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| Warner Bros. |
The Meg and Meg 2: The Trench performed quite well at the box office, which is why there has been a lot of discussion online about The Meg 3. However, a recent update about the third installment is less than promising. Led by Jason Statham and backed by Warner Bros., the franchise has already delivered two films. The most recent entry, Meg 2: The Trench, was especially successful in overseas markets.
Despite that success—particularly in China, where Meg 2 earned around $118.7 million—there is still no confirmation about whether a third installment will happen. Director Ben Wheatley, who helmed the sequel, recently gave an update while promoting his upcoming film Normal in an interview with The Direct. Earlier in 2023, he had told Total Film Magazine that he was excited about the possibility of a third film. But now, when asked again after the sequel’s financial success, Wheatley admitted that he himself doesn’t know what’s happening with the project and is not sure about its future.
Looking at the track record of The Meg franchise, there is still strong potential for a third installment. The first film earned around $529.2 million worldwide, while Meg 2: The Trench made about $398.5 million. Yes, there is a noticeable downward trend—especially in the domestic market, where the sequel earned over $60 million less than the first film, leading to a quicker digital release.
However, the franchise has always been driven by international audiences, and that global fanbase hasn’t disappeared. With studios like Warner Bros. and Paramount Pictures focusing on high-volume content, executives like David Ellison could easily fit mid-budget creature features like this into their slate. Also, since Meg 2 was reportedly cheaper than the first film, a third installment remains financially possible.
Even so, nothing is guaranteed. If The Meg 3 does happen, it’s not certain that Ben Wheatley will return as director—just as he had replaced the original director Jon Turteltaub for the sequel. The biggest question is whether Jason Statham will return, since his presence is the core appeal of the series.
In fact, the real issue may not be audience interest, but whether Jason Statham even has time for the project. Since Meg 2: The Trench, he has been extremely busy with films like Expend4bles, The Beekeeper, and A Working Man. He also has upcoming projects lined up, including The Beekeeper 2, which is already in production and planned for a 2027 release.
With such a packed schedule—and his growing involvement as a producer—his availability is becoming more limited. While the role of Jonas Taylor suits him well and could bring another strong paycheck, there’s still no guarantee he will return for The Meg 3. If the film does move forward, it will be interesting to see whether the original cast and creative team reunite.
As of now, The Meg franchise is not “dead in the water,” but it is clearly in an uncertain phase. The series began strong in 2018 with The Meg, directed by Jon Turteltaub, earning around $529 million worldwide. The sequel, Meg 2: The Trench, directed by Ben Wheatley, made approximately $398.5 million—still a solid performance, especially given its lower production budget.
It even ranked among the top-grossing films of 2023 and outperformed several major titles. However, the downward trend is a concern. If The Meg 3 follows the same trajectory, there’s a risk it may not even break even—especially if the budget remains high due to heavy CGI requirements for the megalodon creatures.
This is one reason studios are hesitant to officially greenlight the third film. In interviews, Ben Wheatley jokingly said that the Meg still exists “like a dark shadow in the ocean.” He even pitched a wild idea of using the Meg for military research and giving it legs to bring it onto land—clearly a fun but unofficial concept.
Another possible approach from producers is to pause the franchise for a while, allowing demand to rebuild or letting new audiences discover the films on streaming platforms. At the moment, the franchise is still profitable, but its long-term direction remains unclear—leaving The Meg 3 in a state of uncertainty.
To briefly summarize: fans are very excited about the possibility of The Meg 3, especially after the success of the first two films. The original movie performed strongly worldwide, and the sequel also achieved respectable numbers, keeping the franchise commercially relevant.
However, Warner Bros. has not officially greenlit The Meg 3 yet. Director Ben Wheatley has confirmed that the project is currently in an uncertain stage, although hope for continuation still exists.
If the film does get approved, production could theoretically begin around 2026, following the pattern of previous releases. Jason Statham is expected to return as Jonas Taylor, along with potential returning cast members like Cliff Curtis, Page Kennedy, and Shuya Sophia Cai.
Story-wise, Meg 2: The Trench already teased future plotlines—such as the pregnancy of the Meg named Haiqi, hinting at the emergence of more Megs. Other threats like the giant octopus and reptilian creatures could also return. Additionally, based on the source material, prehistoric sea monsters like Liopleurodon might be introduced.
Overall, The Meg 3 is not confirmed yet. Its future depends on studio decisions, budget feasibility, and audience demand. For now, it remains a “high potential but undecided” project that could take the franchise to an even larger scale if it moves forward.