Afterburn: Everything we know so far about the upcoming post-apocalyptic sci-fi movie starring Dave Bautista

Afterburn is a forthcoming film in the post-apocalyptic science fiction action genre.

Directed by J.J. Perry, the film stars wrestler-turned-actor Dave Bautista, who is known for his work in franchises like Guardians of the Galaxy and Dune. It is based on the namesake Red 5 comic book series by Paul Ens, Scott Chitwood, and Wayne Nichols.

The makers recently dropped their trailer on the internet, and that has increased the excitement around the film. So we will be looking at all the important aspects of this sci-fi film, including its release date, plot, and cast members, among other things.

When will Afterburn release?

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The makers of Afterburn have not announced its theatrical release date in the United States. It is expected to drop sometime in the latter half of 2025. It will be out in Germany and Greece on August 21, 2025, in Spain on August 22, and in Brazil and Mexico on August 28 and September 28, respectively.

The film is written by Matt Johnson and Nimrod Antal while its producers include Dave Bautista, Toby Jaffe, Steve Richards, and Neal H. Moritz under the banners of Endurance Media, Original Film, and Dogbone Entertainment. Saban Films will be distributing it.

Who is starring in Afterburn?

Afterburn stars an array of actors. As per IMDb, its cast members include,

Dave Bautista as Jake
Samuel L. Jackson as Valentine
Olga Kurylenko as Drea
Kristofer Hivju
Daniel Bernhardt
George Somner
Phil Zimmerman as Bird Skull
Robert Holik as War Train Conductor
Lukas Frlajs as Chess chess-playing man
Paul Arguelles as Desolate Road Mother

What is the plot of Afterburn?

Afterburn takes place in a post-apocalyptic scenario where the eastern part of Earth's hemisphere has been destroyed by a major solar flare. This affected the technology of the planet.

The storyline focuses on a former soldier named Jake who is now working as a treasure hunter. He is looking for valuable objects from the pre-flare time on Earth to sell to rich clients and heads towards Europe. These objects include the Mona Lisa painting. As the story progresses, we see Jake going through a journey and a realization that the world needs him.

As per Letterboxd, its official synopsis is:

Set against the backdrop of a postapocalyptic Earth whose Eastern Hemisphere was destroyed by a massive solar flare, leaving what life remains mutated from radiation and fallout. The story revolves around a group of treasure hunters who extract such objects as the Mona Lisa, the Rosetta Stone and the Crown Jewels while facing rival hunters, mutants and pirates.

People who have read the comic books will finally get to see the screen adaptation of their favorite story. It touches upon what would happen if all the technology on which we rely today were suddenly wiped out of the Earth. Over the years, Bautista has established his name as a reliable actor with his performance in several films. Couple that with a veteran like Samuel L. Jackson and that would automatically increase the anticipation around any film.