THE MEG 2: RELEASE DATE SURFACES FOR SHARK FILM SEQUEL

The Meg 2: The Trench is currently filming at Leavesden Studios in the UK, which are owned by Warner Bros.

The studio has announced that the film follow up to the 2018 smash, The Meg, which like its sequel is based on the books by Steve Alten, will be released on August 4, 2023 in the US.

August? But the summer dinks come down here in June. August though is when the original Jason Statham versus giant Megalodon shark film was released.

And it was an unexpected hit, raking in over $530 million in 2018. Adjusted for inflation that makes the Jason Statham film the third highest grossing shark movie of all time, after Jaws (1975) and its sequel Jaws 2 (1978).

At the time of the release of The Meg, Steve Alten the book's author told US Metro: "My feeling has always been that this is a billion dollar franchise if it was done right. But to be done right you had to get the shark right, get the cast right, get the tone right. And Warner Bros have nailed it completely. The producers have nailed it.”

Nail it for a second time, and his billion dollar feeling will become a reality. No pressure then for the film’s director, Ben Wheatley.

Warner Bros is hoping for an equally monster box office for this giant fish creature feature sequel. And although Li Bingbing isn't returning to the fold, China's highest grossing actor is, Wu Jing. All of which is a good sign for the till receipts. Although we all know that the biggest star is the Megalodon.

That The Meg was a huge hit was a giant surprise, so this next film has a lot to live up to.

Dean Newman, head of content at The Daily Jaws, said: "Although there have been sequels to the likes of Deep Blue Sea and a soon to released The Reef, this will be the biggest shark sequel since the release of Jaws 2 in 1978, so the future of big screen shark films could be riding on if this film sinks or swims."

And let's face it, however you feel about The Meg and the prospect of The Meg 2, we all want to see shark cinema writ large on the silver screen.

Who is excited for The Meg 2: The Trench?

Words by Dean Newman

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