Jason Statham has signed on to star in a new, untitled action-thriller written by Kurt Wimmer (“Salt”) that will be a co-production between Statham and Steve Chasman’s SJ Pictures and China-based Road Pictures, it was announced Friday.
Statham will play an ex-pat Brit living in Hong Kong who goes on the run with a high-level female Chinese agent to solve a kidnapping with global implications.
Chasman (“The Bank Job”) will produce the movie with Gongming Cai and Julien Favre of Road Pictures, the Beijing-headquartered global media group. Production will begin next fall in China and Europe.
“Jason and I both have been wanting to work with Kurt for a long time. He has such an incredible vision for this film that this collaboration is particularly exciting for us. The narrative Kurt creates is incredibly rich and while our story is rooted in adventure, it is also very much character driven,” said Chasman. “We couldn’t be more fortunate to be working with him, as well as our new partners from Road Pictures, Gongming and Julien, who really comprehend the global potential for the film.”
“This is a perfect vehicle for Jason Statham to conquer the Chinese market — he is a true global superstar who has such an authentic connection with audiences around the world. Jason is in a class by himself. There is nothing he can’t do and he proves this time and time again with every project he’s involved in,” added Gongming Cai. “We’re excited to put this film into production, which marks the beginning of what we see as a fruitful long-term partnership with Jason Statham and Steven Chasman.”
Statham recently starred in Paul Feig‘s action-comedy “Spy” and Universal’s blockbuster hit “Furious 7.” He’s represented by CAA and Current Entertainment.