Jason Statham is soon set to return as Adam Clay in The Beekeeper 2, but the sequel’s new director has explained how he intends to turn his character into a classic Marvel hero. Following the unexpected box office success of the 2024 action outing from Fury director David Ayer, plans for a sequel were first announced in February ofthis year.

While Ayer will continue to be involved as a producer on The Beekeeper 2, directorial duties have been pᴀssed over to Nobody 2’s Timo Tjahjanto. Meanwhile, the sequel’s script is also set to be penned by the original movie’s screenwriter, Kurt Wimmer.

Speaking with ScreenRant about the release of Nobody 2, Tjahjanto was quizzed about his involvement with The Beekeeper franchise and his plans for the sequel. Revealing that what first attracted him to the project were the parallels between Statham’s Adam Clay and Marvel’s Frank Castle, aka The Punisher. Check out his comments below:

I’m definitely drawn to the Beekeeper series just because when I watched it, I always felt that, “Wow, this is essentially Statham playing one of my favorite characters in the Marvel universe, which is The Punisher.”

Tjahjanto also suggested that if he were not yet in a position to helm his own Punisher movie, he would turn Statham into his version of the character. He also praised the action star for his own stoic, “Frank Castle-esque” qualities:

If I can’t make The Punisher film, if the Gods of film aren’t allowing me to do a Punisher film yet, then I’ll turn Adam Clay into my own version of The Punisher. Which is great! I think Statham has that quality in him. He has that very stoic Frank Castle-esque quality to him. And I love that Adam Clay is definitely a guy who is quite colorful in his choice of violence. He gets really, really creative with his violence.

Explaining that he has been enjoying planning The Beekeeper 2’s action sequences, the director also went on to tease the quality of the villains set to appear in the sequel. Check out his final comments below:

Honestly, so far we’ve been having fun planning all this environmental-type takedowns and all that stuff, which Statham is a huge fan of. Also, another thing that draws me is definitely the escalation of just how big the villains are in this film. So, you can wait for that. You can anticipate that!

What Timo Tjahjanto’s Mean For Jason Statham’s Return In The Beekeeper 2

While Tjahjanto may be quick to compare Statham’s unique brand of stoicism to that of the Punisher, the director’s comments could potentially reveal much about the sequel’s story. Given that much of Frank Castle’s appeal as a Marvel hero also stems from his tragic backstory, it is possible that The Beekeeper 2 could delve into Adam Clay’s past.

Even though the first movie explained the origins of Statham’s character as a retired operative for The Beekeepers, the exact nature of his former employer and his time working there remains shrouded in mystery. Potentially injecting Clay’s story with a personal tragedy would be a perfect opportunity to align his character with Frank Castle.

Moreover, with Tjahjanto’s suggestion that the sequel’s villains will surpᴀss those of The Beekeeper’s primary antagonist, Derek Danforth, it is possible that Clay’s new quest could see him face off against far more personal threats directly tied to his own history.

Our Take On Turning Adam Clay Into The Punisher

While it may be tempting to compare Clay’s propensity for violence and his single-minded pursuit of justice to that of the Punisher, there is still far more that has made the character a comic book favorite. If Tjahjanto is serious in his desire to have Clay emulate the Marvel hero, he will also need to embrace Castle’s other traits.

It is the Punisher’s continued and unabated inner torment that ultimately drives his actions, and it is only by revealing a similar side to Statham’s character that The Beekeeper 2 would truly see Adam Clay begin to emulate Frank Castle.