Jason Statham and Sylvester Stallone have forged a strong collaborative relationship across various cinematic projects over the years, extending beyond the four thrilling installments of the Expendables franchise. Notably, Stallone contributed to the screenplay for the 2013 action-packed film Homefront, directed by Gary Fleder and adapted from a gripping novel by Chuck Logan. Their partnership is set to continue with the highly anticipated action thriller A Working Man, which reunites Statham with acclaimed director David Ayer from The Beekeeper. A Working Man is scheduled to hit theaters on March 28th, prompting us to compile an extensive overview of all the exciting details we currently know about this film. Let’s dive in!

EXPLORE THE SOURCE MATERIAL FOR A WORKING MAN

A Working Man draws its narrative inspiration from the novel Levon’s Trade, penned by Chuck Dixon and first published in 2014. Dixon, renowned for his extensive work within the comic book industry, has made his mark over the past four decades by crafting stories for iconic figures such as The Punisher, Conan, The Simpsons, G.I. Joe, Moon Knight, and Freddy Krueger. He was notably DC Comics’ most prolific Batman writer throughout the 1990s and contributed to the legendary Knightfall storyline, which features the pivotal moment when Bane (a character co-created by Dixon) shatters Batman’s back.

In Levon’s Trade, Dixon crafts a compelling narrative: Levon Cade abandons his former career to embrace a life in construction. He aspires to lead a low-profile existence while being a devoted father to his daughter. However, when a local girl goes missing, he is drawn back into the dangerous skills that once made him a legendary figure in the covert world of counterterrorism. Levon’s quest to find the missing college student plunges him into the depths of a ruthless criminal conspiracy, setting off a series of events that jeopardize everything he values. It’s time for him to revert to his original profession, where Levon’s expertise is lethal. The creation of the Levon Cade character has been so impactful that one reviewer remarked he “makes Jack Reacher seem like a crossing guard.”

Sylvester Stallone has long appreciated Dixon’s literary contributions; indeed, Dixon has indicated that he declined an offer to revise the screenplay for The Expendables 2. Once Levon’s Trade was released, Stallone promptly acquired the adaptation rights. In October 2018, it was announced that Stallone’s Balboa Productions intended to develop a Levon’s Trade television series. However, the decision was ultimately made to proceed with a film adaptation, which promises to bring this thrilling narrative to life on the silver screen.

MEET THE TALENTED CREATIVE TEAM BEHIND A WORKING MAN

As noted, A Working Man is helmed by David Ayer, who previously directed The Beekeeper, and he collaborated with Stallone on the screenplay. Several intriguing synopses have emerged regarding their interpretation of the source material. One such synopsis states: Levon Cade, a decorated military veteran from the black ops realm, seeks a peaceful life in construction. However, the abduction of his boss’s daughter, who feels like family to him, leads him into a treacherous world of human trafficking and corruption far beyond his imagination. Another synopsis presents a similar premise: Levon Cade has left behind his dangerous past to enjoy a quiet life working construction and bonding with his daughter. But when his boss’s teenage daughter disappears, he is compelled to revive the lethal skills that once made him a mythic presence in the covert operations world. Levon’s quest to find the missing student thrusts him into the core of a sinister criminal conspiracy, triggering a chain reaction that threatens his newfound peaceful existence. Both descriptions reflect the same thrilling premise.

The film is produced by Stallone, Statham, and Ayer, along with Bill Block, John Friedberg, Chris Long, and Kevin King Templeton. When the project was first announced (then still known as Levon’s Trade), Block expressed excitement, stating: “I am thrilled to be reuniting with some of my most talented and longstanding partners on Levon’s Trade. My collaboration with David Ayer on Fury was a revelation, showcasing his exceptional directorial skills. Jason and I have teamed up on numerous films, and most recently we collaborated on The Beekeeper. Levon’s Trade promises to be another spectacular action film, and I’m confident we’ve gathered the dream team to adapt this celebrated novel into a cinematic experience.“

Although the novel is primarily set in Florida, the film’s production took place in London, commencing in April 2024 and concluding at the end of the following month. This change of scenery adds an interesting twist to the adaptation.

DISCOVER THE STELLAR CAST OF A WORKING MAN

Statham portrays the formidable military veteran Levon Cade, while Arianna Rivas (Prom Dates) plays Jenny, the girl who falls victim to human traffickers. The roles of Jenny’s parents are portrayed by Michael Peña (Ant-Man) and Noemi Gonzalez (Selena: The Series). David Harbour (Stranger Things) takes on the character of Gunny Lefferty, Levon’s blind associate who provides him with weaponry. Isla Gie (The Outlaws) plays Levon’s daughter, Merry. The ensemble cast also features Jason Flemyng (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels), Emmett J Scanlan (Fool Me Once), Eve Mauro (Cypher), Maximilian Osinski (The Walking Dead: World Beyond), Kristina Poli (Leona End Mark), Andrej Kaminsky (John Wick: Chapter 4), Merab Ninidze (Without Remorse), Cokey Falkow (Doomsday), and several others, as Statham is known for needing a diverse ensemble to engage in intense action sequences.

Interestingly, it’s notable that Stallone did not take on the role of Gunny Lefferty for himself. If Stallone’s absence as a character in this film holds true, it will mark the first instance since Homefront in 2013 that he wrote a screenplay without appearing in the film.

We had the opportunity to engage in an interview with both David Harbour and David Ayer regarding their contributions to the film, and you can watch that insightful interview at THIS LINK.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE RELEASE OF A WORKING MAN

A Working Man initially targeted a January 17, 2025 release date; however, this has since been adjusted to March 28th, positioning it in direct competition with the horror film The Woman in the Yard, produced by Blumhouse Productions and directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, as well as the quirky A24 horror comedy Death of a Unicorn, featuring Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega. This release date also comes just one week after the premiere of Disney’s live-action Snow White and one week prior to the release of A Minecraft Movie. However, it’s important to note that these family-oriented films are not targeting the same audience that A Working Man is designed to attract.

The film is being produced under the banner of Amazon MGM Studios, which will ensure a broad theatrical release across the U.S. Meanwhile, Prime Video has secured streaming rights in numerous key international territories. In regions outside of these Prime Video territories, where it may be released exclusively for streaming, the producers have independently negotiated theatrical distribution deals with various overseas markets.

A Working Man has been rated R due to strong violence, pervasive language, and drug-related content.

A clip from the film surfaced online at the end of February:

Shortly thereafter, a trailer was released at the beginning of March:

In the lead-up to the film’s release, a final trailer was unveiled just days before the premiere date:

Around this time, the initial reactions to the film were revealed, showcasing impressions that the movie is “pure ’80s-style action with an absurd body count.” JoBlo critic Chris Bumbray rated the film an impressive 8/10, and you can read his review at THIS LINK or view it in this video:

EXPLORE THE FRANCHISE POTENTIAL OF LEVON CADE

Chuck Dixon‘s Levon Cade series currently comprises a total of twelve novels, with Levon’s Trade being followed by titles such as Levon’s Night, Levon’s Ride, Levon’s Run, Levon’s Kin, Levon’s War, Levon’s Time, Levon’s Home, Levon’s Hunt, Levon’s Prey, Levon’s Range, and Levon’s Scourge. Should A Working Man prove to be a box office hit, and if Statham is willing to reprise the role, this could blossom into a significant franchise for the actor. We will have to wait and see how the audiences respond and how the story evolves.

And that concludes our current insights into A Working Man.