Man on Fire, the beloved action thriller starring Oscar winner Denzel Washington,is set to be remade as a series by Netflix. According toDeadline, Emmy Award winner andAquamanstarYahya Abdul-Mateen llwill take over from Washington as John Creasy, a former CIA operative haunted by his violent past who is hired as the bodyguard of a little girl, Lupita, played in the movie by Dakota Fanning.
TheMan on Fireseries was reportedly ordered by the streaming giant back in March and will consist of eight episodes. An adaptation of A.J. Quinnell’s booksMan on FireandThe Perfect Kill, you can check out the official synopsis for the project below.
“In the new series, Abdul-Mateen II will lead as John Creasy, a once high-functioning and skilled Special Forces mercenary known for surviving even the most desolate of situations. Creasy is now plagued with intense PTSD. Determined to overcome his personal demons, he sets out on a path to redemption. But before he can adjust to this new life, he finds himself back in the fire, fighting harder than ever.”
20 Years Later, Critics Now Know They Were Wrong About Man on Fire
Despite solid box office and the presence of Denzel Washington, Man on Fire was slammed by critics for its excessive violence & grim vigilantism.
Abdul-Mateen ll is best knownfor starring alongside Jason Momoa in theAquamanfranchise, as well as roles inThe Trial of the Chicago 7, Candyman, The Matrix Resurrections, andAmbulance. The actor is no stranger to the small screen, having starred in the likes ofBlack MirrorandWatchmen, for which he won a Primetime Emmy Award, as well as leading theupcomingWonder Manfrom Marvel Studios.
Man on Firehas been adapted twice before for the big screen, first in 1987 and starring Scott Glenn as Creasy, and then again in 2004 with Denzel Washington and the late, great director Tony Scott. The latter effort remains a favorite among fans of both the actor and director, who will no doubt have qualms about Netflix remaking the story in a serial format.
Netflix’s Man on Fire Remake Will Be Helmed by Creed 2 Director Steven Caple Jr.
As well as starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen ll in the lead, it has also been revealed thatCreed IIandTransformers: Rise of the BeastsdirectorSteven Caple Jr.is on board as executive producer and will direct the first two episodes for Netflix. The filmmaker made his feature directorial debut back in 2016 with the crime dramaThe Landbefore joining the Rocky franchise with 2018’sCreed II. Caple Jr. has continued to lean towards blockbuster filmmaking withlast year’sTransformers: Rise of the Beasts, which took audiences on a ’90s globetrotting adventure with the Autobots.
Netflix’sMan on Firehas been written by Fear Street’s Kyle Killen, who will also act as executive producer and showrunner. Executive producers on the series include Arnon Milchan, Yariv Milchan and Natalie Lehmann for New Regency Productions, Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping and Tracey Cook for Chernin Entertainment, and Killen and Scott Pennington for Chapter Eleven.
Netflixhas not yet set a release date forMan on Fire.
Man on Fire
