You can always count on news of a Jason Statham action thriller on the rise to rouse the fanboy feels and of course The Meg is first on the menu this August with a Fast saga spin-off filming next year with Dwayne Johnson. Time will tell what else arises in the big screen prospects for the knife-chucking, brass knuckle-wielding, football deflating Expendable apart from an update from Borys Kit at The Hollywood Reporter announcing Killer’s Game from STX.
The film, based on Jay Bonansinga’s 1997 novel, will center on a principled, veteran assassin who learns he is dying. Thinking his days are numbered, he stakes a six-million dollar prize on his own life, only to realize that he’s been misdiagnosed and is still in perfect health, and is now forced into a breakneck fight for survival against hungry gamesmen out for blood and a six-figure boost.
After more than 20 years, xXx: The Return Of Xander Cage helmer D.J. Caruso is in talks to direct for Statham potentially to star, and with STX Films negotiating to finance as well as distribute. Names such as Michael Keaton and Wesley Snipes had been in talks to star over the years as the project landed at several studios and in the hands of numerous directors; Simon Kinberg even penned a draft long before he became known for his involvement in the X-Men cinematic universe efforts at Fox.
Steve Richards of Endurance Media and Andrew Lazar of Mad Chance are producing the film with production start and release dates pending among other casting additions. The film may also add to the currently growing list of projects in Statham’s roster, sans the previously-hyped Tony Jaa co-headliner, High Value Target, which currently remains in the air.
