If you’re into treasure hunts, post-apocalyptic chaos, and Samuel L. Jackson being a complete badass, mark your calendars. The trailer for Afterburn, the sci-fi action flick starring Jackson and Dave Bautista, just dropped, and it’s a whole lot of dust, danger, and dystopian drama.
Based on the cult-favorite graphic novel series by Scott Chitwood and Paul Ens, Afterburn is set in a scorched world nearly a decade after a solar flare knocked out all technology.
Imagine no phones, no satellites, and definitely no Uber Eats. Society has collapsed, and what’s left of humanity is scrambling to recover relics from the pre-burn era. That’s where Bautista’s character Jake comes in, an ex-soldier turned rogue treasure hunter hired to snag prized artifacts for whoever can pay the price.
This time? He’s hunting the actual Mona Lisa.
But it’s not just a dusty museum heist. Jake teams up with Drea, a fierce freedom fighter played by Olga Kurylenko, to race against a power-hungry warlord who also wants the painting. And guess who’s leading the revolution on the side of justice? None other than Samuel L. Jackson as Valentine, a battle-hardened veteran trying to rebuild what’s left of society—and he’s not here for the nonsense.
Director J.J. Perry, best known for his wild action debut Day Shift, is behind the camera once again.
If Afterburn is anything like his last projects, expect a full-throttle experience packed with bone-crunching stunts, gritty set pieces, and big-energy performances. And considering Perry also teamed up with Bautista in The Killer’s Game, the duo clearly knows how to bring cinematic mayhem to life.
“Afterburn is a terrific action story, combining the fun of Indiana Jones with the near-future world-building of Children of Men,” producer Toby Jaffe teased. “J.J. is going to bring this to life in a thrilling way, using real practical stunt work to create authentic, visceral set pieces.”
After years of development limbo, it looks like Afterburn is finally ready to light the fuse, and the trailer proves it was worth the wait. Buckle up for solar flares, scorched earth, and a whole lot of heat.
Stay tuned for the official release date.
