On July 30, a Facebook account named Mike Us falsely announced that Jason Statham and Kevin Bacon would star in a sequel to Bacon’s 2004 film, The Woodsman. The post featured a plot summary and an AI-generated poster, quickly attracting over 6,000 reactions, 500 comments, and 500 shares before it was revealed as a fabrication. This misleading post has caused confusion among viewers and highlights the rise of viral hoaxes involving fabricated movie projects.
The Original ‘The Woodsman’ and Its Misattributed Actor
The Woodsman, released around two decades ago, is a dark drama starring Kevin Bacon, not Jason Statham. The film follows Walter, a man recently released after 12 years in prison for child molestation, as he struggles with reintegration and confronting his past. The fake sequel post appropriated several key elements from the original film’s storyline but wrongly assigned them to Statham’s supposed character.
Interestingly, the post‘s plot summary was lifted almost verbatim from a YouTube video by Film Flashback Plus, which garnered minimal views, suggesting an attempt to lend credibility to the hoax. The false sequel was described as an “action-packed” crime drama, a stark departure from the original’s somber tone. The accompanying poster, although realistic in appearance, was AI-generated, with commenters noting that Kevin Bacon’s portrayal in the image looked noticeably off. The included link in the post offered no legitimate content, further exposing the falseness of the claim.
The choice to associate Statham with The Woodsman seems baseless. Statham had no involvement with the 2004 film, which contrasts sharply with his typical action-oriented roles. One speculative connection is Statham’s character named Woodsman in the Expendables series, though the character itself never appears onscreen. A more likely motive is that his name generates higher engagement on Facebook, motivating the account to use it for drawing attention.
Identifying and Avoiding Fake Movie Announcements
The Mike Us Facebook account, which posted the fake sequel, is notorious for publishing fabricated movie posters and trailers. It features images of celebrities like Robert Downey Jr. in an alleged fourth Sherlock Holmes film and bizarre concepts such as a Blackadder adaptation starring Jason Statham, Rowan Atkinson, and Sydney Sweeney. Despite the questionable nature of its content, the account maintains Facebook verification, which may mislead users into trusting its posts.
Similar misleading content appears on YouTube, where channels compile unofficial trailers by editing together footage of actors from various sources. These “fan trailers” sometimes masquerade as official previews but often clarify their unofficial status in descriptions or titles. With advancements in AI, some creators are taking these fabricated concepts further, generating AI-powered trailers showing actors like Adam Sandler or Will Smith in unlikely roles.
As digital manipulation grows more sophisticated, distinguishing legitimate movie announcements from fake ones becomes increasingly difficult. To verify a film’s authenticity, users can consult IMDb pages for actors’ upcoming projects or follow official distributors and reputable entertainment media accounts. Verifying the source of a trailer or poster is essential because even social media verification badges do not guarantee the accuracy of shared content.
Jason Statham’s Genuine Upcoming Film Projects
While no sequel to The Woodsman featuring Jason Statham exists, the actor has several legitimate projects underway. One highly anticipated film is Mutiny, slated for a January 2026 release, where Statham plays a man on the run after being wrongly accused of his billionaire boss’s murder. He is also involved in a post-production project directed by Ric Roman Waugh, known for Angel Has Fallen and Greenland. Statham portrays a loner with a mysterious past who becomes entangled in danger after rescuing a girl, though no release date is available yet.
Further expanding his filmography, Statham is returning as Deckard Shaw in the upcoming Fast and Furious sequel, Fast X: Part 2. Despite numerous delays, Universal Pictures and Vin Diesel aim to complete this chapter by April 2027. Additionally, a sequel to Statham’s action thriller The Beekeeper is in early production stages, promising more high-octane performances from the actor.
Where to Watch the Original ‘The Woodsman’
Though no new Woodsman movie with Jason Statham is on the horizon, interested viewers can still explore the original film’s powerful narrative. Kevin Bacon delivers one of his most memorable performances in this critically acclaimed drama, which currently holds an 88% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. For those wishing to watch, The Woodsman is accessible through Amazon Prime Video with a subscription, offering a chance to experience the film directly.
Main Cast of the Original ‘The Woodsman’
The original movie features an acclaimed cast including:
Kevin Bacon as Walter
David Alan Grier as Bob
Kyra Sedgwick as Vicki
Eve as Mary-Kay
