John Creasy is back. Wonder Man‘s Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is stepping into the role of the mercenary turned bodyguard on Netflix‘s new adaptation of Man on Fire this spring, and we finally know when we can see him do it, thanks to an explosive new teaser for the series that moves the action to the streets of Rio de Janeiro.
In the new teaser, an unseen narrator lists Creasy’s resume: he served in the US Army Special Forces, and did three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, the narrator suspects his best days are behind him…only for the rest of the teaser to seemingly prove otherwise. In our first glimpse of Creasy, he assembles a weapon blindfolded as the action explodes—literally. He’s come to Rio to work as a bodyguard, and bonds with his young charge; when she’s subsequently abducted, he becomes the titular man on fire, using his fists, his weapons, and every skill at his disposal to get her back. That means brutal street fights, explosive demolitions, and a harrowing Brazilian jailbreak. Will he succeed? You’ll have to tune into Netflix on April 30, when all seven episodes of Man on Fire debut.
Who Are the Creatives Behind ‘Man on Fire’?
In addition to Abdul-Mateen II, who also executive produces the series, Man on Fire stars Billie Boullet (A Small Light), Bobby Cannavale (Scarpetta), Alice Braga (Dark Matter), Scoot McNairy (Halt and Catch Fire), and Paul Ben-Victor (Flight Risk). It is written and showrun, as well as executive produced, by Kyle Killen (Halo). Steven Caple Jr. (Transformers: Rise of the Beasts) executive produces and directs the first two episodes; Vicente Amorim (Senna), Clare Kilner (House of the Dragon), and Michael Cuesta (Daredevil: Born Again) will also direct the series. It is executive produced by Arnon Milchan, Yariv Milchan, and Natalie Lehmann for New Regency Productions; Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, and Tracey Cook for Chernin Entertainment; Killen and Scott Pennington for Chapter Eleven. Caple Jr., Ed McDonnell, Michael Polaire, and Abdul-Mateen II also executive produce alongside Stacy Perskie for RedRum.
Man on Fire is based on the 1980 novel of the same name by A.J. Quinnell. It has previously been adapted as a film twice; first in an Italian production in 1987 that starred Scott Glenn and Joe Pesci, and more famously by the late Tony Scott in 2004. Scott‘s version starred Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning, and Christopher Walken; it grossed $130 million USD on a $70 million budget, and has become a staple of streaming and cable airings.
Man on Fire will be released on Netflix on April 30, 2026.
via Collider