However, there are still stakes because the keepers need to keep the hive alive and protect it…and, you know, they can still get stung.

In all seriousness, this idea of these agents also being beekeepers plays into the greater mission of the agency Statham is a part of. As the Fury director noted, both kinds of beekeepers are out to keep their world safe, and they step in and help fix the hive when they aren’t capable of repairing it themselves. So, it makes sense that all beekeepers also keep bees. 

Overall, this idea that Statham’s character plays both kinds of beekeepers is super fun, and now knowing that all these agents also keep bees makes me even more interested in this bee-filled world. 

If you want to learn more about this buzzworthy flick from David Ayer, be sure to check out our coverage of the movie, which includes Josh Hutcherson explaining why he went blonde for it. And to see this unique project in Jason Statham’s catalog of epic action films, that features him both as a lethal beekeeper agent and a man who keeps actual bees, you can catch The Beekeeper in theaters now. 

Jason Statham’s career has provided us with some of the best action movies of our day, including his roles in The Expendables and The Fast and Furious franchises. For his next offering, Statham has teamed up with director David Ayer for the new action-thriller The Beekeeper, which will see his character Adam Clay set out to get revenge on a phishing company responsible for his friend’s death. The buzzworthy thriller was first announced in 2021, and now it’s set to hit the big screen on January 12. Let’s see what critics are saying about it.

Alongside Jason Statham, The Beekeeper’s cast includes some big names, including Emmy Raver-Lampman, Josh Hutcherson, Jeremy Irons, Minnie Driver and Phylicia Rashad. So what do critics think? Let’s start with CinemaBlend’s review of The Beekeeper, which our own Eric Eisenberg rates 2.5 stars out of 5. He says there’s plenty of room in the cinematic landscape for stupid-but-fun movies with preposterous premises and silly dialogue, but bad choices hold this one back from reaching the “good bad” film it should be. He continues: 

David Rooney of THR agrees with the above assessment, noting that The Beekeeper could have been a lot of fun with a director more willing to tap into the inherent humor of Clay’s almost superhuman bad-assery. Rooney writes:

Mae Abdulbaki of ScreenRant rates it 3 stars out of 5, saying Jason Statham brings an unhinged quality to Clay that helps the critic to forgive the “extremely thin” story that would never work if it tried to take itself too seriously. Abdulbaki says: 

John Nugent of Empire calls The Beekeeper “absolute bee-movie trash,” saying not even Jason Statham can elevate the bad dialogue and sloppy action sequences. Nugent gives the movie 2 out of 5 stars, writing: 

Cameron Frew of Dexerto rates it 3 out of 5 stars, saying The Beekeeper doesn’t skimp on the violence and eventually becomes a fairly watchable action flick, albeit a “shamelessly, giddily batshit bonkers” one. For instance, the critic says: 

It sounds like if you’re down for corny, pun-filled dialogue and action that doesn’t let reality stand in its way, this might be a good option — though a couple of critics warn that David Ayer’s film could have embraced those qualities in a more fun way. If you want to check out The Beekeeper, you can do so starting Friday, January 12, and be sure to also take a peek at our 2024 movie calendar to start planning your next trip to the theater. 

Jason Statham has made a name for himself in the film industry due to his high-adrenaline movies. As you’ve probably noticed through Statham's best action-packed films, he’s no stranger to playing characters who perform dangerous feats and throw fast-paced jabs at their enemies. Considering all of that, it should come as no surprise that the actor is a major advocate for stunt performers getting their due at the Oscars. -- and the star says he has James Bond to thank for that perspective.

Stunts still sadly overlooked at the Academy Awards, as there’s no category dedicated to the physical work performed in the best action movies despite the intricate and dangerous nature of it all. While promoting his buzzworthy bee thriller The Beekeeper at the Red Sea Film Festival, Jason Statham spoke to Variety about his connection with the 007 franchise and how it opened his eyes to stunt work:

It truly is amazing to watch the James Bond movies, given the insane stunt work that keeps your heart racing and your eyes glued to the screen. If you take a look at the Bond franchise’s best action scenes, they're all just incredibly inventive, with the filmmakers expanding the scope with each passing installment. Whether it’s a chase that takes place on a tank, a scuffle on a moving train or a car chase on ice, the badass spy knows how to make spy work look so cool. 

In all honesty, it's somewhat surprising that the Oscars have been around for over 90 years, and there’s still no category to recognize stunt performers. While talking about how action movies are undervalued during awards season, Jason Statham explained why stunt work deserves more recognition:

The Crank star has never had any problem advocating for the men and women who risk their lives on sets to create successful action sequences. He once called them “unsung heroes” after a stuntman injured himself during Fast and Furious 9. It’s an unpredictable line of work that can that sees people risk their lives for their art. There have been battles in the past involving directors fighting for a Best Stunt category to be implemented, and the sentiment has also been conveyed using actual franchises. When a social media account for John Wick: Chapter 4 posted a brutal BTS video of a performer tumbling down escalator stairs, it was the franchise's way of raising awareness for the Oscars to recognize the hard work that went into this scene.  

Earlier this year, John Wick director Chad Stahelski gave his opinion on the status of the Academy recognizing stunts, saying that the logistics of getting that in place are complicated. That's because a voting body would have to pick nominees from countless productions and from various performers around the world. On the bright side, Stahelski did mention that talks have been happening within the Academy to make this category happen. The chances of it happening at the upcoming ceremony in 2024 are probably slim at this point, but maybe it could happen by 2025 or 2026.

If anything though, it's just great that Jason Statham is also lending his voice to the chorus of people calling for stunt work recognition by the Oscars. Hopefully, that'll become a reality one day. While you wait for word on that, you can look forward to the British action star’s 2024 movie release, The Beekeeper, which hits theaters on January 12th. 

I was shocked when I first learned The Expendables 4, a.k.a. Expend4bles, was not just happening, but as a theatrical release. Despite being an action movie lover, I haven't had much interest in The Expendables franchise since I saw the first trailer for the first movie way back when, so the news made me wonder what I was missing out on. So I decided to watch the 2010 movie recently to see what the hype was about, and all I can say is I'm not surprised The Expendables 4 is struggling with critics and at the box office against The Nun II. 

I watched The Expendables with my Netflix subscription to see what the hype was about, hoping to understand how this franchise made it to four movies. After the credits rolled, I had no answers to my question, and am still wondering how this franchise spawned three sequels after a first entry that was below par for the action genre.

The Expendables Francise Has Made A Lot Of Money 

Before I get too deep into tearing down this franchise, I need to take a chance to acknowledge that there was definitely an audience for these movies along the way. While critics were never on the side of these movies, the first movie had a worldwide gross of $274.5 million per BoxOfficeMojo with a reported $80 million budget. That alone would score any film a sequel, and when that sequel makes $315 million, that's going to turn into a third movie. 

All this is to say that until seemingly very recently, there were people seeing these movies. People, plus money, equals sequels. So, I am being a bit facetious when I ask the question of how a fourth movie happened, but for the sake of looking at the overall product as an action fan, I still am scratching my head about what so many saw in it. 

The Expendables Tried Way Too Hard To Make Every Actor Look Badass

When every character is trying to act like the toughest man in the room, the whole scene falls apart into pure comedy. I couldn't help but bust out laughing watching Bruce Willis, Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger in that church scene all try to out-tough each other, and it just devolves into some bizarre pissing contest. Weirdly enough, it flies in the face of Stallone's recent comments about action heroes, as none of these characters keep their mouths shut and just perform heroic deeds. 

What really makes it underwhelming for me is that in normal circumstances, I'd expect the real tough guy in the room to stay silent and let the wannabes talk. The way The Expendables plays it is everyone is that shit-talking wannabes, and there's no badass to set everyone straight. It's just two hours of dudes hurling empty threats and insults at each other between fight scenes, and it's way goofier than I'm sure was intended. 

The Action Of The Expendables Is Below Standard For The Genre

The Expendables is promoted to feature some of the best names in the action genre, and yet, the movie is chocked full of moments in which the action is well below the mark for a movie like this. In an age where the John Wick franchise is crafting awesome fight scenes more elaborate than a Star Wars lightsaber battle, I was watching a then-62-year-old Sylvester Stallone struggling to maintain a consistent run so that he could catch a plane. 

The physical limitations of the stars aside, there are scenes in The Expendables where the fight choreography feels nonexistent. Take the opening scene, in which the heroes stand in an open room, fire at the enemy terrorists and somehow dispatch them all with zero casualties. Is it badass or is it just lucky that they decided to start firing before taking any form of cover? So much of this movie has moments where it looks like it's a miracle the heroes aren't injured at the very least, to the point I think they subconsciously are aware they're in a movie and know they can't be hurt. Why else would Lee Christmas jog directly through an enemy camp solo while tossing random grenades into bunkers? 

The Level Of Disrespectful Humor Directed At Jet Li's Yin Yang Is In Poor Taste

The first Expendables movie includes Jet Li, which, at first glance, feels like a nod toward the actor's various accolades in Hollywood as an action star. In execution, Yin Yang (the only character with a nickname that directly ties to his cultural background) is frequently shown to be the weakest of the group. At one point, Terry Crews' character refers to the crew as four-and-a-half men, referring to Li's size. Yin Yang is often the punchline in the movie rather than the hero alongside the rest of the crew. 

In my opinion, it's pretty damn disrespectful to an actor who carried the action genre with some damn good movies throughout the 2000s. If Dolph Lundgren is owed flowers for his accolades in cinema leading up to The Expendables, you can't tell me Li didn't deserve more respect for his work in Unleashed, Cradle 2 The Grave and Fearless. He would've beat Gunner's ass if Barney hadn't stepped in, and he deserved more than a patronizing response in the movie's ending about that happening. 

The Action Genre Has Evolved Past The Expendables Franchise In 2023

After watching The Expendables, I went on a search to see what the top action movies of 2010 were. The Expendables took the top spot that year, but in 2012, The Expendables 2 was absent from many top lists I browsed. The same is true of the third movie, and the further you continue, one thing is clear: the action genre evolved throughout the 2010s, and gone are the days when we're beckoning for the olden days of the '80s action stars. 

That might be my opinion, but in an opening weekend where The Expendables 4 pulled in only  $8.3 million, I don't think it's a bold take. The numbers indicate there are fewer audiences looking for this franchise, perhaps because there's a lot more quality competition now in 2023 than there was when the original movie came out. Hell, even looking at the top action movies of 2022 list I put out, there's not a single entry I'd put anything Expendables-related over. 

I originally decided to watch The Expendables to understand how the action franchise remained successful throughout four entries, but given the recent headlines about the fourth movie's struggles, I may just have wound up with the answer for why it had diminishing box office returns opening weekend with every entry. As an action lover who has enjoyed many films in this genre with all of the talent that appear in these movies, I say with all do respect it may be time to put this franchise out to pasture. 

The Expendables 4 is out in theaters now, and while it may not be my bag, I'm sure there are still fans out there who are interested in seeing it. As for anyone who hasn't had a chance to check out the original movies, all three are currently available to stream over on Netflix. 

Jason Statham and Sylvester Stallone are back with the fourth installation of The Expendables franchise, as the mercenaries try to prevent nuclear war. It’s been nearly a decade since their previous adventures, and some new faces have joined the fray, including Tony Jaa, Iko Uwais, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and Megan Fox. With Expend4bles now showing in theaters, the critics are here to provide us with more information about what — in addition to sexy fight scenes between Statham and Fox — we can expect to get out of the movie.

While some people were excited about The Expendables 4 following early screenings, most of the first reactions featured strongly worded opinions about why this is the weakest of the tetralogy. Now that the critics are able to expand on their initial thoughts, let’s see what they’re saying. Frank Scheck of THR writes that this fourth offering takes the franchise to new lows, and despite some welcome doses of humor (however lame), it’s time to stick a fork in this series. Scheck continues:  

Courtney Howard of AV Club says forget the terrorists; the most dangerous foes in this movie are boredom and obsolescence. For a property that had a lot of potential for sequels, it’s disheartening to see it face such creative bankruptcy, the critic says. Howard grades is a D-, continuing: 

IndieWire’s David Ehrlich isn’t quite so harsh in his assessment, giving it the grade of a C. He describes Expend4bles as having a script that “feels like it was written by a frat boy trying to plagiarize Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty” and CGI so bad it looks less natural than Avatar: The Way of Water. However, it seems to be perfectly at peace with being this stupid. Ehrlich explains: 

Katie Walsh of the L.A. Times says director Scott Waugh doesn’t take advantage of what he has to work with, because not even legendary martial artists Tony Jaa and Iko Uwais can help Expend4bles. In Walsh’s words: 

Simon Thompson of IGN rates the movie an "Awful" 3 out of 10, saying the actors look almost embarrassed to deliver their clunky and uninspired dialogue. It's a pale imitation of the movies that came before it, Thompson says, writing:

The critics seem to be in agreement about this one, as The Expendables 4 is coming in at just 15% on Rotten Tomatoes from 54 critiques so far. However, if you’re a fan of the franchise and want to see the gang in action, Expend4bles is in theaters now for you to check out for yourself and draw your own conclusions. Either way, be sure to take a peek at our 2023 movie schedule to start planning your next trip to the theater. 

It’s been nearly a decade since we’ve seen Sylvester Stallone’s team of elite mercenaries known as The Expendables take on one of its explosive missions, but now he and Jason Statham are back, and they've added some new names to the roster for Expend4bles. The third sequel, formerly titled The Expendables 4, has seen a number of delays over the years after 2014’s PG-13-rated The Expendables 3 was panned by critics. The fourth installment has returned to original form with an R rating, and those who have been able to attend advance screenings of the movie are hitting social media with their first reactions. Although opinions are somewhat split, moviegoers seem to feel very strongly.

