Netflix has unveiled a gritty first glimpse of Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as John Creasy in the upcoming series “Man on Fire,” per deadline.com. The image, released Tuesday, shows a dishevelled Creasy brandishing a weapon, a stark visual cue for a character who has “been through hell and back.”
The eight-episode drama is an adaptation of the first two novels in A.J. Quinnell’s celebrated five-book series: Man on Fire and The Perfect Kill.
This iteration follows Creasy, a highly skilled Special Forces mercenary struggling with severe PTSD. While he initially seeks a quiet path to redemption and a break from his violent past, he is soon thrust back into “the fire.”
The character has a storied cinematic history, most famously portrayed by Denzel Washington in Tony Scott’s 2004 cult classic. Before that, Scott Glenn took on the role in a 1987 Italian adaptation.
The series boasts a high-calibre ensemble and production crew including supporting cast like Bobby Cannavale, Alice Braga, Scoot McNairy, Paul Ben-Victor and Billie Boullet.
The showrunner is Kyle Killen (Fear Street), while the executive producers are Arnon Milchan (New Regency), Peter Chernin (Chernin Entertainment), and Abdul-Mateen II himself.
With New Regency, the studio behind the 2004 film, involved in the production, fans can expect a faithful yet modernised take on the relentless mercenary.
•Featured image: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in “Man on Fire”/Seye Isikalu/Netflix
