MEG 2: THE TRENCH opens August 4th
In August 2018, THE MEG swam onto the big screen and ate up the competition with its story about a group of scientists who encounter a massive and long-believed-to-be-extinct shark at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. The movie, which was a massive hit with audiences, is now getting the sequel treatment in the form of MEG 2: THE TRENCH, which appears to up the ante in every possible way.
With a new story, even more danger below the surface of the ocean, and an all-star cast once again led by Jason Statham, the upcoming 2023 movie will be here soon enough, kicking off the next chapter in the monster shark story. But before MEG 2: THE TRENCH comes to your local AMC Theatre location on Friday, August 4th, there are a few things you’ll want to know. Here is a guide to epic adventure…
A Research Mission Gone Awry
Similar to its predecessor, which saw a group of scientists explore the depths of the ocean only to encounter a prehistoric monster, MEG 2: THE TRENCH will dive right back into one of the deepest locations on the planet with its story centered around a team of daring researchers on an exploratory dive into uncharted waters. But when an underwater mining operation causes a great disturbance to the ecosystem, as well as the team’s mission, the researchers are thrust into a life-or-death situation, one that could impact everyone in the vicinity, both under and above the surface.
A Pack Of Megs On The Attack
In the first movie, there was only one megalodon, or meg, that we had to worry about. But with sequels having the habit of increasing the stakes, danger, and action, we’ll be seeing a pack of prehistoric sharks bring chaos to the surface.
As seen in the exciting MEG 2: THE TRENCH trailer, this trio of massive sharks escapes the depths of the ocean to feast upon anything that gets in its way, be it underwater vehicles, sealife, or humans… plenty of humans. But the megs aren’t the only problem rising to the surface, as other massive creatures rise from the depths of the ocean.
Jason Statham And Wu Jing Lead The Cast
Back in the summer of 2018, Jason Statham’s Jonas Taylor went to war with the prehistoric shark, with the expert deep sea diver finding redemption after a tragic accident. Statham, along with his character, is back in action once again, leading the MEG 2: THE TRENCH cast. This time around, Statham will be joined by Chinese action star Wu Jing, who plays a core member of the team of researchers.
And while not everyone from the first movie will be returning for the new sequel, Cliff Curtis, Page Kennedy, and Sophia Cai are all back for a second serving of massive sharks and deep-sea adventures. The movie is also set to feature Sergio Peris-Mencheta, Skyler Samuels, and Sienna Guillory.
Based On A Book
Though THE MEG felt like something cooked up exclusively for the big screen, it was based on Steve Allen’s 1997 book titled “Meg: A Novel of Deep Terror,” and its sequel is no different. This time around, MEG 2: THE TRENCH is based on Allen’s 1999 follow-up novel, “The Trench,” which continued the saga of Jonas Taylor and his encounters with the massive sharks.
In case you were wondering, there are six additional novels in the series, meaning we could be getting MEG movies for a very long time. And that doesn’t even include the 2018 graphic novel or Allen’s various other sci-fi and thriller books written over the years.
Ben Wheatley Directs
Though MEG 2: THE TRENCH will see the return of several members of the cast and writing team from the first movie, the upcoming sequel has a new director. The first go-around was directed by Jon Turteltaub, who is best known for helming movies like NATIONAL TREASURE and its sequel, as well as INSTINCT, WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING, and COOL RUNNINGS. But this time around, it’s Ben Wheatley sitting in the director’s chair.
Throughout his career, which goes back to 2009’s DOWN TERRACE, Wheatly has directed movies like THE ABCS OF DEATH, HIGH-RISE, FREE FIRE, REBECCA, and most recently, IN THE EARTH. He’s also directed and written shows like “Ideal,” “Strange Angel,” and “Doctor Who,” over the years. If you are a fan of any of those films or series, then you have even more of a reason to check out MEG 2: THE TRENCH.
Will MEG 2: THE TRENCH reach the heights of its predecessor? Only time will tell. But the only way to know for sure is to purchase a ticket for the sci-fi horror adventure so you don’t miss it when the movie swims into AMC Theatres nationwide this August.
MEG 2: THE TRENCH opens August 4th