Alongside Sly Stallone and Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren and Randy Couture reprise their roles, and the franchise welcomes Megan Fox, Curtis Jackson (aka 50 Cent), Andy Garcia and more as newcomers. Former stuntman Scott Waugh takes the helm for Expend4bles, which will see the group attempt to prevent a terrorist organization from smuggling nuclear warheads. We’re expecting some big action and some sexy fight scenes involving Fox and Statham, so let’s see what people think. Eric Eisenberg of CinemaBlend doesn’t pull punches, describing the fourth movie as an “embarrassment for all involved.” In his words: 

Nick of Bitesize Breakdown agrees that the franchise is headed in the wrong direction, with the fourth movie being the weakest offering yet. He writes: 

Adriano Caporusso also says The Expendables 4 is bad, but not so-bad-it’s-good. While the movie celebrates its R-rating, there’s not nearly enough fun being had. Caporusso continues: 

Ian Sandwell of Digital Spy tweets that he also noticed a lack of fun, particularly in the first hour. After that, though, the movie picks up and plays more to its strengths, of which Jason Statham is a big part. According to the critic: 

Some early viewers clearly aren’t satisfied with Scott Waugh’s final product, but the reactions certainly aren’t all bad. Jeremy Kazieva tweets that the movie reminds him of The Suicide Squad and any fans of the Call of Duty: Black Ops video games will find something to like here. He continues:  

Film critic Rama’s Screen seems to have had no trouble finding the fun in the film, embracing the “nonsensical” aspect of it all, tweeting: 

With some saying Expend4bles has hit rock bottom with its no-fun fourth installment and others saying the gory combat mixed with humor is the right combination, it’s hard to know what to think. We might gain some clarity when full reviews come out, but there isn't much time left before the movie hits theaters on Friday, September 22. Whether or not you decide to check out Megan Fox, Jason Statham, 50 Cent and the rest, take a peek at our 2023 Movie Release Calendar to see what else is hitting the big screen soon. 

The next action-packed entry in The Expendables franchise is quickly approaching theaters next week with Expend4bles. Along with many familiar cast members from the last three movies returning, such as Jason Statham, Sylvester Stallone, Dolph Lundgren and Randy Couture, Megan Fox is stepping into the cast for the first time. Thanks to a new clip from the movie, it looks like she’ll be adding a little bit of spice to this boy’s club. 

Megan Fox is set to star in The Expendables 4 as Gina, a CIA agent who also happens to be the girlfriend of Jason Statham’s Lee Christmas. In the below clip from Lionsgate titled “In The Mood,” we’re given a little taste of what to expect from Gina and Lee’s relationship in a scene that looks to be from early in the movie. Check it: 

These two really know how to turn their flirt on, and via this Expendables 4 clip, the movie couple partake in a bit of teasing and play fighting on the regular amidst Gina getting some sort of new assignment that Lee wants to accompany her on. Fox’s character plays hard to get following his request to come with her, saying she’s “sorry,” but he isn’t invited. When he probes that she might be lonely without him, she quips that there are “other boys on the mission.” 

When Gina remarks she’s not in the mood, the foreplay begins, which apparently means the couple literally throwing each other around and perhaps even breaking a few things in the house before settling on taking things to the bedroom. The clip introduces a fun and sexy relationship between Jason Statham and Megan Fox’s character, even if some of the lines are admittedly a smidge cheesy. One has to wonder how Gina’s personality will mesh with the predominantly male Expendables 4 cast once the mission begins. Based on this clip, the newcomer to the franchise may shake things up in a playful way. Plus, she can certainly hold her own and ask for what she wants.

Of course, Megan Fox is no stranger to big action movies, especially considering 2007’s Transformers was her big break and would propel her into serious stardom. After the actress moved on from Michael Bay’s franchise after the sequel, she played April O'Neill in two Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies, but that was seven years ago. Fox has certainly been busy with acting gigs since then, but being part of The Expendables 4 is her first big action movie since then. 

Fox is also joined by Tony Jaa, Iko Uwais, Andy Garcia and 50 Cent, the latter of whom recently trashed the upcoming movie for one element of the marketing. Fox and Statham’s sexy fight scene was previously teased in the Expendables 4 trailer along with promises of a lot of big action and destruction of course. The Expendables 4 lands in theaters next Friday, September 22. While we wait, check out what other 2023 new movie releases are coming our way this fall here on CinemaBlend. 

Blockbusters like Meg 2: The Trench live and die by the decisions made behind the scenes. With decades of development paving the way for the Ben Wheatley-directed return of Jason Statham’s Jonas Taylor, the hero created by author Steve Alten has waged war with prehistoric beasties yet again. Yet in earlier phases of development, another Fast Saga vet had Alten’s imagination held captive in the casting department.

This was something I had learned from my recent interview with Steve Alten, as we were gathered to honor not only the recent release of the sequel to 2018’s The Meg, but also the new collected edition of Alten novels named Meg: Legacy. As such, the past, present and future was on the table for the taking; which led Steve to reveal the most ridiculous Meg change from an earlier iteration. 

However, if we saw The Meg adapted in its 1997, or perhaps even with its 2005 attempts, Steve Alten admitted to CinemaBlend that he had the following actor in mind: 

I certainly can’t complain that The Statham nabbed the role of Jonas Taylor, as his gruff, but witty demeanor has continually proved him to be a talent worthy of any action spectacle. Both The Meg and Meg 2 bank on that rather effectively, to the point where watching Jason Statham take on several prehistoric giants with exploding spears requires very little suspension of disbelief. 

If the former Transporter lead can believe it’s happening, it’s easy for the audience to let go and buy into that same world. Those skills are a prerequisite to sustain this sort of project, which is exactly why Kurt Russell is such an insanely perfect “what if” to talk out. Especially if you consider the 1997 version of the project, which could have put the Disney legend in business with his former employer’s subsidiary, Hollywood Pictures.

What’s better, at that time, Russell had starred in Executive Decision and Escape From L.A., both of which had the man ready for action and deadpan one-liners aplenty. Take a look at the trailer for the latter film, and imagine the Meg movie that could have existed:

An aquatic adventure with a late ‘90s Kurt Russell in the lead sounds like a formula for a movie that could have cleaned up. Alas, the troubled development history of The Meg saw several drafts that just couldn’t get the support they needed to get into production. This led to Steve Alten’s friend and Meg producer Belle Avery to continue fighting the good fight.

After having the rights revert back to his possession twice, the combination of crucial investors and Warner Bros’ studio backing gave the world another creature feature to sink its teeth into. What’s more, Alten’s choice for the most faithful Meg adaptation happens to be that introductory movie, something that was probably helped along by the performance of the man who got his breakout role in Lock, Stock, and Two Smokin’ Barrels shortly after Meg: A Novel of Deep Terror became a bestselling hit.

When it came time to finally cast Jonas Taylor in The Meg, which is currently available to stream with a Max subscription, Steve Alten wasn’t asked about who he’d want to cast as his action hero creation. However, there was a short list that he was shown by producer Belle Avery, and the only name he remembers from that roster is Jason Statham. Which is good, because as Alten further revealed, his enthusiasm seemed to be trending in the right direction: 

Landing Jonas Taylor was a pretty solid gig for Jason, as this was the point in his career where his involvement in the Fast Saga was heating up. As Kurt Russell is another integral part of that same series, one has to wonder if these cinematic colleagues have ever talked about this bit of Meg trivia in the past, or if it’ll somehow come up in the future. 

For the moment, it’s still a bit hard to shake the idea of a late-’90s Russell fighting off a megalodon, despite Statham undoubtedly owning the role for himself. The good news is if you’re a Jason Statham fan, you’re pretty covered for seeing the man in action, starting with the fact that Meg 2: The Trench is currently showing in theaters.

Even better, you can see Statham stick it to some sharks in 3D, with our Meg 2 To 3D assessment available to help you decide if that version’s right for you. And if you’re looking for something at home, you can see Deckard Shaw make up with Han Lue in Fast X, which is currently available for purchase or rental on various digital platforms and physical formats. 

Two of the soon to be seven books in author Steve Alten’s Meg universe have been adapted into major motion pictures, after a process that’s seen decades of motion. Admittedly there were some moments that saw Alten truly scared by what The Meg could have been, as we came this close to a Meg that actually roared underwater. However, out of the two Jason Statham-starring films that actually happened, the author has a clear favorite when it comes to being faithful to his texts.

I was given the chance to speak with Mr. Alten on behalf of not only the release of Meg 2: The Trench, but also a new and enhanced run of his novels entitled Meg: Legacy. The subject of the books that originated Jonas Taylor’s adventures on screen was firmly present in light of the latest cinematic adventure in theaters. With that in mind, I asked Steve Alten which of the two movies so far nailed the spirit of his books. 

That’s a question that’s waited a little over two decades for an answer, from the 1997 publication of Meg: A Novel of Deep Terror to the 2018 release of director Jon Turtletaub’s franchise starter. The world now has that answer, as Alten gave CinemaBlend the following feedback on how loyal both Meg adventures were:

If you were wondering whether or not you should use your Max subscription to catch up with The Meg once again, you’ve got your answer right there. From the sound of things, the literary creator of this universe seems to be of the mind that the first ride was the more faithful journey. Though at the very least, if Meg 2 was trying to replicate the adventure of The Meg’s huge human feeding frenzy, it still kept the movie firmly in Steve Alten’s universe.

Switching the focus to individual moments however, Alten does have one factor he feels both installments have covered rather well. It isn’t a moment or a character, but a place; and one that’s important yet again in Meg 2: The Trench’s narrative. In terms of where the cinematic series consistently gets it right, Steve Alten shared this aspect with CinemaBlend:

Watching the various characters of The Meg’s fictional universe cross this scientific marvel always feels like an important threshold. Establishing such a location is something that all potential universes need to succeed, and director Ben Wheatley’s sequel understands this handily. So whether you prefer the first or second chapter of this adventure, there’s one overlapping feature that always performs; especially when it comes to Meg 2: The Trench’s 3D presentation.

Through this saga’s return to the world of cinema, audiences seem ready to breach the thermocline again and see what lurks in the depths. Meg 2’s bad Rotten Tomatoes score certainly hasn’t scared audiences, as the Warner Bros picture’s solid opening weekend shows promise for The Trench’s sea legs. 

It’s early days, but the outlook is rather rosy when it comes to some indicators. With this recent entry on the 2023 movie release schedule now showing in a theater near you, there’s a chance that both the cinematic and the literary will score a decisive victory. 

Should you be one of those fans that wants to own Steve Alten’s entire Meg canon thus far, then you should definitely look into pre-ordering the Meg: Legacy box set. You may want to hurry though, as Alten mentioned this set is limited to 5000 printings, and according to the metrics at the time of this interview, he’s already sold around 2000 copies. 

Out of all of the many frightening sea creatures, sharks have always been one of the more reliable obstacles for great horror movies. However, director Jon Turtletaub’s campy adaptation of Steve Alten’s novel, The Meg, changed things up, putting a much, much larger creature on the big screen: the prehistoric megalodon. You know what is scarier than just one meg? Three of them, which is what you will find in Meg 2: The Trench.

This follow-up to the 2018 blockbuster — helmed this time by Ben Wheatley — does not just feature multiple gargantuan beasts to make you afraid to go in the water, but also a few human characters who are played by newcomers to the franchise. There are also plenty of returning players, such as Jason Statham, who is reprising his heroic lead role from the original. He is where we shall start with our breakdown of the Meg 2: The Trench cast and where else you may recognize them from.

Jason Statham (Jonas Taylor)

Former U.S. Marine Jonas Taylor is only one of many fearless, wisecracking, heroic figures whom Jason Statham has played throughout his action-packed career. Among them are former Special Forces operative Frank Martin from the Transporter franchise, former MI6 agent Deckard Shaw (who started off as a villain) in the Fast and Furious movies, and secret agent Orson Fortune in the most recent of his many Guy Ritchie movies, Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre.

The British actor has also shown that he can be a good bad guy in movies like Cellular, proved he had no qualms about poking fun at his onscreen persona in the aptly titled comedy, Spy, and has also taken on a few more comparatively grounded roles, such as in the fact-based heist thriller, The Bank Job, from 2008. Statham has another upcoming 2023 movie to look forward to after Meg 2: The Trench — namely the fourth Expendables movie — and is working with David Ayer for the upcoming 2024 movie, The Beekeeper.

Wu Jing (Character Name Unavailable)

Joining in on the hunt is someone who also has had a storied career as an action movie star in his home country: Chinese actor, Wu Jing. The martial arts master landed his breakout role as the lead of 1996’s Tai Chi II, which led to a stellar career in many more ass-kicking roles — some of which he would even direct himself, such as 2008’s Legendary Assassin (with co-director Li Chung-Chi) and both Wolf Warrior movies.

American audiences may recognize Wu from the recent, unique space travel thriller, The Wandering Earth, which gained traction in the United States after it dropped on Netflix in 2019. However, Meg 2 is not his English-language debut either, having previously played an assassin in 2008’s The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor and, technically, joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline with an uncredited appearance in Iron Man 3 as a terrorist from the faux Ten Rings. 

Sophia Cai (Meiying)

Reprising her role as Meiyang — a young girl who befriended Jonas during his hunt for the creature — is Sophia Cai. The 2018 thriller was actually her second film and second acting gig ever, having previously debuted in the Chinese romantic drama, Somewhere Only We Know, in 2015.

Cai would return to acting in 2021 for an episode of creator and star Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s dramedy, Mr. Corman, as a character named Maggie. The Apple TV+ original TV show was also the actor’s most recent credit before starring in Meg 2.

Page Kennedy (DJ)

Also (probably reluctantly) coming back for another high-seas adventure in Meg 2 is scientist DJ, played once again by Page Kennedy. The actor and rapper got his start guest-starring on hit dramas like Six Feet Under and The Shield before landing his feature film debut in 2003’s S.W.A.T. and making his horror movie debut in Leprechaun: Back 2 Tha Hood, that same year.

