“The Transporter 2” airs tonight on TFX. Will we ever see Jason Statham in this role again?
Produced by Luc Besson, the action trilogy The Transporter (2002-2008) carried by Jason Statham totaled more than 240 million dollars at the international box office.
A great success which gave birth to a 2-season series led by Chris Vance and a “pre-sequel” (mix between prequel and sequel) with Ed Skrein, released in 2015. But these last two productions did not have the expected success .
Broadcast tonight on TFX, the second part of the Statham trilogy is directed by Frenchman Louis Leterrier, who was already co-directing the first film.
In this opus, the British actor resumes his role of Frank Martin and must, this time, drive a child to school for a few days. But because the boy’s father is now in charge of the fight against drugs, he will find himself in spite of himself involved in an incredible plot.
Directed by Olivier Megaton (Taken 2 and 3), The Transporter 3 was released two years later and came to close the trilogy worn by Jason Statham.
EuropaCorp Kate Nauta and Jason Statham
Will the British actor take over the role of Franck Martin in a new film?
In 2013, during the Cannes Film Festival, Europacorp, Luc Besson’s company, announced a new Le Transporteur trilogy in partnership with China’s Fundamental Films studio. But the return of Jason Statham is uncertain.
A few months later, it is Ed Skrein who is announced in the main role and Luc Besson decides to bet on the youth of the character in order to bring a breath of fresh air to the saga…
Directed by Camille Delamarre, Le Transporteur Héritage was released in theaters on September 9, 2015 and totaled $72.6 million worldwide. Honorable figures but which will not make companies want to embark on a new trilogy since no sequel to Heritage Transporter has been announced.
EuropaCorp
Ed Skrein
In addition, the financial problems encountered in recent years by EuropaCorp, coupled with the legal setbacks of Luc Besson, leave little hope for the future of the franchise.
A contract not juicy enough
In 2015, while promoting Fast & Furious 7, Jason Statham explained to the Vulture site that he was indeed offered to take over the role that made him an action movie star. But he declined the offer.
It was obviously a great experience to make these films, and I would have loved to continue making them. But they wanted me to sign a contract for three more movies without even reading a script. And they were offering me less money to do those three than I had been paid for a movie!
Since the first film, Jason Statham has indeed become the action movie star par excellence and has chained muscular roles: Hyper Tension, Rogue the ultimate confrontation, Death race, The Gunslinger, Expendables, Parker, Fast & Furious and its spin-off Hobbs & Shaw…
Coming back for 3 films without knowing the story and being paid less would have had no interest for him.
The 55-year-old actor will soon star in The Meg 2 (August 2, 2023), Expendables 4 (October 2023), Operation Fortune: Ruse De Guerre by his friend Guy Ritchie and should then find Dwayne Johnson in the sequel to Hobbs & Shaw.