Netflix has been leaning towards gritty, character-driven action stories for quite some time, and its latest reveal suggests another high-stakes addition is on the way. The streamer has been teasing projects that rely heavily on mood, strong performances, and edge-of-the-seat drama, and this one seems no different. A dark tone and a powerful lead performance appear to be at the centre of it all.

Netflix has dropped the first-look image of Man on Fire, giving viewers an early glimpse at Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in the lead role and setting expectations for a hard-hitting story driven by anger, loss, and vengeance.

The first glimpse of Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in the highly anticipated Netflix series, Man on Fire, sees him step into the role of John Creasy, a former Special Forces mercenary. The offering will follow his return to the life he tried to leave behind, as he faces criminals and hunts for revenge. In the first still, Abdul-Mateen exudes intensity with a gun in his hand, capturing Creasy’s haunted, battle-hardened persona.

Joining Abdul-Mateen in Man on Fire are Billie Boullet and Bobby Cannavale as Poe and Paul Rayburn. Man on Fire will span eight episodes in its first season, with Steven Caple Jr., director of Creed II, helming the initial two.

Written and showrun by Kyle Killen (Fear Street), the Netflix series is set in Brazil and is slated for release this year. Man on Fire, notably, expands the streaming giant’s literary adaptations trove, with the story having been portrayed on the big screen before.

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Man on Fire, based on A.J. Quinnell’s eponymous book series, was brought to life for theatres not once but twice.

Man on Fire was first made into a movie in 1987, with Scott Glenn playing John Creasy, a bodyguard who goes after the people who kidnapped his young client. In 2004, Denzel Washington took over the role in a new version, with Dakota Fanning as the child he protects. The latter version is available to stream on Netflix.

With a familiar story getting a fresh setting and a new face, Man on Fire will arrive on Netflix with both nostalgia and high expectations attached. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II stepping into such an iconic role will naturally invite comparisons, but the series format allows the story more room to breathe. As Netflix continues to rework well-known material for a new generation, all eyes will be on whether this adaptation can strike its own identity and leave a lasting mark.

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What do you think about Yahya Abdul-Mateen II’s first look as John Creasy for Netflix’s Man on Fire? Let us know in the comments.