Jason Statham is one of the most reliable action stars in this era. In every movie he’s in, audiences know he’s going to kick ass. His movies surprisingly vary from Guy Ritchie capers like Wrath of Man, tentpoles like Fast X or new action franchises like The Beekeeper. His compelling screen presence is not just his tough demeanor and action credentials; Statham brings a no-nonsense kind of charisma that’s missing in many modern blockbusters, making even the most absurd premise entertaining.
Despite his track record, there are still major franchises out there that haven’t tapped into his very specific, very bankable energy. So, we started thinking, what kind of franchise would benefit from a shot of Statham’s brand of thrills? With his wide range, from action to comedies, Statham is perfect for almost all kinds of genres. From blockbuster crossovers to Hollywood’s classic franchises, plenty of cinematic universes are just waiting for the right dose of Statham. This list imagines the perfect part for him in each one and breaks down why he’d absolutely knock it out of the park.
10
DC
Superheroes Need To Be Badass!
With his tough persona, Jason Statham might feel at home in the DC side rather than Marvel. He would shine in either Matt Reeves‘ The Batman universe or James Gunn‘s DCU as a villain with a real physical threat. Statham thrives when playing restrained but lethal characters like H in Wrath of Man or Frank Martin in The Transporter trilogy, carrying menace and emotional complexity at once.
Statham would ideally be someone grounded and brutal in the world of DC. He would be the perfect antagonist in Gotham, as maybe Black Mask or Hush. If he’s not leaning to showcase his physical side, he could also be a unique Hugo Strange, a classic Batman villain overdue for a solo movie. He might be too tough to play a cartoonish villain, so he’d absolutely thrive in Matt Reeves’ gritty take on Gotham. Statham wouldn’t need CGI powers—he’d be the kind of villain who walks into a room and makes superheroes flinch because of his physique and gruff voice.
9
Kingsman
Manners Maketh (Wrath of) Man
Hailing from England, Jason Statham would be a perfect fit for the Kingsman universe. Statham proves he can dress impeccably well, as seen in Transporter or Operation Fortune, so he would be at home as one of the agents in the Saville Row outfit. With his tough demeanor, he can be an older guide for Taron Egerton‘s Eggsy. He could be an undercover agent embedded abroad, or even a former Kingsman trainee who washed out for being too brutal, only to resurface years later, leading a new spy operation.
Matthew Vaughn‘s Kingsman films thrive on stylized action, cheeky humor, and characters who can fight in tuxedos. Statham could either lean into that style or subvert it completely by being the one guy who hates it. Either way, he’d bring a much-needed dose of rough-and-tumble realism to a franchise that sometimes gets too slick. With the films’ cheeky and wacky tone, Statham’s underseen humorous side could also add more to his character in the spy universe. With no future films currently being planned, maybe there’s time to incorporate Statham into the mix.
8
James Bond
Statham. Jason Statham.
First things first: Jason Statham wouldn’t be James Bond, but he would be perfect in the universe. He’s the perfect candidate to play a Bond villain, perhaps a former 00 agent gone rogue, someone who once operated by the book but now sees MI6 as the enemy. Picture him as a shadowy mirror to Bond, equally skilled but colder, more brutal, and fueled by betrayal. Maybe he was presumed dead after a botched black-ops mission and now resurfaces with an agenda. Think GoldenEye’s Alec Trevelyan (Sean Bean) with more grit.
Statham would crush this role because it plays directly into his strengths: calculated intensity and physical dominance. Statham’s track record as something of an agent in The Mechanic and The Beekeeper shows he excels when portraying morally grey professionals with nothing to lose. He’d bring a level of menace and credibility that would push Bond to his limits. On a plus point, it would be a thrill for Statham fans everywhere to see him collaborate with director Denis Villeneuve, who’s been tapped to direct the next Bond film.
7
A Quiet Place
The Death Angels Better Run and Hide
In the A Quiet Place films, the world is attacked by alien monsters that are ultrasensitive to sound, forcing humans to live quietly. Jason Statham, who has mastered the quiet, tough hero persona, could play a hardened man who has perfected the art of silence through sheer discipline in this post-apocalyptic universe, similar to Cillian Murphy‘s Emmett in A Quiet Place Part II. Statham would be the kind of guy who becomes a reluctant protector, teaching survivors to fight while trying to keep going.
In this stripped-down, high-stakes world, Statham would totally thrive. He’s already proven he can command the screen with very little dialogue, such as in films like Hummingbird or Safe, where he stole the spotlight through physical presence alone. His ability to play controlled rage and quiet resolve makes him perfect for a character whose survival depends on every movement and every sound. With the right direction, he could bring an edge to the franchise. He could share the screen with Emily Blunt and Murphy or star in a spinoff like A Quiet Place: Day One.
6
Johnny English
We All Saw ‘Spy,’ Right?
The Johnny English series might not be huge draws in North America, but they are hits in the United Kingdom and everywhere else where Rowan Atkinson is famous. The films follow a bumbling, incapable MI7 agent as he foils terrorists’ plans simply by sheer luck and overconfidence. While the films are spy parodies, the talents involved are no joke. The first film was written by Bond regulars Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, and the three films starred iconic actors such as Gillian Anderson, Daniel Kaluuya, and John Malkovich.
