Charlize Theron is returning to her action-hero roots in the first trailer for the upcoming Netflix survival thriller, “Apex,” per movieweb.com.
The film, which officially arrives on the streaming platform on April 24, 2026, stars Theron as a grieving woman who retreats into the wilderness for solace, only to find herself hunted by a serial killer.
The Oscar winner is joined by a high-calibre supporting cast, including Taron Egerton (Kingsman) and Eric Bana (Munich).
Directed by survival specialist Baltasar Kormákur, “Apex” was filmed on location in the rugged Australian outback. Kormákur praised his lead trio for their dedication to the physically demanding shoot, noting that he put the actors “through the wars” to achieve a sense of visceral realism.
Theron, no stranger to the genre following Mad Max: Fury Road and The Old Guard, committed to her own stunts for the production. Speaking to the press, she revealed that she spent months kayaking and rock climbing, often barefoot, to prepare for the role.
“I was climbing pretty much every day,” Theron said. “I’m climbing all of the actual mountains in the movie… and I’m climbing it barefoot on my own raw feet.”
Despite her established track record, Theron remains vocal about the double standards facing female leads in the action genre. She recently noted that while male actors are often given multiple chances after a box-office failure, women often face more scrutiny.
“Action films with female leads don’t get greenlit as much,” Theron explained. “We were very aware that eyes were on us. It’s not a risk that studios want to take, but they’ll take it many times on the same guy.”
With its “cat and mouse” premise and a focus on raw survival, “Apex” looks set to be one of Netflix’s most significant releases for early 2026.
•Featured image courtesy Netflix
