Thescreescore – The future of the colossal aquatic action franchise, The Meg, starring action stalwart Jason Statham, appears to be navigating increasingly murky waters. Despite amassing a formidable near-billion-dollar global box office haul across its first two installments, the highly anticipated third chapter remains unconfirmed, leaving fans of the prehistoric leviathan saga in suspense.
Launched in 2018, the original The Meg plunged audiences into the terrifying depths, pitting Statham’s character, Jonas Taylor, against gargantuan megalodons. Directed by Jon Turteltaub, the adaptation of Steve Alten’s novel proved a monstrous success, devouring $529 million worldwide against a reported budget of approximately $175 million. Its 2023 sequel, The Meg 2: The Trench, helmed by Ben Wheatley, continued the lucrative trend, grossing $398.5 million globally from a more modest $140 million budget. While these figures collectively push the franchise’s total revenue close to the coveted $1 billion mark, the greenlight for The Meg 3 has yet to materialize.
Recent comments from The Meg 2 director Ben Wheatley shed little light on the sequel’s prospects. Speaking to The Direct while promoting his latest film, Normal, at SXSW, Wheatley addressed the ongoing speculation. Despite expressing enthusiasm for a potential follow-up in 2023, his current stance is one of uncertainty. "I don’t know if there is a sequel in the works," Wheatley admitted, adding a touch of humor, "I’m sure the Meg itself, it’s out there swimming. There’s a massive, dark shadow in the sea. But I don’t know what’s going on [with a third movie]." He even playfully pitched a wild concept for a third film, envisioning the Meg being weaponized for military purposes and somehow developing legs to venture onto land – a notion that certainly sparks curiosity, if not immediate cinematic viability.
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The delay in securing a third installment could stem from several strategic considerations within the studio. Given that two different directors have steered the franchise thus far, it’s conceivable that a new creative vision for The Meg 3 is being explored independently of Wheatley. More critically, however, producers may be exercising caution due to the noticeable dip in box office performance between the first and second films.
While The Meg 2: The Trench was by no means a financial failure – comfortably surpassing its estimated $350 million break-even point by $50 million and outperforming major 2023 releases like Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes – the trend of diminishing returns is a significant factor. Should The Meg 3 incur a similar budget and experience a comparable drop in revenue, it risks falling short of profitability, potentially grossing around $300 million. Significantly reducing the budget for a spectacle-driven film featuring a giant prehistoric shark, while maintaining production quality, presents an almost insurmountable challenge.
To counteract this potential pitfall, studio executives might be strategically orchestrating a longer hiatus between films. This extended waiting period could serve to heighten audience anticipation and prevent sequel fatigue, thereby boosting the chances of The Meg 3 achieving a robust box office performance. Such a strategy, however, would likely mean a wait of at least another three years before the next chapter hits the big screen.
Another avenue for rekindling interest could be a resurgence in the popularity of the existing films. While The Meg 2 is currently available for streaming on HBO Max in the United States, the original The Meg is not readily accessible on free or subscription streaming platforms. A new streaming home for the inaugural movie could reignite fan engagement and provide a clear signal to producers that the appetite for more megalodon mayhem remains strong. Until then, the fate of Jonas Taylor’s next deep-sea confrontation hangs precariously in the balance.
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