By Phil de Semlyen | Posted 21 Jun 2016

As he’s at pains to point out to any Ghostbusters naysayers, Paul Feig has built his career on original ideas, from Freaks And Geeks to Spy. But with Spy, he’s created a well he’s keen to drink from again. And considering that well involves Jason Statham’s hilariously silly Rick Ford, you really can’t blame him. Expect the sequel to involve plenty more from Statham’s agent.

“That’s another world that I don’t want to walk away from,” Feig tells Empire. “It's the first thing I did that I set up to be a possible franchise and Melissa is dying to do it. I have a story for it, and a funny idea that will kick it off that involves Statham.”

Yes, the man last seen “going to sea” – in a lake – will be front and centre in Feig’s planned storyline. It can only be good news for anyone who loves the dimbulb secret agent with the exaggeration and outright lies that would put a nine-year-old schoolboy to shame.

"Susan Cooper is one of my favourite characters I’ve ever come up with,” continues Feig, "but Rick Ford is possibly the one I’ll take to the grave with me. Will he get any more self-aware in the sequel? No, god no. He’ll get less self-aware.”

First up is the small matter of Ghostbusters, though. The newly jumpsuited and rebooted 'busters make their UK bow on July 15.