The Meg 3 dives even deeper into uncharted waters, delivering a larger-than-life oceanic adventure that promises bigger thrills, higher stakes, and ᴅᴇᴀᴅlier prehistoric predators. Directed by a visionary new filmmaker who takes the franchise to exhilarating heights, this third installment expands the series into a globe-trotting, high-octane spectacle that blends pulse-pounding action with jaw-dropping underwater visuals.

Set a few years after the events of The Meg 2: The Trench, the third film reunites audiences with Jonas Taylor (Jason Statham), the fearless deep-sea diver turned shark-slaying hero. Jonas, now semi-retired, has traded his life of danger for a quieter role as a consultant for an international marine research organization. However, peace proves short-lived when an unprecedented disaster in the Mariana Trench unleashes not just Megalodons, but an entire ecosystem of long-extinct, prehistoric sea creatures into the modern world.

The plot kicks into gear when a state-of-the-art deep-sea mining operation inadvertently triggers a mᴀssive seismic event, tearing a breach in the Trench’s protective thermocline. This breach allows a new breed of Megalodons—faster, smarter, and even more aggressive—to escape, along with other ᴅᴇᴀᴅly predators that dwarf humanity’s understanding of the ocean’s dangers. These creatures wreak havoc across the globe, threatening coastal cities and disrupting marine ecosystems, forcing Jonas back into action.

Teaming up with his old allies, including Jiuming Zhang (Wu Jing) and the brilliant marine biologist Meiying (Sophia Cai), who has now grown into a courageous researcher in her own right, Jonas leads a daring mission to track and neutralize the creatures. Joining them is a new character, played by a charismatic A-lister, a rogue scientist with questionable motives who may hold the key to understanding—and stopping—the invasion.

The film balances its heart-pounding action sequences with a deeper exploration of the Trench’s mysteries. The team ventures into the breach in a newly designed submersible, equipped to withstand the Trench’s crushing depths and hostile environment. There, they discover a hidden aquatic world more vibrant and terrifying than ever before, teeming with bioluminescent predators, ancient ruins hinting at an unknown civilization, and a new apex predator that makes the Megs look small by comparison.

The action is bigger and bolder than ever. From colossal Megalodons breaching and capsizing aircraft carriers to an edge-of-your-seat chase through an underwater cavern filled with razor-sharp stalagmites, every scene is designed to push the limits of the franchise’s spectacle. A climactic showdown takes place in the middle of a tropical archipelago, where Jonas and the team must use ingenuity and brute force to battle not one, but multiple Megalodons and a gargantuan mosasaur, culminating in an explosive finale.

Jason Statham is at his action-star best, bringing his signature mix of grit, humor, and heroics to Jonas Taylor. The returning cast members shine in their expanded roles, while the newcomers inject fresh energy and stakes into the narrative. The dynamic between Jonas and Meiying adds an emotional layer, as their bond evolves into a mentor-protégé relationship amidst the chaos.

Visually, The Meg 3 is a triumph, with groundbreaking CGI bringing the prehistoric monsters and underwater worlds to life in stunning detail. The vibrant, otherworldly palette of the Trench contrasts with the terror of mᴀssive creatures wreaking havoc on the surface, creating a visually immersive experience.

The score, composed by a renowned action-film maestro, complements the adrenaline-fueled sequences with booming orchestral themes while providing quieter, haunting motifs for the underwater exploration scenes.

The Meg 3 is a relentless thrill ride that amps up the action, expands the lore, and delivers the kind of spectacle fans of the franchise crave. It’s more than just a monster movie—it’s an exploration of humanity’s fragile relationship with the natural world and the consequences of pushing beyond our limits. With its jaw-dropping visuals, relentless pacing, and larger-than-life stakes, The Meg 3 cements itself as the most ambitious and exhilarating chapter in the series, leaving audiences hungry for even more deep-sea terror.

A Farmer’s Misplaced Hammer Led to the Largest Roman Treasure in Britain

Hoxne Hoard treasures. Photo by Helen Simonsson CC by SA-2.0

November 16, 1992 was the day which changed Suffolk-resident Eric Lawes’ life in a huge way. What he thought would have been an innocent search for a hammer he had misplaced on his farm in Hoxne Village, Suffolk, England ended up bringing him much more than he had bargained for — namely, uncovering the hiding spot of a long-hidden treasure. Based on the Guardian’s coverage of the story, Eric Lawes had been previously gifted a metal detector upon his retirement as a parting token. He decided to put his retirement gift to good use in order to locate the hammer which he had had some trouble finding. According to a 2018 Smithsonian Magazine article, when the device started recording that there was a strong signal coming from the earth, he knew that he was about to discover something big. As he started digging, it soon became clear to him that he had unearthed a treasure trove.