Following more guest spots on shows like Boston Legal and CSI: Miami, a major recurring role on the hit dramedy, Weeds, and small appearances in films like the 2009 spoof movie, Dance Flick, Kennedy landed a starring role alongside star Alan Ritchson on the second season of the raunchy sitcom, Blue Mountain State, and its feature length spin-off, The Rise of Thadland, from 2016. More recently, and most notably, he worked with his future Meg co-star, Rainn Wilson, on the short-lived cop dramedy, Backstrom; landed a recurring role on the Netflix original sitcom, The Upshaws; and appeared on an episode of the final season of Snowfall on FX.

Sergio Peris-Mencheta (Character Name Unavailable)

Another newcomer to the franchise — reportedly as a human antagonist — is Sergio Peris-Menchata, who, coincidentally, is known for his regular role on Snowfall as Gustavo “El Oso” Zapata. The drug cartel enforcer was also one of the actor’s first roles for American television, having rose to prominence in his home country of Spain.

He already has a prominent career in films that Stateside audiences should know — such as one of the Resident Evil movies (the fourth one from 2010, Afterlife), the 2018 ensemble drama Life Itself, and Rambo: Last Blood as the central antagonist, Hugo Martinez, in 2019. According to Deadline, he was also chosen to host a Spanish version of the Dutch reality competition, The Traitors.

Skyler Samuels (Character Name Unavailable)

Meg 2 is only the latest horror-centric title starring fellow franchise newcomer Skyler Samuels, who made her feature film debut in the 2009 remake of The Stepfather before appearing in the two spookiest Ryan Murphy TV shows (American Horror Story and Scream Queens), most notably. The actor made her acting debut, however, on the Nickelodeon sitcom, Drake & Josh, followed by appearances on Disney Channel comedies like That’s So Raven and Wizards of Waverly Place, before moving on to more mature dramas like ABC’s short-lived fantasy, The Gates, and playing the title role for The Nine Lives of Chloe King on Freeform.

After starring in the underrated 2015 teen dramedy, The DUFF, Samuels was cast on Fox’s Marvel-inspired series, The Gifted, as telepathic triplets Esme, Sophie, and Phoebe Frost. She more recently played Gabby Petito in a 2022 Lifetime movie dramatizing the infamous events surrounding her tragic death and, in 2023, replaced Candace Cameron Bure in Hallmark’s Aurora Teagarden Mysteries as a younger version of the title role.

Cliff Curtis (Mac)

Coming back to play Jonas’ old friend and colleague, James "Mac" Mackreide, is Cliff Curtis, who last worked with Statham in Fast and Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw and also recently took on some “man-eaters” as part of the Fear the Walking Dead cast and in Mike Flanagan’s 2019 Stephen King adaptation, Doctor Sleep. He has also dealt with a few other unique sea creatures before — as an opponent (in 1998’s Deep Rising), as an ally (in 2002’s Whale Rider), and as an aquatic being himself (in the Avatar: The Way of Water cast as Metkayina leader, Tonowari).

Curtis has several other classic movies on his extensive resume — including 1993’s The Piano, Antoine Fuqua’s Training Day, the Johnny Depp-led true crime drama, Blow, and the fourth installment of the Die Hard movies (2007’s Live Free or Die Hard) to name a few. He could more recently seen in the fact-based crime thriller Muru and the Netflix original movie True Spirit, and is set to return as Tonowari in three more Avatar movies.

See which one of these Meg 2: The Trench cast members is destined to be the hunter, or fish food, in the sequel, which is now in theaters.

Jason Statham is back as Jonas Taylor, five years after his character’s first fight with the thought-to-be-extinct Megalodon. When there’s a sequel to this type of sci-fi action flick, one thing is guaranteed — it’s going to be bigger than its predecessor and probably more ridiculous. That’s what audiences are likely hoping for, as Meg 2: The Trench crashes into theaters on August 4. Critics were able to see the sequel ahead of its release, and they mostly seem to agree that it forgot to bring the fun campiness that drew audiences to the first adventure.

In addition to Jason Statham, Meg 2: The Trench returns some familiar faces from the original, including Sophia Cai as Meiying (who is now under Jonas' guardianship), Page Kennedy and Cliff Curtis, so who will survive the crew’s next round of bloody battles against the prehistoric beasties? We won’t reveal spoilers here, but in CinemaBlend’s review of Meg 2: The Trench, Eric Eisenberg has no problem saying that the movie fails to provide the expected silly cinematic experience, bogging the script down with plots that too often don’t involve any colossal, carnivorous fish. He rates the movie 2 out of 5 stars, saying: 

Carla Hay of Culture Mix doesn’t hold back in her criticism of Meg 2, saying the sequel replaces the campy fun of the original with “an onslaught of terrible filmmaking.” Hay says this is not a case of “so bad it’s good,” reaching new levels of idiocy: The critic continues: 

Kate Erbland of IndieWire grades the movie a C-, saying the majority of Ben Wheatley’s film is composed of clunky exposition and a serious lack of Meg-centric terror. The critic writes: 

David Rooney of THR remarks that despite more Megs, the sequel is “less fun,” fighting a pedestrian screenplay and struggling to find the balance between suspense and silliness. For such a preposterous plot Meg 2: The Trench seemingly should have been able to find more enjoyment. Rooney continues: 

Courtney Howard of Fresh Fiction rates Meg 2: The Trench 1 out of 5, saying she found herself jealous of one of the movie’s victims for finding an early exit to the “mind-numbingly dull, frustrating and convoluted shenanigans.” Howard continues, saying audiences deserve better than “this bloated, rotting cinematic carcass.” The critic continues: 

The critics seem to have strong opinions about Meg 2: The Trench, and it’s not just the ones above. The movie currently holds a 27 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 84 critics’ opinions. However, if this is a movie you’ve been looking forward to, or you want to see just what everybody’s talking about, you can check the movie out for yourself, as the sequel arrived in theaters Friday, August 4. Be sure to also take a look at our 2023 Movie Release Schedule to see what other films are coming soon. 

Since his genre breakout with The Transporter in 2002, Jason Statham has more than proven his bona fides as an action star – a guy you can rely on to do cool things and look like a badass when cameras are rolling. In the making of his latest movie, Meg 2: The Trench, this well-established reputation quickly earned him the trust of director Ben Wheatley, and it led to one of the movie’s coolest scenes being filmed in an awesome and practical way.

As previewed in the trailers for Meg 2: The Trench, there is a sequence in the film’s third act where Jason Statham’s Jonas Taylor races around on a Jet Ski hunting Megalodons with explosive harpoons, and it turns out that it was shot in a fashion that only enhances Statham’s action legend status. Instead of the Jet Ski being rigged up to a larger boat and towed or using blue screen, the go-to method during production was to strap a camera to Statham’s watercraft and let the actor go out and have some fun on the water. According to Ben Wheatley,

When a Jet Ski or a boat or even a car isn’t filmed with actors operating the vehicle, there are almost always signs or indications, and they can be distracting and/or take you out of the cinematic experience. As Tom Cruise is constantly proving with new Mission: Impossible sequels, real is always better, and it does add an extra quality to the action in Meg 2: The Trench – even though the whole “harpooning giant prehistoric sharks” thing is obviously ridiculous.

I interviewed Ben Wheatley virtually earlier this week, and during our conversation we spoke specifically about his experience working with Jason Statham. The actor left an impression on the filmmaker, as Wheatley not only admired what could be called Statham’s professional awareness, but simply had fun using him like a child plays with an action figure:

Official action figures don’t presently exist for The Meg franchise, but fans can get as close as possible to the experience of playing with some by checking out Meg 2: The Trench, which arrives in theaters today.

Now that we're getting the sequel, The Meg 2, we can officially call The Meg a Jason Statham franchise.  

And, cool. Like many people who love ridiculous movies, and as our review of The Meg said, I thought it was pretty decent. That said, no matter how good the sequel turns out to be, I don’t think I’d call it Statham’s best film series. Nor would I call The Transporter, Fast & Furious, or The Expendables his best series, either.    

Nope, for my money, I’d call the Crank movies the best Jason Statham franchise, and I have five reasons why. 

Oh, and spoilers up ahead. 

It’s Like If The Bus In Speed Was A Person 

First of all, can I just say that Statham’s character, Chev Chelios, has the most fun name to say out of any character ever? I mean, it just rolls off the tongue, doesn’t it? Chev Chelios, Chev Chelios, Chev Chelios. Okay, now that I got that out of my system, if you love one of Keanu Reeves’ most badass characters from the badass movie, Speed, (And seriously, how could you not?), then you have got to love the Crank series. Especially the sequel, Crank: High Voltage (which we reviewed pretty well), as it's essentially the idea of what if the bus in Speed was a person?    

By that, I mean that CHEV CHELIOS (God, I love that name) has got to keep his adrenaline pumping in order to stay alive. In fact, this idea is kicked up to about a million in High Voltage, where he has to get his heart back, and is literally strapping batteries to his body to juice himself up or he’ll die.

This persistence just to stay moving really makes both movies feel propulsive and energized, and I really couldn’t see anybody else besides Statham in the role.

You see, the thing about the Crank series is that both of these movies totally hinge on his bonkers performances. You might say the same for The Transporter series, but how then do you explain 2015’s The Transporter Refueled, where they actually replaced Statham with another actor? 

Sure, that movie’s not very good, but that just goes to show that the Frank Martin character could really be anybody. Whereas Chev really needs to be Statham. It would appear that nobody else can play a ticking time bomb better than him.     

The Action In These Movies Is Insane 

Jason Statham is known as a tough guy, and has been ever since he exploded on the scene in Guy Ritchie’s Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels. I mean, jeez, we just recently talked about Statham's big knives in Expend4ables. In other words, he is an action hero, par excellence. He’s the kind of guy you hire if you want somebody to look cool in front of explosions.    

The Crank series is no different. But, here’s the thing. What makes the action here stand out is the fact that Chev is extremely vulnerable. This is a man who should be sitting in a hospital, waiting to see the doctor. Instead, he’s the kind of guy who’s leaping off the hospital walls and getting a defibrillator blast into an elevator.  

Remember at the end of John Wick 3, when he fell off a roof? Well, Crank is too high octane for that. This is a series where our hero literally falls out of a helicopter to his death...Only to be brought back to life in the sequel, where the action is even more intense.    

In fact, High Voltage’s action is so absurd (and awesome), that it has a full-on Godzilla moment toward the end. High Voltage has Chevzilla! That’s just another reason why Crank is Statham’s best franchise. It’s the only one that really let him be as expressive as possible, and for that, we should all be thankful.       

The Frenetic Quality Of The Movies Make Them Stand Out From Statham’s Other Films

Speaking of which, I love Jason Statham, but I find that I sometimes forget a few of the movies he’s even in. Like The Italian Job. I definitely saw it, but I forget his role in it. Or War, with Jet Li, where I vaguely remember a badass fight scene, but that’s about it. Same goes for The Mechanic, which I barely even remember at all. Hell, I even have to be reminded that he was in several of the Fast & Furious movies (and was even in the spinoff, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, with Dwayne Johnson). 

What  I’m getting at is that even though I really like him, I rarely tend to remember him in the movies that he’s actually in. I don’t think this is really a swipe against him. It’s probably more the fact that he’s been typecast as a tough guy in so many movies. 

The Crank flicks are so frenetic and stylized, though, that I immediately think of them, and by extension, Statham, whenever I reminisce about balls-to-the-wall action movies that I used to love. I can’t say that about any other film in his career. I really can’t. The Crank series just comes out on top every single time.  

The Humor Is So Immature, It’s Actually Hilarious  

These movies are definitely low brow humor, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. There’s a scene in High Voltage where Chev has to rub up against an old lady to get some friction, and it’s so corny, I find it hilarious. In fact, I find most of the material in these two films to be just really silly, immature humor, but you know what? That’s what makes them stand out.   

One problem I had with The Meg was that it wasn’t silly enough, and it should have been. With a premise dealing with a megalodon, it really should have been more like Anaconda. Like, I would have loved if Statham’s character exclaimed something like, “Is sharks out there dis big?” like Ice Cube proclaimed about a giant serpent in Anaconda, which embraced its cheesiness.   

Well, the Crank series doesn’t have that problem, as it fully embraces its lunacy, and it’s not ashamed to be outlandish or silly, which again, makes it really stand out in Statham’s filmography. This is the series where he hooks a car battery to his nipple! What other Statham movie can make that claim?       

They Are A Time Capsule Of The Early 2000s, But They Still Hold Up 

Lastly, the Crank movies, which came out in 2006, and 2009, respectively, represent 2000s movies, and a lot of action flicks from that era just don’t seem to hold up for me. Really, I think a lot of people tend to actually forget the glut of action movies we got in that period, and for many, action movies really started up again with 2014’s John Wick, which ushered in a new era of badass action movies, with some even declaring it the greatest action movie franchise of all time.   

I’ll get on the John Wick train, too, but I also don’t want to discount the Crank franchise, since I actually think they hold up quite well. I believe this is because they're so stylized and have such a great premise. Sure, Wick needs to stay alive, but it’s not the same as his heart literally needing a constant jolt to just for him to stay upright. The Crank films provide that, though, and I’ll always remember them as the Statham vehicle that really made him a stand-out star in my eyes.

What are your feelings on the Crank franchise? Do you think it’s the star's best? For more news on all things Statham, be sure to swing by here often! CHEV CHELIOS! 

Depending on who you talk to, the summer box office this year has either been a wonderful season, or a horrific disaster. While crowds are flooding theaters for events like Barbenheimer double features, other huge tentpoles have seemed to stumble at the box office. Franchises like Meg 2: The Trench need a hero, and Jason Statham could be that man; provided the opening weekend of this new creature feature is kind.

Initial estimates for the sequel to Warner Bros.’ surprise 2018 hit have come in from Box Office Pro, and the picture is a bit grim. The site’s numbers for Meg 2’s opening weekend currently sit in a range between $22 – $27 million for its big debut. Should that hold, it looks like not even feeding a Tyrannosaurus Rex to a hungry Megalodon will be enough to put it in first place. 

