According to Chris Lee of the L.A. Times, the Transporter franchise has introduced moviedom’s first gay action hero in Jason Statham‘s reticent-but-badass Frank Martin.

Lee reports that the director of Transporter‘s second installment, Louis Leterrier, once told him that he “created a gay subtext for the character so as to avoid making a Steven Seagal kind of movie.” Leterrier points to Martin’s rebuff of Amber Valletta‘s come-on — “It’s because of who I am” — as proof.

Surprised? I’d bet you’re not alone. It’s been a while since I’ve seen Transporter 2, but considering my Beavis and Butt-head-like sensitivity to any remotely sexual insinuation, I’m sure I would have picked up on the vibe that Martin might have hoped his tussling with the bad guys was just some rough foreplay.

Statham himself dismissed the idea with, “It’s just Lou-Lou trying to be funny.”

Considering his ridiculously ripped physique and real-man handsomeness, however, Statham’s status as the subject of gay fantasies may be another story.