‘Eastern Promises’ Sequel Comes Back Without David Cronenberg & Viggo Mortensen; Instead Adds Jason Statham

If you’ve been waiting for a sequel to David Cronenberg’s crime thriller, “Eastern Promises,” since its release in 2007, we have some good news…and some bad news. The good news is that a follow-up film set in the same universe of “Eastern Promises” is coming, titled “Small Dark Look.” Unfortunately, the film isn’t going to see the return of Cronenberg or star Viggo Mortensen, and it won’t continue the story featured in the first film. But don’t lose hope yet!

According to THR, “Small Dark Look” is starting to take shape, as Steven Knight, the writer of “Eastern Promises,” has finished a script for the sequel film. And taking over for Mortensen and Cronenberg as star and director respectively are Jason Statham and filmmaker Martin Zandvliet. The plot of the film is being kept under wraps but it’s reported that “Small Dark Look” will be set in the same Russian mob universe that “Eastern Promises” introduced audiences to more than a decade ago.

Statham is a proven entity in Hollywood at this point, appearing in dozens of thrillers over the years, so while he may be a surprising replacement for someone like Viggo Mortensen, the actor has shown himself to be more than capable at leading a crime film. As for director Zandvliet, he’s probably best known for his Oscar-nominated feature, “Land of Mine.” Most recently, he directed the 2018 thriller, “The Outsider,” which stars Jared Leto.

READ MORE: David Cronenberg Shares Details Of Canceled ‘Eastern Promises 2’ & ‘The Fly’ Remake [Exclusive]

One thing is for sure, it appears that the sequel for “Eastern Promises” that David Cronenberg teased back in 2012 is being heavily adjusted for this new feature.

“In the sequel,” Cronenberg told The Playlist in 2012. “We would see Nikolai [Viggo Mortensen] go to Russia and there would be Russian elements and so on and so on. And [original screenwriter] Steve Knight wrote a lovely script.”

But why did it end up falling apart? “Focus Features couldn’t agree on a budget, basically,” he explained. “I thought it was a very ambitious script and I wanted to do it properly and they really felt the financial restraints of the world in general. It was a really budget disagreement.”

With some heartbreaking finality, Cronenberg said: “As far as I’m concerned I’m not involved anymore.”

Lastly, in some final Jason Statham related news, Aubrey Plaza is set to star alongside Statham in Guy Ritchie’s upcoming untitled thriller according to Deadline. The story follows MI6 guns-and-steel agent (Statham) who is recruited by a global intelligence alliance to track down and stop the sale of a deadly new weapons technology that threatens to disrupt the world order.