Not only will the long-awaited crime thriller sequel Viva La Madness reunite action icon Jason Statham with Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Wrath of Man director Guy Ritchie, but the pair will also once again join forces with another crowd-pleasing bruiser from their collective past. Viva La Madness has been in the works for years, with the project now all set to start production in just a few weeks.
Viva La Madness will act as a semi-sequel to Daniel Craig and director Matthew Vaughn’s acclaimed 2004 crime thriller Layer Cake, with Statham taking over as the anonymous hero played by the former James Bond. Produced by Statham for Punch Palace Productions and Gangs of London’s Thomas Benski through Lumina Studios, alongside Toff Guy Films, Viva La Madness starts production in January 2026, with the crime thriller adding another Lock, Stock alum to the cast.
According to The Sun, Viva La Madness will reunite Statham and Ritchie with Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch star Vinnie Jones, with a source saying, “Viva La Madness is writer J.J. Connolly’s sequel to Layer Cake but the film is going to be a standalone production. Guy is thrilled to be back at the helm. And to have Jason on board, as well as Vinnie, is going to make for cinematic gold.”
The former footballer has proven to be scene-stealer in Guy Ritchie’s previous efforts, with his characters Big Chris in Lock, Stock and Snatch’s “Bullet Tooth” Tony both being endlessly watchable, quotable, and standing out amid what are stellar ensemble casts. Making him a hugely exciting addition to the long-gestating project. The casting of Jones comes following his recent role in the Guy Ritchie-created Netflix series, The Gentlemen.
‘Viva la Madness’ Has Been Called “Brilliantly British”
The outlet was also told that “exact details of the plot are being kept under wraps but it’s expected to closely follow J.J.’s novel,” and has been described as “brilliantly British.” A phrase that heavily suggests Ritchie is going back to his roots.
A follow-up to Layer Cake with Statham and Ritchie has been in development for more than a decade at this point, and while further details about the project remain under wraps for now, we can no doubt glean some clues from the book’s synopsis, which you can check out below…