Dave Bautista (Guardians of the Galaxy, Dune) has been cast in his next action movie. As reported by Deadline, Bautista will star in the post-apocalyptic adventure Afterburn. This movie is a clear passion project for the producers, who first tried to launch the production in 2018.
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Six years later, it has a brand new impetus and a fresh feeling to appeal to a post-pandemic audience and to make it one of the biggest action films currently underway.
DAVE BAUTISTA TO STAR IN AFTERBURN FILM ADAPTATION
Afterburn is based on the 2006 comic book series created by writer Scott Chitwood and artist Paul Ens, first published in 2006. The series is set in a post-apocalyptic world where Earth has been devastated by a solar flare known as the “Big Burn.” This event has not only scorched the Earth but also unleashed mutated creatures and altered the world’s climate.
The story follows a group of treasure hunters and mercenaries known as “reclaimers” who venture into the dangerous wastelands to retrieve valuable artifacts left behind in the aftermath of the Big Burn. The protagonist, Jake, is one of these reclaimers, and he navigates the perilous landscape alongside his team, which includes a diverse cast of characters with unique skills and backgrounds.
The central plot revolves around Jake’s quest to recover a valuable cargo of priceless artifacts from a heavily fortified city in Eastern Europe, known as New York. However, he faces numerous challenges along the way, including rival reclaimers, mutated creatures, and the oppressive regime controlling New York.
Afterburn blends elements of action, adventure, and science fiction, offering readers a thrilling and visually stunning post-apocalyptic world filled with danger and intrigue. The series received positive reviews for its engaging storyline, dynamic artwork, and imaginative world-building. Additionally, it spawned a sequel titled Afterburn: Crossfire, which further expanded upon the story and characters introduced in the original series.
Dave Bautista will play protagonist Jake, an ex-soldier-turned-treasure-hunter who is tasked with recovering valuable objects for powerful clients. The movie’s storyline sees Jake team up with freedom fighter Drea to recover the Mona Lisa. Bautista is currently a very busy ma. He will next be seen in Dune: Part Two and My Spy: The Eternal City for Amazon through his company Dogbone Entertainment.
Oscar nominee Samuel L. Jackson (The Hitman’s Bodyguard, Django Unchained) has also been cast, though at the time of reporting his role has not been revealed. J.J. Perry (second-unit director and stunt coordinator for the John Wick and Fast & The Furious franchises) is onboard to direct, fresh from having worked with Bautista on The Killer’s Game.
Set to produce are 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. Bautista will also be listed as a producer through Dogbone Entertainment.
”Afterburn is a terrific action story, combining the fun of Indiana Jones with the near future world-building of Children of Men,” Jaffe has been reported as saying. “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.”
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A Black Bear representative went on to say:
“The combination of Dave Bautista and Sam Jackson in an epic adventure is a sure-fire proposition for the international marketplace. 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.” Black Bear is handling international sales.
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SOURCE: Deadline
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