Ric Roman Waugh attends the UK Premiere of ‘Shelter’ at Cineworld Leicester Sq. on January 20, 2026 in London, England. Photograph: StillMoving.Web for Black Bear.
Opening in theaters on January thirtieth is the brand new motion thriller ‘Shelter’, which was directed by Ric Roman Waugh (‘Shot Caller’ and ‘Greenland 2: Migration’) and stars Jason Statham (‘The Beekeeper’), Bodhi Rae Breathnach (‘Hamnet’), Naomi Ackie (‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’), and Invoice Nighy (‘The Fixed Gardener’).
“Her security. His mission.”
Launch Date: Jan 30, 2026
Run Time: 1 hr 47 min
Moviefone lately had the pleasure of talking with director Ric Roman Waugh about his work on ‘Shelter’, his first response to the screenplay, the emotional core of the film, crafting the motion sequences, working with Jason Statham and Invoice Nighy, and discovering the suitable tone for the film, in addition to trying again at his jail masterpiece ‘Shot Caller’ and with ‘Greenland 2: Migration’ additionally presently in theaters, what it’s like as a filmmaker to have two huge motion pictures on the field workplace on the identical time.
Associated Article: Film Overview: ‘Shelter’
Ric Roman Waugh attends the UK Premiere of ‘Shelter’ at Cineworld Leicester Sq. on January 20, 2026 in London, England. Photograph: StillMoving.Web for Black Bear.
Moviefone: To start with, are you able to speak about your first response to the screenplay, what you thought you can carry to it and why you wished to make this film?
Ric Roman Waugh: I used to be lucky that Jason had reached out. We might been attempting to work collectively, and he was speaking about this script, which he was tremendous captivated with. Once I learn it, I acquired it. Ward Parry’s script, it simply punches you within the intestine with nice emotion. I believed that is precisely the kind of movie that I love to do, a film that may be an enormous motion journey, however has an actual emotional thrust in it. So now I will provide you with your cake and eat it too. I will provide you with Jason Statham, the motion star at his finest, however I will remind you what an incredible actor he’s as effectively. My kind of heroes, the antihero, the person, or the girl that is susceptible, delicate, coping with demons, trauma, in disaster, all this stuff that we love about motion pictures that return to ‘Shane’ within the ’50s, to ‘Man on Hearth’ and ‘The Skilled’, as a result of they’re relatable to us. All of us take care of totally different sorts of points like that. I’ve by no means been a fan of the 10-foot tall bulletproof, impervious to ache kind of hero. I just like the mortal human beings and that is what I really like about this film, is that Jason’s character is not only a person of motion, however he is additionally a human being and with actual sensibilities.
Jason Statham in ‘Shelter’. Photograph: Black Bear Footage.
MF: Are you able to speak in regards to the relationship between Mason and Jesse, and why he decides to guard her?
RRW: I feel the film speaks on two ranges, and I am going to unpack the primary one with you, which is that all of us are likely to put ourselves in some type of exile, after which we’re rapidly reminded how a lot we want one another. I really like that this film, this story spoke to that, a few man mysterious to us dwelling on this deserted lighthouse, and he saves this younger woman from the ocean, who’s been attempting to offer him the time of day, however he is been fully shut off. He saves her solely to understand that she’s in all probability there to avoid wasting him from this type of self-exile that he is been dwelling in trauma and realizing that she can also be in a type of exile to herself of trauma and loss. Then they discover household in each other. Once more, going again to the films of ‘Shane’, or ‘Man on Hearth’ and ‘The Skilled’, it turns into a few hero that should shelter this younger woman, but additionally is cognizant of the darkish cloud that follows him, and ensuring that does not get forged upon her as effectively. So, they get that nice ethical dilemma. Am I going to be egocentric and preserve this younger woman in my life as a result of I lastly discovered household and have a connection once more? Or am I going to do the suitable factor and get her to security, however not have her in my life? I really like that dilemma that runs all through it. On the identical time, we provide you with this huge motion journey.
