Idris Elba and Rebecca Ferguson Confront Nuclear Crisis in Kathryn Bigelow’s ‘A House of Dynamite’ Trailer
Kathryn Bigelow is stepping back into directing with a new thriller, her first film since Detroit in 2017. The project, called A House of Dynamite, has just released its official trailer, giving audiences a first look at what is shaping up to be one of the most high-stakes political dramas of the year.
The movie follows the U.S. government’s desperate response after a nuclear missile is fired toward Chicago. Idris Elba plays the President, and Rebecca Ferguson takes on the role of Captain Olivia Walker, a military officer tasked with keeping communication flowing between the White House and top defense leaders.
The story is set in Washington, where the clock is ticking and chaos erupts as officials scramble to prevent catastrophe. Netflix had confirmed the film’s premise and main cast when it announced the project.
“An explosively entertaining cautionary tale.” – Indiewire
— Netflix (@netflix) September 25, 2025
From Academy Award winning director Kathryn Bigelow comes A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE.
Starring Idris Elba, Rebecca Ferguson, Gabriel Basso, Jared Harris, Tracy Letts, Anthony Ramos, Moses Ingram, Jonah Hauer-King, Greta Lee,… pic.twitter.com/ua0FKGtWKo
The cast brings together several well-known names. Gabriel Basso plays Deputy National Security Advisor Jake Baerington, while Jared Harris appears as Secretary of Defense Reid Baker. Tracy Letts is General Anthony Brody, and Anthony Ramos portrays Major Daniel Gonzalez, who runs a base designed to detect attacks.
The lineup also includes Moses Ingram as a FEMA official, Jonah Hauer-King as a strategy advisor, and actors such as Greta Lee, Jason Clarke, Brian Tee, Brittany O’Grady, and Gbenga Akinnagbe. Renée Elise Goldsberry plays the First Lady, while Angel Reese makes a cameo as herself.
The film made its debut earlier this month at the Venice International Film Festival, where it competed for the Golden Lion. The reaction from critics has been very positive so far. According to Rotten Tomatoes, 88 percent of reviews have been favorable, while Metacritic lists the film with a score of 88, describing the feedback as “universal acclaim.”
The project was first revealed by Netflix in May 2024. Filming started later that year in Trenton, New Jersey, and was finished before the end of December, according to reports from Variety and Deadline. The official title was kept quiet until June 2025.
A House of Dynamite will arrive in theaters in the United Kingdom on October 3 and in select theaters in the United States on October 10. It will then stream worldwide on Netflix starting October 24.
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