Summary
Netflix’sMan on Fireseries finds its star who will replace Denzel Washington after the 2004 film. Author A.J. Quinnell’s 1980 novelMan on Firehas been adapted to film twice, starting with the 1987 Italian version starring Scott Glenn and the more well-known 2004 movie directed byTony Scott and starring Denzel Washingtonas John Creasy, a troubled CIA operative-turned-bodyguard who goes on a rampage in Mexico City after his nine-year-old charge is kidnapped. In March 2023, it was announced that a Netflix adaptation ofMan on Firewas in the works.
Now, Netflix’sMan on Fireseries has found its lead star who will replace Washington. According toDeadline,Yahya Abdul-Mateen ll (Wonder Man,Watchmen) will star in Netflix’sMan on Fireseries as John Creasy. Additionally, Steven Caple Jr. (Transformers: Rise of the Beasts,Creed II) will direct the first two episodes of the eight-episode series.
What To Expect From Netflix’s Man On Fire Series
Why Yahya Abdul-Mateen ll Is A Strong Choice For John Creasy
Netflix’s adaptation will be based on bothMan on FireandThe Perfect Kill, the first two books in Quinnell’s five-book series featuring Creasy.In Netflix’s adaptation, Abdul-Mateen’s Creasy is a former Special Forces mercenary with severe PTSD, indicating he will follow in the footsteps of Washington’s version of the character who, in the2004 filmMan on Fire, is struggling with alcoholism, despondency, and guilt regarding his past actions with the CIA. Netflix’s official logline also suggests the show will faithfully adapt Pita’s abduction and Creasy’s subsequent revenge rampage.
Abdul-Mateen is a strong choice for Netflix’sMan on Fireseries. The actor is perhaps best known asBlack Manta fromAquaman, in which he displayed the physicality required to play a formidable CIA agent like Creasy. However, he has also starred inUs,The Trial of the Chicago 7,Candyman,The Matrix Resurrections, andAmbulance, in whichAbdul-Mateen has showcased the versatility required for a character like Creasy, who requires a blend of intense action and deep emotional depth. Creasy’s character arc involves significant emotional complexity, transitioning from a broken, disillusioned man to a protective and vengeful figure.
I Thought Man On Fire’s John Creasy Was Based On A Real Person — The Actual Inspiration For The Denzel Washington Character
Denzel Washington’s John Creasy is the protagonist of Man on Fire and while some may think the character is real, he’s inspired by something else.
Abdul-Mateen has showcased his capability for profound emotional expression, particularly in his Emmy-winning performance asDoctor Manhattan in HBO’sWatchmen. On television, Abdul-Mateen has also starred in episodes ofThe Handmaid’s TaleandBlack Mirror, and is set to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the Disney+ seriesWonder Man. Combined with his role as Creasy in Netflix’sMan on Fireseries, Abdul-Mateen should be a strong staple of the small screen for years to come.
Man on Fire
Cast
Man on Fire is a drama thriller directed by Tony Scott, featuring Denzel Washington as John Creasy, a burned-out ex-CIA operative turned bodyguard. He is hired to protect a young girl, Pita Ramos, played by Dakota Fanning, in Mexico City. As Creasy develops a bond with Pita, he is driven to exact vengeance when she is abducted, showcasing a relentless pursuit for justice against those responsible.
