Jason Statham’s athleticism is the core of his success as an action hero

Jason Statham first became a worldwide known face with the Transporter trilogy, but he actually became mainstream with the Guy Ritchie movies – Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (2008) and Snatch (2010). Soon, his name became synonymous with the resurgence of action movies in the 2000s and 2010s, and Statham became the new-gen action hero that had been missing from the silver screen.

Jason Statham (via his Instagram)

Now, in his late 50s, Statham is still putting in the work and creating magic on screen with his action-packed movies, and it looks like there is no stopping him. Stunt performer and coordinator Chris O’Hara, who has worked with the 56-year-old actor in Hobbs and Shaw, praised the actor on his skills and dedication and spilled some tea on how he keeps going even now.

Jason Statham: The Action Hero

Jason Statham became the face of the action genre after his popularity rose with the Transporter trilogy. Soon, he had more projects added to his filmography, including The Expendables series, Fast and Furious, The Meg, The Mechanic, and so on. With every new movie, his popularity as an action hero rose, and he became one of the most bankable stars in Hollywood, with his movies generating millions of dollars.

Jason Statham and Sylvester Stallone

Being an athlete himself, Statham likes doing his stunts but also makes sure he knows what he is getting himself into. While performing his stunts for Hobbs and Shaw, when Statham’s character Deckard Shaw takes apart goons in an apartment like it was child’s play. That was probably one of the best moments in the movie. However, it did not happen without prior preparation. In a conversation with Slash Films, O’Hara says,

“If you have really talented stunt players around you, it can help elevate the action. There’s not a question of figuring it out or whether someone has the right timing or the beats. We basically put in place the three guys in there that are really talented stunt guys, known for fight stuff. It helped elevate Jason, it helps his performance.”

Once you get the higher-ups’ approval for a stunt and the actor makes his position known, it becomes easy to choreograph the whole scene.

The Strategy Behind Jason Statham’s Success

The man who has been amazing audiences with his action stunts and physicality since the late 90s has had years to perfect his craft. People who have worked with Statham on projects so far have only good things to say about the actor and the dedication he has toward his work. 12 years on the British National Diving Squad and experience in gymnastics, along with being adept in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and judo, has made him who he is today.

Jason Statham

O’Hara also said,

“I think it’s just being a well-rounded athlete, you know? Jason was a diver. He’s an Olympic-level caliber athlete. He has those genes, so it’s been there forever. He does have the core strength and train like a madman. He’s not a spring chicken anymore and he sees the big picture. He sees that he’s an action star, and to be an action star at 50, he’s gotta stay in shape and stay on top of it. When it comes down to core strength, yeah, absolutely. You just have to keep it all together, because he’s not getting any younger. Fortunately, his career is not slowing down with action; it’s only ramping up.”

Jason Statham will be next seen in David Ayer’s action thriller, The Beekeeper, which will be released on 12 January 2024.