Michael Fassbender is a contract hitman with a conscience in David Fincher‘s “The Killer.” Penned by “Seven” screenwriter Andrew Kevin Walker and adapted from Alexis Nolent’s (AKA Matz) graphic novel series of the same name, “The Killer” follows a cold-blooded assassin who begins to have a psychological crisis in a world with no moral compass. The graphic novel was illustrated by Luc Jacamon and originally published in the French language by Editions Casterman.
Netflix’s teaser for Fincher’s film says: “Solitary, cold, methodical, and unencumbered by scruples or regrets, a killer waits in the shadows, watching for his next target. Yet, the longer he waits, the more he thinks he’s losing his mind, if not his cool.”
The official logline reads: “After a fateful near-miss an assassin battles his employers, and himself, on an international manhunt he insists isn’t personal.”
Tilda Swinton, Charles Parnell, Arliss Howard, and Sophie Charlotte also star. Ceán Chaffin serves as producer.
Oscar-winning “Mank” cinematography Erik Messerschmidt reunites again with Fincher for the international production, which was partially filmed in Paris. The film is making its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival.
Lead star Fassbender revealed during a behind-the-scenes video of “The Killer” that he considered working with Fincher to be a “great privilege and honor,” calling Fincher “one of the best filmmakers out there.”
Fassbender’s “dream come true” experience marked his return to Hollywood since 2019 pre-pandemic. “I was definitely ready to go back to work,” the “Shame” actor said. “With somebody of David’s caliber, it was a very special opportunity for me.”
Fincher was attached to the project since 2007 before it landed at Netflix, where Fincher’s “Mindhunter” series was produced. Netflix film chief Scott Stuber told Variety that “The Killer” is in the vein of Fincher’s signature thrillers.
“‘The Killer’ is based on a graphic novel and it is about someone who is a contract killer and the methodology of that world and what he does, which David does detail better than anyone. He’s so good in the detail of method, of watching something unfold,” Stuber said. “Seeing that early stages of what he does, and something goes awry which then affects him personal. It’s a really fun, big movie in the hands of one of the best filmmakers, and someone we’re really lucky to have a relationship with.”
The Netflix executive continued, “[Fassbender is] charming and great-looking and funny and all these things that you want him to have chances to show in film. He’s a giant star ready to explode in the world, and he’s just looking for those parts that can take advantage of who he is as a person. Opportunistically you see what David has done with talent throughout his career, and how he constantly elevates people to do their best work. The combination of those two were really excited about. It’s David working with Andrew Kevin Walker again for the first time in a long time [since ‘Seven’]. It’s a really provocative and interesting movie. … I’m so excited about it.”
“The Killer” premieres in theaters October 27 and will be available to stream on Netflix November 10. For all the details on the film, click here, and check out the teaser below.
