Statham and Ritchie reunite for Viva La Madness

Jason Statham and director Guy Ritchie will reteam for a new action thriller, Viva La Madness, based on J.J. Connolly’s 2011 novel, with production scheduled to begin in January 2026. Ritchie is set to write and direct, and Statham is attached to star and produce, marking the duo’s sixth collaboration.

The project draws on Connolly’s follow-up to his Layer Cake novel. The book follows a London drug dealer known only as X, who emerges from exile to re-enter the criminal underworld for a high-stakes score that spans London and Colombia and involves betrayals, narcotics and assorted criminal schemes. Studio descriptions say the film will be a standalone adaptation and will not continue or tie into earlier screen adaptations of Connolly’s work.

Statham and Thomas Benski initiated the film, and production partners include Punch Palace Productions, Lumina Studios, Toff Guy Films and Black Bear. Ritchie and Ivan Atkinson are producing through Toff Guy Films, and John Friedberg is producing for Black Bear. Beyond Statham, no other cast members have been confirmed. Reports say filming will begin in January, with the January 2026 start date cited in production schedules.