Despite rumors to the contrary, Li Bingbing will not be participating in the planned sequel Meg 2: The Trench. The original Meg, directed by blockbuster master Jon Turteltaub, was released in theaters in 2018 and ranked #21 on the list of the year’s highest-grossing domestic films. The film follows the team of an undersea research facility that accidentally unleashes an ancient megalodon from the Mariana Trench. It is based on Steve Alten’s novel Meg: A Novel of Deep Terror. Jason Statham, Li Bingbing, Rainn Wilson, Ruby Rose, Cliff Curtis, and Heroes’ Masi Oka were among the international ensemble cast.
Meg 2, based on Steve Alten’s follow-up novel The Trench, has been rapidly moving forward in production. In early February, the sequel began production with Statham, and the official title was confirmed at the same time. Ben Wheatley, who previously helmed mostly independent films such as Sightseers, High-Rise, and Free Fire, is helming the project. His most recent movie was the mid-budget adaptation of the Alfred Hitchcock classic Rebecca, starring Armie Hammer and Lily James.
As development on Meg 2 begins, it is reported that Li Bingbing will not be returning for a second installment in the franchise. Li’s debut part was as Suyin, an oceanographer who worked alongside her father, Dr. Minway Zhang (Winston Chao). Suyin must link up with Statham’s gruff former rescue diver Jonas Taylor to safeguard her daughter Meiying (Sophia Cai) from the huge underwater danger within the facility.
Despite the absence of Li Bingbing, Meg 2 has enlisted the services of another worldwide superstar. Wu Jing, China’s highest-grossing actor, will join the cast as well. He directed and acted in the hugely successful 2015 action picture Wolf Warrior and its sequel, the latter of which was the only foreign-language film in the top ten at the box office that year. Similarly, his most recent picture, The Battle at Lake Changjin, was the highest-grossing film for most of the year before being surpassed by the megahit Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Meg 2: The Trench will undoubtedly aim for the same global appeal as the previous picture. It’ll be interesting to see if the same level of excitement can be rekindled after such a lengthy break between films, especially for a picture that was never supposed to become a large series. Wu Jing, on the other hand, is the only person who can help the film’s box office gross.