No, that seriously happens in director Ben Wheatley’s sequel, and we have the Meg 2 trailer to prove it: 

While we don’t know what sort of legs the Barbie/Oppenheimer machine will have in week three, the source above has Jason Statham's movie being beaten out by films opening the same weekend as well. Coming in at an estimated $27 – $36 million opening, and with two more days of showtimes added into the mix, is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. Paramount’s animated offering is already slated to have paid sneak preview events ahead of its August 2 opening, and that’s primed to make this reboot a firm competitor.

Yet, this is the sort of story that brings history back into focus, especially considering how five years ago The Meg’s opening weekend exceeded expectations. Back when the Jon Turteltaub-directed franchise starter was released in 2018, Meg’s estimated domestic first frame was in the $20-$22 million range. After all was said and done, the first installment hauled in $44.5 million for its weekend total, which led to the worldwide gross of $530.5 million being collected overall.

Looking at the differences between 2018 and 2023’s movie release schedules, there’s some stiffer competition for Meg 2: The Trench to overcome. Of course, there's one more advantage this sequel has in its deck of cards: Meg 2 is rated PG-13, despite the presumed wishes of fans that this next flick would go for the R. A pause for the moviegoers who were hoping that Jason Statham would get to sling some F-bombs, while these new Megs drew blood from their prey. However, with a PG-13 rating, it opens the movie up to a broader audience.

It's still anybody's game as we head into the first week of a new month of movies, as Meg 2: The Trench dives into the depths of blockbuster season on August 4. Meanwhile, The Meg is currently streaming for those of you who have an active Max subscription. This means you can warm up for this new buffet of brawling in the comfort of your own home, before heading to the big screen for the big show.

Slick action star Jason Statham is having another massive year between starring in two movies from the genre, Fast X and Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre, and having two more on the docket. Now, he’s getting armed and ready for this next duo of films on the 2023 movie schedule: next weekend’s The Meg sequel and the fourth Expendables movie, known as Expend4ables. As the anticipation looms, the action actor is showing off some custom knives and axes for the latter film. 

It’s no secret that Jason Statham is quite the badass, but the actor took to Instagram to flaunt it by bringing attention to the impressive supply of weaponry on Expend4bles. Check out the post: 

What a glorious set of prop weapons! It looks like Jason Statham was on the set of the fourth Expendables film as Lee Christmas showcasing a host of knives and axes in the photos. The actor thanked his “good friend” Justin Burton for crafting the custom weapons for the upcoming film. Per the professional bladesmith’s website Warcrown Forge, all of his weapons are handmade and made to be unique. Burton is a U.S. Navy veteran who draws inspiration from the military along with Greek and Norse mythology as well as his favorite fiction novels. 

Right now, all the weapons listed on his site are sold out, but the price looks like it ranges from $300 to $1,200. Statham’s latest post really highlights some of the detailed work that goes into making action movies like Expend4bles that we don’t always get to stop and appreciate when so much of the time the focus is placed on the actors’ performances or action set pieces. A character’s weapon can become an iconic moment in a film, and it looks like The Expendables movies pay close attention to how their weapons look. 

Expend4bles has been a long time coming considering the last film from the franchise came out back in 2014. Based on the poster for the Expendables sequel, it looks like Lee Christmas will have an expanded and center-stage role this time around along with Sylvester Stallone, 50 Cent, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, Iko Uwais, Andy Garcia and Megan Fox also rounding out the star-studded cast. 

Although, don’t expect to see Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Expendables 4 after the action legend previously shared that he is not in it last month. 

You can check out The Expendables 4 trailer here: 

It’s great to see the franchise back after nearly a decade away! The movie will see the Expendables team squaring up against an arms dealer who commands a massive private army. The Lionsgate movie is set to hit theaters this September 22. While we wait for it, you can also see Statham in The Meg: The Trench next Friday, August 4. 

Jason Statham seems to be going from one action franchise to another. Aside from starring in Meg 2: The Trench, which dropped a bloody trailer, he's also a part of the ensemble cast of Expendables 4. The actor is seemingly as hyped for the film as we are, as he recently posted a series of stills from the film. The photos tease what’s in store for the latest installment in the blockbuster franchise. And of course, the images look especially badass due to the fact that they're in black and white.

The veteran actor made sure to save what may be the coolest photos from the film for his Instagram post. He can be seen showing off his skills alongside martial arts legend Tony Jaa. It looks like the two are taking on some enemies amid crazy combat sequences. The duo look like they make a perfect team, and these photos certainly tease a rad dynamic between their characters. You can check out the Transporter star's post below:

The action star has been a part of the Expendables franchise since the very beginning. The ensemble films have offered a slew of big stars over the years, Terry Crews, Bruce Willis, and most notably, Sylvester Stallone. Of course, Statham remains one of the highlights. His character, Lee Christmas, is a staple and always seems to make it out of the most dire situations. The trailer for Expend4bles promises a lot of Statham and a sexy fight scene or two involving a new character. It also seems like it will maintain its sense of humor that's long been present within the explosive scenes, so fans have a lot to look forward to. 

The fourth film has been in the works for a while. Along with the Fast and Furious alum, Sylvester Stallone, Dolph Lundgren and Randy Couture are all returning. The cast also added some big names with 50 Cent and Andy Garcia are among those joining the franchise for the first time. Megan Fox is also set to be a prominent character and has posted some awesome behind-the-scenes photos teasing what’s to come. The Expend4bles' producers have dubbed it the most badass installment yet and, based on these photos, I wouldn't doubt them just yet.

2023 has been a big year for Jason Statham, and Meg 2 and Expendables 4 are only the tip of the iceberg for him. He was also in the Guy Ritchie film Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre, which also has a big cast and boasts plenty of action. On top of that, he reprised his role as Owen Shaw in this summer’s Fast X. That’s four big movies just this year, and he’s attached to many future franchise projects. Statham simply can’t be stopped, and with all the fun he seems to be having in these latest on set photos, he will continue to be one of the coolest in the business. 

The Expendables 4 is set to hit theaters nationwide on September 22nd, 2023. Fans of the franchise can revisit the first three Expendables films now by renting them on Amazon. For more information on other films heading to cinemas in the near future, make sure to consult our schedule of 2023 new movie releases. 

Fans who have been long anticipating The Expendables 4, or rather Expend4bles as it’s now known, are probably expecting some specific aspects to be introduced in this latest action movie romp. Yet mixed in with the big action and explosive destruction is something that people might be pleasantly surprised by: a pretty sexy fight between Megan Fox and Jason Statham. You can see it in the trailer at the top of this page.

Stolen nuclear missiles, the potential for World War III, and 50 Cent trying to make sure Dolph Lundgren doesn’t shoot him in the face are all things that you can still find in Lionsgate’s trailer for the third sequel to The Expendables. So it’s not like the franchise is making any moves so out of the ordinary, like the PG-13 rated theatrical cut for The Expendables 3, that it’ll threaten to derail the show. If anything, Expend4bles looks like it is square in this franchise’s wheelhouse all over again.

“Long anticipated” almost seems like a joke at this point, as The Expendables 4 was first announced in 2015. Almost a full decade has passed since that announcement, but things are a lot more real now with this trailer that includes some of the Expend4bles CinemaCon footage that our own Jessica Rawden witnessed first hand. As promised, the Jason Statham/Megan Fox fight was indeed steamy, and a welcomed addition to director Scott Waugh’s big follow-up.

Yes, it’s impressive that the Sylvester Stallone-driven franchise has finally returned with exploits like trying to sink a ship with a surprise anchor drop. It’s also cool that Andy Garcia is one of the new kids getting in on the action this time around, which is one of the things we knew about The Expendables 4 before this point.

But the relationship drama between Statham and Fox is a great addition to switch things up. It might even open some doors for the franchise’s potential future; especially if the female-led The Expendabelles ever gets off the ground, and if Jason Statham's Lee Christmas is truly going to take over the series from Sylvester Stallone's outgoing Barney Ross. We'll just have to see if this new sequel delivers at the box office upon its release.

All of this and more awaits fans when The Expendables 4 pushes the button, releasing this sequel into theaters on September 22nd. Don't fret though, as there's plenty of action waiting on the schedule of 2023 new movie releases. So if you want to see stuff blow up and/or villains getting beaten properly, you'll certainly have options.

The following contains SPOILERS for Fast X!

Fast X is set to be the beginning of a finale and it certainly set the stage for the next Fast & Furious film, but following some recent comments from Vin Diesel, we’re not quite sure if we should expect one more movie or two. It’s being hinted that Fast X could spawn into a trilogy, and that’s actually perfect because Fast & Furious 11 also needs to be Hobbs & Shaw 2.

The 2019 Fast & Furious spinoff didn’t have a box office run quite at the same level as the main franchise, but it did well enough that a Hobbs & Shaw sequel was announced, a sequel that we have never seen materialize. But that’s ok, because Fast X actually sets up a sequel to Hobbs & Shaw perfectly, which in turn would be an excellent setup for Fast & Furious 12.

How Fast X Sets Up The Future For Hobbes And Shaw

Hobbs and Shaw both appear in Fast X, but both are only bit players clearly there to set up larger roles in the next movie. Jason Statham’s Deckard Shaw has a pretty epic battle with Han before the two join forces to fight off the agency trying to arrest them. When Shaw realizes that both he and his mother are potential targets for Dante, Shaw takes off to “go dig some graves.” We never see him again.

Dwayne Johnson’s Hobbs appears in the Fast X mid-credits scene. He’s leading a team in an incursion of the abandoned police station in Rio de Janeiro when he comes across another of Dante’s “vision boards.” He answers a ringing phone and we hear Dante telling Hobbs that he will be a target as well since he was actually the one who killed Dante’s father.

Clearly both scenes are designed to set up the next movie. We can expect both Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham to play much bigger roles in Fast & Furious 11 than they did in Fast X, but we can also connect these two scenes together into a single movie that brings Hobbs and Shaw back together again. 

Fast & Furious 11 Should Take Place Concurrently With Fast X

One of the things that the Fast & Furious franchise has done quite successfully is play with franchise chronology. After introducing fan favorite Han as a member of Dominic Torreto’s crew in The Fast & the Furious: Tokyo Drift, the series famously jumped back in time, with the next three films showing us the years that Han and Dom spent together before his ill-fated trip to Japan. We even learned in Fast X that the post-credit scene in F9 wasn’t a separate event from the end of that 2021 film, but one that takes place in the middle of the new movie. The Fast & Furious timeline is a little confusing, but that's part of the fun.

The franchise can do something very similar here. Just because we saw the return of Hobbs in a scene at the end of Fast X doesn’t mean the scene actually takes place chronologically after everything we’ve already seen. Would it make sense for Dante to only go after Hobbs, the man who actually pulled the trigger on his father, after going after Dom? Not really, he wants them both equally dead. So instead, in this structure, Fast & Furious 11 reveals this scene takes place simultaneously with the early events of Fast X.

Then, once Shaw is made aware of the situation and goes driving off, he leaves the events of Fast X and drives into Fast & Furious 11. By the end of Hobbs & Shaw, the two frenemies trust each other. Shaw doesn’t trust Han or Roman, but he does trust Hobbs, so when he needs help tracking down Dante himself and killing some people, Hobbs is exactly who he would go to.

So Fast & Furious 11 would roughly take place in parallel with Fast X, just giving us the story of what Hobbs and Shaw were doing in their own fight with Dante while Dom and the family were doing the same. There are certain parts of the story in Fast X where we lose track of Dante, and we could learn that he’s running both attacks simultaneously. Or maybe Dante has a lieutenant we haven't met who is in charge of making them suffer. Considering everything that Dante does in the current film, it’s not like that would be a stretch.

We could even wrap up some storylines and include some additional characters from the first film. Hobbs & Shaw teased a faceless mastermind character behind the events of the movie, and so their identity could be revealed in Fast & Furious 11, along with this person being connected to Dante in some way. We could also see the likes of Vanessa Kirby’s Hattie, who will also want to protect their mom, return and become part of the story.

Fast & Furious 12 Can Bring Everybody Together For An Epic Finale

By the end of Fast & Furious 11, the timeline for Hobbs and Shaw has caught up with the events of Fast X. So now it’s time for the mysterious third movie, the end of a massive finale trilogy to the Fast & Furious franchise, where the entire family unites and works together to defeat Dante, or whomever the big bad is by that point.

Perhaps it's Hobbs and Shaw who actually save Dom and the rest of the team from the cliffhanger ending that Fast X left them in. If they swooped into the next movie without any explanation, it would feel unsatisfying, but if there's an entire movie leading us to that moment, it would be absolutely incredible. 

If there are going to be two more Fast & Furious movies, that's fine, but if the whole family gets together in the next one, including all the characters who were teased in Fast X, it's not going to leave much for Fast & Furious 12 to do to blow us away. Let's wait and let that simmer. Considering how sure we were that Dwayne Johnson was never coming back, bringing Dom and Hobbs together again is going to be epic. That's a "final movie moment" we don't want to let happen too early.

For every mission the Fast & Furious family takes on, there’s a big bad behind it, and over the years we’ve seen some truly iconic as well as fairly forgettable villains try to take down Dominic Toretto and his family. From Charlize Theron to Jason Statham to John Cena we’ve seen some epic actors join the franchise, and now with Jason Momoa in Fast X as the latest antagonist, we figured it’d be the perfect time to rank all the villains that have tried to bring down the family. And let me just tell you upfront, while we may rank the Fast & Furious movies one way, when it comes to the bad guys, it’s a totally different story, so let’s get into it. 

10. DK Takashi -- Tokyo Drift

Overall, I really don’t like Tokyo Drift. While Han is great, this movie seriously messed up the Fast and Furious timeline, and it had not only a forgettable but a terrible villain. DK Takashi was an adult who got into a battle with a teen, or a kid if you will, over a girl, and that really rubbed me the wrong way. While Sean was low-key asking for the fight, this bad guy shouldn’t have gotten into a tiff with a teen, I draw the line at trying to destroy minors when you’re an adult, it’s not a good look. 