Imagine Jason Statham stepping into the Johnny English universe as a competent, serious partner to Atkinson’s clumsy version of 007. Statham’s character would be the complete opposite of English, but he’s forced to babysit him during the mission. Statham himself has proven to be a great comedic actor, as seen in Spy, where he basically plays Johnny English. His combination of deadpan humor, physical prowess, and no-nonsense attitude would be a funny contrast to Atkinson’s endearing antics. With a fourth Johnny English film in the works, the producers had better call Statham now.
Johnny English
- Release Date
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July 18, 2003
- Runtime
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87 Minutes
- Director
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Peter Howitt
5
Yellowstone
Jason Statham, Meet Beth Dutton.
Yellowstone, created by Taylor Sheridan, is a sprawling family drama centered around the Dutton family and their battle to protect their ranch from outside forces. Since the success of the Kevin Costner-starring series, the universe has expanded, with two spinoffs, 1883, starring Sam Elliott and Tim McGraw, and 1923, starring Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren. Five more spinoffs have been ordered, with the earliest one, Michelle Pfeiffer‘s The Madison, set to be released this year.
Jason Statham would be a perfect addition to this world, maybe as a hard-edged, no-nonsense cowboy with a past that’s both mysterious and violent. There is also a precedent for Statham being in action in the heart of Americana, as he was thrust into this setting in Homefront. Statham’s physicality and commanding screen presence would blend seamlessly with the violent and unforgiving tone of Yellowstone. Whether he’s taking on rival ranchers or defending the Duttons, Statham’s stoic energy would add a much-needed dose of intensity to the series.
4
Transformers (and Maybe G.I. Joe)
At last, Megatron Meets His Match
As teased in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, the two Hasbro flagship franchises, Transformers and G.I. Joe, are moving toward an inevitable cinematic crossover. The potential film probably has Anthony Ramos as the lead, but it needs an older, mentor figure, and our man from the United Kingdom might be the right person. Statham’s biggest franchise, Fast and Furious, has trained him to work in a huge Hollywood production, and he has a strong connection with one of the franchise’s alumni: his partner, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, who starred in Transformers: Dark of the Moon.
Statham’s presence would instantly give this over-the-top, effects-heavy franchise a shot of no-nonsense credibility. In his action movies, he’s proven he can lead a unit, carry an action sequence, and still find depth in a tough-as-nails character. By adding the Joes to the mix, Statham could bring his grittiness to the elite squad. He could be a G.I. Joe commander, someone like Duke or an entirely brand-new character for the film. It would be a treat to see Statham paired up with Bumblebee or Optimus Prime, and he could very well be one of Transformers‘ best human characters.
3
Predator
Who’s the Prey Now?
The Predator films started as a mano-a-mano confrontation between the monster and the heroes. It strayed a bit with the crossovers and the ensemble action flicks like Predators. As the franchise returns to its roots by pitting the beast in a confrontation with Amber Midthunder‘s Naru in Prey, there may be potential if Jason Statham joins the franchise. The actor is no stranger to monsters as he’s battled the gigantic megalodon shark in two The Meg movies.
Just like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny Glover before him, Statham’s fight with the Yautja would be iconic. An actor fighting against it doesn’t need flashy dialogue or big speeches; it needs presence. Statham’s background in martial arts and stunt-heavy action makes him a perfect candidate for brutal, grounded fight scenes, and his ability to say everything with a glance or a grunt fits the survivalist tone of the franchise. While currently the Predator is thriving by setting the films in the past or a futuristic, otherworldly planet, in the upcoming Predator: Badlands, a potential Statham-starring movie should be set in current times, where audiences are accustomed to seeing him fight with modern weapons.
2
Knives Out
Who Doesn’t Love a Classic Whodunit?
The Knives Out films, created by Rian Johnson, reimagine the classic whodunit for modern audiences. At the heart of it all is detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig), who unravels each case with Sherlockian wit and his Kentucky-fried Foghorn Leghorn drawl. With its massive ensemble cast that includes who’s who of the film industry, Statham should be included in one of Blanc’s cases.
Audiences may have associated Statham these days with action films, but he first started with the relatively dialogue-heavy, plot-driven movies like Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels. The easiest way to include Statham is by making him part of the ensemble, which eventually became Blanc’s list of suspects. However, the more challenging way is to have him as a rival UK detective with an incredibly hard accent to match Blanc’s. Their dynamic could turn the usual mystery format on its head: not just whodunit, but whose method wins. Statham has proven to be a fun team player when he shared the screen with Dwayne Johnson in Hobbs and Shaw. So, why not inspect the donut hole together with Daniel Craig?
1
John Wick
I’m Thinking Statham Is Back!
The world of John Wick is a stylized underworld of assassins spread across the world. Keanu Reeves’ Wick may be dead after John Wick: Chapter 4, but his world continues. As the franchise explores spinoffs like this summer’s Ballerina, the doors to the Continental hotels are wide open. John Wick has explored different locations, including France and Japan, and his visits are generally brief. Enter Statham, leading a new spinoff set in Britain, and there would be more mythology to expand.
The possibilities of Jason Statham’s inclusion in this franchise are endless. He could be a former hitman who learned about Wick’s death and wanted to avenge him, or he could be the manager of a Continental branch in London. Statham’s sharp, physical style is tailor-made for this entertaining action universe. Like Wick, his characters are usually not flashy but focused, relentless, and all about efficiency. Another way to include him in the franchise is by making crossovers with his existing characters. The assassins of Continental against the network of Beekeepers who want to bring justice at all costs? Sign us up.