The directing team of brothers Anthony and Joe Russo have set their next project. The Gray Man, an adaptation of a 2009 novel by Mark Greaney, is set to release this summer on Netflix.
The Gray Man is a blockbuster action thriller coming to cinemas and then Netflix shortly after. There are some big-name stars too, including Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Billy Bob Thornton, and Bridgerton heartthrob Regé-Jean Page.
Netflix is clearly committing itself to the project, with a reported budget of $200 million, the most expensive original film ever produced by the streamer. The original book by Mark Greaney is the first of eleven in The Gray Man series, so the Netflix project definitely has franchise potential. Greaney is also well known for being a longtime collaborator of Jack Ryan author Tom Clancy, with Greaney even continuing the Jack Ryan novel series after Clancy’s 2013 death. The Gray Man’s lead, Court Gentry, is a former CIA operative embarking on a mission across Europe, likely appealing to existing fans of the Jack Ryan series.
With just a few months until the film’s release, let’s look at everything we know about Netflix’s The Gray Man. How closely will the film’s plot adhere to the novels? Who has been lined up in the lead role of Court Gentry, and who else will be appearing in the cast? When and where can audiences expect to see the film upon release?
Trailer for The Gray Man
The Gray Man early teaser trailer released by Netflix shows former agent Sierra Six being told, “if you go down this road, the CIA, the FBI they’re all going to come for you.” And it looks as though that was no idle threat. With helicopter chases, martial arts, explosions, and some serious weaponry, The Gray Man promises to be an extremely high-octane affair.
Storyline
The Gray Man revolves around Gentry, who discovers his agency’s incriminating secrets. Worse, he is being targeted by international assassins as Hansen places a bounty on his head. In a December 2021 interview, Joe Russo compared the dynamic between Gosling and Evans to that of Al Pacino and Robert De Niro in Heat, saying, “This is an intense action film. Very, very entertaining performances from both actors, and they’re absolutely pitted against each other in the movie. And it’s a deliciously sociopathic turn for Chris Evans as the villain.” He went on to praise the chemistry between Gosling and Evans. Should The Gray Man remain faithful to its source material, the former CIA agents will travel across Europe as they pursue a similar goal. It has been reported that the movie filmed scenes in Prague, France, and the Czech Republic, so it’s a globetrotter, indeed.
The Gray Man cast
Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans lead the cast, with Gosling playing freelance assassin and former CIA operative Court Gentry (AKA the titular Gray Man).
Evans plays Lloyd Hansen, a former cohort of Gentry’s at the CIA who is sent to hunt down the Gray Man and takes on the role of the villain in the movie. “He’s a really unique character, and this is Evans as a villain so it’s a really interesting character and I think he’s going to get to flex quite a bit in this role,” the Russo brothers said.
Billy Bob Thornton is playing Donald Fitzroy, the former handler of Gentry who recruits him for his newest mission. On his mission, Gentry is allied with Agent Dani Miranda, played by Ana de Armas. Also, the Duke of Hastings himself, Rege-Jean Page, is rumored to be playing the character Carmichael.
While these actors have confirmed or speculated roles, they are joined by several additional players with unknown roles. They include Jessica Henwick, Wagner Moura, Dhanush, Alfre Woodard, Julia Butters, Eme Ikwuakor, DeObia Oparei, Scott Haze, and Michael Gandolfini. We can likely expect more information about their roles and how they will relate to the story as we approach closer to the release date.
The Gray Man: Release Date
The Gray Man will be released in select cinemas on July 15, before arriving on Netflix a week later on July 22.
