A mercenary becomes a bodyguard. When his charge is taken, he becomes a man on fire. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II stars in the new series, streaming April 30, 2026.
- March 11, 2026
AceShowbiz - Man on Fire returns with a new adaptation starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as John Creasy, the mercenary-turned-bodyguard. Netflix has unveiled a first teaser for the series, which shifts the action to the streets of Rio de Janeiro. All seven episodes will be available on April 30, 2026.
The teaser opens with an unseen narrator outlining Creasy’s military background: a veteran of the US Army Special Forces who served three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Despite doubts that his best days are behind him, the footage quickly disproves this notion. Viewers witness Creasy assembling a weapon while blindfolded, followed by action including street fights, explosive encounters, and a Brazilian jailbreak.
Creasy’s mission takes a personal turn when the young girl he is protecting is abducted. The former soldier becomes the “man on fire,” using every skill and weapon at his disposal to rescue her.
The cast of Man on Fire includes Billie Boullet, Bobby Cannavale, Alice Braga, Scoot McNairy, and Paul Ben-Victor. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II not only stars but also serves as an executive producer.
The series is written, showrun, and executive produced by Kyle Killen. Directing duties for the opening episodes fall to Steven Caple Jr., who also executive produces. Additional direction is provided by Vicente Amorim, Clare Kilner, and Michael Cuesta.
This new adaptation is backed by an extensive team of executive producers, including Arnon Milchan, Yariv Milchan, and Natalie Lehmann for New Regency Productions; Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, and Tracey Cook for Chernin Entertainment; along with Kyle Killen and Scott Pennington for Chapter Eleven. The production also features executive producers Ed McDonnell, Michael Polaire, and Stacy Perskie for RedRum, alongside Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Steven Caple Jr..
Man on Fire is based on the 1980 novel by A.J. Quinnell. It has been adapted twice previously: first as a 1987 Italian film featuring Scott Glenn and Joe Pesci, and more famously in 2004 by director Tony Scott. The 2004 movie starred Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning, and Christopher Walken, grossing $130 million on a $70 million budget.
The Netflix adaptation relocates the story to Brazil. The April 30 release date will see all episodes available at once.
