Jason Statham Returns for Transporter 3

Jason Statham is set to reprise his role as Frank Martin, an ex-Special Forces operative turned professional "transporter", who delivers packages without questions.

Frank follows three simple rules: (1) Stick to the deal; (2) Don't ask names; and (3) Don't look in the packages he transports.

The next installment to the 2002 and 2005 action films will start shooting next month for 16 weeks in Russia and France. Francois Berleand (The Transporter) and Robert Knepper (Prison Break) have also been cast.

Luc Besson created the hard-driving courier character, co-wrote the scripts, and produced the first two Transporter films. On why he decided to make the franchise a trilogy, he said "It’s too much fun."

The first two films, directed by French filmmaker Louis Leterrier have grossed more than $130 million worldwide. Leterrier also directed Jet Li’s Unleashed,

This time around, Transporter 3 will be directed by Olivier Megaton, the second unit director for Hitman.

Prior to The Transporter (2002) Jason Statham already had a background in martial arts which enabled him to perform his own fight sequences. Statham performed nearly all of his own stunts in the film, including car chase sequences, scuba diving sequences and fight sequences. Statham is also a former Olympic Diver on the British National Diving Team.

Statham has studied multiple styles of martial arts including Wing Chun, karate and kickboxing.

The Transporter 3 star has a range of screen credits but can be remembered by martial arts enthusiasts in his roles alongside Jet Li in The One and last year’s War.

Transporter 3 is slated to release in 2009.

Watch the fight scene from Transporter 2 below.

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