(L to R) Jason Statham and Bodhi Rae Breathnach attend the UK Premiere of ‘Shelter’ at Cineworld Leicester Sq. on January 20, 2026 in London, England. Photograph: StillMoving.Web for Black Bear.
MF: Are you able to speak about Jason and Bodhi’s onscreen chemistry, and did they join straight away on set?
RRW: I acquired this factor about chemistry. It is a huge factor for me. I feel you may put all the very best Academy Award winners in entrance of the digicam, but it surely does not imply they are going to have chemistry, and we marvel why these motion pictures do not work. We checked out 500 younger ladies. There was a large web. I keep in mind seeing a tape of this little freckled woman, and there was simply one thing about her eyes. There was a deep soul inside her, and this vibrancy. So, we introduced Bodhi in and did a chemistry check together with her and Jason, and it was simply electrical. We did one of many extra emotional scenes within the film. When you’ve ever been round Jason, Jason Statham is a power of nature. There’s an power stage to him that may be formidable to some folks, and intimidating. However Bodhi and him, it was similar to electrical, watching the 2 of them collectively. So, I knew that my job was simply to get the hell out of the way in which, put them in entrance of the digicam and allow them to do their factor. So, they don’t seem to be faking it and so they’re not forcing it. It was actual, and in reality, I might remind them, “Do not be so collectively as a household unit but. Nonetheless play into the estrangement of issues.”
Jason Statham attends the UK Premiere of ‘Shelter’ at Cineworld Leicester Sq. on January 20, 2026 in London, England. Photograph: StillMoving.Web for Black Bear.
MF: Are you able to speak about working with Jason and what he brings to a film like this?
RRW: Properly, first, Jason is 100% dedicated to what he is doing. He’s all in, and I met my match with that. I have been recognized to be a juggernaut as effectively with being very passionate in regards to the issues that I am making, and simply waking up each morning eager to tear into it. That is Jason. What I additionally realized is he is tremendous genuine in his actual life, and there’s a code that he lives by, the way in which he respects these round him and calls for respect in return. I feel they’re all of the important components that you just see in his characters, and that is why he’s so genuine to lots of people, as a result of he is dwelling and respiration it in actual life. I additionally actually admire the household man he’s, and the way he’s together with his children and together with his spouse, Rosie (Huntington-Whiteley), and his mother and father coming to set. So, all these sorts of familial sensibilities had been enjoyable to discover on this movie, to indicate you the motion star, however humanize him and convey a unique facet to him than you’ve got seen earlier than.
Jason Statham attends the UK Premiere of ‘Shelter’ at Cineworld Leicester Sq. on January 20, 2026 in London, England. Photograph: StillMoving.Web for Black Bear.
MF: How concerned is Jason in choreographing the motion and combat sequences?
RRW: He is an incredible collaborator. Jason is concerned in each facet of it, and I really like that. I really like that I am not going to need to remind him what we’re taking pictures. I am not going to need to remind him of what we’re doing. He is very a lot in regards to the consideration to element. So, he isn’t solely concerned within the motion, he is concerned in each facet of it, however he additionally understands that his preventing type is a sure manner. He’s an actual martial artist and an actual fighter, so that there is a manner that he needs the choreography to go, as a result of it goes into his extra natural manner of doing issues. I really like that, however there was by no means any second that I felt like I did not have a pure companion in elevating the bar collectively. He is a prep freak like me as effectively, which is sweet as a result of if you rehearse and also you get issues in a very good rhythm, if you get there on the set, you simply let it fly, and then you definately’re elevating the bar versus looking for it. I really like that.
(L to R) Tom Malone, Theo Shakes, Savannah Sachdev, Ali Woods, Paigey Cakey, Jay City, Jason Statham, Eddie Corridor, Ashley Cain and Massive John attend the UK Premiere of ‘Shelter’ at Cineworld Leicester Sq. on January 20, 2026 in London, England. Photograph: StillMoving.Web for Black Bear.
