Meg 2: The Trench - Jason Statham's Franchise Future

The Rise of Meg 2: The Trench

Jason Statham is one of the biggest action stars of the modern era, and Meg 2: The Trench has proven that it is Statham's real franchise future after the actor's other 2023 box office disappointments. 2023 has been a rough year at the box office for blockbusters, with many movies that seemed like guaranteed hits flopping. Several of Jason Statham's movies have been subject to this problem, with multiple Statham movies failing critically and commercially after being released. Meg 2: The Trench, however, managed to avoid this problem, showing that it may truly be the future of Statham's career in massive movie franchises.

Jason Statham in a Submarine in Meg 2 The Trench

Meg 2: The Trench is the sequel to 2018's The Meg, with both of the ridiculous shark movies being surprisingly well received at the box office. Both The Meg films have starred Jason Statham, and while they have worked, this has been surprising to many longtime fans of the actors. Jason Statham has been known for acting in grounded, serious action films, with a CGI-heavy blockbuster about fighting prehistoric sharks not being something that Statham would typically be associated with. However, Statham's recent wave of success has been on the back of The Meg, proving an interesting point about the actor's franchise future.

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Meg 2: The Trench was actually Jason Statham's most successful movie of 2023. On a budget of around $139 million, the movie managed to rake in $395 million, beating the profitability rule of thumb of doubling the budget to account for distribution and advertising costs. This success sets up the possibility that The Meg could be Jason Statham's biggest franchise, with it being exactly what the actor needs in his career.

Jason Statham kicks a megalodon in Meg 2: The Trench

The Perfect Franchise for Jason Statham

The Meg franchise is actually perfect for Jason Statham, with it being exactly what the actor needs in his career. The Meg is a highly profitable action franchise in which Jason Statham is the sole star, with him being plastered all over every trailer and poster. The Meg is big, dumb, and fun, meaning that a litany of sequels could be released without hurting the little prestige that The Meg franchise has.

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Jason Statham is a key part of several other franchises, but he isn't the star of any of his biggest ongoing series. Even in the spinoff Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, The Rock was the main character while Jason Statham played second fiddle to him. Statham is also part of The Expendables franchise, where again he is merely a part of the ensemble cast led by Sylvester Stallone. Statham is at home in The Meg, with it being his sole star vehicle.

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The Future of The Meg Franchise

In order for The Meg to be Jason Statham's biggest ongoing franchise, Meg 3 has to happen. While Meg 3 isn't confirmed yet, it seems like the film will happen, as the box office success of the previous two films means that a third movie is likely to continue this trend. Director Ben Wheatley has commented that there is still a lot to explore in the universe of The Meg, meaning that he is eager to continue the franchise. Word on a third The Meg film could come in the near future.

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