Hoxne Village. Photo by Duncan Grey CC BY-SA 2.0

The Guardian reports that, when Lawes saw that his preliminary digging had yielded a few gold coins and silver spoons, he immediately contacted both the local archaeological society and the police department. Archaeologists came to the property the following day and had the area of earth holding the treasure carefully sectioned-off and removed. Their hope was that at a later stage, in their laboratory, they could examined the items in order to identify both their age and how they were stored.

Hoxne Hoard: Display case at the British Museum showing a reconstruction of the arrangement of the hoard treasure when excavated in 1992. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

When all was said and done, close to 60 pounds of items made from silver and gold were found on the site. These included more than 15,000 Roman coins, 200 gold objects, and several silver spoons. For archaeologists, this find — which later became labeled as the Hoxne Hoard — was an incredible discovery. AP News reported that archaeologist Judith Plouviez was over-the-moon about the discovery, saying that it was “an incredibly exciting and amazing find.” What’s more, another archaeologist, Rachel Wilkinson, told Smithsonian Magazine that this discovery was “the largest and latest ever found in Britain.”

Hoxne Hoard: Coins. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

Ordinarily, archaeologists would use radiocarbon dating as a means of identifying the age of ancient relics. However, they couldn’t locate any suitable material from the haul. Consequently, they determined the age by examining writing on the coins, as well as the ruler carved into them, estimating that the treasure was probably buried in either 408 or 409 AD.

The silver “Hoxne Tigress” – the broken-off handle from an unknown object – is the best known single piece out of some 15,000 in the hoard. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

Roman-era archaeologist Peter Guest told Smithsonian Magazine that “if you look at them a little more carefully, then they should be dated to the period after the separation of Britain from the Roman Empire.” He offers as part of his evidence the fact that almost all of the coins found in the Hoxne Hoard were clipped – in other words, small chunks of their edges had been taken off. These clippings would have been used to create coins which were similar to the Roman coins of that era.

A silver-gilt spoon with a marine beast from the Hoxne Hoard. Currently in the British Museum. Photo by JMiall CC BY-SA 3.0

Guest has a logical reason for this, arguing that “The Roman Empire wasn’t supplying Britain with new gold and silver coins, and in light of that, the population tried to get over this sudden cutoff in the supply of their precious metals by making the existing supplies go further.”

Reconstruction of the Hoxne treasure chest. Photo by Mike Peel CC-BY-SA-4.0

Archaeologists also believe that the treasure belonged to a Romano-British family. During that time, considering that there was so much societal discord and upheaval, it was common for Romans who had settled in Britain to bury their most prized possessions.

Two gold bracelets from the Hoxne Hoard, in the British Museum. Photo by Fæ CC BY-SA 3.0

That said, one archaeologist is of the belief that the hoard had a lot of sentimental value for the Romano-British family to whom it is believed to have belonged. In her book The Hoxne Late Roman Treasure: Gold Jewellery and Silver Plate, Catherine Johns claims that the manner in which the treasure was kept supported this claim. Some of the items which were recovered had been packaged in small, wooden boxes which were lined with leather. What’s more, pieces of wood, locks, and nails, among other things, surrounded the gold and silver pieces. This leads Catherine to assert that the package was carefully buried and not simply chucked away in a rush.

Three silver-gilt Roman piperatoria or pepper pots from the Hoxne Hoard on display at the British Museum

Interestingly enough, the items unearthed might shed some light on the identity of the family who owned them. They cite a gold bracelet bearing the inscription “UTERE FELIX DOMINA IULIANE,” which roughly translates to “use this happily Lady Juliane”. A second name “Aurelius Ursicinus” has also been discovered. This has consequently led some to believe that Juliane and Aurelius were the couple and the original owners of the treasure. That said, that has yet to be confirmed.

Two toiletry items, one in the shape of a crane-like bird; the other with an empty socket, probably for bristles for a makeup brush. Photo by Fæ CC BY-SA 3.0

All in all, the discovery was a real treasure for archaeologists, and by extension, for Lawes. According to Smithsonian Magazine, in recognition of his discovery and willingness to contact authorities, the British government rewarded him with over £1.7 million, an amount which he shared with the farmer whose land was dug out in order to get the treasure. Funnily enough, apart from the treasure, Lawes also found his lost hammer — which now resides in the British Museum.