‘Atomic Blonde’ First Look: Charlize Theron Goes Full ‘John Wick’ In Cold War-Era Berlin
I remember being a little bummed out thatDavid Leitchand Chad Stahelski parted ways after co-directingJohn Wick, with the latter going on to tackle the incredible sequel on his own. However, Leitch is doing quite well for himself.He’ll be calling the shots onDeadpool 2(he directedthat teaser trailerthat played beforeLogan), but before that, he’s delivering a thriller starringCharlize Theronas a British spy kicking ass during the Cold War.
Atomic Blondewill premiere at the SXSW Film Festival this weekend and the first trailer is set to arrive this Friday. But for now, we’ll make do with a new batch of photos and two new trailer teases, which feature Theron James Bond-ing (or is that John Wick-ing?) her way across Berlin on the eve of the Soviet Union’s collapse.
Written byKurt Johnstad(who previously adapted300for Zack Snyder),Atomic Blondeis based on Antony Johnston’s graphic novel,The Coldest City. The film adaptation finds Theron playing Lorraine Broughton, an English secret agent tasked with an “impossible mission” in a city that can best be described as a political powder key.James McAvoyplays David Percival, the local station chief who assists her on this mission.
Entertainment Weeklyrevealed the first images from the film and they seem to show off the two sides of Theron’s super-spy: the half that can slip undercover into any kind of social engagement and the half that can beat the tar out of everyone attending that social engagement. The third shows off McAvoy and Theron taking a stroll along the Berlin Wall, circa 1989.
John Wickfans will be pleased to note that Leitch told EW all about Theron’s commitment to practical stunts, citing long action takes and Theron’s ballet-hardened toughness. “It’s refreshing to find an actor who can do these long, long takes, memorize the choreography, maintain the character, and deliver a performance,” he says. It should be noted that Theron also spearheaded this entire production, buying the rights toThe Coldest Citywith her producing partner, Beth Kono, five years ago.
And that brings us to the two trailer teases, which offer a few tantalizing looks at Theron justdecimatingsome people.
Theron is already in the action movie pantheon with Furiosa fromMad Max: Fury Road. Can she do it again with Lorraine Broughton andAtomic Blonde? We’ll find out when the film premieres this Sunday. It will actually hit theaters onJuly 28, 2017.
The crown jewel of Her Majesty’s Secret Intelligence Service, Agent Lorraine Broughton (Theron) is equal parts spycraft, sensuality and savagery, willing to deploy any of her skills to stay alive on her impossible mission. Sent alone into Berlin to deliver a priceless dossier out of the destabilized city, she partners with embedded station chief David Percival (James McAvoy) to navigate her way through the deadliest game of spies.
