LOS ANGELES, Nov 14 — The British action movie star is diving headlong into “Viva La Madness,” a direct sequel to the 2004 crime thriller “Layer Cake.”

After acquiring the rights to “Viva La Madness,” novelist J.J. Connolly’s follow-up to “Layer Cake,” Jason Statham is planning to produce and star in the film adaptation of the new novel. Statham hopes to play the same nameless gangster portrayed by Daniel Craig in the previous film.

According to Deadline.com, Statham and his partners are beginning to look into the feasibility of the project with the major casting change. “Viva La Madness” begins by showing the anonymous protagonist enjoying his retirement by relaxing in the Caribbean. But the peace and quiet do not last for long, since an old acquaintance shows up and pulls him back into the criminal world.

“Layer Cake” was the directorial debut of Matthew Vaughn, who went on to direct “Kick-Ass” and “X-Men: Days of Future Past.” — AFP Relaxnews