9.  Johnny Tran -- The Fast And The Furious

While Johnny Tran is the reason both Dom and Brian were in trouble, and was the reason they met, this big bad is really not that memorable. When I think of The Fast and The Furious I think of the conflict between Vin Diesel and Paul Walker’s characters, not how they ultimately stopped Johnny Tran. So, while the first movie in this franchise genuinely rocks, the villain is not the best. 

8. Arturo Braga -- Fast & Furious

Arturo Braga is yet another forgettable gang leader/mob boss from the early years of the Fast saga. While I did like the surprise reveal of Braga, and we didn’t really know who he was for a lot of the movie, it could have been better. For example, I wrote in my thoughts about Fast & Furious that it would have been extra epic if Gal Gadot ended up being Braga, but no, it was what we all expected, it was just some guy. 

7. Hernan Reyes -- Fast Five

You don’t remember the villain of Fast Five, you remember the heist. While this fifth movie is considered one of the best in the franchise, and rightfully so, Hernan Reyes is by no means the best villain. While he’s pretty terrible, and a scary mob boss, he’s too similar to Fast’s former bad guys. However, the fact that the epic heist happens because of him helps his case, because that safe chase scene is still one of the best set pieces across the franchise.

6. Cipher -- The Fate Of The Furious

Why does Chipher feel the need to nuke the world? And why is Dom Toretto so heavily involved in her plan to do so? I have absolutely no idea, which is why she’s right in the middle of this list. While I love that the villain of Fate of the Furious was played by Charlize Theron, and we finally got a woman as the big bad, her character just felt like a vehicle for technical speak, and when it came to her motivations they were incredibly unclear. 

I adore Charlize Theron, and she’s such an action icon, so having her in the franchise is a fantastic choice, however, her character is by no means the best villain. 

 5. Carter Verone -- 2 Fast 2 Furious

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, I think 2 Fast 2 Furious is camp, and I love it for that. Part of the reason for the extra-ness of this movie stems from Cole Hauser’s villain Carter Verone, who is a rich drug lord in Miami who Brian and Roman are trying to stop. He’s over the top, and incredibly violent (I mean do you remember that rat scene?) which makes him a hard villain to forget, and a fun opponent for the crew. 

Verone is also easily the best villain of the early Fast movies before the franchise started hiring A-Listers to play the big bads. It also helps that I’m a fan of Yellowstone, and who wouldn’t want to see Rip Wheeler as a villain in the Fast franchise?

4.  Jakob Toretto -- F9: The Fast Saga

John Cena joining the Fast family felt inevitable, and when it came time for him to join the franchise he did it in such a fun and relatively meaningful way as Dom’s half-brother Jakob Toretto. One of the reasons I thought F9 really worked was because the flashbacks of Dom and Jakob provided some much-needed depth to the story. Seeing how the two brothers grew apart, and how hurt Cena’s character was helped me understand why he wanted to take down the family, and it made me even happier when he decided to join it. 

3. Owen Shaw -- Fast & Furious 6

I have so many thoughts about Fast & Furious 6 and why it’s my favorite of the franchise and a few of them stem from the fact that Luke Evans' Owen Shaw is a maniacal, extreme, and overall fun villain. While we get a taste of the world-saving action in Fast 5, the sixth movie is the first time the crew really shifts into superhero mode as they try to stop Deckard Shaw's little brother from destroying the world.

In short, he’s got a big goal, some odd motivations, a big brother played by Jason Statham and a tank, making him one of the better villains in the saga. 

2. Dante Reyes -- Fast X

Jason Momoa’s candy-colored, scrunchy-wearing, incredibly enthusiastic villain Dante Reyes ruled. As multiple Fast X reviews have highlighted, including our own, Momoa is the star of this movie. To me adding the actor to the Fast X cast helped the franchise grow in the bad guy department, and overall Dante felt like a breath of fresh air for this series. On top of Fast X’s big bad rocking iconic pastel outfits, literally plié-ing across the screen, and bringing a fun silly goofy mood to the movie, he also has clear motivations. Also, he will actually do anything, no matter how terrible, to accomplish his goal. 

Overall, Dante is both a fun and terrifying villain, making him an instant classic among the Fast franchise’s bad guys.  

1. Deckard Shaw -- Furious 7

Easily the best villain and one of the best characters in this franchise is Deckard Shaw. Jason Statham appeared as Owen Shaw’s older brother and was responsible for Han’s death in the post-credit scene of Fast & Furious 6, and we’ve never looked back. He played the main villain in Furious 7, proving to be a great match for the crew. However, more importantly, he eventually became such a beloved character he became part of the family (sort of). 

After Statham’s explosive performance as the big bad in movie No. 7, he got to stay on board, and we got to meet his mother and sister through other movies. So, I think it’s safe to say that this incredibly suave and brutally lethal character is one the best villains the franchise has to offer. 

Over the last two decades, we’ve seen so many villains come in and out of the Fast & Furious franchise, and while some of them ruled, there is a handful that are easily forgotten (namely anyone who played a big bad in one of the movies before Fast & Furious 6). From campy, over-the-top men with vendettas to generic drug lords to the occasional tech master it feels like we’ve seen it all with this franchise as Dom and his family keep stopping the big bads with their cars, faith and family.   

Jennifer Lopez seems to be an unlikely action star. The actress is mostly known for her rom-com turns in movies like Maid in Manhattan, The Wedding Planner and more recently Marry Me. However, over the last few years, the 53-year-old has been joining more physically demanding movies, and her latest Netflix movie, The Mother, is no exception. After being compared to action star Jason Statham (who she's worked with before), Lopez is opening up about getting a more diverse array of acting opportunities in her 50’s.

During an interview with Yahoo Entertainment, the Hustlers actress was straight-up asked if she could be the next Jason Statham, after her recent action roles in Shotgun Wedding and The Mother. JLo was clearly flattered to be compared to her Parker co-star, though she really doesn't seem to put too much stock in that notion. She, instead, thoughtfully discussed how good it feels to be offered these kinds of roles as she’s gotten older. The 53-year-old actor explained: 

It seems like the emotional core of The Mother is what drew Lopez to the Netflix project, but the opportunity to perform badass stunts was seemingly a plus. The film is about an assassin who comes out of the shadows to protect her daughter, who she left when she was a baby. The trailers for the film show Lopez kicking plenty of ass, proving herself as a worthy action hero. Lopez looks great in the movie, and her work is a testament to the fact that she can play a variety of different roles. She's also in incredible shape in this film, which makes me believe she could actually give Jason Statham a run for his money. 

While it has the non-stop action scenes viewers come to expect from a film about assassins, it also has heart and a mother-daughter relationship at the core. The Selena icon herself has two children, Emme and Max, and is the stepmother to Ben Affleck’s three children. Family is important to the , who has previously spoken about her “blended family” with Affleck, so this could be one of the factors that attracted her to the family story.

While Jennifer Lopez claims she's not planning to be the next Jason Statham, her slate of upcoming projects seems to say otherwise. She recently wrapped production on Atlas, a Netflix sci-fi film she boarded that sees her play an AI soldier. The movie will also see her star alongside Marvel alum Simu Liu. Additionally, she's attached to another film titled The Godmother, in which she'll play the late drug lord Griselda Blanco. While minimal details about the project are available at this time, it sounds like it'll give Lopez opportunity to star in an old school gangster epic. So all in all, seems like the Out of Sight star is taking a break from rom-coms for the time being, but fans have plenty of action-packed thrillers to look forward to as she forges her own path within the genre.

You can catch Jennifer Lopez in The Mother, which is currently available to stream using a Netflix subscription. For more information on other movies hitting the streaming platform and theaters this year, make sure to consult our schedule of 2023 new movie releases.

The 10th installment in the ridiculously popular Fast & Furious saga is finally upon us. Fans last caught up with Vin Diesel’s Dom Toretto and the crew in 2021’s F9, and in Fast X — the first movie of a two-part finale (or possibly a trilogy, per Diesel) — the family will be confronted with their past. Jason Momoa joins the franchise as the son of Hernan Reyes from Fast Five, and he’s seeking revenge against Dom’s family for their role in his father’s death. With just a week until the blockbuster hits theaters, some have had the opportunity to attend an early screening, and they’re hitting social media with their first reactions.

In addition to Jason Momoa’s “flamboyant bad boy” Dante, others joining the Fast & Furious universe include Brie Larson, Alan Ritchson, Daniela Melchior and Rita Moreno. The Fast X cast also returns a lot of our favorites from the past two decades, including Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Jordana Brewster, Cardi B, Charlize Theron, John Cena, Jason Statham, Helen Mirren and more. So let’s see what people are saying about the epic 10th film, starting with CinemaBlend’s Eric Eisenberg, who praises Momoa’s “gleeful psychopath,” tweeting: 

KIrsten Acuna of Insider is one of several people saying this feels like the franchise’s Infinity War, with Dante as Thanos. In her tweet thread, she says she ranks it about in the middle of the Fast & Furious movies and definitely has some quibbles, but overall can’t wait to see it again. Acuna’s full breakdown: 

Liam Crowley of Comicbook.com calls the film “utterly ridiculous,” but surely he means it in the very best way. Be sure to make it to the theater to see this one on the big screen, Crowley tweets: 

Jason Momoa is the subject of many of the first reactions, including that of ScreenRant’s Joseph Deckelmeier, who says the actor oozes charisma as Dante:

Even Germain Lussier of Gizmodo, who calls Fast X the “worst Fast yet,” concedes that the Aquaman star is “God-Level” in his franchise introduction. His performance alone is worth the price of admission, Lussier says: 

In addition to Jason Momoa, who film critic Simon Thompson calls “decadent,” Alan Ritchson is another standout. Despite the large cast, somehow Fast X doesn’t feel like it’s got too many cooks in the kitchen. Thompson continues: 

The impending release of Fast X has also brought about news regarding Dwayne Johnson’s future with the Fast & Furious franchise, after he was absent from F9. I’ll avoid saying anything more here, but fans who are invested in what’s going on with Luke Hobbs can click that link.

Overall, it sounds like audiences are in for another wild ride — and we’ve come to expect nothing less from these movies — and Jason Momoa sounds like a thrilling addition to an already stacked cast. If you need to relive any of the previous installments ahead of Fast X’s release to theaters on Friday, May 19, check out how to watch the first nine Fast and Furious movies. Also be sure to see what else is hitting the big screen soon with our 2023 movie release schedule. 

Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw lives in a very odd space in my mind and heart as well as the Fast and Furious franchise generally. It’s a funky spin-off that really wants to be a top-tier action movie that’s not all about cars, but it also lives within a franchise that has made driving fast and furious its whole brand. Overall, if I were to rank the Fast and Furious movies, Hobbs & Shaw would fall quite low on that list. However, while I didn’t like the movie all that much, it was an entertaining and fun watch, I also had a ton of thoughts about what went down, so let’s talk about it. 

I Wish This Was A Shaw Family Spin-Off Instead 

One of my favorite additions to the Fast universe has been Helen Mirren. She burst onto the scene as Shaw’s mother, and I immediately fell in love with her character. The dame, along with Jason Statham and Vanessa Kirby, seem like they are having so much fun together, and this franchise is at its best when you can tell the actors are having a blast. 

The Shaw family is quirky, dysfunctional, and clearly has quite the history -- I mean how did Helen Mirren end up in prison? I can picture it now: a series of heist movies, that feature this hilariously charming trio (and maybe even Luke Evans). Between their on-screen chemistry, the oddly well-developed Shaw family history, and the three actors' undeniable charm, a spin-off about this family would have been far better than this. 

What’s The Deal With The Super Soldiers? 

This is not the first time I’ve felt the need to bring up super soldiers in this series. In my thoughts on Furious 7, I noted that at times it felt like Dwayne Johnson and Vin Diesel were acting like they were Captain America. Well, Hobbs and Shaw took that idea to a whole new level. 

First of all, Idris Elba’s character is straight-up a super soldier, there’s no ifs, ands, or buts about it, as he’s got this virus that gives him super strength and other heightened skills. While that gave major MCU energy, the moment that really got me was when The Rock held onto a chain with his bare hands to keep a helicopter from flying away, a la Captain America in Winter Soldier.

Overall, this movie really wanted to give their characters superpowers, and while it looks really cool, I don’t get it.  

The Cameos Were The Best Part Of This Movie

Between Deadpool 2 and Bullet Train, I’ve come to know David Leitch as a guy who loves a cameo. So, I feel like I should have expected the Ryan Reynolds, Kevin Hart and Rob Delaney cameos. However, they were a pleasant surprise, and I think these were some of the best moments in Hobbs & Shaw. 

In terms of how the director got these big names into his movie, Leitch told  Vulture: 

I love that these guys were so down to clown, you could tell they were having a blast filming their scene with Statham and Johnson, and they were also very welcome additions to the already-stacked cast. While Reynolds and Hart basically played the archetypes they tend to play, it was still fun to see them pop up in the movie as an agent and air marshall, respectively. 

Hobbs And Shaw Bickering Got Old Very Quickly 

I get that the charm of this movie is the bickering. It was clear in Fate of the Furious that the chemistry between Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham was something the franchise wanted to capitalize on, however, this is the case of we got too much of a kind of OK thing, and it was ruined. 

The scene I’m thinking of that really rubbed me the wrong way was the airplane sequence. The two get into a tiff after Shaw causes Hobbs to get detained. This sequence is over five minutes, and it goes on for way too long. These two actors comedically bickering quickly turned into an ego battle, and I did not enjoy it. 

I Think Shaw Might Be The Most Developed Character In The Fast Franchise 

I genuinely believe that between Shaw’s official introduction in Furious 7 through Hobbs and Shaw, out of everyone in the franchise, he’s the most developed character. While he was a villain at first, over the course of three movies we learn a lot about his past as we realize he's actually not a terrible guy, and he has a super fun personality. In Fate of the Furious, as I noted in my thoughts, we learn that Statham’s character really does care a lot for his family, and that baby on the plane. In this movie, we learned more about how much he wants to protect his sister, as well as small tidbits about how he lives, and overall it helped paint a nice three-dimensional picture of who this dude is.

