The Beekeeper 2 is now confirmed, with Jason Statham returning and a new director. Released in early 2024, David Ayer’s The Beekeeper introduced audiences to Statham’s Adam Clay, a former “Beekeeper” operative who sets out on a path for vengeance after someone close to him is scammed. The first film, which also starred Emmy Raver-Lampman, Jeremy Irons, and Josh Hutcherson, earned generally positive reviews and was a surprise box office hit, leading to talk of a potential The Beekeeper 2.

ᴅᴇᴀᴅline now reports that Miramax and Statham will reteam for The Beekeeper 2. Ayer won’t direct the film, however, with Timo Tjahjanto (The Night Comes For Us) instead stepping in to helm the sequel. The movie is set to start filming this fall with a script from Kurt Wimmer, who also wrote the first film. ᴅᴇᴀᴅline notes that the studio is looking to bring Ayer back as a producer on The Beekeeper 2. Amazon MGM Studios is reportedly a top option to handle domestic distribution for the sequel after doing the same for the original.

What The Beekeeper 2’s Confirmation Means For The Movie

Timo Tjahjanto’s Action Movie Experience Explained

While Ayer was evidently a crucial ingredient to The Beekeeper‘s positive reviews and box office success, Tjahjanto comes to the table with some impressive experience in the action genre. Tjahjanto has directed Indonesian Netflix action movies like The Night Comes For Us (2018), The Big Four (2022), and, most recently, the well-received The Shadow Strays (2024). Before tackling The Beekeeper 2, though, Tjahjanto is set to make a splash in Hollywood with Nobody 2 starring Bob Odenkirk.

Even though The Beekeeper 2 won’t serve as a reunion for Statham and Ayer, the two figures continue to enjoy a strong working relationship. Statham stars in Ayer’s A Working Man, an action thriller hitting theaters on March 28. Even though Tjahjanto is set to bring his own unique directing sensibilities to The Beekeeper 2, Wimmer’s return on scripting duties suggests it will still have plenty in common with the original movie. With filming getting underway this fall, the sequel could hit theaters in late 2026.

Our Take On The Beekeeper 2

The Jason Statham Sequel Is In Good Hands

Statham continues to pump out action movies at a fairly regular cadence, and not all of them are winners. The Beekeeper, however, is seemingly in on the joke of just how ridiculous it is, and it’s this sense of humor – combined with hard-hitting action sequences – that helped the movie stand out from the pack. The movie knows how to take advantage of Statham’s strengths as an actor, and the sequel will also need to do this in order to succeed.

With Ayer out, Tjahjanto is arguably the best option as a replacement. Tjahjanto’s style of action and Statham’s physicality could be an exceptional combination, and it might even result in the sequel having stronger action sequences than the original. Many questions remain about The Beekeeper 2, especially in terms of what other cast members may return, but the film is already looking promising.

Source: ᴅᴇᴀᴅline