By Published Apr 16, 2026, 1:00 PM EDT Nick Bythrow is a Lead Writer for ScreenRant. He has been writing for the site since September 2026. He graduated from Hampshire College in 2026, where he triple majored in Journalism, Communications, and Media Studies. When he's not writing about TV and movies for ScreenRant and his blog, , Nick is penning speculative fiction and poetry on . He lives outside Boston, Massachusetts. Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap
Netflix has revealed more about a gritty new TV remake of an iconic Denzel Washington thriller.
has been unveiled in the streaming service's new trailer for the upcoming action thriller TV show. Based on the 1980 novel of the same name by A.J. Quinnell, the follows former Special Forces mercenary John Creasy (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) as his attempt to start a new life is upended by a quest for revenge.
Now, has released a new trailer for Man on Fire, which reveals what to expect from the newest adaptation. The trailer begins with John dealing with PTSD from his time as a mercenary, with one of his friends trying to get him back to a life of mercenary work. However, he seems content to leave it behind — until a young woman is targeted by a hostile group of people.
John somehow gets wrapped up in her story, with the trailer featuring plenty of high-octane action. This includes John jumping from a car into a plane and causing massive explosions while fighting groups of what appear to be other mercenaries. The trailer confirms that, on this mission, he won't stop until all his enemies are dead.
Check out the full trailer below:
The best-known adaptation of Man on Fire is a from 2004, where he starred opposite a young Dakota Fanning. While it holds a 39% on Rotten Tomatoes, author Quinnell enjoyed this adaptation of his work. The movie went on to be nominated for multiple awards, including two NAACP awards.
Netflix's rendition will be the first TV adaptation of the story. Kyle Killen, whose previous work includes Paramount+'s Halo TV series, serves as showrunner, writer, and executive producer of the seven-episode series. He's joined by directors Steven Caple Jr., Vicente Amorim, and Clare Kilner, who direct two episodes each, with Michael Cuesta directing the finale.
Alongside as John Creasy, other main cast members include Billie Boullet, Bobby Cannavale, Alice Braga, Scoot McNairy, and Paul Ben-Victor. As for the story itself, it will pull from the original Man on Fire book, alongside the first sequel in Quinnell's Creasy series, The Perfect Kill.
The series joins an ever-growing catalog of Netflix action TV shows, from the to the French thriller Lupin. However, it seems like Man on Fire is approaching the genre with a unique take, heavy on explosive fight sequences while also introducing compelling character moments for its core heroes.
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Given the show will be pulled from two books instead of just the original title, it seems like there could be a number of compelling surprises in store once it arrives. There are no guarantees as to how events will mesh and weave into one another, but it appears Netflix's version of the story is going to be quite different in contrast to Washington's.
With Man on Fire coming out at the end of the month, it won't be long until even more is revealed about the series. The trailer's focus on action, coupled with some interesting character moments for John Creasy, means there will be plenty of excitement yet to come once the series arrives.
Man on Fire releases all episodes on Netflix on April 30, 2026.
Cast
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John Creasy -
Billie Boullet Poe Rayburn
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WHERE TO WATCH
StreamingDirectors Clare Kilner, Vicente Amorim, Steven Caple Jr. Writers Kyle Killen Creator(s) Kyle Killen Expand Collapse
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