As proven in The Beekeeper, Adam Clay is a force to be reckoned with – making it all the mysterious as to why he decided to retire from the organization. Throughout the movie, Clayton consistently demonstrates that he’s still at the peak of his powers, seeing off wave after wave of opponents in his quest for justice. However, even though his retirement seems somewhat surprising, there may be some subtle but perfectly rational explanations for the decision explained by the story.
The Beekeeper is one of Jason Statham’s most critically and commercially successful solo projects in recent years. Not only did the movie make an impressive $152.7 million against an estimated $40 million budget, but it also secured a 71% positive rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. This was, in no small part, due to the entertaining and intimidating physical feats performed by Statham’s Adam Clay throughout the runtime. Such a display makes the concept of the character’s retirement feel somewhat strange. However, there may be an obvious explanation.
Adam Clay Could Have Retired From The Beekeeper Due To His Age
He’s Older Than Many Other Characters
Although it’s never explicitly stated, one explanation for Clay’s decision to retire from the Beekeeper organization could be his age. Despite clearly being physically capable, he is notably older than many of the characters he comes up against. While, in this instance, Clay is able to overpower everyone he comes across, it’s possible that the physical demand of working as a Beekeeper were too much ti sustain over a prolonged period.
At 57 years old, (Statham) is not as young as he used to be, with the physical feats that have defined his career becoming more implausible with each passing year.
While the suggestion that Clay’s age is to blame, such an explanation would add a surprising poignancy to The Beekeeper’s story. It also makes sense for Jason Statham as an actor to play a character where age is starting to become a factor. At 57 years old, he is not as young as he used to be, with the physical feats that have defined his career becoming more implausible with each passing year. It makes much more sense that, instead of playing a character who puts themselves through extreme physical pressure day after day, Statham is instead portraying someone for whom age is an active consideration.
The Beekeeper Hints At Clay’s Disagreement With The Organization
He’s Clearly Willing To Go Against The Grain
Given Clay and Statham’s ages, it makes sense for the character to have retired from active Beekeeper duty. However, there is another possible explanation that puts a completely different spin on both Clay himself and the entire Beekeeper organization. After coming out of retirement to avenge his landlady, Clay comes up against a current Beekeeper, Anisette. After she tracks him down and attempts to stop him, Clay kills Anisette – marking a clear divide between himself and the wider organization.
The fact that Clay is so willing to kill another Beekeeper, that the organization has no qualms about killing him, and the Beekeeper in question is a much more malignant presence than Clay himself could suggest that there is a rift between Clay and the Beekeepers. It may be that, behind the scenes, a disagreement forced Clay out and that his retirement had nothing to do with his age at all. Again, there is no explicit evidence for this theory. Circumstantially, however, it’s fascinating that the movie’s only other glimpse into the Beekeepers’ world pits the organization so directly against Clay.
The Beekeeper Proves Adam Clay Is Still A Formidable Agent
He Can Clearly Still Handle Himself
Beyond his interactions with the broader Beekeeper organization, the biggest argument against age being the main reason for Clay’s retirement is his obvious skill in the field. Throughout the film, Clay overcomes multiple adversaries utilizing a variety of unconventional methods – all of which require intense physicality. From being able to take out entire teams of mercenaries at the President’s mansion to besting any opponent in one-on-one combat, it seems strange to suggest that retirement was a natural next step.
Of course, The Beekeeper franchise may continue to expand. In this case, it may provide more background on Clay’s specific situation and whether the Beekeeper organization has specific rules around retiring at a particular age. Clay’s story remains a tantalizing mystery, since the movie is deliberately vague about how the Beekeepers operate. However, this may end up laying the perfect foundations for a future Beekeeper 2 movie, exploring Clay’s potential issues with the group and finally answering why he left.