'The Beekeeper 2' Unveils First Trailer and Confirms Theatrical Release Date

In January 2024, Jason Statham turned a quiet man who keeps bees into one of action cinema’s most unlikely heroes. ‘The Beekeeper’, directed by David Ayer, follows Adam Clay, a retired elite assassin who takes revenge after a phishing scam ruins and kills his kind landlady.

The film became a surprise hit. Made for around $40 million, it earned $162.6 million worldwide, scored 71% on Rotten Tomatoes and received a B+ CinemaScore. A sequel was almost guaranteed.

The wait for more Adam Clay is nearly over. On October 15, the first trailer for ‘The Beekeeper 2’ was released, confirming that the sequel will open in theaters on January 15, 2027.

The short teaser makes its priorities clear. Statham takes on a crowd of enemies with a souped-up 1969 Dodge armed with a mini-gun, along with flamethrowers, nonstop action, and a Metallica-based soundtrack.

Online reactions have been enthusiastic and funny. Many fans joked that Statham has found the perfect franchise, one where protecting bees somehow comes with one of the highest body counts in action movies, and several said they’re already planning to see it on opening night.

He’s been busy. The Beekeeper 2 – only in theaters January 2027. https://t.co/DxRLHz7R8X
— The Beekeeper Movie (@beekeepermov) October 15, 2026

That playful response is part of the series’ appeal. ‘The Beekeeper’ leaned into its over-the-top premise, and the sequel appears to be doing the same. The official synopsis describes Clay as a wanted man continuing his vendetta against those who wronged him.

The sequel reportedly raises the stakes: Clay must protect the President of the United States from the Beekeepers themselves after the secret organization he once belonged to goes rogue. That premise turns Clay’s former allies into enemies. It also expands the shadowy world introduced in the first film, which only hinted at how far the Beekeepers’ influence reaches.

The Beekeeper – Official Trailer (2024) Jason Statham, Action Movie https://t.co/stsWbhhHVp
— Movie Coverage (@MovieCoverage_) October 4, 2023

Timo Tjahjanto takes over directing duties from Ayer. Umair Aleem wrote the screenplay, replacing original ‘Beekeeper’ writer Kurt Wimmer in May 2025, with Statham returning as both star and producer.

Principal photography began on September 26, 2025, at Shepperton Studios in the UK, and Tjahjanto announced the wrap in late November 2025. Callan Green served as cinematographer.

Jeremy Irons returns as Wallace Westwyld, the former CIA director now running security for Danforth Enterprises. Emmy Raver-Lampman and Bobby Naderi are back as FBI agents Verona Parker and Matt Wiley, and Jemma Redgrave returns as President Jessica Danforth.

New additions include Yara Shahidi, Pom Klementieff and Adam Copeland, whose roles haven’t been revealed. Their characters are among the sequel’s bigger mysteries going into release.

Behind the scenes, Amazon MGM Studios made a major investment in the sequel, reportedly acquiring worldwide rights for more than $50 million. The film comes from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Miramax, Punch Palace Productions and Long Shot Productions.

International plans are also in place. Leonine Studios acquired German-language theatrical rights, and the film opens in Germany on January 14, a day before its U.S. and UK release.

Opening almost 3 years to the day after the original, ‘The Beekeeper 2’ is aiming to repeat the first film’s success in January, a month often short on big action releases. If the trailer is any indication, it’s going even longer this time. With a new director, an expanded cast, and Clay facing off against his own organization, the sequel looks set to give fans plenty of over-the-top action.