The transporter is one of Jason Statham's most iconic film franchises, which is why it was so surprising when the actor didn't return for the fourth film in the series, The transporter refueled. The Hollywood star has made a name for himself in several different action franchises and has apparently found his niche with The transporter. Most of his other projects were very similar, and the franchise had been a success for him, but there were certain external factors that prevented him from returning.
The transporter The series follows a former soldier who has begun a clandestine career of privately transporting goods for high-profile clients – but things quickly turn dangerous when he is tasked with transporting a woman whose life is in immediate danger. It was the intense narrative and high-stakes scenarios that made the first Conveyor film a successand while the sequels were mostly unpredictable, the franchise certainly wasn't struggling commercially. The films featured some of the best scenes of Jason Statham's career, but ultimately, the fourth film was not a viable option for the actor.
Jason Statham didn't want to sign a new unscripted trilogy
Producers' demands were too high for Statham
Statham revealed the Vulture in 2015 who was approached with an idea for a bedroom Conveyor film, but it would be necessary for him to sign an entire trilogy without seeing the script first. The actor “I couldn’t see the value in it.” and refused to return to the franchise, aware that it would be a huge commitment without any guarantee that the result would be good. He also revealed that he was offered “less money for making three than you would make for one”, which he did not consider a good business decision.
Transporter 4 Happened Without Statham (But Its Sequels Never Happened)
The proposed trilogy never happened
Although Statham rejected the project, the project still happened without the lead actor at the helm. The refueled transporter it ended up being more of a soft reboot than a sequel, with Ed Skrein as the protagonist in a very similar narrative. However, Skrein was clearly not asked to sign on for three films, as the potential trilogy that was reportedly proposed to Statham never came to pass. The franchise ended with The refueled transporterand the actor has expressed no desire to return – but director Louis Leterrier has spoken openly about wanting to work with Statham again.
The Transporter Franchise Letting Jason Statham Go Was a Big Mistake
Statham's absence ended up killing the series
Ultimately, letting Jason Statham walk away from the franchise was the biggest mistake I've ever made. The transporter series could have done. He was the glue that held these films together despite their confusing scripts and predictable stories, and it simply couldn't have worked without him. It was his charm and charisma that made the character so interesting, and although Ed Skrein is a great actor in his own right, it was impossible to fill the shoes that Statham had left behind. He was a crucial part of the Conveyor franchise, which is probably why these two extra sequels never went ahead.