Yara Shahidi will star across from Jason Statham in “The Beekeeper 2,” an upcoming sequel to Miramax’s hit action film.
“The Beekeeper 2” will be distributed worldwide by Amazon MGM Studios, produced and funded by Miramax, and production is scheduled to begin this fall, with Jeremy Irons returning. Details of Shahidi’s role are placed under the wrap.
Following the massive hits of Netflix (“The Shadow Strays”, “The Night Comes for Us”, “The Big Four”), Timo Tjahjanto, who recently directed “Nobody 2” for Universal, will be directing from the script by Kurt Wimmer, who wrote the first film. Statham will also return to produce a sequel through Punch Palace Productions singles, along with Chris Long (via Longshot Production) and Wimmer.
In “The Beekeeper,” Statham stars as Adam Clay, a retired government assassin (a former “Beekeeper” operative who became the actual honeycomb minder). The action conspirasis thriller directed by David Ayer was a raucous box office gross and eventually won $162 million worldwide.
In an interview prior to the release of the first film, Statham teased the possibility of a sequel. “The whole film escalates in terms of action, and it goes through an incredible crescendo,” he told Variety. “There is a myth in the world of beekeeping in the whole world (of the film). If we’re lucky enough to make a sequel, we have a whole world where we can dive in. ”
Shahidi is best known for his breakout role in the ABC series “Black-Ish” that beat Emmy and the Golden Globes. He is also Freeform’s “Grown-Ish” as the star and executive producer of the long-term spinoff series. She also produced and starred in the Amazon MGM adult film Sitting in the Bar with Cake, and then in the Katherine Hardwitch indie drama Street Smart. Shahidi continues to create and produce film and television projects under her banner, 7th Sun Productions, along with her business partner and mother Keri Salter-Shahidi. She is represented by CAA, Linden Entertainment, Sharp at 2pm and Nod Group.
