Survival, Fire, and Fury: Dave Bautista Leads Explosive ‘Afterburn’ Trailer
The trailer for Afterburn is out, giving fans a first look at the new post-apocalyptic action movie starring Dave Bautista, Samuel L. Jackson, Olga Kurylenko, and Kristofer Hivju. The film will hit select theaters in the U.S. on September 19.
Directed by J.J. Perry, Afterburn is based on the Red 5 Comics series by Scott Chitwood, Paul Ens, and Wayne Nichols. The story takes place ten years after a massive solar flare destroys most of the Earth’s technology.
Bautista plays Jake, a former soldier turned treasure hunter who searches for rare pre-flare items for powerful clients, including iconic works like the Mona Lisa. Jackson and Kurylenko play freedom fighters named Valentine and Drea, while Hivju rounds out the main cast.
Trailer for ‘AFTERBURN’, a new post-apocalyptic action film starring Dave Bautista, Olga Kurylenko, & Samuel L. Jackson.
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) September 16, 2025
In theaters this Friday. pic.twitter.com/fcV0VVJL5q
The movie has had a long history. It was first announced back in 2008 with Tobey Maguire attached as a producer, and at one point Gerard Butler was set to star with Antoine Fuqua potentially directing. Over the years, the project shifted directors and actors multiple times before moving forward in 2024, when J.J. Perry was confirmed as director and Bautista and Jackson joined the cast.
Filming took place in Bratislava, Slovakia, starting in May 2024 and finishing in late June. José David Montero served as cinematographer, and Luke Dunkley edited the film. The score was composed by Roque Baños.
The production also faced legal issues. In May, Fourth Chance Productions won $7.7 million in arbitration after a financier, Tristian Peter, was found to have defrauded the company. Peter had promised $7.5 million in exchange for an executive producer credit but failed to deliver.
The new trailer shows a dangerous, chaotic world with intense action sequences and high-stakes treasure hunts, giving fans a sense of the movie’s thrilling, post-apocalyptic setting.
Afterburn looks like a solid fit for Bautista, especially with Samuel L. Jackson adding his signature energy to the cast. The story is ambitious, mixing survival, action, and high-stakes treasure hunting, and the trailer does a good job building excitement. What do you think — does this look like a must-watch action film or just another post-apocalyptic flick? Share your thoughts in the comments.
