Ben Wheatley, Director of ‘Meg 2: The Trench’, on the Challenges of Maneuvering Actors Into the Meg’s Jaws

BIG SCREEN BUZZ
The adrenaline-fueled sequel, Meg 2: The Trench, promises to up the stakes with a multitude of prehistoric beasts bringing chaos to oceanic humans.
Director Ben Wheatley discusses the exhilarating feat of thrusting characters into the Meg’s jaws in the sequel, amplifying the primal fear of being swallowed alive.
Jason Statham reprises his role as the resolute Jonas Taylor, who comes face-to-face with an array of oceanic behemoths. Meg 2: The Trench is now showing in cinemas.

Meg 2: The Trench is storming into theaters, resurrecting the primordial sea creature as its kind launches an onslaught against holidaymakers in the ocean. The ancient sharks are poised to bring an even larger conflict this time, supplemented by additional Megs and other archaic monsters from the oceanic abyss. In a recent conversation with FilmSweep’s Steve Weintraub, director Ben Wheatley shared how the film crew managed a stunt involving getting characters into the mouth of the main beast, utilizing a variety of physical effects:

“There was a sort of protective bumper bar and people in a swimming pool, and we manipulated them from below to give the effect of being swallowed. [Laughs] It was quite entertaining. And then, of course, there’s some top-notch CG to polish it off.”

The sequel to Meg is primed to be grander and gutsier than the first film, with multiple creatures simultaneously terrorizing humans. In the original film, only a few megalodons were the principal foes. However, in the sequel, an unheard-of number of giant sea species will surface from the ocean’s depths to torment the team studying them — and those seeking to exploit their archaic might.

Image via Warner Bros

Weintraub learned from the filmmaker that once he conceived the idea to venture inside the Meg’s mouth, they had to bring it to life on screen. Wheatley explained:

“I had sketched many gags for the sharks. So we were brainstorming, ‘What could the sharks do?’ And this inside-mouth shot was like, ‘We absolutely need to do this. It’s fantastic!’ The terror of people being swallowed alive was the crux of it, and the reality of what transpires. […] The Meg is enormous, and when people enter its mouth, their fate is uncertain, which is the question in your mind: ‘What happens once you’re inside there?’ Because unless you’re bitten, which is doubtful, you’re just floating around inside. And I think that’s the entertaining part.”

‘Jonas Taylor Takes the Plunge in ‘Meg 2: The Trench’

Jason Statham will reprise his role as Jonas Taylor, having starred in The Meg five years prior. The character, a former rescue diver, was profoundly affected by his confrontations with the titular monster in the first movie, and he’s committed to discovering more about these enigmatic creatures inhabiting the ocean’s depths. Unexpectedly, his pursuit will put him in the path of a myriad of sea monsters as he strives to safeguard the people along the coast. Wu Jing, Sophia Cai, and Page Kennedy will also join the cast of the sequel.

The official trailer for Meg 2: The Trench is available for viewing below.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Meg 2: The Trench

More about Meg 2: The Trench

• Meg 2: The Trench Official Trailer
• Interview with Director Ben Wheatley
• Jason Statham Filmography
• Review of The Meg
• Details on the Original The Meg