The Gray Man, the next stellar movie from streaming giant Netflix, has a summer release date.
Directed by Marvel movie veterans Joe and Anthony Russo, the Netflix film will officially hit the streaming service on Friday, July 22. The spy thriller will also be available to view in theaters a week earlier on July 15, though Netflix hasn't said if it will be a limited release or not. We ask for feedback.
Based on the series of novels of the same name by Mark Greaney, The Gray Man has some serious star power attached to it. Former Captain America star Chris Evans, Blade Runner 2049 and La La Land actor Ryan Gosling, James Bond and Knives Out actress Ana de Armas and Bridgerton alum Regé-Jean Page are among its all-star ensemble.
Alongside the announcement of The Gray Man's lunch date, Netflix has released a batch of first-look images, giving us our clearest look yet at Gosling's protagonist and main villain Evans. Check them out below:
It's Ryan Gosling vs. Chris Evans in The Gray Man - FIRST LOOK: pic.twitter.com/YWxFRJW62DA April 26, 2022
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Additionally, Netflix has provided a plot synopsis for those who wish to get a better idea of what The Gray Man's story will entail.
"The Gray Man is CIA agent Court Gentry (Ryan Gosling), also known as Sierra Six," Netflix revealed in a press release. “Born in a federal penitentiary and recruited by his teacher, Donald Fitzroy (Billy Bob Thornton), Gentry was once a highly-trained, Agency-sanctioned death dealer.
But now the tables have turned and Six is the target, hunted across the globe by former CIA henchman Lloyd Hansen (Chris Evans), who will stop at nothing to bring him down. Agent Dani Miranda (Ana de Armas) has his he will need it.
The Gray Man was co-written by Joe Russo along with Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame writers Stephen McFeely and Christopher Markus. The Russo brothers, Mike Larocca, Chris Castaldi and Jeffrey Kirschenbaum are among the executive producers of the film.
Here's the all-important release date, too: The Gray Man opens worldwide on Netflix on July 22, while it will be available to watch in theaters a week earlier on July 15.
Analysis: The hunt for subscribers is on
There's no denying that Netflix needs a big payout (or a long-awaited production) to win back subscribers. The streaming giant has suffered its fair share of negative publicity lately, with its share price falling 40% and losing 200,000 subscribers so far this year. Add in a public backlash against the password-sharing crackdown and financial problems that led to the cancellation of several shows in development, and Netflix could use some positivity right now.
Of course, many of the fan-favorite Netflix TV series will be returning to our screens soon. Stranger Things season 4 and The Umbrella Academy season 3 are sure to get Netflix back on track and mask the cracks that are appearing in the streaming company's walls.
Still, Netflix could use one of its upcoming movies to help convince those who recently canceled their subscription to, well, resume their subscription. And The Gray Man could be the movie that brings old viewers back.
Netflix scored a big hit with another all-star ensemble movie, Red Notice, in late 2021. The action comedy wasn't universally acclaimed by critics, but it went on to become Netflix's biggest movie of all time thanks to its star trio of Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds and Gal Gadot.
Arguably, The Gray Man has an even bigger (and better) cast than Red Notice. However, potential viewers who want to watch the movie and don't have a Netflix subscription will need to consider whether it's worth reactivating their account to do so. Still, you can't underestimate the star power of actors like Evans, Gosling, and De Armas. Your casting calls are almost guaranteed to draw audiences, so don't be surprised if Netflix sees a slight increase in its subscriber base in mid-July.
The hunt between Gosling's Sierra Six and Evans' Hansen will certainly take place this summer. But, for Netflix, there will be a bigger quest at play: persuading potential new and old subscribers to sign up for the service and keep them interested in the streamer's other offerings. If you don't, Netflix's problems could get worse.