David Ayer’s new film “The Beekeeper” is an action-packed extravaganza that takes inspiration from the beloved ’80s movies starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone. Starring Jason Statham as Adam Clay, the film follows his journey of seeking vengeаnce against a call center that scammed one of his friends, portrayed by Phylicia Rashad. However, the criminals led by Derek Danforth, played by Josh Hutcherson, soon realize that Statham’s character has a sеcrеt past that makes him an unstoppable force.
When asked about why he took on “The Beekeeper” as his next action movie, Ayer expressed his desire to work with Jason Statham. He found the script to have the perfect blend of intriguing twists and a heartfelt story, which is often hard to find in similar films. Ayer aimed to make Statham’s character more relatable and accessible to the audience, starting with a slow-bur𝚗 emotional opening before unleashing the action.
Ayer praises Statham as a classic movie star, mentioning that he possesses an innate understanding of his presence on screen, including lighting, angles, and camera blocking. Statham’s athletic abilities, his willingness to perform his own stunts, and his extensive action experience made a significant impact on Ayer, who admitted to being schooled by him during the filming process. Off set, Ayer describes Statham as a down-to-earth and friendly person.
Josh Hutcherson, who portrays the antagonist Derek Danforth, discusses finding the humanity in playing such an evil character. He believes that everyone has an inner Derek in them and worked with Ayer to create a character who sees himself as a hero in his warped reality. Hutcherson emphasizes that providing a base of understanding for a villain makes the character more believable and engaging.
The film features intense confrontations between Derek and his lackey, Wallace Westwyld, portrayed by Jeremy Irons. Hutcherson admits to being initially intimidated by acting opposite an Oscar-winning legend but found Irons to be a good sport during the improvisational scenes.
Ayer expresses his enthusiasm for a potential sequel to “The Beekeeper,” as both he and Statham are eager to delve further into the world and the character of Adam Clay. Ayer sees the potential for a fun and captivating franchise with numerous unanswered questions and threads to explore.
When asked who would win in a 1:1 figҺt between Adam Clay and John Wick, Ayer playfully avoids answering, acknowledging the challenge of comparing such iconic characters.
Regarding his upcoming projects, Ayer confirms his involvement in writing and directing a remake of “Ԁirty Dozen” and writing remakes of “Commando” and “The Wild Bunch.” He acknowledges the pressure of taking on these classic films and aims to strike a balance between modernizing them for a new audience while preserving their essence and DNA.