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Meg 2: The Trench (titled Shark 2 in some territories) is a 2023 science fiction action film directed by Ben Wheatley from a screenplay by Jon Hoeber, Erich Hoeber, and Dean Georgaris. It is based on the 1999 novel The Trench by Steve Alten. Serving as the sequel to The Meg (2018), the film stars Jason Statham, Wu Jing, Sophia Cai, Page Kennedy, Sergio Peris-Mencheta, Skyler Samuels and Cliff Curtis. Like the previous film, it follows a group of scientists who must outrun, outsmart and outswim the titular Megalodons when a malevolent mining operation threatens their mission and forces them into a high-stakes battle for survival.
Plans for the sequel announced to be early development on October 2018 after the box office success of the first film, Wheatley replaced Jon Turteltaub to attached to be director from the returning script by Dean Georgaris, Jon Hoeber and Erich Hoeber, with Alten completed the screenplay in 2019. Filming begin on various locations in Asia and the London-based Leavesden Studios on February 2022 with much of the cast joined the same month until May 2022.
Meg 2: The Trench had its world premiere at the Shanghai International Film Festival on June 9, 2023, and was released in the United States on August 4, 2023, by Warner Bros. Pictures. The film has received negative reviews from critics.
Plot[]
Cast[]
- Jason Statham as Jonas Taylor, a diver who specializes in deep sea search and rescue, and Meiying's step-father.
- Wu Jing as Jiuming Zhang, Meiying's uncle
- Sophia Cai as Meiying Zhang, Jonas' step-daughter.
- Page Kennedy as DJ, an engineer and Jonas' partner.
- Sergio Peris-Mencheta as Montes, a mercenary and Jess' partner
- Skyler Samuels as Jess, a mercenary and Montes' partner
- Cliff Curtis as James "Mac" Mackreides, an other Jonas' partner.
- Sienna Guillory as Driscoli
- Melissanthi Mahut as Rigas
- Whoopie Van Raam
- Kiran Sonia Sawar as Sal
- Felix Mayr as Lance
- Able Wanamakok as Friend
Production[]
Development[]
In April 2018, Jason Statham said a sequel to The Meg (2018) would happen if the film did well with the public, saying "I think it's like anything in this day and age – if it makes money, there's obviously an appetite to make more money. And if it doesn't do well, they'll soon sweep it under the carpet--but that's the way Hollywood works." In August 2018, Steve Alten said "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." In October 2018, executive producer Catherine Xujun Ying announced a sequel was in the early stages of development.
Pre-production[]
In March 2019, it was announced that a script for the film was in the works, with screenwriters Dean Georgaris, and Jon and Erich Hoeber returning. In his September 2020 newsletter, Alten confirmed the script, titled Meg 2: The Trench, to be complete, and expressed interest in its "dark" tone. In October 2020, Ben Wheatley was announced to direct.
Filming[]
In April 2021, Statham said filming was set to begin in January 2022. Filming commenced as planned at the end of January at the Warner-owned Leavesden Studios outside London, with principal photography starting on February 4, 2022. It continued there until May before switching to outdoor locations, presumably in Asia. While the production was ongoing, Sienna Guillory, Skyler Samuels, Sergio Peris-Mencheta, and Wu Jing were announced as part of the cast.
Post-production[]
DNEG, Scanline VFX and Milk VFX provided the visual effects for the sequel (with DNEG also handling the 3D conversion). Pete Bebb and Gavin Round served as production visual effects supervisor and production visual effects producer respectively.
Music[]
- Main article: Meg 2: The Trench (soundtrack)
Harry Gregson-Williams composed the sequel, returning from the first film. WaterTower Music released a score album on July 28, in addition to the Bankay Ojo's remix version of Page Kennedy's song "Chomp."
Release[]
Theatrical[]
Meg 2: The Trench was released by Warner Bros. Pictures in the United States on August 4, 2023. The film had its world premiere at the Shanghai International Film Festival on June 9, 2023.
International premiere[]
- June 9, 2023 (China / Shanghai International Film Festival)
- June 28, 2023 (China / Beijing, premiere)
- August 2, 2023 (Belgium / France / Indonesia / Iceland / Latvia / Philippines / Taiwan / United Arab Emirates)
- August 3, 2023 (Albania / Argentina / Austria / Australia / Azerbaijan / Bosnia and Herzegovina / Brazil / Switzerland / Chile / Czech Republic / Germany / Denmark / Ecuador / Egypt / Georgia / Hong Kong / Croatia / Hungary / Israel / Italy / Kyrgyzstan / Cambodia / Kuwait / Montenegro / North Macedonia / Mexico / Malaysia / Netherlands / New Zealand / Peru / Portugal / Serbia / Singapore / Slovenia / Slovakia / Ukraine / Uzbekistan / Kosovo / South Africa)
- August 4, 2023 (Andorra / Canada / Cameroon / China / Estonia / Spain / Finland / United Kingdom / Ireland / India / Jamaica / Malta / Norway / New Zealand / Poland / Romania / Sweden / Turkey / United States / British Virgin Islands)
- August 5, 2023 (Greece, internet)
- August 7, 2023 (Vietnam, internet)
- August 15, 2023 (South Korea)
- August 25, 2023 (Japan)
Home media[]
- Main article: Meg 2: The Trench (video)
Meg 2: The Trench was released on digital download on August 25, 2023, on the streaming service Max on September 29, and was released on Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray and DVD on October 24, 2023 by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.
Streaming[]
Reception[]
Box office[]
In the United States and Canada, Meg 2: The Trench is projected to gross $20–30 million from 3,500 theaters in its opening weekend. It made $3.9 million from Thursday night previews.
Critical response[]
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 26% of 102 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 4.5/10. Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 40 out of 100, based on 29 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
References[]
External links[]
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