Alabama director’s new action movie starring UFC superstar looks wild

After massive success in the MonsterVerse, Alabama-raised director Adam Wingard is pivoting back to his roots with a high-octane new project. While fans were previously buzzing about a potential sequel to the 1997 classic “Face/Off,” Wingard has officially shifted his focus to an intense new thriller titled “Onslaught.”

A New Kind of Thriller

The upcoming film packs a punch with a star-studded lineup, including Adria Arjona, Drew Starkey, Rebecca Hall, Reginald VelJohnson, Dan Stevens, and UFC superstar Alex Pereira. The plot centers on a mother, played by Arjona, who finds herself in a desperate fight to protect her family from a terrifying threat released from a secret military facility. The cast also features Alabama native Michael Biehn, celebrated for his iconic roles in “Tombstone,” “Aliens,” and “The Terminator.”

Arjona brings a wealth of experience to the lead role, following standout performances in “Andor,” “Hit Man,” and “Blink Twice.” Meanwhile, MMA fans have plenty to look forward to as well; Pereira, a former two-time UFC Light Heavyweight Champion and former Middleweight Champion, joins the production ahead of his high-profile June 14 bout against Ciryl Gane.

Wingard’s Return to Form

For Wingard, who spent his formative years in Marion, Calera, and Birmingham, “Onslaught” marks a return to the horror and suspense genre that initially put him on the map with titles like “You’re Next,” “The Guest,” and segments of the “V/H/S” franchise. “Onslaught” is slated for a theatrical release on September 4.

Wingard’s transition back to the thriller genre follows his massive impact on the Hollywood box office. His work on “Godzilla vs. Kong” provided a crucial boost to the industry during the COVID-19 pandemic, pulling in nearly $470 million worldwide and earning certified fresh status. He continued that momentum with the 2024 hit “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” which crossed the $570 million mark globally.

Alabama Talent on the Rise

Wingard is part of a wave of Alabama-born filmmakers making significant noise in the industry. Mobile native Curry Barker recently directed the breakout horror-comedy “Obsession,” which has become a massive financial success. After a bidding war, Focus Features secured the rights to the film, which has already generated nearly $150 million globally off a $1 million budget, earning universal acclaim.

Additionally, Birmingham’s own Daniel Scheinert, one-half of the Oscar-winning directing duo “the Daniels,” continues to shape the future of film following the historic success of “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” While he and partner Daniel Kwan are currently working under an exclusive five-year deal with Universal, the industry remains on high alert for details regarding their next highly anticipated, yet still-secret, project.