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Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as John Creasy in Man on Fire (2026).

Published Mar 10, 2026, 1:20 PM EDT

A cinematic obsessive with the filmic palate of a starving raccoon, Rob London will watch pretty much anything once. With a mind like a steel trap, he's an endless fount of movie and TV trivia, borne from a misspent youth of watching monster movies on TV, perusing the sun-faded goods at the local video rental shop, and staining his fingers with ink from the Video Movie Guide. Areas of interest include science fiction, film noir, horror flicks, '70s disaster pictures, Bond movies, '90s action, giant robots, dinosaurs, super heroes, and the exuberantly schlocky output of Cannon Films. He also enjoys both Star Trek and Star Wars when they're good, and maybe even more when they're bad. As a Canadian, he also has a vested interest in Canadian movies and TV shows, especially the cheesier ones dubbed "Canuxploitation."

An expert on Marvel Comics, he has also written for the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe, and is a member of the Marvel Research Team. He can frequently be found pontificating on comic-book continuity or bemoaning the misfortunes of the Toronto Maple Leafs on his Twitter account.

John Creasy is back. Wonder Man's Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is stepping into the role of the mercenary turned bodyguard on Netflix's new adaptation of Man on Fire this spring, and we finally know when we can see him do it, thanks to an explosive new teaser for the series that moves the action to the streets of Rio de Janeiro.

In the new teaser, an unseen narrator lists Creasy's resume: he served in the US Army Special Forces, and did three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, the narrator suspects his best days are behind him...only for the rest of the teaser to seemingly prove otherwise. In our first glimpse of Creasy, he assembles a weapon blindfolded as the action explodes—literally. He's come to Rio to work as a bodyguard, and bonds with his young charge; when she's subsequently abducted, he becomes the titular man on fire, using his fists, his weapons, and every skill at his disposal to get her back. That means brutal street fights, explosive demolitions, and a harrowing Brazilian jailbreak. Will he succeed? You'll have to tune into Netflix on April 30, when all seven episodes of Man on Fire debut.

Who Are the Creatives Behind 'Man on Fire'?

In addition to Abdul-Mateen II, who also executive produces the series, Man on Fire stars Billie Boullet (A Small Light), Bobby Cannavale (Scarpetta), Alice Braga (Dark Matter), Scoot McNairy (Halt and Catch Fire), and Paul Ben-Victor (Flight Risk). It is written and showrun, as well as executive produced, by Kyle Killen (Halo). Steven Caple Jr. (Transformers: Rise of the Beasts) executive produces and directs the first two episodes; Vicente Amorim (Senna), Clare Kilner (House of the Dragon), and Michael Cuesta (Daredevil: Born Again) will also direct the series. It is executive produced by Arnon Milchan, Yariv Milchan, and Natalie Lehmann for New Regency Productions; Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, and Tracey Cook for Chernin Entertainment; Killen and Scott Pennington for Chapter Eleven. Caple Jr., Ed McDonnell, Michael Polaire, and Abdul-Mateen II also executive produce alongside Stacy Perskie for RedRum.

Man on Fire is based on the 1980 novel of the same name by A.J. Quinnell. It has previously been adapted as a film twice; first in an Italian production in 1987 that starred Scott Glenn and Joe Pesci, and more famously by the late Tony Scott in 2004. Scott's version starred Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning, and Christopher Walken; it grossed $130 million USD on a $70 million budget, and has become a staple of streaming and cable airings.

Man on Fire will be released on Netflix on April 30, 2026. Stay tuned to Collider for future updates.