[Trailer] Dave Bautista and Samuel L. Jackson Ignite Chaos in Post-Apocalyptic Thriller ‘Afterburn’
The trailer for Afterburn has arrived, giving audiences 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 U.S. theaters on September 19.
Directed by J.J. Perry, Afterburn is based on the Red 5 Comics series created by Scott Chitwood, Paul Ens, and Wayne Nichols. The story takes place ten years after a massive solar flare destroyed nearly all technology on Earth.
Bautista plays Jake, a former soldier who now works as a treasure hunter. His job is to recover valuable items from the past, including famous works like the Mona Lisa, for powerful clients. Jackson and Kurylenko appear as freedom fighters Valentine and Drea, while Hivju also joins the 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
This film has had a long road to the big screen. Development started back in 2008, when Tobey Maguire was attached as a producer, and at one point Gerard Butler was set to star with Antoine Fuqua in talks to direct.
Over the years, several directors and studios were linked to the project, but it wasn’t until 2024 that things moved forward again. That year, J.J. Perry was confirmed as director, with Bautista and Jackson signing on as leads.
Filming began in May 2024 in Bratislava, Slovakia, and wrapped in June. José David Montero worked as cinematographer, while Luke Dunkley handled the editing. The movie’s score was composed by Roque Baños.
Production also faced some drama behind the scenes. In May, Fourth Chance Productions was awarded $7.7 million in arbitration after accusing financier Tristian Peter of fraud. According to court findings, Peter failed to deliver on a promised $7.5 million investment in exchange for an executive producer credit.
Despite those hurdles, the movie made its way to release, with Original Film, Dogbone Entertainment, and Endurance Media among the companies backing the project.
The new trailer teases a world of chaos and survival, filled with action sequences and the hunt for lost treasures.
It’s been a long time coming for this adaptation, and now fans finally get to see it play out on screen. Personally, I think Bautista is the perfect fit for a gritty post-apocalyptic story, especially paired with Samuel L. Jackson. What do you think of the trailer? Does Afterburn look like a hit or just another action flick? Share your thoughts in the comments.