Overall, I Felt Like I Was Watching A Fast Movie That Wanted To Be A Mission Impossible Film 

In the end, I think what really threw me for a loop was the identity of this movie. While it’s in the Fast and Furious franchise, it’s also a spin-off so it needs its own voice. However, that new voice is one that desperately wants to be a Mission Impossible movie. Due to this conundrum, the film felt like both an off-brand F&F movie and something along the lines of Mission Impossible light. The action felt like it was just a notch below a Tom Cruise movie, and there wasn’t enough emphasis on the cars, for this film to clearly fit in a franchise.

While I get what they were going for, I think they should have just stuck with the Fast & Furious vibe for Hobbs and Shaw, rather than trying to turn their movie into a world-saving, superhuman stopping, action fiasco. 

Other Thoughts 

• The Rock drank like five raw eggs and it was a lot. 
• Vanessa Kirby and Dwayne Johnson “fighting” was very entertaining. 
• Idris Elba said “genocide schmenocide” and that was a low moment for this franchise. 
• I think this movie should have been 90 mins. 

I was not overly impressed by this movie. In the land of Fast and Furious, it didn’t live up to its predecessors, and in the world of action movies, specifically movies from David Leitch, I’d prefer to watch just about anything else. Although, it was a welcome change of pace, and if they were to make a Hobbs & Shaw sequel, as Dwayne Johnson did tease changes, I’d still check it out. However, on our journey to the highly anticipated Fast X, I can’t help but think that this felt like a very odd turn in the road. 

You can buy/rent Hobbs & Shaw on Amazon, and stay tuned to the 2023 movie schedule as Fast X, and many other exciting movies will be hitting theaters soon.  

The beast at the heart of 2018’s The Meg may have been vanquished in spectacular fashion, but as we know from the end of Jason Statham’s last aquatic adventure, there was another. Watching from the shadows and waiting for the right time, this creature has sat and waited for its home studio to bring it to life. Fret no further, Meg fans, as the schedule of 2023 new movie releases does indeed include Meg 2: The Trench, and we’ve now got our first trailer for it. Looks like that R-rating might stick this time around, folks, as this trailer doesn't skimp on the blood, bodies and beasties. 

Warner Bros. released the first official trailer for the sequel to 2018’s sleeper shark-centric hit, based on the books of author Steve Alten. Keeping with the sequence of the novels, The Trench comes from the second chapter in the series, which picks up four years after previous events. However, the more times change, the more they stay the same, as we see in the return of Statham's fearless Jonas Taylor. 

This isn’t the first time this footage has been shown, as this reel is exactly what was shown at Meg 2’s CinemaCon panel. While that wasn’t exactly released to the public upon its debut, CinemaBlend’s own Jessica Rawden was on hand to describe that presentation. She didn't spoil much, and it's easy to see why, as there are some really inventive and potentially gory kills waiting in this next dip in the ocean.

If you were expecting The Meg 2 to be a more sobering affair grounded in reality, then clearly you didn’t see director Jon Turtletaub’s previous entry. One scene has Jason Statham literally keeping one of three Megalodons featured in this outing at bay with merely his boot. Not to mention, it looks like so many other creatures from the deep have come out to play, pitting primal madness against a modern buffet of victims. 

But if you were hoping that this next chapter might play closer to the original R-rated version of The Meg, then your prehistoric prayers may have been answered in that devastating Tyrannosaurus Rex attack at the beginning of the trailer. That seems like a lot of red colored blood for a PG-13 flick, unless beast on beast violence doesn’t count towards a more mature classification.

While talking about his duties on Meg 2, director Ben Wheatley felt a “heavy responsibility” that he needed to share, alongside the promise of bonkers action he longed to the returned to. If this is what “heavy responsibility” looks like, then maybe being an adult isn’t so bad, especially when throwing in some fun and inventive kills as seen here. People might just take a minute to look behind themselves before their next livestream from this point out.

Meg 2: The Trench is swimming through the waters of the world somewhere, making its way into its August 4th release date. If you want to catch up with what happened in The Meg, those of you with a Hulu subscription can dig into that madness at your leisure. Sadly, while Meg 2 is going to be coming to theaters in 3D, it's a rarer feat to see the original in that same format. With that in mind, you can read our To 3D or Not To 3D on The Meg, and prepare yourself for this third-dimensional experience. 

For a long time in the Fast & Furious universe, Sung Kang’s Han Lue was thought to have died in a car accident during Tokyo Drift, but in Fast & Furious 6, it was revealed that Jason Statham’s Deckard Shaw deliberately rammed into him as part of his revenge plot against Vin Diesel’s Dominic Toretto and his allies, as seen in Furious 7. Then F9 came along and revealed that Han’s death had actually been faked by Kurt Russell’s Mr. Nobody, but the F9 end-credits scene ended things on a tense note, with Han showing up at Shaw’s doorstep. While there are still a few weeks to go until Fast X’s release, a new clip from the 2023 new movie release has revealed what immediately happens next between those two characters.

You can head over to EW to watch their exclusive clip for yourself, but to summarize, Deckard Shaw is rightly on edge when Han Lue appears in front of him, as in his mind, the only reason a “dead guy” shows up at his door is for revenge. In reality, Han is there to talk about something tied to Fast X’s plot, and rather than pulling a gun from his jacket, he simply looking to enjoy one of his trademark snacks. Bur Deckard’s already in combat mode, pulling Han into the room and knocking the food out of his hand.

It also turns out that Han wasn’t alone, as Tyrese Gibson’s Roman Pearce, Ludacris’ Tej Parker and Nathalie Emmanuel’s Ramsey were nearby, but they’re unable to make it inside before Shaw locks the door. As the team’s resident hacker, Ramsey immediately starts working to break through the security system, but in the meantime, Han is forced to go on the defensive. He tells Shaw he doesn’t want to fight, but Shaw isn’t hearing it and swiftly kicks his opponent in the chest. Talk about a pulse-pounding way to finally show these two properly meeting for the first time.

We’ll have to wait for the next Fast & Furious movie to come out to learn how this fight ends, but the good news is that the latest Fast X trailer set up that Han Lue and Deckard Shaw teaming up Though The Fate of the Furious showed Shaw teaming up with Dominic Toretto’s family to rescue his infant son from the clutches of Charlize Theron’s Cipher, Roman is still distrustful of him. It’s understandable given how long he and his friends thought Han was actually dead, but nevertheless, the threat posed by Jason Momoa’s Dante Reyes, a villain with close ties to Fast Five, will require them all to put aside their differences for the greater good.

Although Jason Statham sat out the main events of F9, we got to see him back in action alongside Dwayne Johnson in the 2019 spinoff Hobbs & Shaw. While The Rock has since said he will not be returning to The Fast Saga before it concludes with Fast & Furious 11, it’s at least good to see Statham back in play, especially since it’s unclear if Hobbs & Shaw 2 will actually happen. But let’s not forget that this upcoming movie will also feature plenty of new faces beyond Jason Momoa’s antagonistic character, with Fast X’s cast including Brie Larson as Tess, Alan Ritchson as Agent Aimes and Rita Moreno as Dom, Mia and Jokob Toretto’s grandmother (and we can thank Moreno’s grandson for convincing Vin Diesel to cast her in the role).

Fast X races into theaters on May 17, and while Fast & Furious 11 doesn’t have a release date yet, it’s been confirmed that Louis Leterrier will reprise his directorial duties for the final installment. Use your HBO Max subscription if you’re interested in rewatching F9.

If I am being honest, there’s not a movie I am more hotly anticipating seeing on a big screen this year than The Meg 2: The Trench. Yes, I’m excited about Barbie and the new footage that premiered this week.  Of course, I want to know how Denis Villeneuve brings Dune 2 to life, particularly after seeing new footage at CinemaCon 2023. However, I unabashedly love The Meg. I love how ridiculous the plot is, and the tone Jason Statham and the rest of the cast take while the monster itself wreaks havoc. I’ve been anticipating The Trench since it was first hinted at back in 2018.

Now, CinemaBlend has seen new footage for The Meg 2: The Trench and it features Jason Statham taking on a newer, larger The Meg on a jet ski … with a harpoon. Honestly, how could you not be a little bit excited for this movie? If you don't want to be spoiled about new footage that hasn't dropped online yet, now may be a good time to skedaddle.

Let’s rewind a little bit. This week in Las Vegas, Warner Bros. gave us our first look at The Meg 2 as part of the studio's big CinemaCon presentation. The clip kicked off like 54 million years ago with some cute dinosaurs on a beach. Of course, a terrifying T-Rex-looking sonofab*tch shows up to eat the cute dinosaurs, but is he the apex predator? No, of course not. The Meg is the apex predator. The shark eats the T-Rex. All is well with the world. 

Cut to the present day and Statham’s character Jonas has reassembled his team to head down into a deep trench to do some research on a recent disturbance in an area that men have not tread before. Of course, this time a bigger, bolder Meg comes up out of the trench to wreak havoc on humanity. I’d go on about some of the footage we saw including some over-the-top Meg kills and more, but honestly I don’t really want to ruin all the surprise. The main thing you need to know is Jason Statham. Harpoon. Jet ski. 

Some people from the original flick are back, including Statham but also Cliff Curtis, Page Kennedy and Shuya Sophia Cai. Ben Wheatley is directing the new flick, taking over for Jon Turteltaub, who helmed the first one. Sergio Peris-Mencheta is on board as one of The Meg 2’s villains as well. 

The sequel looks as if it will have a similar tone to the first film. Wheatley has also previously expressed excitement over the scale of the shark-based film. (He’s previously directed stuff like Free Fire and Doctor Who.)  

Look, I know The Meg is the rare populist movie where the critics and audience ratings are similar, and both are splats. The first flick earned 46% from the critics and 42% from the audience on Rotten Tomatoes, yikes. Meanwhile, however, the movie made $145 million domestically and nearly $385 million globally, so people saw it. We’ll have to wait and see if the second movie in the franchise can generate half a billion dollars at the box office too. 

Naturally, I understand this franchise may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but if you’re ever sitting alone in your house and wondering who the audience is for projects like this, it’s me. I am the audience. Ya girl will be at The Meg 2 on opening night, guaranteed.

I don’t need Tom Cruise movies set in space. I really just need Jason Statham and a harpoon. The Meg 2: The Trench is coming on August 4, 2023. Keep your jaws wide open for more on this 2023 movie release in the coming months. 

Fast and Furious movie No. 8 The Fate of the Furious, or F8 of the Furious as I like to call it, is a movie that I can’t quite wrap my head around when it comes to developing a cohesive opinion about the film. Of the Fast and Furious movies, this was an installment that had moments that I loved, and an overall story that I did not enjoy at all. So, if I were to rank this among the Fast and Furious movies I’m not quite sure where I’d put it, because some moments had me wanting to stand up and clap while others left me cringing. With that in mind, let's break down all the thoughts I had while watching the 2017 action movie. 

Somehow This Movie Was Meh, But Also Had Some Of My Favorite Moments So Far

As you’ll see throughout this article, I have complex feelings about The Fate of the Furious. There were elements of the movie I really loved, and thought were some of the best sequences in the franchise so far. However, thinking about the movie as a whole, it was nothing to write home about.

Yes, the action rocked, but what motivated the action didn’t. Yes, it’s amazing to have a powerhouse like Charlize Theron in your movie, but when her motivations as a villain don’t make sense, it’s not as amazing. Do you see what I mean?

This movie had so much potential, and similar to my thoughts about Fast and Furious, the installment didn’t have the epic and/or ridiculous plot to keep me super invested the whole time. However, I will be the first to tell you that the scene where Jason Statham keeps track of a baby while fighting off the bad guys, is one of the greatest things I’ve ever seen (but more on that later).

Hang On! Elena Had A Baby!?!

When I tell you I gasped when I saw this moment, I mean it. Throughout the whole first act, I was trying to figure out what Dom saw that was so bad he had to turn on his family. At first, I thought it was an evil twin, or even a clone, and then I just kind of gave up and accepted we might never know what caused him to turn. However, then, they did the epic reveal that Elena had a baby, and Dom was the father! 

OK Dom, I’ll give you this one, your child is a good reason to make people think you’ve gone bad in order to save him. Admittedly, I assumed the child shown in the Fast X trailer was the biological son of Dom and Letty, so even though I knew he had a kid, I did not expect Elena to be the mother. So, overall, this was a very fun plot twist.

Then, this baby went on to be the real star of the show. He was Vin Diesel’s scene partner in some of the actor’s finest dramatic moments in this franchise, and he was the centerpiece to my favorite action sequence of the saga so far.

Jason Statham Being In Charge Of The Baby Was The Best Part About This Movie

Single-handedly, the best moment of this movie, and maybe the entire franchise, was the baby scene. While Jason Statham admitted that filming with a baby was hard, the rewards were “gold.” 

In terms of why they had Statham paired with a baby, the movie’s director F. Gary Gray told EW:

Yes, it was a great moment, and I’m so happy it happened. Seeing Statham be so protective of the baby by giving it headphones, and making sure he didn’t get shot was both endearing and hilarious. It made this movie much better. 

They Let Dwayne Johnson Be Jumanji Levels Of Funny, Which Was Great 

Let’s take a moment to appreciate the hilarity that was Dwayne Johnson doing the Haka with a little girls' soccer team. Fast Five Hobbs would have never done something like that. However, F8 Hobbs, one played The Rock who is about to release Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, would obviously make the decision to coach a little girls’ soccer team, and be a comedic genius at the same time.

My favorite version of Dwayne Johnson is the funny one. The dude is sincerely hilarious, especially when you let him be ridiculous, I mean have you seen Jumanji? It's great to see the Fast & Furious franchise give him some of the most entertaining moments in the movie, specifically this one on the pitch.

