Actor Jason Statham is known for his action-hero persona, which is seen in films like The Transporter series, The Mechanic, The Expendables series, and more. The English actor has made a brand out of his action-hero films and has worked with acclaimed directors such as Guy Ritchie, James Wan, and Paul Feig.
The actor mostly plays the cool and badass hero who saves the day after doing high-octane stunts. Years ago, Statham was set to replace Daniel Craig in a sequel to Matthew Vaughn’s Layer Cake. When asked if he would be ready to take on Craig’s other famous role James Bond, he said he would be a different Agent 007 if he ever decided to do it.
Also read: Jason Statham’s Rant Against Superhero Films Preceded Even Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino
Jason Statham’s Career As An Action Hero
Jason Statham is an actor who treads the fine line between being typecast and doing what one does best. Starting his career as a professional diver and swimmer, the English actor made it to the National Swimming Squad and competed with the team for twelve years. He even participated in the 1990 Commonwealth Games.
Statham then began a model career before his breakthrough with Guy Ritchie’s black comedy Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels. The actor gained prominence due to his convincing portrayal of a black marketeer in Ritchie’s ensemble comedy, which also starred Vinnie Jones, Jason Flemyng, and Dexter Fletcher.
Also read: Paul Feig Warned Jason Statham To Not Be Funny Despite Being Cast In His First Action-Comedy
Statham would go on to collaborate with Ritchie on multiple films such as Snatch, Revolver, Wrath of Man, and Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre. Jason Statham also starred in Luc Besson’s acclaimed action film The Transporter, which put Statham on the map as a bankable action hero.
The successful film spawned two more sequels, and The Transporter 3 is credited to have established him as a bonafide action star. He starred along with Sylvester Stallone and an ensemble of action heroes in The Expendables franchise, which he is set to take over after The Expend4bles.
Jason Statham Imagined Himself As A Different James Bond
While Jason Statham has not just done solo action films, but has also joined established franchises and made it his own. Statham starred as Deckard Shaw in Fast & Furious 6, appearing in a cameo, and then turned to be the main antagonist in Furious 7. The character was so loved that he even received a spinoff along with Dwayne Johnson in the film Hobbs & Shaw.
Statham was all set to star in Viva La Madness, an intended sequel to Matthew Vaughn’s crime film Layer Cake. The original starred Daniel Craig and Statham was supposed to replace him in the sequel. The film has been in development since 2015 and was reportedly being turned into a show.
When asked if he would ever consider taking over the role of James Bond from Daniel Craig, after he announced that Spectre would be his penultimate film, Statham told The Guardian that he would be a very different James Bond if he chose to do it,
“Could I do it? Abso-f*cking-lutely. Would I do it? Abso-f*cking-lutely. Is Daniel Craig a great Bond? Abso-f*cking-lutely…Yeah, I’d make a decent Bond. But it’d be very, very different if I did it.”
With Daniel Craig finally out of the role with 2021’s No Time To Die, Jason Statham might have the chance to join yet another franchise and turn it his way.
