Netflix's Havoc Cast, Plot, Director And More Details
Netflix knows a thing or two about action. The streamer hosts a ton of original beat-em-ups that are perfect for martial arts fans and adrenaline junkies. Chris Hemsworth mows down endless baddies in the "Extraction" movies, Charlize Theron brings out a battle ax in "The Old Guard," and Oscar Isaac, Pedro Pascal, and Ben Affleck try to pull off the ultimate heist in "Triple Frontier." Those are just a few of the impressive actioners the streamer has to offer, and now, another bloodsoaked adventure is heading our way.
"Havoc" hails from some of the most talented people in the business — especially where powerful punches and creative kicks are concerned. With director Gareth Evans at the helm (the man who gave us "The Raid"), "Havoc" will plunge audiences into a seedy underworld where one cop finds himself pitted against a legion of villains. And yeah, he'll have to go to war if he wants to get out alive. If you want to learn more about what's sure to be one of the best action movies in recent memory, read on for everything you need to know about Netflix's "Havoc."
When will Havoc be released?
We first learned about "Havoc" in February 2021, when it was announced that writer/director Gareth Evans had signed an exclusive deal to make movies for Netflix. Yeah ... that was quite a while ago, and we've been waiting a few years to see Evans' latest action spectacle.
However, the writer/director did give us an update in November 2022, taking to Instagram to say, "We're still plugging away at it, doing all we can to make the film the best it can be. Part of that involves a small amount of additional photography that we are hoping to shoot soon. ... Hopefully the film will be completed next summer."
Of course, back in November 2022, Evans probably wasn't counting on an actors' strike and a writers' strike. We're unsure if he was able to get that additional photography finished before the strikes began, so it's possible we might have to wait even longer before the movie wraps. But even without any strike, "Havoc" co-star Luis Guzmán explained to /Film that Evans is just a naturally unhurried filmmaker.
"Well, Gareth is, man, he's into detail like I have never seen before," Guzmán said. "You shoot his movie, it takes two years or so to come out because he is so meticulous at his editing and what works and what doesn't work, feels right, doesn't feel right. ... It takes a while for his movies to come out. But like I said, there's a reason because he's king of what he does."
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What's the plot of Havoc?
"Havoc" looks to blend brutal fistfights with a search-and-rescue tale, complete with political intrigue and plenty of twists and turns. As the official synopsis puts it, "After a drug deal gone wrong, a bruised detective must fight his way through a criminal underworld to rescue a politician's estranged son, while unraveling a deep web of corruption and conspiracy that ensnares his entire city."
Sounds like the perfect venue for some serious action, with our protagonist taking on crooks as he dives deeper into his city's heart of darkness. And while there's always the chance of a sequel if the film does well — we're not naive to how Hollywood works — writer/director Gareth Evans says that's not his intention. Speaking with Forbes, Evans explained, "['Havoc' is] a movie that is definitely a standalone project. There are no current plans for that to become a franchise."
Does that mean our detective hero will bite the bullet? Or will he completely clean up the streets with his combat abilities? Whatever happens in "Havoc," we're excited to see all the action when the film eventually hits Netflix.
Who is starring in Havoc?
"Havoc" boasts an absolutely stacked cast, with Tom Hardy playing the detective who sets out to rescue a politician's son. Hardy is no stranger to the action genre, playing in titles like "The Dark Knight Rises" and "Mad Max: Fury Road," and you've no doubt seen him in projects like "Taboo," "Peaky Blinders," and the "Venom" movies. Hardy also happens to be a pugilistic expert in real life, as he's a purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and has won actual competitions.
So who's joining Hardy in this grimy, gritty action flick? Well, Hardy will star alongside Timothy Olyphant of "The Mandalorian" and "Justified" fame, as well as Jessie Mei Lei, best known for playing in Netflix's "Shadow and Bone" series. You can also expect to see Oscar winner Forest Whitaker ("Black Panther," "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story"), Luis Guzmán ("Wednesday," "Traffic"), Justin Cornwell ("The Umbrella Academy"), Yeo Yann Yann ("Singapore Dreaming"), Quelin Sepulveda ("Good Omens"), Sunny Pang ("The Night Comes for Us"), and UFC star Michelle Waterson.
Who is writing and directing Havoc?
"Havoc" comes to us courtesy of writer/director Gareth Evans, the man who's responsible for two of the greatest action movies ever made: "The Raid" (aka "The Raid: Redemption") and "The Raid 2." These two Indonesian thrillers are the pinnacle of modern-day martial arts movies, with stars like Iko Uwais, Joe Taslim, and Yayan Ruhian throwing down in exquisitely choreographed fight scenes that put the "John Wick" movies to shame.
Evans has also collaborated with Netflix before, teaming up with the streamer for "Apostle," an English folk horror tale featuring Dan Stevens and one of the grisliest deaths in horror history. On the TV side of things, Evans co-created "Gangs of London," a British series about the violent power struggles between criminal organizations. In short, Evans is the perfect director for what's sure to be a brutal blast of an action flick, and we can't wait to see his unique brand of fisticuffs on display when "Havoc" arrives on the scene.