Shane Blackis back in action with a new crime thriller that featuresMark WahlbergandLaKeith Stanfieldas a pair of criminals who embark on a heist of a lifetime. The action caper hails from Amazon MGM Studios, which has decided to release the upcoming filmexclusively on streaminglater this year.
Collider has unveiled the first look at Amazon’sPlay Dirty, which is set to premiere on Prime Video on October 1. Wahlberg and Stanfield are featured as a pair of elite thieves, who will be joined by Rosa Salazar (Alita: Battle Angel) in the film. Stanfield is playing a con artist named Grofield, while Wahlberg is set to portray Parker, who is based on the protagonist of Donald E. Westlake’s crime novels. As the first look teases, Parker will be working closely with his partner-in-crime, Grofield, to pull off the heist of his career and take revenge on those who double-crossed him. Check out the image below.
In addition to Wahlberg, Stanfield, and Salazar, the cast ofPlay Dirtyfeatures Tony Shalhoub, Keegan-Michael Key, Nat Wolff, Chukwudi Iwuji, Thomas Jane, and Saskia Archer. It’s a stacked call sheet for what is Shane Black’s long-awaited return to feature filmmaking sincethe 2018 action flopThe Predator. Although Black was originally set to reunite with hisIron Man 3star Robert Downey Jr. onPlay Dirty, Wahlberg has taken over the lead role. Read the official plot synopsis for the film:
“InPlay Dirty, Wahlberg plays professional thief Parker, who after being double-crossed and left for dead, sees his hunt for revenge bring with it a shot at the biggest heist of his career. But even with the help of his partner, actor-slash-con artist Grofield (Stanfield), he’ll still need to outsmart a South American dictator, the New York mob and the world’s richest man if he hopes to stay alive.”
‘Play Dirty’ Is the Third Film Based on This Classic Crime Novel
Play Dirtyis the third film adaptation ofThe Hunter,which was written by Donald E. Westlake in 1962 under the pseudonym Richard Stark. The book, which follows career criminal Parker, was previously adapted into the 1967 filmPoint Blankwith Lee Marvin in the starring role. In 1999,Mel Gibsonstarred in the action thrillerPayback, directed by Brian Helgeland, based on Westerlake’s seminal crime novel. Mark Wahlberg takes on the lead role in the 2025 adaptation, but he is only one of many to have portrayed Parker on the big screen.
Jason Statham also starred in the 2013 action thrillerParker, which was based on the 2000 novelFlashfire.The film was panned by critics and audiences alike, much like the previous adaptations of Westlake’s work, but it didfind some success on streaming. Amazon will look forPlay Dirtyto do the same, which has abandoned a theatrical release for a straight-to-streaming premiere on Prime Video. Amazon’s decision is not surprising, of course, especially since Shane Black’s films tend to struggle at the box office, and the studio itself has not had much luck either in that department.
Source:Collider
Play Dirty