I Did Not Understand Charlize Theron’s Villain’s Motives At All 

Here’s what I know about Charlize Theron’s character: she’s a badass and for some reason, she wants to destroy the world. That’s it. I couldn’t tell you why she was so infatuated with Dom, why she needed Dom to get the nukes, or why she thought nukes were necessary in the first place. 

In all honesty, I was quite bummed that this amazing actress was given so little to work with. While I loved that she seemed to be having fun in the campy villainous role, I wish there was more to her. Hopefully, that changes in future movies, because I know she’s in F9 and Fast X. 

The Prison Fight Was Too Much Testosterone For Me

Throughout this series, we’ve spoken a lot about the Testosterone filled sequences that are sprinkled throughout the franchise. Overall, the massive action and fights are things I tend to enjoy, however, every so often a fight is fueled solely by male rage with no clear reason behind it, and it bothers me. This prison fight illuminates exactly what I’m talking about.

While the fight choreography was sick, and having two action stars like Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham fighting is undoubtedly epic, what started this squabble could have been solved in like two seconds if these bros had the temper to take a deep breath, consider their actions, and talk out their problems. But, no, they just had to get their anger out by causing chaos in a whole prison, and I didn't love it.

Other Thoughts 

• Vin Diesel did some good acting in this movie. 
• Helen Mirren being the Shaws’ mom is legendary, and she’s an absolute icon. 
• The whole ice chase was sick! Especially when Rome’s car went into the water and Hobbs saved him. 
• It’s adorable and so sweet that they named the baby Brian. 
• I’ll leave you with this: How would you feel if your husband found out that the woman he hooked up with while you were dead had a baby? 

Well, there you have it, on the journey to the 2023 movie schedule’s highly anticipated Fast X, Fate of the Furious was an odd stop in the road. In some moments it gave me top-notch action, and A+ comedic lines, while at other times I was left mildly disappointed by the lack of motivation from some of the characters. Overall, like all F&F movies, it was indeed fast and furious, however, it’s a movie that I think falls smack dab in the middle of its predecessors. 

You can rent/buy The Fate of the Furious on Amazon. 

I feel like the Fast and Furious movies found their footing with Fast Five, and with Fast and Furious 6, they were able to use that newfound knowledge and make a movie that tied the universe together and sent the audience on a very fun ride. While most Fast and Furious rankings would put the fifth and seventh installments on the top, I’d make the argument that the sixth movie is the best one so far (the jury is still out on seven). Overall, I really, really enjoyed watching the ensemble shine in this wicked fun and action-packed movie. 

I Loved All The Unexpected Duos In Fast And Furious 6 

Arguably the best thing about Fast and Furious 6 is the ensemble cast. We got to see a bit of the crew's eclectic chemistry in Fast Five, but in this movie they actually capitalized on the talent of the supporting cast, and paired them up in unexpected ways, making for a super fun movie. 

My first favorite unexpected duo was Han and Rome, who were supporting Giselle as they tried to find Shaw, and in the other, we had Hobbs and Tej trying to buy cars in London. Both duos were hilarious, chaotic and provided levity for the film, while also advancing the plot. I never thought I’d say Ludacris and The Rock have great chemistry, but they do, and their scene dealing with an uppity car dealer was easily one of my favorite moments in the movie. The same goes for the scene between Han and Rome; talk about a chaotic duo. 

Overall, I’m just glad the writers finally decided to let these actors shine, and pair them in ways that were unexpected and hilarious. 

Michelle Rodriguez Was The Best Part Of This Movie

Following the death of Letty, and the news that she was alive, which surprised Michelle Rodriguez and me, I was a bit concerned about how they’d work her back into the story. So, I was pleasantly surprised when they not only brought her back but gave her the most interesting storyline in Fast and Furious 6. Hands down, the best part of this movie was Rodriguez’s performance as she re-discovered that she was part of the family and slowly turned from a bad guy back into a good one. 

It was also so refreshing to see a woman as one of the leads of the movie, and she was on an equal playing field with Vin Diesel and Paul Walker. She got to be just as in the action as both of them, and she had the most interesting story out of everyone. Overall, I’m so happy they brought Letty back, and they proved to all of us once again that Michelle Rodriguez is a powerhouse. 

They Finally Gave Ludacris The Screen Time He Deserves

Tej has been one of my favorite characters since he was introduced in 2 Fast 2 Furious, and ever since I’ve felt like they’ve never really given Ludacris his time to shine. However, as the last point stated, one of my favorite things about this movie is the unexpected duos and the amped-up screen time for all the beloved side characters, including Tej. 

I’ve always thought that he was one of the most interesting characters in the franchise. He’s not the biggest fan of driving, all he wants is to open a garage and he’s the crew’s tech guy in five and six. Ludacris’ character is unlike any of the others, and it seems like the rapper/actor really, really enjoys playing him. I mean the spit-take at the end of six is enough to make him one of the best cast members of the movie, but he really shined through the entire action-packed adventure. 

We Need To Talk About The Elephant – Or Tank, In This Case – In The Room 

To quote Rome: “I’m sorry, did somebody just say a tank?” Oh yes, they did say tank, and that was not a CGI tank either, it was a real one. While this scene is wild to watch the first time, when you learn how they did it, it becomes even crazier. Dennis McCarthy, the car coordinator on the film, told New York Daily News that they had two tanks and mock-ups on set. He said they had ten Dodge Chargers on set that day, to play the two shown in the movie, and explained that many of the crashes we saw really happened. McCarthy said: 

I agree; the times I’ve been able to notice the CGI in these movies I’m always a bit disappointed. However, in Fast and Furious 6 that was not the case, I was impressed the whole time, especially when it comes to this crazy tank scene. 

I Appreciated How They Tied In The Events From Past Films

The writers for movies two through five must have been in a silly-goofy mood when they told their stories, and because of it Fast and Furious 6 had to do a lot of course correcting when it came to the Fast and Furious timeline and various plot lines, and I greatly appreciated it. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still extremely convoluted, but they were trying to fix things in this movie, and that’s what really matters. It’s the thought that counts.

There were two major points where I noticed, and liked, how they tied six in with past events. The first came when they brought Braga back, tying the events of Fast and Furious and Letty’s death directly to Fast and Furious 6, as well as the entire timeline. By making Brian face Braga in jail, we learned how the events of the fourth movie played into the greater Fast universe, and it made it clear that we were watching one (relatively) cohesive story.

The second connection came at the very end of the movie. Our boy Han is the biggest reason for the wacky timeline, and following the death of Gisele, he decides to head to Japan, implying that the events of Tokyo Drift are finally going to come into play.

So…Jason Statham Is The Reason Han Dies In Tokyo Drift?

I’ve been wondering how Jason Statham was going to make his entrance into the Fast franchise, and the way he was introduced was extremely unexpected. Early on in the movie, when Shaw (Luke Evans) was introduced, I figured he was related to Statham’s Shaw. I’m aware of the Hobbs and Shaw movie, and I’ve seen enough of the trailers to know that the older Shaw we were introduced to at the end of this movie will eventually become part of the family. 

Due to this ever-so-slight knowledge of what comes next, the last thing I was expecting was Jason Statham’s involvement in Fast and Furious 6 to be related to Han's death. Since the end of Tokyo Drift, I’ve been wondering who was behind the mysterious death of this fan-favorite character, and I’m very curious to see how Shaw’s involvement in the “death” (I know he’s not really dead…I think) of Han impacts the events of Furious 7.  

Other Thoughts 

• Why was Rita Ora there? 
• The movie should have been named Fast and Furi6. 
• It’s a real bummer that they describe things as “fast” all the time, but never as “fast and furious.” 
• Luke Evans’ character was scary and gross. 
• Who gave Dom and Hobbs superhuman jumping abilities? 

Overall, I feel like Fast and Furious 6 was the first movie where it really felt like everyone making the movie knew exactly what they were doing, and wanted to tell a story that allowed the franchise to be one big cohesive thing. So, with Fast X furiously approaching on the 2023 movie schedule, I’m fascinated to see how the franchise grows, and how this giant story continues to develop.

If there was a Mt. Rushmore created to honor the heroes of the all-time greatest spy movies, I think it would be unanimously agreed that it should include Matt Damon’s title hero from the Jason Bourne movies, Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt from the Mission: Impossible movies, and one of the James Bond actors (which one of them it should be is up to you to decide). For my choice of the fourth head, I would like to submit Jason Statham as Orson Fortune in Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre.

It may seem a little early to give such an honor to the main hero of this new 2023 movie (which just came out in theaters today), but once you see how fun co-writer and director Guy Ritchie’s old school espionage thriller is, you might find yourself agreeing with me. Of course, Statham’s character is just one reason why the film is so irresistibly entertaining. To get a clear understanding of the other reasons, you could ether check out the official trailer or stick around and take a look at the rest of the Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre cast, starting with the title role.

Jason Statham (Orson Fortune)

Highly skilled (and very picky) special operative Orson Fortune is only the latest character in a Guy Ritchie movie that Jason Statham has played, having launched his acting career at the same time that the filmmaker launched his directing career with Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels in 1998. The British duo would reunite again for 2002’s Snatch, 2008’s Revolver, the earnest revenge thriller Wrath of Man in 2021, and this film, most recently.

Statham would also earn a storied action star reputation outside of his collaborations with Ritchie as a main player in a few franchises — including the Transporter movies (until bailing on the fourth film), the Expendables movies as Lee Christmas, the Fast and Furious movies (including his own spin-off with Dwayne Johnson’s Hobbs) as Deckard Shaw, and creature feature The Meg, which is getting a sequel in 2023. He also appeared in one of the last John Carpenter movies (Ghosts of Mars), played a good bad guy in Cellular, had a memorable cameo in Collateral, and poked fun at the spy genre in 2015’s aptly titled, Spy.

Aubrey Plaza (Sarah Fidel)

As the sharp-tongued and vivacious expert in hacking (among other things) Sarah Fidel, we have Aubrey Plaza, whose charming, dry wit that she brings to the film is what made her an MVP in the Parks and Recreation cast as April Ludgate. She has also stolen the show or led it wonderfully in comedy movies like Funny People, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, and Hulu’s Happiest Season.

Plaza has also been known to show her more serious side, such as when she played the homicidal Cat Adams on Criminal Minds, played a mental patient on FX’s Marvel-inspired series Legion, starred in the 2019 Child’s Play remake, and played the title role of Emily the Criminal, which she also produced. This is just the latest instance of her channeling her more serious and more comedic sensibilities in the same project, following the likes of Safety Not Guaranteed, the darkly comic, romantic horror movie, Life After Beth, and HBO’s The White Lotus Season 2 in 2022.

Josh Hartnett (Danny Francesco)

In order to get close to a target, Orson and Sarah’s crew enlist the help of movie star Danny Francesco, who is played by Statham’s fellow Wrath of Man cast member, Josh Hartnett, who made his debut in one of the more underrated Halloween movies, Halloween H20: 20 Years Later, in 1998 — the same year he appeared in another cult favorite horror flick, The Faculty. He would later return to the genre by leading 2007’s grisly vampire movie 30 Days of Night, playing Ethan Chandler on Showtime’s Penny Dreadful, and joining the upcoming sixth season of Black Mirror.

In between then, he starred in acclaimed coming-of-age dramas like The Virgin Suicides and the Shakespeare-inspired O, fact-based war movies like Pearl Harbor and Black Hawk Down, and worked with Bruce Willis in the Sin City cast and in 2006’s Lucky Number Slevin. More recently, he played himself on Quibi’s Die Hart, starred in the 2021 Neo-western movie Ida Red, and will star in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer cast as Ernest Lawrence.

Cary Elwes (Nathan Jasmine)

Nathan Jasmine — the one calling the shots (or struggling to do so) for Orson and Sarah’s crew — is just one of two spy movie characters that Aubrey Plaza’s Best Sellers co-star, Cary Elwes, is playing in 2023, as he is also in the Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One cast, which will mark his second collaboration with Tom Cruise after 1990’s Days of Thunder. Of course, he is still best known for his breakout role in 1987’s The Princess Bride cast as Westley, which led to more fantasy/medieval adventure movies like the criminally underrated ‘90s classic, Robin Hood: Men in Tights (in which he played the title role), the animated Quest for Camelot, and 2004’s Ella Enchanted with Anne Hathaway.

The British actor has also led an impressively versatile career that includes powerful period dramas like Glory, fun modern comedies like Liar Liar, blockbuster disaster flicks like Twister, and quite a few horror movies — most notably the Saw movies as Dr. Lawrence Gordon. Elwes was also on an episode of Seinfeld, worked with Steven Spielberg on 2011’s The Adventure  of Tintin, and, in its third season, joined the Stranger Things cast.

Bugzy Malone (J.J.)

As the fourth member of Orson’s crew — the sharp-shooting J.J. — we have Bugzy Malone, who rose to fame in the U.K. as a rap music artist known for hits like “Out of Nowhere” and “Beauty and the Beast.” Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre is, actually, only his second film credit so far. In fact, Ritchie previously directed Malone (whose real name is Aaron Davis) in his feature-film debut, when he appeared in the filmmaker’s acclaimed return to British crime thrillers, The Gentlemen, in 2020.

Hugh Grant (Greg Simmonds)

Playing billionaire arms dealer — and Number One fan of Danny Francesco — Greg Simmonds is Bugzy Malone’s The Gentlemen co-star, Hugh Grant, who first worked with Ritchie in the filmmaker’s first try at espionage thrillers, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., in 2015. Before then, his main claim to fame was romantic-comedies — such as Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, Love Actually, and the Bridget Jones movies, to name a few.

However, Grant has also been known to branch out into more challenging and versatile roles, too, such as his multiple parts in Cloud Atlas, the main villain of Paddington 2, U.K. politician Jeremy Thorpe in the miniseries A Very British Scandal, or the voice of the Captain in 2012’s The Pirates! Band of Misfits. More recently, he appeared opposite Nicole Kidman in HBO’s The Undoing, appeared as Benoit Blanc’s husband in Netflix’s Glass Onion, and joined the Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves cast for the upcoming adventure epic.

