Dave Bautista and Samuel L. Jackson Team Up for Post-Apocalyptic Mayhem in ‘Afterburn’

The first official trailer for Afterburn, a high-octane, post-apocalyptic action thriller starring Dave Bautista, is now live and it wastes no time throwing viewers into a scorched, lawless world where treasure is power, and art is war.

Set ten years after a solar flare decimates global technology, Afterburn introduces Bautista as Jake, a hardened ex-soldier turned relic-hunter tasked with retrieving none other than the Mona Lisa. The mission takes him deep into the ruins of Eastern Europe, where the line between civilization and chaos no longer exists. Joining him are Olga Kurylenko as resistance fighter Drea and Samuel L. Jackson as the enigmatic Valentine.

Based on the graphic novel by Scott Chitwood and Paul Ens, with artwork by Wayne Nichols, the film is directed by J.J. Perry, who previously helmed Day Shift. Perry reteams with Bautista following their collaboration on The Killer’s Game. This time, Perry trades in vampires and hitmen for scorched cities and survivalist warfare.

Producer Toby Jaffe spoke about the film’s appeal, calling it “a terrific action story, combining the fun of Indiana Jones with the near future world building of Children of Men.” He added, “J.J. is going to bring this to life in a thrilling way, using real practical stunt work to create authentic, visceral set pieces. Dave is one of the leading action stars in the world today, as well as being an actor with real soul and versatility. So excited to be making Afterburn with them both.”

Bringing together action pedigree and star power, the project has been years in the making. Producers Neal H. Moritz and Steve Richards join Jaffe and Bautista, who also produces through his Dogbone Entertainment banner. According to Jaffe, the team has been trying to get Afterburn off the ground for six years.

John Friedberg of Black Bear, which is handling international sales, highlighted the global appeal of the project: “The combination of Dave Bautista and Sam Jackson in an epic adventure is a sure-fire proposition for the international marketplace,” Friedberg said. “With an action master like J.J. at the helm, and incredible producers in Steve, Neal and Toby, this is going to be a spectacular cinematic event.”

Afterburn has not yet confirmed a release date, but with the trailer now making waves, clocking 1.6 million views in 5 days, a full-scale launch seems imminent. You can watch the trailer below.

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