Summary
As one of the big action stars on the satellite , Jason Stathamis no stranger to successful sequels . Over the course of his vocation , I and million of other buff have been enticed into theaters by the prospect of Statham reprising role in hit series likeThe Transporter , Fast and Furious , andThe Expendables . Even critical failure likeThe Meghave receive follow - ups – highlighting Statham ’s ability to dare negative reviews . And yet , for all his longevity and success , I ’m still waiting to see a subsequence to what currently rank as Statham ’s highest - range Rotten Tomatoes movie .
Jason Statham made his film debut in 1998’sLock , Stock , and Two Smoking Barrels .
develop up in the 2000s , I ’ve followed Statham ’s vocation from relative obscurity to global superstardom . After stealing the show in indie hits likeLock , Stock , and Two Smoking Barrels , andSnatch , Statham has graduate to his more natural process - backbreaking role . TheTransporter , Mechanic , andCrankmovies cemented Statham in my judgment as the determinate 2000s action star , being much more fertile than many of his match . This succeeder , in no small part , stems from his ability to create sustainable action franchises . However , while his appetency for sequels has been demonstrated over and over again , Statham ’s " good " movie , disappointingly , stay a standalone .
Image by Yailin Chacon
Despite being well known for his exploits in natural action movies , Jason Statham has feature in several projects across a miscellany of dissimilar genre .
Spy Is Jason Statham’s Highest-Rated Movie
It Holds 95% On Rotten Tomatoes
release in 2015,Spyremains unsurpassed as the highest - rated moving picture in Jason Statham ’s vocation . The Paul Feig - point action - drollery sees Statham take on a supporting comic role – at betting odds with his common gruff and stoic result men . Starring Melissa McCarthy , Jude Law , and Rose Byrne , the flick is an irreverent take on franchise likeMission : Impossibleand James Bond , pitting an unorthodox field agentive role ( McCarthy ) against a globose terrorist menace . With a 95 % cocksure account on Rotten Tomatoes , Spyremains the decisive pinnacle of Statham ’s calling to day of the month .
Despite enjoying many ofStatham ’s more traditional activity movie roles , I foundSpyto be a welcome evolution for the actor . Whereas some Statham characters can tip into parodical self - serious-mindedness , his execution as Rick Ford was wry , completely unostentatious , and authentically hilarious . Even though he was a support presence in the story , he was a vital component in make up the narrative work , offering effective comic rilievo and examine an fantabulous foil for McCarthy . And yet , despite Statham ’s telling carrying out and the motion-picture show ’s overall success , Spyremains a comparatively raresuccessful Statham military action moviethat has not pick up a continuation .
Spy Was The Perfect Launchpad For A Franchise
It ’s not just the fact thatSpyis , from a critical linear perspective at least , Jason Statham ’s best movie that makes the want of a subsequence so disappointing . Narratively , the pic laid the perfect groundwork for a series of film set in the same universe . Not only didSpyestablish Melissa McCarthy ’s Susan Cooper as a likable and original protagonist , but the movie explored a bud relationship between Cooper and Rick Ford , set up multiple compelling fictitious character like Aldo and Rayna Boyanov , and even teased the prospect of a follow - up deputation in Prague . These components constitute the perfect foundations for aSpysequel .
The strength of the story and individual characters is one matter . A potentially even more compelling line of reasoning is how successful the first motion-picture show was financially . In accession to achieve confident vital recognition , Spymade $ 235 million against a $ 65 million budget , making it an undeniable fiscal winner . Taking both the story and unlying financial solidity into account , I find it hard to see whySpy 2remains nothing more than a hypothetical possibleness , rather thanJason Statham ’s next dandy natural process franchise .
Spy 2 Could Take Statham’s Career In An Exciting New Direction
It’s The Perfect Way For Him To Expand
Even though I ’m a Brobdingnagian champion of Statham ’s , there ’s no denying thatmany of his moving picture follow a set formula . It ’s extremely potential that any Statham fomite will feature a stoic , serious booster , pull off incredibly physical effort as he overcomes wave after moving ridge of unfortunate bad guy rope . While the details of the account can change , this template is apparent in projects ranging from2024 ’s highly successfulThe Beekeeperto underappreciated Statham picture show likeHomefront .
Spy , on the other hand , promise an exciting potential new direction for Statham . Although his character , the grizzled agentive role Rick Ford was as archetypally masculine as many Statham existence , he was mainly there to offer mirthful relief . In my opinion , Ford remain one ofStatham ’s funniest ever quality , demonstrating the thespian ’s power to express mirth at himself and pound fun at the stereotype he has helped perpetuate – a trait that has n’t always been obvious in his career .
It ’s also important to mark thatFord allow Statham to shine as a supporting grapheme , rather than sway the weight of a flick or franchise on his shoulders . Except for ensemble projects likeFast & FuriousandThe Expendables , Statham is often the indisputable lead in most of his projects . While this gives his moving picture a distinctive flavor , it also highlight some of his striking limitations .
Image by Yailin Chacon
In the original motion-picture show , he bear a truly funny performance , free from the press of projecting his common ruffianly - guy image .
WithSpy , Statham could take his human foot off the gas . In the original movie , he delivered a really funny performance , free from the force per unit area of project his common tough - guy simulacrum . This approach helped make the motion-picture show one of his respectable roles , even for a long - term Statham fan like myself – highlighting that there are many more string to his curtain call than his typical roles might advise .
Why Spy 2 Hasn’t Happened Yet
Hopes Are Still High For A Sequel
Given the movie ’s popularity among critics and movie - goers , it ’s surprising that there has been noSpysequel as of 2024 . By most metrics , any movie that nearly quadrupled its budget at the box office and receive rave reviews would be considered a shoo - in for a follow - up , and sure enough many more fair action projects have receive sequels in the meantime . However , even though I ( and likely many others ) remain eager to see a follow - up , there are reasons whySpy 2remains on the backburner .
After the first pic ’s successful liberation , director Paul Feig began almost contiguous work on a follow - up , confirm that he was writing a sequel in tardy 2015 ( viaThe Guardian ) . Feig repeat his enthusiasm in 2016 , tellingEmpire Online(viaDark Horizons ):
“ ( Spy ) ’s another earth that I do n’t want to take the air out from . It ’s the first thing I did that I set up to be a possible enfranchisement and Melissa is dying to do it . I have a story for it , and a funny idea that will complain it off that involves Statham . … Susan Cooper is one of my favorite characters I ’ve ever come up with , but Rick Ford is possibly the one I ’ll take to the grave with me . Will he get any more ego - cognizant in the continuation ? No , god no . He ’ll get less self - cognizant . ”
Custom image by Yailin Chacon
However , despite these positive noises , come on onSpy 2has stalled . In 2019 , Feig admitted toTotal Filmthat " there has n’t been interest in the studio " in the projection . The strength of the characters , potential account , and achiever of the first film mean that I continue promising about finally seeing aSpysequel . However , as exciting as it would be , it ’s obvious that the franchise ’s likely future is far from straight .
Sources : The Guardian , Empire Online , Total Film .
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