With a title like the one this film boasts — which includes a name-check for the central hero and an exotic phrase following a colon — I cannot help but wonder if it is Ritchie’s intention to launch a new franchise of spy thrillers with this release. If so, I certainly hope the goal proves successful because the chemistry between the Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre cast members is strong enough to warrant another adventure, in my opinion.

Aubrey Plaza is currently making a big splash on this season of The White Lotus, but her next project with action hero Jason Statham will for sure attract an even bigger audience. The film is a stylish action comedy directed by Guy Ritchie. It seems like a different turn for Plaza who has explored more within the traditional comedy sphere. Apparently she is having a lot of fun on set, and even says she may have slapped her co-star's butt. 

In a new interview with GQ, the Emily the Criminal actress opened up about her expanding career and some of the new exciting projects she has down the pike. When talking about Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerre she revealed she had a lot of fun behind the scenes, and even channeled a James Bond-esque attitude towards her co-star, Jason Statham. She revealed:

Well I guess this certainly flips the script on some of the major themes of the James Bond movies. These two are so different, but I’m sure their acting sensibilities will come together wonderfully and be a power duo on screen. There are apparently a lot of antics going on behind the scenes, so hopefully these antics will translate as great chemistry in the film. 

This is not the first time Plaza has gotten attention for some of her more out-there interactions with her scene partners. She “weirded out” Robert De Niro when the two made Dirty Grandpa together and had a few wild scenes they had to film. The actress also said she gave a vial of her own blood to the Parks and Recreation cast after they wrapped filming their last season. She clearly isn’t afraid to go for it and show her wilder side. I personally think it’s hysterical, and I can’t wait to hear about more behind the scenes moments from Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerre.

If the snarky trailer is any indication, the Guy Ritchie film is going to be an absolute blast. It is about a Special agent named “Orson Fortune” who has a team of operatives. Their mission is to recruit one of Hollywood's biggest actors to help them on an undercover mission to break into a ring of deadly weapons sales. Along with Statham and Plaza, the cast also includes Hugh Grant, Cary Elwes, and Josh Hartnett. 

Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerre is set to hit theaters on January 12, 2023 along with many other great movie releases coming to theaters in 2023. In addition, you can catch Aubrey Plaza on Season 2 of The White Lotus, currently streaming with an HBO Max subscription. You can also check out the latest Guy Ritchie/Jason Statham team up project, Wrath of Man, streaming now for Amazon Prime subscribers. 

On a day of celebration and exciting festivities such as the Independence Day, the most common reason why one might stay inside is if it happened to be raining. However, if that is the case in your territory (or if you have your reasons to prefer staying indoors instead), there are plenty of great titles on the Netflix Top 10 today to check out. To witness the explosive displays on the lists of Netflix’s most popular movies and TV in the U.S., read on.

Top 10 Movies On Netflix In The U.S. - July 4, 2022

Because the Fourth of July is a time meant to be spent with family, it is not surprise that a fun animated family film like Sing 2 is, once again, Number One on Netflix’s Top 10 Movies in the U.S. with new action-comedy The Man from Toronto and 2015’s Jason Statham-led thriller Wild Card back in second and third place. However, they are now followed by the conclusion of Christopher Nolan’s live-action Batman movies - 2012’s The Dark Knight Rises - as it sits above director Todd Phillps’ 2003 comedy Old School, 2011’s Contraband with Mark Wahlberg, and Adam Sandler’s sports drama Hustle. New to the list is a Dave Bautista-led revenge flick from 2018 called Final Score in eighth place above the Oscar-winning Zero Dark Thirty and Frank Darabont’s heartbreaking Stephen King adaptation, The Mist.

• 1. Sing 2
• 2. The Man from Toronto
• 3. Wild Card
• 4. The Dark Knight Rises
• 5. Old School
• 6. Contraband
• 7. Hustle
• 8. Final Score
• 9. Zero Dark Thirty
• 10. The Mist

Top 10 TV Shows On Netflix In The U.S. - July 4, 2022

It is no surprise that Stranger Things is still reigning supreme on Netflix’s Top 10 TV Shows in the U.S. on the Fourth of July as Season 3 takes place around said holiday (or because the Season 4 finale dropped days earlier, probably). Back in second and third is inventive superhero TV show The Umbrella Academy and paranormal docuseries The UnXplained above treasure-hunting docuseries Pirate Gold of Adak Island switching places with hit sitcom The Upshaws as reality series Snowflake Mountain, coming-of-age fantasy Legacies, and fellow CW favorite All American have not budged since yesterday. Meanwhile, after making a surprise return to the list over the weekend, The Lincoln Lawyer has reached a new verdict, surpassing the long-running medical drama Grey’s Anatomy.

• 1. Stranger Things
• 2. The Umbrella Academy
• 3. The UnXplained
• 4. Pirate Gold Of Adak Island
• 5. The Upshaws
• 6. Snowflake Mountain
• 7. Legacies
• 8. All American
• 9. The Lincoln Lawyer
• 10. Grey’s Anatomy

Whether you are getting your entertainment from the sky watching your local fireworks display or from your own Netflix subscription, just remember that today is a day of great importance and great celebration that is mean to be honored with the people you love. Once your Fourth of July festivities have concluded, be sure to check back tomorrow for our next daily breakdown of what movies and TV shows people are watching the most on the streaming giant.

View the Netflix Top 10 lists for Sunday, July 3, 2022.

The Expendables 4 (or Expend4bles) is one of the most anticipated films of 2022, as adrenaline junkies have been waiting eight years for a new installment in the high-octane film series. Before the film wrapped production, Sylvester Stallone had been teasing fans with some badass behind-the-scenes set videos via social media. Now, he’s posted another video from his time on set, and it shows him and co-star Jason Statham ribbing each other. I mean, two of the biggest action stars in the world just joking around on set? No big deal, right?

Sylvester Stallone finished his work on Expendables 4 this past fall and celebrated by sharing a video from the set. What we didn’t know at the time, however, is that before he departed, he had a funny exchange with Jason Statham about his imminent exit. Stallone dropped the clip of the chuckle-worthy exchange on his Instagram account. You can check it out for yourself down below: 

The Rocky icon’s departure from the set is more significant than some may know. The 75-year-old actor previously revealed that the movie will mark his final time playing the role of Barney Ross in the series. With that, he’s relinquished leadership of the franchise to the Transporter alum, who plays Lee Christmas. One would think that it’s a bittersweet development for the stars and fans but, at the very least, it seems the actors made the most of their time on set during this latest outing. 

Jason Statham was also sharing production updates amid filming. One of his posts included some snapshots of him alongside Iko Uwais, who’s set to play the villain of the movie. And based on the photos, Uwais’ character is not someone to be trifled with. Luckily, Statham’s Lee Christmas will have some familiar allies in his corner. 

The Expendables 4 will also feature returning stars Dolph Lundgren and Randy Couture. And in terms of new blood, the action flick has recruited Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Tony Jaa and Megan Fox. This lineup should provide fans with a nice mix of old and new characters. The series is clearly in a period of transition, so it’s understandable that the producers would want to try to bring in a fresh batch of stars. Plot details are being kept under wraps for the time being, yet the first look teased some rough and steamy scenes.

There are high expectations for the film, and Sylvester Stallone and co. are really going to have to bring it if they hope to match the intensity of the first three installments. I’d expect that the actor has done what he can to ensure that it lives up to the hype. And as we wait for it, we’ll hopefully get some more nice behind-the-scenes videos like this newest one featuring the jovial Stallone and Jason Statham. 

An official release date has yet to be confirmed for The Expendables 4, though you can find dates for other upcoming movies on CinemaBlend’s schedule. 

The Expendables franchise has always been a steady place for action veterans to play in a brand new playground. Expendables 4 looks to be no exception, as a first look at the movie at CinemaCon revealed not only a cast heavy with action veterans, but also some guns, a lot of Megan Fox and the flick's title. You really gotta see it spelled out to believe it, as the flick is rolling with the title Expend4bles. 

Where Jackass Forever failed to tread with its title announcement, Expend4bles went ahead and leaned right in, which makes sense given the other movies in the franchise never really bothered with long-winded subtitles. The brand new first look at the upcoming Lionsgate flick was both a look back at what the franchise brought before and what is to come next. 

And what is to come next, from the looks of things, is quite a bit of Megan Fox, who famously joined the franchise back in August of 2021. She has been on a tear lately, landing a slew of upcoming roles in projects like Expendables 4 – sorry Expend4bles – and Johnny & Clyde . In the first footage of the movie, Megan Fox looks badass, as she gets steamy with none other than Jason Statham. He got a lot of screentime in the promo and could be a fine successor in the franchise should those rumors hold true. Sylvester Stallone was also there and back in form again. 

While Lionsgate hasn’t officially released a trailer yet, the good news is that Fox shared a look at her Expendables character soon after the movie started production back in October. Of course, she looks badass.  

In addition, Stallone has teased a bar brawl and more as the movie went through filming. It's now wrapped.

The footage also brings in the slew of major names who will make up the cast. Curtis ‘Fifty Cent’ Jackson introduced the movie in a quick video presentation before we were given looks at the full cast. There’s Jackson and Statham and Fox, but also Sylvester Stallone, Randy Couture, Dolph Lundgren, Iko Uwais, Tony Jaa and Andy Garcia. 

Expend4bles is expected to come out later this year, but while we finally have a title for the flick, we’ve yet to learn the official release date. For now, though, you can take a look at what else Lionsgate has coming to the 2022 movie release schedule, including White Bird, a sequel to the box office hit Wonder, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret., and, of course, John Wick Chapter 4.

It’s sort of amazing that it took until 2018 for somebody to realize that what the world needed was a movie where Jason Statham fights a giant shark. Luckily, somebody did eventually figure that out and we were gifted with The Meg. And clearly people really were looking for a movie where Jason Statham fought a giant shark because the movie made a lot of money at the global box office. And after a much longer than planned delay, The Meg 2 is currently in production. Now we know when we’ll actually see it.

Meg 2: The Trench has officially been dated by Warner Bros. and is scheduled to hit theaters August 4, 2023, according to Bloody Disgusting. Jason Statham is set to reprise his role. The script was written by Dean Georgaris and Jon & Erich Hoeber, who penned the first movie as well.  Ben Wheatley is directing the new movie, taking over from Jon Turteltaub who helmed the first installment.

The new movie takes its title from Steve Alten’s second book in his Meg series. One assumes the plot of the sequel will also be inspired by the book, though the 2018 film did end in a significantly different way than the book, so one assumes there will be changes to this second adaptation as well. 

When Meg 2 arrives in theaters next August it will be five years since the first movie opened, which is actually a long time in the modern world of franchise filmmaking, especially when the first movie was such a solid hit. The sequel had the greenlight only a couple months after the first movie was released. Of course, the global pandemic certainly had a lot to say about that. The script was still in development in early 2019. Director Ben Wheatley wasn’t brought on board until October of 2020, and by then we were already in the pandemic which meant nothing was going to move forward until that was dealt with. 

Now that we’re in a place where film productions can happen, Meg 2: The Trench is in production, and it has a release date more than a year away, so there should be plenty of time to complete filming, start post-production, and do reshoots if needed. Even if things still need to be taken slow or production sees delays, hitting that date should not be hard. 

Having said that, there’s still the possibility that Meg 2 could get pushed back from this set August date. Warner Bros. just moved around the dates of several DC projects and while no release date is ever set in stone, it’s clear that things are still much more fluid than they once were on that front. Still, the fact that The Meg sequel has a release date at all will be good news for fans. This movie is coming and that means we will get to see Jason Statham fight another giant shark, and that’s a good thing. 

Back in 2018, Hollywood brought back the shark movie in a big way with the summer release of The Meg. The big-budget blockbuster starring Jason Statham is set to become a franchise with its upcoming sequel, Meg 2: The Trench. Now that filming is underway for the megalodon flick, we know more about the movie’s cast. 

Along with Jason Statham returning to the lead role of rescue diver Jonas Taylor, a number of other notable cast members have been added to the cast list, per The Hollywood Reporter. The Gifted actress Skyler Samuels, Rambo: Last Blood’s Sergio Peris-Mencheta and Resident Evil’s Sienna Guillory are all on board for the action film. 

Sergio Peris-Mencheta, who faced off against Sylvester Stallone in Rambo: Last Blood, is set to play one of Meg 2’s villains, who is described as a “hard-edged” mercenary. Skyler Samuels, who has also notably (but briefly) worked with Ryan Murphy for Scream Queens and American Horror Story, will play an “adventure-loving member” of Statham’s submarine crew in The Trench. Lastly, Guillory, who played Jill Valentine in three Resident Evil movies, is going to play the head of an applied sciences division in the movie.

The three cast members join Cliff Curtis, Sophia Cai and Page Kennedy, who are each reprising their roles from The Meg. However, it doesn’t look like other cast members like Rainn Wilson, Ruby Rose or Masi Oka are back in the film at this time. Last year, Mortal Kombat’s Jessica McNamee, who played Jonas’ ex-wife in The Meg shared that she would “love to be involved,” but at this time it doesn’t look like she’s part of the cast either. 

The long-awaited sequel has production underway in the United Kingdom under the direction of Ben Wheatley, who previously helmed Sienna Guillory in 2015’s High-Rise. The new Meg director has shared the “heavy responsibility” he feels to make the sequel a great action movie that appeals to the shark fans. The Trench script was written by Jon and Erich Hoeber, who wrote the 2018 film along with the RED movies and 2020’s My Spy. 

The latest cast members to join Meg 2: The Trench are not exactly massive movie stars we’ve seen in multiple other big-budget films, but the franchise is more known for delivering on big-scale action over a lineup of big stars. Jason Statham is coming off being part of the Fast and Furious franchise and filming the upcoming Expendables movie, so The Meg sequel will allow him to shine in an action flick of his own. 

Meg 2: The Trench does not have an official release date yet, but we’d expect it to be ready to hit theaters next summer. While we anticipate the shark movie, check out what upcoming movies are headed our way this year.