Acclaimed filmmaker David Fincher is best known for constructing some of the best psychological thrillers ever made, including Se7en and Gone Girl. His next feature is a neo-noir action thriller called The Killer, starring Michael Fassbender in the title role, along with Tilda Swinton.
The Killer marks Fincher's first film since Mank, the Netflix biographical drama about Herman Mankiewicz and the creation of his script for Citizen Kane. The director's new movie is his second Netflix project and is based on Alexis Nolent's French graphic novel series of the same name. Here are some details about Fincher's upcoming film adaptation.
The Killer's Plot
There aren't many plot details at this time, but the basic premise has been established. Similar to the French comic book (Le Tueur) written by Nolent (who writes comics under the pen name Matz), The Killer is about a professional assassin named Christian, a cold and methodical protagonist who is very good at his job, but grows a conscience when he feels lonely. Whenever Christian waits a long time to eliminate his next target, the killer believes that he's losing his mind.
As late film critic Roger Ebert would say, this type of plot line for a feature "is as old as the hills." There have been countless assassin movies about elite killers who feel isolated, lonely, and depressed about the bloody work they've done (Jason Bourne, John Wick). However, as audiences have witnessed, Fincher is no ordinary director because almost every feature he's done has incorporated complex characters with moral and psychological themes.
When Ebert reviewed Fincher's Se7en, he mentioned the familiar plot involving the veteran detective and the younger, less experienced cop working together to find a killer on the loose. The late critic describes how the director's second film worked because the detectives are complicated men who have different perspectives but try their hardest to solve a challenging case about a serial killer who is methodical and far from ordinary. The Killer will most likely involve a primary character who appears calm and cool on the outside, but deep down is going through psychological issues because he's an assassin who has killed a lot of people, and his loneliness represents his descent into madness, insanity, and depression.
The Cast In Fincher's New Film
Michael Fassbender will portray Christian/The Killer, and he is the perfect choice considering that he is an expert in playing dangerous killers such as Eric Lensherr/Magneto in the X-Men films. He is also known for taking on intelligent and complex characters, including the sneaky and manipulative android David in the Alien prequel films, and a sex addict in Steve McQueen's NC-17-rated drama Shame. Fassbender is skilled in capturing the vulnerability, emotion, inner turmoil, and charisma of his characters, qualities that will be essential in Fincher's film. The actor has also praised Fincher by saying that working with the Oscar-nominated filmmaker was a great honor for him.
Oscar winner Tilda Swinton (known for her powerful work in films like Michael Clayton and Doctor Strange) will also star in The Killer. Her role is undisclosed at this time, but she will surely play a major part (perhaps a mentor, partner, friend, or villain who shares a connection to Christian and his work as an elite assassin. Charles Parnell (who starred in the blockbuster hit Top Gun: Maverick) will also star as a character named Hodges, along with actress and stunt coordinator Monique Ganderton (who worked in the MCU films Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame). Monika Gossman (Mank) and Kellan Rhude (The Black Phone and Dexter: New Blood) are also among the supporting actors in the film.
Other Elements To Focus On For The Killer
The Killer is Fincher's second Netflix film after signing a four-year deal with the streaming service in November 2020 (around the time of release for Mank). Aside from Mank being his first Netflix feature, Fincher already has a well-established reputation with the streamer since he directed episodes for popular shows like House of Cards and Mindhunter. As with many of Fincher's projects, each of his films are generally lengthy at two hours or more. The Killer clocks in at two hours and thirty-eight minutes, making it a long action thriller but one that is fitting for Netflix and a theatrical release.
This film also marks the reunion of Fincher and screenwriter Andrew Kevin Walker, who made it big when he wrote the dark and heavy script for Se7en and has done uncredited work as a script doctor (including writing for Fincher's The Game and Fight Club). The Killer has the potential to be an intriguing script considering this thriller will involve more action and is an adaptation of a graphic novel. The director will also bring back Erik Messerschmidt as his cinematographer (he previously worked with Fincher on Gone Girl and Mindhunter, and won an Oscar for best cinematography for Mank).
Fincher's movie will be filmed in various locations, including Chicago, New Orleans, the Dominican Republic, and Paris, France, hinting that the thriller will have a hefty budget, as well as an international vibe reminiscent of the James Bond and Jason Bourne franchises. The Killer has been in development for fifteen years, with Fincher attached to direct the feature. Now that it will likely be scheduled for release in 2023, this film could mark the start of a new action franchise (which Fincher almost did with his version of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo). David Fincher fans will have to wait and see how well The Killer performs in the new year.