Netflix's 'Man on Fire' Officially Changes the Ending of Denzel Washington's 2004 Action Thriller

Editor's note: The below contains spoilers for the finale of Netflix's Man on Fire.

Now streaming on Netflix is the action-thriller television series Man on Fire, which takes inspiration from the 1980 book by A.J. Quinnell and shares some similarities with Tony Scott's 2004 feature film adaptation starring Denzel Washington. However, despite any parallels, intentional or otherwise, Netflix's version, starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in the role of John Creasy, unexpectedly diverges from the ending of Washington's action thriller.

Does John Creasy Survive in Netflix's 'Man on Fire'?

In the 2004 version of Man on Fire, Washington's John Creasy is hired as a bodyguard for Lupita "Pita" Ramos (Dakota Fanning), the daughter of a wealthy family in Mexico City. When Creasy is falsely accused of kidnapping Pita, he embarks on a violent path of revenge against those responsible and ultimately offers himself in place of the girl. Pita is returned to her mother, Lisa (Radha Mitchell), but Creasy dies from a gunshot wound he sustained earlier in the film. It's a sad, bittersweet ending as Creasy sacrifices himself to save the young girl he had befriended. However, the Netflix adaptation takes the story in a decidedly different direction.

In Netflix's Man on Fire, Creasy is still a former Special Forces operative suffering from PTSD when he's persuaded by his old friend, Paul Rayburn (Bobby Cannavale), to take a job for Brazilian President João Carmo (Billy Blanco Jr.). Unfortunately, Paul's family is killed in a bombing — save for his daughter, Poe (Billie Boullet), who witnessed the tragedy. Creasy dedicates himself to getting Poe safely out of Brazil, but finds himself pulled into a greater conspiracy. It's ultimately revealed that the bombing was carried out by senior CIA agent Henry Tappen (Scoot McNairy) as part of an elaborate plan for Carmo to seize more power in Brazil.

Man on Fire's first season ends with a major action sequence, culminating in Creasy's confrontation with Tappen, killing his former CIA contact for his role in the conspiracy. During another deadly struggle with Carmo's head of security, Prado Soares (Thomás Aquino), Creasy is shot, but in contrast to the 2004 movie, Creasy survives his gunshot wound, allowing him to witness Poe's fresh start at a new life and Carmo's punishment for his actions.

Netflix's 'Man on Fire' Makes More Than One Change Compared to the 2004 Film

Creasy's survival in Netflix's Man on Fire is a shocking yet positive change, but it also serves as a nice homage to the original novel, where, despite being severely wounded, he survives to fight another day. While this change to the ending allows the series to differentiate itself from the film version, it's not the only difference between these two screen adaptations of Quinnell's novel. In the 2004 film, for example, Paul Rayburn, portrayed by Christopher Walken, is part of the greater conspiracy plot, and he and his family aren't killed in the movie's inciting incident.

Additionally, in the movie, Creasy carves out a path of retribution on behalf of Pita since he has nothing left to lose, but the Netflix series changes things up by introducing other characters who come to care about Creasy and want to see him survive. Although Creasy is ready and willing to sacrifice himself to protect Poe, especially as he navigates his own lingering trauma from his last failed mission, his new ally and friend, Valeria Melo (Alice Braga), successfully dissuades him from that pursuit.

'Man on Fire's Ending Change Raises the Stakes for a Season 2

At the very end of Man on Fire's Season 1 finale, Creasy receives a call from CIA Director Moncrief (Paul Ben-Victor), who reveals that the individuals responsible for wiping out his team in Mexico, leading to his initial retirement from the Special Forces, have been identified. Creasy accepts the invitation to pursue them, setting up a second season.

On the one hand, the show leaves the viewer with the desire to watch Creasy finally put his traumatic past behind him. On the other hand, would Creasy's return to that dark place threaten to engulf him in more fire? Either way, Creasy seeking vengeance for his dead comrades definitely raises the stakes for a potential Season 2.

Both the 2004 movie and the Netflix series take the premise of Quinnell's original novel in unique directions, but the television series isn't a retread of Washington's movie in the slightest. With that finale tease, there's every possibility that Man on Fire could continue, allowing Mateen II's version of the character to endure in a way he wouldn't have been able to if the series had followed the same roadmap as its predecessor.