Yahya Abdul-Mateen ll to Lead ‘Man on Fire’ Series at Netflix
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II will lead the cast of Netflix’s upcoming thriller series “Man on Fire.” He will also executive produce the project alongside Steven Caple Jr., who has been set as director of the first two episodes under showrunner Kyle Killen.
“Man on Fire” is based on A.J. Quinnell’s first two novels about former French Foreign Legion solider John Creasy, titled “Man on Fire” (1981) and “The Perfect Kill” (1992). This is not the first adaptation of the Quinnell novels; Creasy was played by Denzel Washington in a 2004 “Man on Fire” film and by Scott Glenn in 1987.
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The logline for Netflix’s adaptation reads, “Once a high functioning and skilled Special Forces Mercenary, known for surviving even the most desolate of situations, Creasy (Mateen) 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.”
Abdul-Mateen is best known for playing Doctor Manhattan in HBO’s 2019 limited series “The Watchmen” at HBO and Black Manta in “Aquaman” and “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” (2023). His other credits include “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” “The Get Down” and “Black Mirror,” all on Netflix, and the movies “Candyman” (2021), “The Matrix Resurrections” (2021) and “Ambulance” (2022.) Up next, he’ll join the Marvel Cinematic Universe playing the title character in “Wonder Man” on Disney+. Abdul-Mateen is repped by M88, WME and Johnson Shapiro Slewett and Kole.
Caple is best known for directing the films Creed II (2018) and Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023). On TV, his directing credits include Freeform’s “Grown-ish” and Netflix’s “Rapture.” He is repped by Untitled Entertainment, CAA and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren, Richman, Rush, Kaller, Gellman, Meigs & Fox.
Killen, a TV and film veteran known for steering Showtime’s “Halo” and NBC’s “Awake,” is executive producer and showrunner of “Man on Fire.” Executive producers also include Scott Pennington for Chapter Eleven; Abdul-Mateen; Caple; Arnon Milchan, Yariv Milchan and Natalie Lehmann for New Regency Productions; Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping and Tracey Cook for Chernin Entertainment; Ed McDonnell; Michael Polaire; and Stacy Perskie for RedRum.
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