Summary
- The Transporter franchise is underrated, with moderate box office hits but a reliable action concept.
- Collateral may connect to The Transporter universe, making it potentially the highest-grossing film in the franchise.
- The idea of Statham reprising his role as Frank Martin in cameo roles could create an interesting expanded universe.
As a long-time fan of action movies, I can’t help but be intrigued by the potential for an unprecedented cinematic universe that could be built around Jason Statham’s iconic character, Frank Martin from “The Transporter.” Having followed Statham’s career for years and seen him excel in various roles, I believe his cameos in other films as Frank Martin would not only delight fans but also add an exciting layer of depth to the film industry.
The Transporter series, often considered underappreciated in the realm of action films, hasn’t consistently drawn large box office revenues or critical acclaim, yet it has consistently delivered thrilling action content.
Three films featuring Jason Statham performed moderately well at the box office. The titles and concepts are straightforward, making it clear to most viewers what the “Transporter” films represent. While many may not be familiar with Frank Martin, the character, they will probably think of “The Transporter” when asked about one of Jason Statham’s movies involving a car, even before his work on the “Fast & Furious” franchise.
In 2002, Jason Statham introduced his character Frank Martin in “The Transporter.” A sequel followed in 2005, but before that, Statham made a brief appearance as Frank in a Tom Cruise film in 2003. This cameo has been later acknowledged in Michael Mann’s “Collateral,” released in 2004. The connection between these two films was established, making them part of the same cinematic universe.
Airport Man Becomes Frank Martin
Michael Mann’s 2004 film “Collateral” revolves around Jamie Foxx’s character, Max Durocher, who drives a taxi in Los Angeles. One night, Max picks up a passenger named Vincent, played by Tom Cruise. As they travel to various destinations, Max realizes that Vincent is actually a ruthless killer on a deadly mission. Unbeknownst to Max, he becomes Vincent’s unwilling accomplice. Although the story stands alone, the opening scene hints at a broader cinematic world that could be explored.
In the movie’s beginning, Vincent encounters a man at Los Angeles International Airport who hands him a bag. This man is identified as Airport Man in the credits, but viewers will undoubtedly recognize him as Jason Statham. Back in 2005, during an interview with IGN to promote “The Transporter 2,” Louis Leterrier, one of the co-directors of “The Transporter” and the director of its sequel, revealed that Statham’s appearance in “Collateral” was actually a cameo as Frank Martin from “The Transporter” series.
Michael Mann, the collateral film’s director, and Stuart Beattie, its screenwriter, have not verified this claim. This idea was brought up by Leterrier as a retcon for Collateral, which fans have adopted due to its compatibility with The Transporter film franchise.
Jason Statham is among the cast, and Airport Man wears a suit, which is typical of Frank Martin’s attire. Frank Martin, an accomplished driver with a penchant for illicit jobs, naturally intersects with Vincent in their shared line of work. Additionally, Frank transports a package intended for pick-up by Vincent.
As a gamer, I can rephrase that in the first person perspective like this: In the game “The Transporter,” my character, Frank Martin, has a fundamental rule – never to open the package I’m transporting. So when I was given a new mission to deliver a package to Vincent, it fit perfectly with Frank’s character. I was essentially Frank Martin in this mission, but a small cameo. This intriguing addition to the game raises some thought-provoking possibilities for the “The Transporter” franchise.
Collateral Is Now the Most Successful Film in the Transporter Franchise
If we accept Leterrier’s statement that Jason Statham’s character in “Collateral” is linked to “The Transporter,” it means that “Collateral” can be considered as the second installment in the franchise, with a brief appearance by the same character. In 2005, following this interpretation, “The Transporter 2” hit the screens, and I, as a fan, was thrilled to see Frank Martin, now based in Miami, Florida, working as a driver for a family and developing a strong bond with their young son. The original trilogy concluded in 2008 with “The Transporter 3.”
From 2012 to 2014, the television show “Transporter: The Series” aired for two seasons. During this time, Chris Vance took over the part of Frank Martin originally played by Jason Statham in the films, while keeping the storyline consistent with the original movies. In contrast, in 2015, a fresh start was given to the Transporter franchise through “The Transporter: Refueled,” which introduced Ed Skrein as the new lead character and initiated a separate timeline.
The movie failed to draw large crowds at the box office and put a pause on the Transporter film series for the time being. If we include Collateral in the franchise, it becomes the top-earning film in the series, taking the lead in both domestic and global box office revenue. Here’s a chart displaying the films ranked by their worldwide box office collections:
| NAME | DOMESTIC BOX OFFICE | INTERNATIONAL BOX OFFICE | WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE | RELEASE DATE |
| Collateral | $101,005,703 | $119,234,222 | $220,239,925 | August 6, 2004 |
| The Transporter 3 | $31,715,062 | $77,264,487 | $108,979,549 | November 26, 2008 |
| The Transporter 2 | $43,095,856 | $42,071,783 | $85,167,639 | September 2, 2005 |
| The Transporter Refueled | $16,029,670 | $56,600,000 | $72,629,670 | September 4, 2015 |
| The Transporter | $25,296,447 | $18,632,485 | $43,928,932 | October 11, 2002 |
The Unprecedented Cinematic Universe That Could Be
Leterrier originally intended for Statham to make brief appearances as Frank Martin in other films if they didn’t produce a sequel. Now that there are two sequels, a TV show, and a remake, it seems like an excellent plan to bring this idea back to life.
It’s entertaining for Statham to make brief appearances as “The Transporter” in various films, serving as an enjoyable easter egg for fans while expanding the scope of a cinematic universe with potential for exploring different genres and production companies.
As a longtime fan of Jason Statham’s action-packed performances, I’ve been pondering the intricacies of Hollywood film production and intellectual property rights. Based on my understanding of the industry and the specific details provided in the text, here’s my take:
An apparent fit for him in terms of franchises is ruled out: “Fast & Furious.” With his primary profession being an exceptional driver, Frank Martin would make a great addition to the “Fast & Furious” movie franchise. This could be particularly true since Louis Leterrier, who directed “The Transporter 2,” is set to helm “Fast X” and the upcoming “Fast and Furious 11.”
As a longtime fan of the Fast & Furious franchise, I can’t help but feel a pang of excitement when I hear rumors of Jason Statham potentially joining the cast as Frank Martin in the upcoming film. However, being well-versed in the intricacies of this cinematic universe, I find it hard to believe that this could be more than just a fun cameo or an intriguing meta connection.
As a longtime fan of action movies, I can’t help but be excited about the prospect of seeing Jason Statham make a cameo in “Now You See Me 3.” Having followed his career since his early roles in Guy Ritchie’s films, it’s amazing to see him as the leading man in multiple successful franchises under Lionsgate.
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2024-07-20 21:02