Jason Statham to play himself in 'Bullet Train' director's big-budget comedy actioner
Jason Statham will take the meta self-starring route in his next. 'Jason Statham Stole My Bike' helmed by 'Bullet Train' director David Leitch is the next in his slate of films. At the time of writing, the set budget is an estimated $80M with the feature including major set pieces.
There is no offical logline for the film yet, and the plot is tightly sealed. However, per Deadline, "we’re told it’ll see Statham “in the role of a lifetime, playing global action superstar Jason Statham". The outlet added the film is rated PG-13. 'BoJack Horseman's' Alison Flierl pens the script. The actor's previous action-comedies include, 'Spy', 'Snatch', 'Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels' and 'Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre'.
Statham was most recently seen in 'Shelter' directed by Ric Roman Waugh. The action thriller sees 'The Expendables' star play a former British government assassin live a life of solitude in Scotland, until he is forced back to his gritty past while trying to protect a young girl from the agency looking to kill him. The actor spoke of the roles that demanded much of him physically and mentally, and the toll that took after he made it his hallmark by performing his own stunts.
"There have been a lot of stunts where I went too far,” he told BBC in an interview. “When you get hurt, a lot of the time you think, ‘why did I do that, why didn’t I get a stunt man to do that?’ I’ve hurt my neck a few times, I’ve hurt a lot of things a few times and that reminds you of your mistakes." He also added, "In for a penny, in for a pound" ̦ a philosophy he believes has served him as well. "I like to get in front of the camera and do as much as I can,” and “I’ve spent many years learning different disciplines and given I have the technical skills to take on these complex action sequences, I like to get stuck in.” Those words sum up not just Shelter but a career driven by discipline experience and the refusal to hold back even when the cost is high."
Up next, the Statham will be starring in a string of releases later this year. A sequel to 'The Beekeeper' and 'Mutiny' are on list of projects. In the meantime, there is no release date set for 'Jason Statham Stole My Bike'.
