It’s hard to think that since the release of The Transporter in 2002, infants have been born and are practically legally permitted to sit at a bar and order a pint of beer. That’s how long it’s been since Jason Statham established himself as an action star in the big-budget film that would go on to become a hugely popular franchise. There seemed to be no one else who could fill the shoes of the franchise’s primary character, Frank Martin, in the sequels to the first film, Transporter 2 and Transporter 3, which were released in 2005 and 2008, respectively. However, when it came time to make another film in 2015, Statham was nowhere to be found.
There appeared to be no other man capable of filling the shoes of the franchise’s primary character, Frank Martin, in the sequels Transporter 2 and Transporter 3, which were released in 2005 and 2008, respectively. However, when it came time to make another film in 2015, Statham was nowhere to be found.
While Game of Thrones actor Ed Skrein, who played Daario Naharis in the third season of the fantasy series, would eventually replace him, Jason Statham was offered the option to return to the driving seat in the action-packed franchise but declined. We now know the cause behind Statham’s departure from the flicks, something we didn’t know before. During a recent interview with Vulture, the action actor stated that he didn’t return for a variety of reasons, all of which are very legitimate.
For one thing, the studio intended to pay the man less! Anyone would be an idiot to accept a lower cut knowing what the production will make after the phenomenal success of the first three parts. The studio further insulted their original starring man by refusing to let him see the script before agreeing to a three-movie deal. That’s a lot of nonsense to hurl at someone who helped make the films a success in the first place.
Jason Statham, ever humble and sincere, did say that playing Frank Martin was a “wonderful experience” and that he “would have loved to keep doing it.” But we completely understand why he decided to call it a day. And, to be honest, Statham made a fantastic decision. In between shooting The Transporter franchise and other great performances in films like The Italian Job, his career really took off after his final bow as Frank Martin.
The part of Lee Christmas in The Expendables was cast on Jason Statham in 2010. The fourth instalment in the action packed film series will be released in theatres later this year, marking the beginning of something genuinely magnificent for Statham and a plethora of other action stars committed to the production. He’s also a part of another blockbuster franchise, Fast & Furious, where his character Deckard Shaw has starred in four films (so far), including a spinoff with fellow Fast star Vin Diesel.
In four films, he even got his own spinoff film with fellow Fast actor Dwayne Johnson. While we may have to wait a little longer for The Expendables 4, we can look forward to seeing Statham in upcoming films such as Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre, Meg 2: The Trench, and The Bee Keeper.
Were we disappointed that Jason Statham declined the chance to return to The Transporter franchise at the end of the day? Sure. However, when something isn’t the proper match for you, it’s usually because something greater is just around the corner. Statham’s long and illustrious career, which began with Transporter 3, demonstrates this point.
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