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Jason Statham Takes on a Prehistoric Predator in ‘The Meg’

Action star Jason Statham is well-known for his ability to tackle formidable foes, but the premise of facing a towering prehistoric creature raises the stakes even higher. In the 2018 film The Meg, Statham steps into the role of a rescue diver who confronts a colossal shark, captivating audiences as the film resurfaces on streaming platforms.

Directed by Jon Turteltaub and penned by Dean Georgaris, Jon Hoeber, and Erich Hoeber, The Meg draws inspiration from Steve Alten’s 1997 novel. Alongside Statham, the film features Li Bingbing, Rainn Wilson, Ruby Rose, Winston Chao, and Cliff Curtis, all of whom become targets when the 75-foot-long megalodon escapes from the Mariana Trench and begins its rampage. The Meg is currently available for streaming on Prime Video, recently re-entering the top 10 in viewership.

“Previously thought to be extinct, a massive creature attacks a deep-sea submersible, leaving it disabled and trapping the crew at the bottom of the Pacific. With time running out, a visionary oceanographer recruits rescue diver Jonas Taylor to save the crew and the sea itself from an unimaginable threat — a 75-foot-long prehistoric shark known as the Megalodon,” reads the official synopsis.

‘The Meg’ Was a Box Office Beast Despite Mixed Reviews

With The Meg, Statham steps outside of his typical portrayals of skilled covert operatives and lethal fighters, embracing the role of a heroic yet somewhat jaded rescue diver. Even though the film received polarizing reviews—scoring 47% from critics and 44% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes—it proved to be a massive success at the box office, accumulating $530 million globally. This financial triumph has led to a sequel, Meg 2: The Trench, which premiered in 2023. Despite the wealth of source material available, a third installment has yet to be greenlit.

In the realm of upcoming projects, an exciting announcement has surfaced—The Beekeeper 2 is officially in the works. Fans of Statham are eagerly anticipating this sequel, which involves the director known for contemporary action successes such as The Shadow Strays and The Night Comes for Us, Timo Tjahjanto, who has also hinted at a potential third film.

Before stepping back into the world of beekeeping, Statham will showcase his action prowess in A Working Man, directed by David Ayer and featuring a script by Sylvester Stallone. Alongside Statham, the film boasts a talented ensemble cast including David Harbour (Stranger Things), Michael Peña (End of Watch), Jason Flemyng (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels), Arianna Rivas (The Black Phone 2), Noemi Gonzalez (Selena: The Series), and Emmett J. Scanlan (Peaky Blinders, Kin). Set to hit theaters on March 28, here’s a look at the film’s synopsis:

“Levon Cade left behind a decorated military career in the black ops to live a simple life working construction. But when his boss’s daughter, who is like family to him, is taken by human traffickers, his search to bring her home uncovers a world of corruption far greater than he ever could have imagined.”

Release Date
August 10, 2018

Runtime
113 Minutes

Source
movieweb.com