MF: There’s an incredible automotive chase within the film. What’s the secret to taking pictures a fantastic automotive chase sequence?
RRW: To not deal with it as a automotive chase. For me, coming from the stunt world in my early days, lots of people requested me what it was love to do stunts. I spotted over time what they had been actually eager to know was, “What did it really feel like? What did it really feel prefer to be set on fireplace? What did it really feel prefer to be driving 200 miles an hour in ‘Days of Thunder’ and crash on function,” and the exhilaration and the worry and all these issues. So, once I’m taking pictures motion, I am attempting to immerse you within the motion the way in which I used to be. I am attempting to place you, on this case within the seat, the place the cameras are within the automotive and it is from the within out. So, you are within the character’s standpoint and his standpoint turns into your standpoint. So, if you’re a bucking bronco taking place a hill and the automotive’s falling aside and bullets are going by means of it, you’re feeling immersed in that. You are not watching a automotive chase, you are within the automotive being hunted, and also you get a unique perspective of it. I all the time known as it attempting to make your individual IMAX journey out of the motion, to all the time be from the within out.
(L to R) Naomi Ackie in ‘Shelter’. Photograph: Black Bear Footage.
MF: Are you able to speak in regards to the tone of the movie and the challenges of balancing the motion with the emotional core?
RRW: Tone is every part for me, as a screenwriter, as a filmmaker, and it is being as true to the tone of the fabric as you probably can. Not attempting to get too cute with it, and never attempting to make it over-serious. It actually discovered its place on Jason’s standpoint of actually selecting to be elegant, the place you are doing every part in a really grounded and genuine manner. You are not forcing extra violence. You are taking note of what you’ll do in entrance of a kid to guard her and defend her innocence. So, if you begin taking part in into the elemental legal guidelines of the familial bond between a pseudo father who’s attempting to guard a younger baby, you let that dictate your tone. You let that develop into your compass and your information of the place you go. I really feel like that is all the time the true north star for me in something I am doing. ‘Shot Caller’ is a film that I’ve finished that’s way more violent, however as a result of the tone of it dictates it. So, you try this in an unflinching manner as a result of jail is unflinching.
(L to R) Invoice Nighy and Jason Statham in ‘Shelter’. Photograph: Black Bear Footage.
MF: For my part, Invoice Nighy is likely one of the biggest dwelling actors and each breath he takes on display screen feels genuine. What’s it like directing an actor of his caliber?
RRW: It was humorous, the primary day Invoice labored, it was the day that he and Jason meet on the finish of the film. I keep in mind my screens had been proper round on the opposite facet of the room as a result of it was a really small room, so we could not be inside it. After the primary take, Jason walked over and he goes, “I may hear that man say something. It would not even matter what he says.” That is it. Invoice Nighy is simply an absolute legend. However I actually have been lucky to work through the years with a few of our elder statesmen and stateswomen, like Harriet Walter on this film, who’s simply phenomenal. However from Sam Shepherd to Morgan Freeman to Nick Nolte and my new pal, Invoice Nighy, they’re in it. You’ll assume at their time of their life and their physique of labor, they’ll telephone it in, take the cash and run. No, I imply, they only actually personal the house. That is what we liked about Invoice. Invoice got here in and simply owned it, and we’re speaking about turning him into an motion star now. He is an unimaginable human being, however that work ethic is simply subsequent to nothing. It is wonderful.
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau in ‘Shot Caller’. Photograph: Saban Movies.
MF: You talked about ‘Shot Caller’, and I feel that is likely one of the biggest jail motion pictures ever made. I really feel just like the film has had a renaissance lately due to streaming. How do you’re feeling about that film now? Do you’re feeling just like the movie is being rediscovered by audiences?
