Black Bear, Endurance Media, Dogbone Entertainment, and Original Films today announced action-packed adventure movie Afterburn, starring Dave Bautista (Guardians of the Galaxy, Dune), ahead of the upcoming European Film Market. Samuel L. Jackson (The Hitman’s Bodyguard, Django Unchained) will also join the cast in this highly anticipated project, which starts principal photography in April in Europe.The film will be directed by J.J. Perry, who recently wrapped production on Lionsgate’s TheKiller’s Game, also with Bautista, and is highly acclaimed for his work as a Second Unit Director and Stunt Coordinator on the John Wick and Fast & The Furious franchises. Afterburn is adapted from the Red 5 graphic novel of the same name.
The picture will be produced by Neal H. Moritz (Fast and Furious franchise) and Toby Jaffe (Total Recall) for Original Film and Steve Richards (Sherlock Holmes franchise, The Matrix trilogy) for Endurance Media. Dave Bautista will also produce through Dogbone Entertainment. Black Bear will introduce the film to international buyers at the upcoming EFM, with CAA Media Finance representing US rights.
Ten years after a solar flare wiped out technology across the globe, ex-soldier Jake (Bautista) works as a treasure hunter recovering valuable objects from the old world for powerful clients. His latest mission: team up with freedom fighter Drea to recover the Mona Lisa before an unhinged warlord gets there first.
Dave Bautista is most widely known for his recurring role as Drax the Destroyer in the Marvel Cinematic Universe beginning with 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy. Since then, he has starred in box office smashes including Spectre, Blade Runner 2049, Dune, Netflix’s Glass Onion and Army of the Dead. Films in which he has appeared have grossed upwards of $10 billion at the global box office. Bautista will next be seen in Dune: Part Two and My Spy: The Eternal City for Amazon through his Dogbone banner.
Legendary actor and producer Samuel L. Jackson has had a prolific career, appearing in over 100 films which have collectively grossed over $27 billion globally, making him the highest-grossing actor of all time. Highlights include eleven Marvel films in his role as Nick Fury, four Star Wars films in his role as Mace Windu as well as critical and commercial successes Django Unchained, Kinsgman: The Secret Service and Kong: Skull Island.
Before transitioning to directing, J.J. Perry was widely regarded as one of the most skilled Second Unit Directors and Stunt Coordinators in the business, regularly collaborating with directors such as Ang Lee, Chad Stahelski, Justin Lin and Spike Lee. This led to Perry’s 2022 directorial debut, Day Shift, the feature action-comedy at Netflix starring Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx, Dave Franco and Snoop Dogg. He recently wrapped his second feature, The Killer’s Game, which also stars Bautista, and will be released by Lionsgate.
”Afterburn is a terrific action story, combining the fun of Indiana Jones with the near future world building of Children of Men,” said producer Toby Jaffe. “J.J. is going to bring this to life in a thrilling way, using real practical stunt work to create authentic, visceral set pieces. Dave is one of the leading action stars in the world today, as well as being an actor with real soul and versatility. So excited to be making Afterburn with them both.”
“The combination of Dave Bautista and Sam Jackson in an epic adventure is a sure-fire proposition for the international marketplace” said Black Bear’s Friedberg, “With an action master like J.J. at the helm, and incredible producers in Steve, Neal and Toby, this is going to be a spectacular cinematic event.”
Bautista is represented by CAA, Meisner Entertainment Group, and Jackoway Austen Tyerman Wertheimer Mandelbaum Morris Bernstein Trattner & Klein. Jackson is represented by CAA, Anonymous Content, and Jackoway Austen Tyerman Wertheimer Mandelbaum Morris Bernstein Trattner & Klein. Perry is repped by WME, Holly Jeter and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern.
