Jeremy Renner is heading back into action with 12 Bullets, a new crime thriller that will pit the Oscar-nominated actor against London's ruthless criminal underworld. Backed by the production company behind John Wick, the film promises a high-stakes game of survival where ammunition is as scarce as second chances. It also gives Renner another opportunity to flex the gritty action-hero instincts that have made him a familiar face in Hollywood thrillers.

The project arrives at an interesting point in the actor's career, as he continues balancing franchise fame with more grounded crime dramas. And this time, he will have an entire city of gangsters standing between him and survival.

According to an exclusive report by Deadline, Jeremy Renner is set to star in 12 Bullets, a new action thriller from Thunder Road, the production company behind the John Wick franchise, and Comcast-owned British broadcaster Sky. Sean Ellis, known for directing Anthropoid, will helm the project from a screenplay by Tim Walker. Producers Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee are attached for Thunder Road, while Sky and the production company jointly developed the film. International sales will be launched by Legendary label 193 ahead of next week's American Film Market in Los Angeles.

The premise has a wonderfully old-school action movie hook. 12 Bullets follows a mysterious American who finds himself caught in a violent conflict between rival criminal gangs tearing through London's supposedly gun-free streets. Armed with just one firearm and twelve bullets, he must wage a one-man war against the criminals, making every shot count. The film will receive a Sky Original release in the UK and Ireland as per Deadline, while CAA Media Finance is representing its North American rights. No release date has been announced yet.

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But the project is also an interesting reunion for Renner and the team behind some of his most acclaimed crime films. There is plenty of history here beyond the promise of another shootout.

While Jeremy Renner is stepping into another action-heavy role, his future in the Marvel Cinematic Universe remains a question mark. The actor last appeared as Clint Barton in the 2021 Disney+ series Hawkeye, which introduced audiences to Hailee Steinfeld's Kate Bishop and explored the archer's attempts to leave his superhero past behind. Renner has since confirmed that he will not appear in Avengers: Doomsday, even joking that the Avengers might lose without their resident marksman. A return in Avengers: Secret Wars remains unconfirmed.

Away from Marvel, Renner has continued exploring considerably darker territory through Taylor Sheridan's Mayor of Kingstown. The Paramount+ crime drama, in which he plays power broker Mike McLusky, is approaching its fifth and final season, scheduled to premiere on January 15, 2027. The series has kept Renner firmly connected to stories involving criminal empires, shifting loyalties, and brutal power struggles. His earlier credits include The Hurt Locker, The Town, Wind River, and The Bourne Legacy, making 12 Bullets a particularly fitting addition to his filmography.

With a compelling survival premise and the John Wick production team behind it, 12 Bullets has the ingredients for a tense action thriller. 

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Would you watch Jeremy Renner take on London's gangs with only twelve bullets? Share your thoughts in the comments.