Jason Statham To Replace Daniel Craig for Layer Cake Sequel

The 2004 hit movie ‘Layer Cake’ was a breakthrough movie for Daniel Craig and director Matthew Vaughn and it’s one of the reasons why Craig was cast as Bond!Now we welcome Jason Statham to the helm!

Now, almost a decade later, a sequel is in the works without either of them involved. Viva La Madness, which was published in 2012, continues the story of Layer Cake’s unnamed protagonist, who now finds himself involved with Venezuelan drug cartels when looking for a beachy place to retire. Just as he did with Layer Cake, the book’s author, J.J. Connolly, is writing the screenplay. And to replace Craig, now we can report that Jason Statham has stepped up.

Jason Statham and his manager and producing partner Steve Chasman have acquired rights to the J.J. Connolly novel.

Connolly never names his chief protagonist anti-hero, but Statham will play the same nameless character we last saw trying to survive a gunshot wound in Layer Cake. It took Connolly more than a decade to follow that tale. Here, his protagonist is looking for a beach to land on in retirement, but instead he gets involved with trans-Atlantic drug deals, money laundering, high-tech electronic fraud, London lowlifes and Venezuelan drug cartels.

Statham showcased his talent in roles Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch

It doesn’t really matter if the character doesn’t have a name, as basically all Jason Statham characters might as well just be named Jason Statham.

Viva La Madness is the second film for Statham and Chasman under the SJ Pictures banner. They recently wrapped the Simon West-directed Heat, which William Goldman adapted his novel, with Statham starring with Sofia Vergara, Milo Ventimiglia and Stanley Tucci. Chasman separately has his production shingle Current Entertainment, which made Parker, The Bank Job, The Transporter films and Kiss of the Dragon.

Statham also wrapped The expendables 3 and is shooting Fast & Furious 7. He next stars with James Franco and Kate Bosworth in Homefront. Statham is agented by CAA. UK-based Luke Speed of the Marjacq Agency repped the book and made Connolly’s writing deal.

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