Jason Statham returns to the realm of action movies with A Working Man, and the upcoming release may already be a replacement for a franchise he started just last year. The 2025 action movie is one of the most anticipated releases in the genre, thanks to the reasonably strong stretch Statham has had recently. He’s delivered repeated box office hits between the Fast & Furious and The Meg franchises in the last few years. Even movies that aren’t part of established franchises have done well. That’s the hope once more with potential franchise starter A Working Man.
The new film from director David Ayer is an adaptation of a long-running book series by author Chuck Dixon. With the Levon’s Trade books as inspiration, A Working Man has the potential to be a franchise that Jason Statham is part of for over 20 years if all the books are adapted. Even if Statham’s run as Levon Cade is shorter, the movie is undoubtedly one for which he, Ayer, and Amazon MGM have franchise aspirations. That would make sense after all were involved in The Beekeeper‘s $162 million success. But A Working Man may have replaced that new franchise.
Jason Statham & David Ayer Prioritized A Working Man Over The Beekeeper 2
Ayer Isn’t Even Returning For The Beekeeper’s Sequel Now
When Jason Statham and David Ayer first teamed up for The Beekeeper last year, the film’s box office and critical success brought the ᴀssumption that a sequel would be fast tracked. Both men vocalized their interest in making The Beekeeper 2 before the first film even debuted. That’s why it was so surprising when it was announced that they were making A Working Man. The new movie became their priority over expanding a known commodity that was well positioned to succeed. That left The Beekeeper 2‘s development in uncertain territory.
Now, it’s been confirmed that The Beekeeper 2 is moving forward but with a notable change. David Ayer is not returning to direct the sequel, as previously believed. Instead, Timo Tjahjanto (Nobody 2) is taking over directing duties. The reason for the change is not wholly due to A Working Man. Ayer has other commitments to a Brad Pitt-starring thriller called The Heart of the Beast at Paramount that take precedence. That’s notable still, because it was previously thought The Beekeeper would be a franchise Ayer and Statham shepherd together. It’s now just Statham without Ayer.
A Working Man Could Now Be The David Ayer & Jason Statham Franchise The Beekeeper Seemed To Be
They Could Reunite On A Working Man’s Sequel Next
With The Beekeeper 2 already shifting the direction of the Jason Statham franchise, it is possible that A Working Man will be his action series that David Ayer remains involved in. There is no official development underway on a sequel to A Working Man, but Statham, Amazon MGM, and Ayer could start finalizing plans for one later in the year if the first film is another box office hit. Since Ayer already missed out on doing The Beekeeper 2, it would be somewhat surprising if he was then also absent from the development of A Working Man‘s sequel.
Ayer and Statham could make one of these movies every few years to keep working together
The chance that David Ayer and Jason Statham reunite on future A Working Man franchise installmentsmeans it could be the series The Beekeeper was expected to be. Ayer and Statham could make one of these movies every few years to keep working together and develop a solid action franchise that is successful for all parties involved. That doesn’t take anything away from The Beekeeper‘s franchise potential. But for anyone looking for an Ayer and Statham action franchise after the 2024 film, A Working Man could be it in the end.
