The set of Viva La Madness was a hive of intense activity this week as Hollywood hard men Jason Statham and Vinnie Jones executed a series of daring stunts for the upcoming film. This explosive new movie serves as the highly anticipated follow-up to the cult British gangster classic Layer Cake, revisiting London's slick criminal underworld years later with even higher, deadlier stakes.
Action-Packed Scenes and Stunt Work
Former footballer Vinnie Jones, 61, was captured dramatically falling to the ground after his character is shot in one gripping scene. Meanwhile, fellow tough guy Jason Statham was seen immersed in the chaos, right at the heart of the action as mayhem erupted around them. The filming showcased the physical demands and risks involved in bringing this gritty sequel to life.
Legacy of Layer Cake and British Crime Cinema
Layer Cake, released in 2004, was a box-office success and part of a trio of action-packed gangster films set in London at the turn of the century. Following in the footsteps of Guy Ritchie's iconic movies Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch, Matthew Vaughn's film revitalised the British crime genre with its stylish blend of gritty realism and dark comedy. It also launched the careers of its director and leading actor—Vaughn won an Empire Award, while Daniel Craig secured the role of James Bond.
Sequel Production and Cast Details
In Viva La Madness, hard man actor Jason Statham, 58, is both producing and starring, reuniting with old pals Guy Ritchie and Vinnie Jones, who appeared alongside him in Ritchie's earlier films. Statham plays the drug kingpin character originally portrayed by Daniel Craig. The cast includes Nigerian actor Babs Olusanmokun and American actress Camila Mendes as a gangster's moll, with Mendes tipped for stardom this summer due to her role in the live-action remake of Masters Of The Universe.
The screenplay was written by JJ Connolly, author of the original Layer Cake novel, and centres on a cocaine dealer whose retirement plans are derailed when his boss orders him to undertake one final job. Statham has described the project as having "its own element of black comedy but very slick, very sophisticated."
Statham's Stunt Philosophy and Physical Risks
Earlier this year, Jason Statham admitted that he has sometimes "gone too far" with his daring action movie stunts, suffering injuries as a result. Speaking ahead of the release of his thriller Shelter, where he plays a former assassin, Statham revealed, "I've hurt my neck a few times, I've hurt a lot of things a few times and that reminds you of your mistakes." Despite having two young children with model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, 38, he maintains an "in for a penny, in for a pound" mentality.
At the London premiere of Shelter, Statham told the BBC, "I've spent many years learning different disciplines and given I have the technical skills to take on these complex action sequences, I like to get stuck in." He highlighted a particularly challenging open-sea rescue sequence in the film, noting, "That pushed me really physically. It's hard to make underwater work look good and anyone will know that swimming with a jacket and size 10 boots on isn't easy."
As filming for Viva La Madness continues, the reunion of Statham, Jones, and Ritchie promises to deliver a high-octane, stylish addition to the British gangster film canon, blending intense action with the dark humour that defined its predecessor.
