Given the slight switch of setting from Steve Alten's original source novel – the movie will take place partly off the coast of China – adding to the Asian contingent was key. Fan Bingbing had in fact already been cast, but has a schedule clash, so Li will be her replacement.
With National Treasure's Jon Turteltaub marshalling the madness, the film will see an underwater observation program led by Chinese scientists (and funded by Rainn Wilson's tech entrepreneur) coming under attack from a giant Megaladon (a huge, prehistoric cousin of the Great white). The creature survived thanks to a barrier of cold water at the bottom of the Mariana Trench and now it's ready to sink its fangs into the Chinese sub. Statham, a former Naval captain who has a haunted history with the beast, is recruited to save the day.
Jessica McNamee, Ruby Rose and Masi Oka are all aboard the film, which has set its sights on a March 2, 2018 release.