For computer games fans out their, the appearance of the character at the centre of the Hitman: Agent 47 movie won’t be anywhere near as new as it is for the rest of the action thriller loving cinema going audiences. He’s been a part of the Hitman series of games since their inception back in 2000 and he’s the latest protagonist to make the move to the big screen from the action intensity of video games.
However, this isn’t the first attempt at making a movie out of the popular gaming franchise, as it was first adapted into a movie in 2007, with Hitman, which didn’t quite live up to the critical expectations of its fans. The good new though is that the latest attempt to give it the big screen treatment looks like it could go on to be the film that lives up to the high expectations of gamers and also win over action thriller fans in the same process giving Agent 47 an even bigger audience to impress.
Resease date
The US and UK release date for Hitman: Agent 47 had been confirmed by 20th Century Fox as being the 28th August 2015, putting it into contention for the last summer blockbuster slot without too many big budget competition to go toe to toe with. The trailer was released recently and you can see it in full below. It makes for a pretty good introduction to the movie without giving too much of the action away, which is exactly what film trailers are meant to do. It will probably be a 2D release, but the visuals in the trailer make it look like it could be worth watching on IMAX if it’s available to do some of the special effects the justice they deserve.
Following it’s outing at the cinema, the movie has been confirmed for a UK Blu-ray and DVD release date of the 26th December 2015, so it will just miss out on the Christmas gift buying frenzy, but it will be available on digital download on the 20th December 2015. Slightly unconventionally, the US home entertainment release will be a few days after the UK, arriving on the 29th December 2016.
Story
The plot for the movie centres around the same complex protagonist from the computer game, Agent 47, who’s been genetically created as the perfect assassin as part of the Agent Programme, which has seen 46 other clones come and go in the build up to the ultimate silent weapon. With the advanced research that has gone into the very building blocks of his existence, he’s got super human strength, speed, stamina, instincts and intelligence, but all he really knows about himself is summed up by the number on the barcode tattooed onto the back of his neck.
The movie picks up as the agent assassin is given a new assignment is to take out a huge corporation that’s been pocking its nose a little too close to the details behind the Agent Programme with the aim of using the technology to create its own army of clone super soldiers. However, his usual stoic single-minded mission focus gets a little shake in the form of a young women who’s father started the programme. She holds the key to winning the battle as the secrets behind Agent 47’s creation start to swirl to the surface.
While it doesn’t follow the same plot as the film, there will be a new computer game from the series to add to the assassination intensity. Find out more with our Hitman (2015) preview.
Cast
2007’s Hitman, Timothy Olyphant, has been replaced by British actor Rupert Friend, who you might recogise from his role in Homeland as Peter Quinn if you imagine him as a very well dressed skinhead. There’s no Olga Kurylenko either this time around as Hannah Ware (Shame) is brought in to be the female lead in the film.
The cast also includes the Spock and Syler honed seriousness of Zachery Quinto (Star Trek: Into Darkness), along with Thomas Kretschmann (Captain America: Winter Soldier, Avengers: Age Of Ultron), Ciarán Hinds (Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy) and Dan Bakkedahl, who recently played the mole in an episode of Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
Production
The computer game crossover has been directed by newcomer Aleksander Bach, with the screenplay written by Skip Woods (The A-Team, A Good Day To Die Hard), who was also the screenwriter for the 2007 Hitman movie, and Michael Finch. The producers of the film are Charles Gordon (Fie Hard, Die Hard 2, Adrian Askarieh, Alex Young and Skip Woods, with the latter two continuing their tag team efforts following up on their joint work on The A-Team and A Good Day To Die Hard.
Blu-ray and DVD extras
- Deleted Scenes
- The Hit Counter
- Re-Imagining Hitman
- Ultimate Action: Staging the Fights
- Hitman: Agent 47 Comic
- Making of the Comic Book
- Promotional Featurettes
- Gallery
- Poster Gallery
- Theatrical Trailers
First impressions
We’re torn on the prospect of Hitman: Agent 47. The trailer has a few condensed glimpses of solid action thriller scenes, but equally there are elements that don’t work as well as others. The interrogation scene looks incredibly impressive, but the street scene with gits in black attack gear sliding down zip lines looks a little contrived. However, overall we’d have to say that there’s going to be more than enough action and intensity to keep fans happy and win over a whole lot more fans for the franchise. If you missed it at the cinema then it might be one to add to your DVD, Blu-ray or digital download list.
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Hitman: Agent 47 trailer:
Image gallery:
The Hitman: Agent 47 movie poster
Rupert Friend and Hannah Ware flying into action
Zachery Quinto and Hannah Ware get a little close
