'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYH/8QAFQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH/2gAMAwEAAhADEAAAAMrkSv/EABsQAQABBQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEDAAIEBRIx/9oACAEBAAE/ALtm5e3yo3tjhsGPr0ASnezCh5X/xAAWEQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABEQD/2gAIAQIBAT8AhXf/xAAXEQADAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAREh/9oACAEDAQE/ALiP/9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Afterburn is a 2025 U.S. post-apocalyptic action movie inspired by the Red 5 Comics series created by Scott Chitwood, Paul Ens, and Wayne Nichols. Directed by J.J. Perry and written by Matt Johnson and Nimród Antal, the story unfolds 10 years after a solar flare eradicated technology worldwide. Jake, portrayed by Dave Bautista, is a former soldier turned treasure hunter tasked with recovering priceless pre-flare artifacts, such as the Mona Lisa, before they are taken by the wrong people.
The movie features Dave Bautista, Samuel L. Jackson, Olga Kurylenko, and Kristofer Hivju. As reported by Deadline on February 6, 2024, producer Neal H. Moritz stated that the project had been under development since 2008, with several directors and actors associated before shooting commenced in 2024. Although the film is based on comic origins, its production as a live-action feature distinguishes it from a straightforward panel-style adaptation.
Afterburn and its comic origins
The Afterburn comic series debuted in 2008 through Red 5 Comics. Written by Chitwood and Ens, with art by Wayne Nichols, the story follows treasure hunters venturing into the dangerous ruins of the Eastern Hemisphere after the solar disaster. Their clients, often powerful figures, commission them to recover iconic artifacts, such as the Mona Lisa.
Trending
The film adapts this premise with Bautista as Jake, Kurylenko as Drea, a resistance fighter, and Jackson as Valentine, another fighter in the struggle. Kristofer Hivju portrays Volkov, a warlord after the same prize. While the comics featured more fantastical elements like mutants, these were pared back for the film. Director J.J. Perry instead emphasized practical locations across Slovakia and stunt-driven sequences, giving the story a tangible edge.
How does Afterburn translate to film?
The journey to the screen was extensive. Initial reports of an adaptation emerged in 2008, with Tobey Maguire attached as a co-producer. Over the years, names such as Gerard Butler and Antoine Fuqua were associated with the project. In 2018, Jung Byung-gil was briefly considered as director, but it was J.J. Perry who ultimately assumed control in 2024. Bautista not only starred in the film but also produced it via his company, Dogbone Entertainment, in collaboration with Neal H. Moritz of Original Film and Steve Richards of Endurance Media.
Shooting commenced in May 2024 in Bratislava, Slovakia, and concluded the next month. Cinematography was managed by José David Montero, editing by Luke Dunkley, and Roque Baños created the musical score. During post-production, the film faced financial conflicts when an arbitrator granted $7.7 million to Fourth Chance Productions in a funding dispute.
Afterburn premiered in select U.S. theaters on August 22, 2025, before a wider release on September 19, 2025, via Inaugural Entertainment. With a runtime of 106 minutes and a budget of $56.7 million, the movie serves as a live-action adaptation that takes inspiration from its comic origins while establishing its own film identity.
