Jason Statham and Guy Ritchie will team up once more for the action thriller Viva La Madness, marking their sixth feature film together. The production is based on J.J. Connolly’s novel, a follow-up to Layer Cake, although the film will be a standalone story unrelated to previous adaptations.
Film Background and Production Details
The plot of Viva La Madness remains confidential, but the story revolves around an anonymous London drug dealer, known simply as X, involving themes of scams, narcotics, and money laundering. This darkly comic narrative was first published in 2011, following Connolly’s 2000 novel that inspired the cult crime movie Layer Cake. That 2004 film introduced audiences to Daniel Craig and propelled his path to becoming James Bond.
Production will start in January 2026. Currently, Jason Statham is the only confirmed cast member, with Guy Ritchie attached as both writer and director. The film is produced by Statham’s Punch Palace Pictures, alongside Thomas Benski’s Lumina Studios and Toff Guy Films, with Black Bear also involved in production and handling international sales. Black Bear plans to launch the film at the upcoming American Film Market, and their recent entry into U.S. distribution suggests they may release it domestically.
Longstanding Collaboration and Industry Context
This reunion continues a longstanding partnership between Ritchie and Statham, who have collaborated on several crime and action films, including Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch, Revolver, Wrath of Man, and Operation Fortune. Notably, Layer Cake was directed by Matthew Vaughn, who also produced Ritchie’s and Statham’s earlier hit movies.
Discussions about a sequel to Layer Cake featuring Guy Ritchie and Jason Statham date back over a decade, with initial rumors in 2013 linking Statham to the character originally portrayed by Craig. Though this new film isn’t billed as a direct sequel or spin-off, it draws on the same crime thriller universe created in Connolly’s works.
Guy Ritchie’s Recent Work and Future Projects
Guy Ritchie has revisited his British crime genre roots in recent years, directing titles such as The Gentlemen and its Netflix spinoff, the Paramount+ series MobLand, as well as the upcoming film Wife & Dog. His collaborations with Jason Statham have become a defining feature of his career, combining sharp storytelling with stylish direction.
Significance and Expectations for the Film
Viva La Madness represents a significant continuation of the creative partnership between Jason Statham and Guy Ritchie, offering fans a fresh story that taps into their established dynamic within the crime thriller genre. With production set to begin in early 2026 and key production companies involved, the project is positioned to generate strong attention both at the American Film Market and in subsequent global release.
