Jason Statham didn’t get stung by bees once while filming his upcoming movie The Beekeeper.

In David Ayer’s upcoming revenge thriller, the action man plays Mr. Clay, a beekeeper and a former operative of a powerful secret organisation that also happens to be called the Beekeepers.

Ayer revealed to Empire magazine that Statham was very hands-on when it came to working with his bee co-stars.

“The crew were laughing: ‘There’s no way you’re putting Jason Statham with a bunch of bees for real!’ But Jason wanted to do it. So, we put him with a beekeeper, and he learned how to open the hive and work with the bees. He connected with the whole ‘Zen’ beekeeping things,” Ayer recalled.

While the Suicide Squad director received several stings throughout the shoot, his leading man managed to walk away unscathed.

“Jason did not get stung. I got stung pretty bad shooting bees later on. But it was fine. You make a movie called The Beekeeper, you’re gonna get stung,” he acknowledged.

In addition to his commitment to the beekeeping scenes, the Fast and Furious star also threw himself into the action sequences.

“The big shock was how much he does his own stunts,” Ayer praised. “His stunt double was just sitting around, hoping to be invited to the dance.”

The Beekeeper, also starring Josh Hutcherson, Minnie Driver and Jeremy Irons, will be released in cinemas on 12 January.