‘Suicide Squad’ Filmmaker David Ayer To Direct Jason Statham In Miramax’s Action Pic ‘The Beekeeper’ — Cannes Market Hot Package

EXCLUSIVE: Suicide Squad filmmaker David Ayer is aboard to direct Jason Statham in action movie The Beekeeper, a hot package which Miramax will be shopping at the upcoming Cannes market.

As we revealed last year, Miramax acquired the spec script by Kurt Wimmer (Salt) in a seven figure deal and now that Ayer is aboard the Halloween and Wrath Of Man outfit can begin selling it in earnest. The hope is that the package can become a franchise.

The fast-paced action-thriller, which is steeped in the mythology of beekeeping, follows a man’s personal journey of vengeance which takes on national stakes after he is revealed to be a former operative of a powerful and clandestine organization known as the ‘Beekeepers’.

Statham and Wimmer are set to produce with Bill Block for Miramax and Chris Long for Cedar Park Studios.

The partnership re-teams Miramax with Statham after their recent outings on Guy Ritchie movie Wrath Of Man and the same director’s spy movie Operation Fortune: Ruse De Guerre, due out later this year. Action stalwart Statham has Meg 2: The Trench and The Expendables 4 in production.

Bill Block said: ““Having collaborated with Jason on Wrath Of Man and Operation Fortune, and with David on Fury, we are fortunate to partner with these masters of the new action genre to bring Kurt’s brilliant script to the first installment of this franchise.”

Training Day scribe Ayer is best known for directing movies including End Of Watch, Fury, Bright and Suicide Squad, which took $750M at the box office.

Ayer and Cedar Park are repped by WME. Jason Statham is represented by Patrick Knapp of Goodman, Genow, Schenkman, Smelkinson & Christopher.

More from Deadline

• Guy Pearce To Lead Lee Tamahori Epic Action Adventure 'The Convert' - Cannes Market

• International Insider: Cannes Deals Frenzy; Paramount+ Launches; West End Closure Fury; Time's Up For Bullies

• Ralph Fiennes' Hit Stage Production 'Four Quartets' Is Getting A Screen Version, WestEnd Handling Sales At Cannes Market

Best of Deadline

• 2022 Awards Season Calendar - Dates For The Emmys, Tonys & More

• Awards Season Red Carpet Photos: Grammys, Oscars, SAG Awards & More

• Spring Premiere Dates For New & Returning Series On Broadcast, Cable & Streaming

Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.