Here’s another Cannes market package — we’ll be getting many of these this week. David Ayer is set to reteam with Jason Statham on “John Doe,” which is expected to shoot in September 2026. Zak Penn wrote the screenplay, and Black Bear will be seeking international rights at the market.
The film follows a guy who wakes up with zero memory—no name, no past, nothing—except for the face of a woman named Eliza stuck in his head. As bits of his past start coming back, he realizes he was trained for some kind of mission that’s still in play… and now the same people who sent him are trying to take him out. With everything closing in, he’s forced to choose between finishing what he started or protecting the one person who makes him feel human.
This marks another collaboration between Ayer and Statham following “The Beekeeper” and “A Working Man,” while Penn brings blockbuster experience from credits including “Ready Player One,” “The Avengers,” and “Free Guy.”
Ayer’s “Heart of the Beast,” starring Brad Pitt, is eyeing a September 2026 release, so right after he’s done doing press on that one, he’ll begin production on “John Doe.” Ayer’s best film—and the true outlier of his filmography—remains “Fury,” an excellent WWII epic that grossed over $200M at the worldwide box office. The filmmaker’s other credits include “Harsh Times,” “Street Kings,” “End of Watch,” and “The Beekeeper.” As for “Suicide Squad,” it’s a film Ayer has since distanced himself from.