The Beekeeper, one of Jason Statham’s standout action thrillers, is moving forward with its sequel as production gains momentum. Director Timo Tjahjanto, known for films like The Night Comes for Us and The Shadow Strays, shared exclusive details with MovieWeb’s George Edelman, confirming active location scouting and promising developments for the follow-up.
Tjahjanto recently traveled between London and Los Angeles during the pre-production phase. Reflecting on the original film, he expressed enthusiasm for its distinctive blend of gritty action and absurd elements.
“I was, literally two days ago, I was in London scouting for locations [for Beekeeper 2], and now I’m here in LA, but I love…I can’t wait, to be honest, because, you know, Beekeeper is obviously one of those movies where it sort of walked the fine line … something absurd about it in a great way, right? Like, I think that’s what I that’s what I’m drawn to, because I love this absurdist world of Beekeeper and secret agents and all that stuff, you know? But like, also, there’s something that is really earnest in its sense, where it can be really violent, it can be suddenly very gritty.”
—Timo Tjahjanto, Director
Background and Success of The Beekeeper Film
The original The Beekeeper, directed by David Ayer with a screenplay by Kurt Wimmer, featured Jason Statham as Adam Clay, a seemingly ordinary beekeeper with a dark past as a retired black ops assassin from the covert group known as the Beekeepers. The story follows Clay’s quest for justice after the murder of his closest friend. Supporting cast members included Emmy Raver-Lampman as Agent Verona Parker, Josh Hutcherson, Minnie Driver, Phylicia Rashad, Bobby Naderi, and Jeremy Irons.
Released last year, the film achieved substantial box office success, grossing $152.7 million worldwide. It also garnered solid approval ratings with 71% from critics and 92% positive audience feedback on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite a lengthy development period, the sequel is now officially confirmed, with Timo Tjahjanto taking over directing duties and Amazon MGM Studios obtaining the distribution rights.
Director Discusses Themes of Aging and Resilience in Upcoming Projects
Alongside his work on The Beekeeper sequel, Tjahjanto is directing Nobody 2, starring Bob Odenkirk as former assassin Hutch Mansell. He draws parallels between both follow-up films, highlighting their focus on aging action heroes who continue to fight despite physical and emotional wear.
“And as most like Jason’s films that you know, I love it, because here we are telling the story of a man like, like, like Bob himself, you know, like Statham here right now, he’s playing a character who acknowledged that he’s aging, you know. And I think I’m definitely drawn into characters who are still going, regardless of, you know, how sort of, like, beaten down they are, you know.”
—Timo Tjahjanto, Director
Bob Odenkirk will reprise his role in Nobody 2, which is scheduled for release on August 15, 2025. The story again explores the challenges faced by a former assassin, this time during a family vacation, reinforcing the theme of resilience central to both sequels.
Anticipation Builds as Production Progresses
With Tjahjanto actively scouting locations and engaging in production planning, excitement is growing among fans awaiting the Jason Statham Beekeeper sequel update. The combination of gritty realism and a unique, almost absurd, action universe promises to build on the strengths of the first film. Jason Statham’s return as Adam Clay, alongside a fresh directorial vision and a committed production team, signals a continuation of intense, character-driven storytelling.
As Amazon MGM Studios takes the helm for distribution, the sequel is well-positioned to capture the audience’s attention once again, sustaining the franchise’s momentum. Following the success of The Beekeeper, the upcoming film will likely solidify Jason Statham’s role as a leading action star while setting a promising tone for future installments.
