While Guy Ritchie’s “In the Grey” remains in limbo due to scheduling conflicts interfering with planned reshoots, he’s already set up his next film — a sequel to “Layer Cake.”
Ritchie will be teaming up with Jason Statham for their sixth film together, “Viva La Madness,” based on J.J. Connolly’s novel and the author’s sequel to “Layer Cake,” which was adapted into the 2004 cult crime film starring Daniel Craig.
Production on “Viva La Madness” is set to begin in January. Statham is currently the only cast member attached, with Ritchie set as both writer and director. Black Bear is producing, and if their recent moves are any indication, they might also end up distributing the film.
“Viva La Madness” centers on an unnamed London drug dealer known only as X and is notable for its depiction of crime, sex, drugs, and deception. Its predecessor, “Layer Cake,” marked Matthew Vaughn’s first film as a director. Vaughn had previously produced Guy Ritchie and Jason Statham’s breakout gangster hits “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” and “Snatch.”
Quite honestly, if you still haven’t seen “Layer Cake,” it’s a lot of nasty fun. Daniel Craig’s performance in that film is widely credited with helping him land the role of James Bond in 2005, while also launching Sienna Miller into stardom.
Ritchie and Statham have collaborated on five movies so far in their careers: “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels,” “Snatch,” “Revolver,” “Wrath of Man,” and “Operation Fortune.”
In the meantime, Ritchie hasn’t exactly been sitting still. He’s already released “Fountain of Youth” for Apple TV+ (which dropped in May) and has moved on to “Wife & Dog,” currently in post-production. He recently dropped out of directing “Road House 2,” which is now in production. “In the Grey” will eventually come out, too — hopefully sooner rather than later. In fact, Ritchie has released four films and two TV shows in the last three years.