Jason Statham vs. Tom Cruise: "The Mechanic" Gets Same China Release Date as "Jack Reacher 2"

We said earlier this week that there are four Hollywood blockbusters heading to Chinese cinema screens in October. Better make that five. 

American action thriller film The Mechanic 2 Resurrection (机械师2：复活) just nabbed its own Chinese cinematic release for October 21 – the same date as rival action flick Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (侠探杰克：永不回头).

For this sequel to a 2011 remake of a 70s Charles Bronson movie, Jason Statham’s hitman character is forced out of retirement when the bad guys kidnap his girlfriend (Jessica Alba). The trailer also features co-stars Tommy Lee Jones sporting sunglasses and a soul patch, and Hong Kong action royalty Michelle Yeoh.

The first Mechanic made RMB 88.3 million (USD 13.2 million) in China in 2011 when it was shown in 2D. This time around it will be showing on 3D and China Giant Screen (CGS).

Keep an eye out for the film’s star Jason Statham in Beijing next month as local media are speculating there’s a good chance he’ll be in town to give the film a promotional boost.

The Statham action flick joins Inferno (但丁密码), The BFG (圆梦巨人), Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (侠探杰克：永不回头) and Ben-Hur (宾虚) in the Hollywood-packed month.

In other news, local media are starting to talk about Smurfs: The Lost Village as (蓝精灵：失落的村庄) as a possible entrant to the Chinese market. 

We’ll monitor that film's chances along with other possible entrants Trolls (魔发精灵), Kingsman: The Golden Circle (王牌特工：黄金圈), Moana (海洋奇缘) and Doctor Strange (奇异博士).

Images: ytimg.com, sinaimg.cn, srcdn.com