Earlier, we reported about Jason Statham reprising his role of Adam Clay in The Beekeeper 2, a sequel to his 2024 action film. In the latest development, actor Yara Shahidi has joined the film's cast, according to Variety. Financed and produced by Miramax, with Amazon MGM Studios serving as its worldwide distributor, the film is set to go on floors later this year. Jeremy Irons, who plays Wallace Westwyld in the 2024 original, is also set to come back for the sequel.

Timo Tjahjanto of Nobody 2 fame is directing the film from a screenplay by the first film's scribe Kurt Wimmer. Statham is also producing it under his banner Punch Palace Productions, along with Wimmer himself and Longshot Productions' Chris Long.

The Beekeeper stars Statham as an erstwhile hitman for the government who embarks on a vengeful quest as his landlady, played by Phylicia Rashad, becomes the target of a phishing attack. David Ayer directed the action film, which reportedly minted more than $160 million from theatres around the world. Statham gave a hint at the likelihood of a sequel to The Beekeeper before the original even hit the screens last year.

Coming back to Shahidi, the actor is most popular for her performance in ABC's series Black-ish and its Freeform spinoff Grown-ish. For the The Beekeeper sequel, he is set to reunite with Amazon MGM Studios after their collaboration on Sitting in Bars With Cake. Shahidi's upcoming projects as an actor include Street Smart with director Catherine Hardwicke.