You might ask, why remake something that was already remade once. But as the recent "The Day of the Jackal" TV series upgrade showed, you never know which can ace it. After all, that show changed the setting entirely to the present, unlike the one in the original book or the original movie adaptation.
This comparison is apt in the case of another adaptation that was filmed once in the form of a 1987 movie of the same name, based on the novel by A.J. Quinnell.
The title in question is "Man on Fire", an upcoming thriller series on Netflix, which is connected to the 2004 movie starring Denzel Washington and the 1987 film with Scott Glenn. The late filmmaker Tony Scott, who once expressed the urge to direct the 1987 film, directed the 2004 version.
Interestingly, the new upgrade is trying something different. It's based on both the 1980 book and its sequel, 'The Perfect Kill', from the same author.
The series consists of seven episodes to be released on Netflix on April 30, 2026.
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, fresh off the success of Marvel's "Wonder Man" series, plays the lead character, a Special Forces mercenary, John Creasy. "Once a high-functioning and skilled Special Forces Mercenary known for surviving even the most desolate of situations, Creasy is now plagued with intense PTSD. Determined to overcome his personal demons, he sets out on a path to redemption. But, before he can adjust to this new life, he finds himself back in the fire, fighting harder than ever," says the official logline.
Other lead cast members include Billie Boullet, Alice Braga as Valeria Melo, Scoot McNairy, Tappan Paul Ben-Victor, and Bobby Cannavale, among others.
Kyle Killen ("Fear Street") is handling writing, executive producing, and showrunning duties, with Steven Caple Jr. ("Creed II") involved as director of the first two episodes and as executive producer with Yahya.
