Russell Crowe and Daniel MacPherson are heading to the cage in the first trailer for Lionsgate’s MMA drama ‘Beast’, and it’s shaping up to be more than just another fight movie.
MacPherson plays Patton James, a once-feared MMA champion pulled out of retirement when his younger brother’s safety is put at risk. The road back leads to one final showdown against a reigning title-holder out to dismantle whatever is left of his reputation. Crowe, who co-wrote the screenplay alongside David Frigerio, stars as Sammy, the grizzled veteran coach tasked with squeezing one last great run out of a fighter who has seen better days.
Early coverage has positioned the film less as a flashy action spectacle and more as a grounded, emotionally driven sports drama with genuine fight-world authenticity baked in. That credibility gets a boost from the production itself: portions of the film were shot during a live ONE Championship event in Bangkok in front of roughly 10,000 fans, with additional filming taking place across Sydney and Port Kembla.
The supporting cast includes Luke Hemsworth, Bren Foster, Amy Shark, Mojean Aria, and Kelly Gale. Tyler Atkins directs.
‘Beast’ opens in theaters on April 10.