Tony Scott’s 2004 Man On Fire is one of the rare examples of a remake being better than the original.
Scott Glenn starred in the 1987 version, itself an adaptation of a novel of the same name by English author Philip Nicholson, writing as A.J. Quinnell.
Like the book, that was set in Naples, Italy. The remake transferred the action to Mexico and ramped up the nicely inventive violence. Denzel Washington is superb.
The books became a series, with four more novels spread over the 1990s, all featuring Marcus Creasy, an American former member of the French Foreign Legion before becoming a mercenary.
Netflix plans to adapt the entire series of novels, starting with Man On Fire again. Now they have released a teaser.
This version stars Wonder Man and Aquaman star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and is an eight episode adaptation that is expected to cover the first book and make in roads into the second.
Kyle Killen (Halo, Fear Street) is writer, executive producer and showrunner.
Like the books and the original movies, this will start with Creasy (Mateen) lost in himself, without purpose, and plagued with intense PTSD.
He finds a path to redemption, and a way to fight his personal demons, through an assignment. However, that quickly spins out of control.
He has a particular set of skills. They should have left him alone.
New Regency Productions and Chernin Entertainment are producing with Abdul-Mateen II, Steven Caple Jr., Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, Bill McGoldrick, Juan Alfonso, Arnon Milchan, Yariv Milchan and Michael Schaefer executive producing.
Man on Fire is set to hit the streamer on April 30th.
