Meg 2: The Trench

In April 2018, Jason Statham said a sequel to The Meg (2018) would happen if the film did well with the public, saying "I think it's like anything in this day and age – if it makes money, there's obviously an appetite to make more money. And if it doesn't do well, they'll soon sweep it under the carpet--but that's the way Hollywood works."[4] In August 2018, Steve Alten said "My feeling has always been that this is a billion dollar franchise if it was done right. But to be done right you had to get the shark right, get the cast right, get the tone right. And Warner Bros. have nailed it completely. The producers have nailed it."[5] In October 2018, executive producer Catherine Xujun Ying announced a sequel was in the early stages of development.[6]

In March 2019, it was announced that a script for the film was in the works, with screenwriters Dean Georgaris, and Jon and Erich Hoeber returning.[7][8] In his September 2020 newsletter, Alten confirmed the script, titled Meg 2: The Trench, to be complete, and expressed interest in its "dark" tone.[9] In October 2020, Ben Wheatley was announced to direct.[10][11]

In April 2021, Statham said filming was set to begin in January 2022.[12] Filming commenced as planned at the end of January at the Warner-owned Leavesden Studios outside London, with principal photography starting on February 4, 2022.[13] It continued there until May before switching to outdoor locations, presumably in Asia. While the production was ongoing, Sienna Guillory, Skyler Samuels, Sergio Peris-Mencheta, and Wu Jing were announced as part of the cast.[13]