RRW: Yeah, it is actually rewarding as a result of we made that with plenty of ardour and put loads into it. I went undercover for 2 years as a parole agent in California to be taught the system. I did the primary film ‘Felon’, after which the follow-up ‘Shot Caller’. It is enjoyable if you make a movie that’s continuously being found and rediscovered and is introduced up. It is actually rewarding to have that as a result of I’ve mine. I’ve my movies that I’ve found. I am like, how on earth did I miss this when it got here out? It simply blows me away after which turns into a favourite of mine. If ‘Shot Caller’s acquired a little bit of that going for its fan base, that’s superior, as a result of all people that was concerned in it had been simply wonderful folks. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, so happy with what he did, and Jon Bernthal, Jeffrey Donovan, and Holt McCallany. We are able to simply go on and on. We had simply an incredible forged of individuals. What’s enjoyable about ‘Shot Caller’, to offer you an instance, the jail riot scene when there’s 250 guys which can be preventing on the market, 200 of them are actual (prisoners). We put MMA fighters and sure folks round nearer to digicam, however we had all factions on the market, and they might appear to be they are going to actually kill one another. Then I might yell “Lower”, and they might all choose one another up and snicker, as a result of they knew there wasn’t an actual life or loss of life state of affairs on the jail yard, however they liked and appreciated that we wished to make it as genuine because it probably could possibly be. To this present day, ‘Shot Caller’ is likely one of the educating instruments for the California jail system, the place they present that to plenty of the brand new correctional officers, to allow them to see what’s going on in our jail methods.
(L to R) Gerard Butler as John Garrity, Morena Baccarin as Allison Garrity, and Roman Griffin Davis as Nathan Garrity in ‘Greenland 2: Migration’. Photograph Credit score: Courtesy of Lionsgate.
MF: Lastly, you even have ‘Greenland 2: Migration’ in theaters proper now. As a filmmaker, what’s it like having two huge movies on the field workplace on the identical time?
RRW: It has been surreal as a result of they each imply loads to me in several methods. We made the primary film ‘Greenland’ pre-pandemic, but it surely got here out within the pandemic. We could not even put it in film theaters within the US after we had been already booked in IMAX and Dolby, as a result of there have been no theaters open, however then we had been watching it go primary all over the world. Then Adam Fogelson, who’s our chairman of STX and now at Lionsgate, he simply made a daring transfer to place the largest streaming deal ever at that time along with HBO. It fortunately grew to become a darling the place lots of people actually found it in a time that we had been all sheltered and caught inside. We by no means thought we had been going to make a second film. Then when it acquired the response that we had hoped for, we determined to reflect the timeline, mirror post-pandemic, and mirror plenty of the issues that we had handled as effectively. So, I really like that we get to lastly see what I name the ultimate chapter of the Garritys, and you’ll watch these motion pictures back-to-back and see a household that faces actual disaster, and finds love and atonement once more, after which offers with trauma and tragedy. These are all this stuff that make it relatable to us. Then this film with Jason, ‘Shelter’ is known as a pricey one. I think about it a badge of honor and an actual notch on my belt of the films that I’ve made. I am very happy with it and really happy with the forged. It is simply been a unbelievable journey all over. I hope lots of people get their butts to the theaters this Friday as a result of it is a huge, enjoyable journey, and it’ll seize you in an emotional manner. It is a particular one. I’m glad about it and hope lots of people will go and see it.
‘Shelter’ opens in theaters on January thirtieth.
What’s the plot of ‘Shelter’?
A former murderer (Jason Statham) is compelled to kill his former group to guard a lady (Bodhi Rae Breathnach) who had been supplying him.
Who’s within the forged of ‘Shelter’?
- Jason Statham as Mason
- Bodhi Rae Breathnach as Jesse
- Invoice Nighy
- Naomi Ackie
- Daniel Mays
(L to R) Ric Roman Waugh, Bodhi Rae Breathnach and Jason Statham attend the UK Premiere of ‘Shelter’ at Cineworld Leicester Sq. on January 20, 2026 in London, England. Photograph: StillMoving.Web for Black Bear.