Jason Statham comes face to face with a big ol' giant shark in a new image from upcoming blockbuster The Meg. While killer shark movies are still a big deal thanks to classic Syfy channel originals like Ghost Shark, Sharktopus and the Sharknado movies, it’s been a little while since there was a genuine blockbuster with sharks as the main threat. 1999's Deep Blue Sea was the last time studios took a gamble on a big budget shark movie, while The Shallows recently proved to be a surprise hit for Columbia Pictures.

That’s about to change thanks to The Meg, a $150 million blockbuster that’s based on a series of books by author Steve Alten. The story finds Jason Statham’s navy captain being called in to rescue a team of scientists from a deep sea research station, who are being attacked by a prehistoric megalodon. The idea of Statham fighting a giant shark has already marked The Meg as a movie destined to be one of the great guilty pleasures of 2018.

Related: Jason Statham Battle A 75-Foot Shark In The Meg

Now a new image from the film has arrived via Empire, which finds Statham looking out at the massive supershark and seeming understandably concerned. Apparently, Statham’s character Jonas Taylor has previously encountered the creature on another mission, lending his rescue mission a personal edge. The shark itself also appears to have a nasty looking scar, which may - or may not - be a homage to the beast from Jaws 2. You can check out the image below.

The Meg has been in development for a long time, with directors such as Jan de Bont and Eli Roth having previously developed it. Jon Turteltaub (National Treasure) eventually took over, and the film’s hefty budget seems to promise there will be a lot of carnage on display. Statham himself has previously described The Meg as a mix between Jaws and Jurassic Park, which again promises it will be a good time at the movies.

Given Statham’s casting and the budget involved, it seems unlikely The Meg will be a suspenseful thriller like Jaws and will be aiming for a cheesy B-movie vibe instead. There’s nothing wrong with that of course - that’s the exact reason some viewers are looking forward to it - but the question is will the movie pull in a big enough audience for Warner Bros. to justify such a large budget.

Hopefully, a trailer for The Meg will land soon, so audiences can get a peek at the giant monster carnage that awaits them next summer.

MORE: Meg Is A Cross Between Jurassic Park & Jaws

Source: Empire