"The Meg 2" has started filming in the UK, and Li Bingbing is expected to return

According to Variety, The Meg 2 has begun filming in the UK, with director Ben Wheatley beginning production on the highly anticipated sci-fi action film.

In The Meg 2, Jason Statham is expected to continue to play Jonas Taylor, a stranded rescue diver who encountered the 80-inch prehistoric megalodon in the first film. Actress Li Bingbing is expected to return to play oceanographer Suyin.

The Meg is based on Steve Alten's 1997 novel. The first film was a huge success, grossing $530 million. However, word of mouth was poor, with a Rotten Tomatoes rating of only 46%.

As for the sequel, novel author Steve Alten hinted that The Meg 2 will be "dark and tense" in style.

Jason Statham will also star in "The Expendables 4" with Sylvester Stallone, Dolph Lundgren and Randy Couture. There is also Guy Ritchie's new film "Operation Fortune: War Tricks" and the thriller "The Beekeeper".