the mechanic 2

Actor Jason Statham continues his hot streak in 2014 headed off by the release of a few new films between now and next this year. For longtime fans however, Statham‘s success as a mainstay in blockbuster Hollywood action cinema came much earlier as the actor left his mark under the craft of acclaimed action choreographer Corey Yuen for The Transporter trilogy between 2002 and 2007.

The trilogy itself centered on the action-packed story of former SAS operative Frank Martin who has settled for the quiet life in France while moonlighting as a highly paid delivery man who transports goods for anyone as long as they pay him and operate by his rules to ensure his own safety as well as the job’s completion, unless situations arise forcing him to break his own rules. The franchise garnered a worldwide box office total of well over $220 million dollars, followed by the production of a television series (recently announced for airing on TNT in 2014) with Statham‘s role tailored for actor Chris Vance. And since then, the franchise made more headlines once again last year when Luc Besson’s Europacorp announced its partnership with China based Fundemental Films to continue the franchise with a new trilogy with the guarantee of Statham‘s return still up in the air.

This week, that changes as followed-up reports over at Impact have concluded Statham would not be returning to play the character, leaving a space open for a new actor to be cast for the new trilogy to start off with a reboot. In addition, it has also been confirmed that Statham would reprise his role in the upcoming sequel action flick, The Mechanic 2 under director Dennis Gansel for Nu Image who is shopping the film this month at the European Film Market.

Statham will be returning to the big screen with The Mechanic helmer Simon West in Heat later in the year followed by the August 15, 2014 release of The Expendables 3, in addition to the April 10, 2015 of Fast And Furious 7, and the Melissa McCarthy action comedy, Susan Cooper next year.

H/T: Impact, THR

More