In the realm of action films, actor Jason Statham has solidified his status as a prominent figure, with notable roles in blockbusters such as The Expendables and The Meg.

At one point, Statham even headlined his own thrilling franchise. However, due to salary disputes, the acclaimed actor was forced to bid farewell to his beloved series. Statham’s involvement in The Transporter films, where he portrayed the charismatic anti-hero, Frank Martin, offered audiences an exhilarating ride. However, theories of The Transporter having a connection with the 2004 Tom Cruise movie Collateral soon began doing rounds.

The Transporter
According to The Numbers, the franchise amassed an impressive $315,536,842 at the box office. The first installment, directed by Luc Besson, featured Statham in the lead role after a serendipitous encounter with the renowned filmmaker. For years, speculation had circulated about a potential connection between Statham’s character in Transporter and Tom Cruise’s character in the film Collateral.

A Collateral insider confirmed the theories surrounding the connection with Transporter

Recently, Stuart Beattie, the screenwriter of Collateral, confirmed these theories, revealing that indeed, Jason Statham’s Frank Martin and Tom Cruise’s character coexisted in the same cinematic universe. However, Beattie acknowledged that some individuals involved in the production preferred to keep this connection under wraps.
Tom Cruise in Collateral
When asked about the link in an interview with Dark Horizons, Beattie stated, “Absolutely Frank Martin of Transporter. I asked Jason about that… Yeah, absolutely. Yes, it’s canon. Same world… the studio will never admit to that, but in my head, absolutely it’s him.”

Hinting at the famous $10 billion worth production studios Paramount Pictures, Beattie’s answer revealed that after all the fans were right all the time. This revelation might bring out a sense of excitement among fans of both franchises, who have long speculated about the possibility of a shared universe. However, despite the confirmation from Beattie, it seems unlikely that the studio will officially acknowledge the connection between The Transporter and Collateral.

Jason Statham’s Collateral cameo explained

The unexpected cameo of Jason Statham in the film Collateral back in 2004 left fans with intriguing questions. A neo-noir action thriller directed by Michael Mann, Collateral took place over the course of a single night with Tom Cruise in one of his most iconic roles as Vincent, a relentless hitman navigating the streets of Los Angeles. Whereas, in the original Transporter trilogy, Jason Statham portrayed the meticulous and methodical Frank Martin, a freelance driver known for completing shady deliveries for questionable clients.
Jason Statham
The intriguing connection between Collateral and Transporter arose from a brief encounter between Tom Cruise’s character, Vincent, and Jason Statham’s character in the opening scene of the former. While walking in a crowded airport, the two actors deliberately isolate themselves from the crowd, exchanging apologetic gestures and sharing a significant glance before parting ways. Fans who had seen the first “Transporter” film, released two years prior to “Collateral,” immediately speculated whether Statham’s appearance hinted at Frank Martin delivering another package. However, there are several factors that suggest otherwise.

Firstly, the entirety of The Transporter series is set in Nice, France, with Frank Martin’s relocation to Miami only occurring in Transporter 2, released a year after the Los Angeles-based Collateral. Additionally, Frank exclusively transports packages by vehicle and avoids any direct contact with them, except in cases where a package is a person in distress. Lastly, Statham is credited simply as “Airport Man,” further diminishing the likelihood of a direct connection between the two characters.

Nevertheless, some arguments were made in favor of the cameo serving as a nod to a potential shared criminal network between Frank Martin and Vincent. The significant payment and the full bag exchanged between the characters in Collateral might suggest a lucrative job that may have warranted Frank’s trip from France to Los Angeles. After all, both characters possess similar skill sets and professionalism, and Vincent’s mission in LA to eliminate witnesses and a prosecutor could be seen as an assignment fitting for the world’s best transporter.

Source: Showbiz CheatSheet, Screen Rant