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Amazon MGM Studios has picked up the worldwide rights to The Beekeeper 2, the sequel to the 2024 action hit starring Jason Statham, in a deal reportedly over $50 million. The transaction is one of the biggest international film deals of the year and continues Amazon’s push to build up a library of franchise-driven content headed by veteran box office stars.
The original Beekeeper, also directed by David Ayer and released early in 2024, proved to be a box office hit that grossed over $162 million worldwide on a budget of $40 million. Statham played the part of Adam Clay, a former operative for an enigmatic organization known as the Beekeepers, who goes to war against a large tech corporation after being involved in a phishing scam that leads a friend to take their own life. The film was praised for its brutal action, Statham’s commitment, and its pulpy, old-school vigilante spirit.
Statham is back to resume his role in the sequel, with Indonesian action director Timo Tjahjanto (The Night Comes for Us, The Big Four) stepping in behind the lens. Tjahjanto’s history of fast-paced fight choreography and gritty visual style suggests that The Beekeeper 2 could be heavier on action than the original. David Ayer is not returning to direct but will allegedly stay on as a producer.
The movie is in pre-production, and plot details are not being revealed. Sources indicate that the sequel will explore the hidden world of the Beekeepers more deeply, their origin, and their operations on a global scale. Statham is also producing under his Punch Palace Productions label, along with Miramax, which co-financed the original.
Amazon MGM’s purchase signals a continued focus on theatrical-quality content with global reach. With this acquisition, the studio is joining other streaming behemoths shifting more and more towards action franchises, as movies like Reacher, Jack Ryan, and John Wick spin-off series have shown success.
No release date yet has been announced for The Beekeeper 2, but filming is supposed to begin later this year. With Statham reprising and Tjahjanto’s own frenetic energy in charge, anticipate fans getting an ultraviolent, high-octane sequel which sets out to improve on its original on all fronts – scope and spectacle.
