Dev Patel’s debut directorial venture Monkey Man will hit the screens worldwide on April 5, 2024.
Dev Patel, renowned for his Academy Award nominations, makes his directorial debut with Monkey Man, a project that has intrigued audiences since its announcement in 2018. The official trailer release has further fueled anticipation. Initially slated as a Netflix project, Monkey Man is now under the production helm of Jordan Peele and is set for a theatrical release by Universal, adding a new layer of excitement to its journey.
The trailer unfolds in a crowded room, depicting numerous young individuals in close quarters. Set to the rhythmic beats of a tabla, the central character (portrayed by Dev Patel) emerges. A voice urges, “Close your eyes, and you will find yourself,” addressing a visibly disturbed Dev in an intriguing glimpse into the film’s narrative.
As the trailer unfolds, it explores the profound connection between the protagonist and his mother. Recounting his childhood, the lead character reflects, “When I was a boy, my mother used to tell me a story of a demon king and his army. They brought fire and terror to the land until they faced the protector of the people; The White Monkey.” Simultaneously, the trailer sheds light on the challenges he encounters in his everyday life, juggling multiple jobs at a hotel and a strip club.
Within the challenges he faces, the trailer spotlights Dev Patel’s character in a wrestling ring, masked as a gorilla, intensively training to confront the adversaries played by Makarand Deshpande and Sikandar Kher. “In this city, the rich don’t see us as people,” he declares, signaling a poignant theme that the film revolves around—the stark battle between the privileged and the marginalized.
Watch Monkey Man trailer here:
As the trailer progresses, we witness Dev Patel reaching a tipping point, resolved to “protect the weak.” Set to the iconic track by Punjabi-MC, he takes matters into his own hands, boarding his chariot—a uniquely named auto-rickshaw called Nicki, a nod to Minaj. The trailer builds anticipation for the protagonist’s transformative journey and his commitment to standing up for the vulnerable.
In the film, Dev Patel takes on the role of an anonymous young man surviving in an underground fight club, where night after night, wearing a gorilla mask, he endures brutal beatings by more popular fighters for meager earnings, as described by Variety. The storyline draws inspiration from the legend of Hanuman. As the protagonist, known as “Kid,” grapples with years of suppressed rage, he discovers a way to infiltrate the city’s sinister elite. Fueled by childhood trauma, his mysteriously scarred hands become the catalyst for an explosive campaign of retribution, seeking justice against the men who robbed him of everything.
Featuring a fusion of Hollywood-style action and Indian aesthetics, Monkey Man boasts a stellar cast, including Sharlto Copley, Pitobash, Vipin Sharma, and Sobhita Dhulipala in pivotal roles. The highly anticipated film is set to premiere globally on April 5, 2024, promising an immersive cinematic experience that transcends cultural boundaries.