Jason Statham pulls out of new Kevin Hart movie 'weeks before shooting'

Jason Statham has pulled out of his new action-comedy with Kevin Hart just weeks before it was set to start shooting.

Statham was all set to make The Man From Toronto with the Jumanji star, but sources tell Deadline that he has quit the production just four week ahead of cameras rolling.

The Expendables 3 and The Hitman's Bodyguard director Patrick Hughes is helming the project, and seemingly now has a Stath-sized hole to fill.

According to the report, Statham had issues with the studio wishing to make a PG-13 movie with a release planned in the run-up to Thanksgiving in the US, rather than an adult R-rating.

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It's hoped that Sony Pictures can replace Statham while still keeping Hart involved in the project.

Deadline also reports that Statham has quit his agency, WME, which he signed to last year, in the wake of the departure from the movie.

In the movie, Statham was set to play the world's deadliest assassin – the titular 'Man from Toronto' – who is involved in a case of mistaken identity with Hart’s character, described as ‘New York's biggest screw up', involving a bungled Airbnb booking.

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The plot had the the odd couple teaming up for clearly not as violent a caper as Statham was hoping for.

The British hardman also has another movie in the offing, however, which teamed him with long-time collaborator Guy Ritchie.

Heist-actioner Cash Truck, a remake of the 2004 French movie Le Convoyeur, also stars Scott Eastwood and Josh Hartnett, and is currently in post-production ahead of release in January, 2021.