Guy Ritchie and Jason Statham are teaming up once again, marking their sixth collaboration with the upcoming action-thriller “Viva La Madness,” Variety has confirmed.
While plot details remain under wraps, the film is based on J.J. Connolly’s novel of the same name – the sequel to Layer Cake, which was adapted into the acclaimed 2004 British crime classic.
However, despite its literary roots, Viva La Madness is being described as a stand-alone, original feature rather than a sequel, spin-off, or continuation of the earlier adaptation.
“Viva La Madness” was developed by Statham and producer Thomas Benski (Gangs of London), who are producing through their respective banners Punch Palace Productions and Lumina Studios, alongside Toff Guy Films. Black Bear is also on board to produce and manage international sales, with plans to debut the project at the upcoming American Film Market.
Production is slated to begin in January 2026, with Statham currently the only confirmed cast member. Ritchie is attached as both writer and director.
The producing team includes Statham for Punch Palace, Benski for Lumina Studios, Ritchie and Ivan Atkinson for Toff Guy Films, and John Friedberg for Black Bear. Although details remain under negotiation, Black Bear’s recent expansion into U.S. distribution suggests the company is a strong contender to handle the film’s domestic release.
Connolly’s Viva La Madness, originally published in 2011, follows an anonymous London drug dealer known only as “X.” The novel delves into a world of sex, scams, narcotics, and double-crosses – all wrapped in dark humor and criminal intrigue.
The original Layer Cake film, adapted from Connolly’s 2000 debut novel, marked Matthew Vaughn’s directorial debut after producing Ritchie and Statham’s breakout hits Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch.
Stylish, sharp, and fast-paced, Layer Cake was praised by critics and starred Daniel Craig in a role widely credited for landing him the part of James Bond in 2005. It also helped launch the career of Sienna Miller.
Plans for a Layer Cake sequel involving Ritchie and Statham have circulated for over a decade, with reports as early as 2013 suggesting Statham would take over Craig’s role.
Since his early days with Lock, Stock, Ritchie has revisited his signature British crime genre in recent years through The Gentlemen and its Netflix spin-off, as well as the upcoming Paramount+ project MobLand and Wife & Dog.
His partnership with Statham remains one of modern cinema’s most enduring, spanning titles like Revolver, Wrath of Man, and Operation Fortune.