Jason Statham Returns in The Beekeeper 2: R-Rated Sequel Secures Official Release Date

Well, it looks like Amazon MGM Studios is banking on another round of Jason Statham vengeance. The studio just locked in a release date for The Beekeeper 2, making it official: the sequel drops in theaters on January 15, 2027. Yes, you read that right. They're giving themselves plenty of time—and apparently aiming for a repeat of the original's success by releasing it over Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, just like the first one did back in January 2024.

Quick Recap for the Uninitiated

The first Beekeeper movie wasn't your typical Statham punch-fest—okay, actually, it sort of was, but with a weirdly topical twist. Statham played Adam Clay, a former assassin who comes out of retirement when his friend (and landlady) falls victim to a nasty phishing scam, leading her to take her own life. That sets off a chain of events where Clay kicks his way up a pretty wild food chain of tech crooks and political bigwigs. The movie made a solid $162.6 million worldwide (not top-tier blockbuster, but nothing to sneeze at), and audiences seemed to dig it—a 92% Verified Hot rating on Rotten Tomatoes, for whatever stock you put in that.

Who’s Behind and In Front of the Camera?

Now, onto the sequel: There are a bunch of familiar and new faces coming together for round two. Here’s what we know so far:

• Jason Statham returns as Adam Clay (come on, obviously)
• Timo Tjahjanto is directing this time—he takes over the reins for the sequel
• Kurt Wimmer, who wrote the first one, is back at the keyboard
• Supporting cast stacks up with Jeremy Irons, Yara Shahidi, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Bobby Naderi, Jemma Redgrave, Pom Klementieff, and even Adam Copeland (aka Edge for you wrestling fans)
• Miramax is producing and financing
• Statham's own Punch Palace Productions is in on producing, joined by Chris Long's Longshot Productions and, yep, Kurt Wimmer again

More Money, More Bees

Here's a little industry tidbit that's kind of wild: Amazon MGM picked up global distribution rights for the sequel for reportedly over $50 million. That’s a pretty steep bet on more beekeeper carnage. And if you're curious about competition, opening weekend is going to be busy: The Beekeeper 2 debuts the same weekend Universal and Blumhouse are dropping a tentpole 'event' movie (they haven’t said what yet), and Paramount’s also putting out Children of Blood and Bone. Not exactly an empty weekend.

Still in Development (With More on the Way)

The sequel’s still baking—no trailer, no plot synopsis, no footage. But nailing down the release date is a clear sign that Amazon MGM wants this to be another big event for their growing slate of theatrical releases. And as Deadline put it, this all fits Amazon's recent big game plan for doing more movies on actual big screens, not just at-home streaming.

'If you do something right, might as well do it again' — Amazon MGM Studios, probably.

Stay tuned—I’ll have more details (and probably some takes) as soon as this thing moves from 'in development' to actually, you know, existing.