Row K Entertainment has released the official teaser trailer for Gus Van Sant’s Dead Man’s Wire, an authentic crime thriller set in 1977 starring Bill Skarsgard. It’s Van Sant’s first feature since 2018’s Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot, and it looks like he’s back with an award (100% on Rotten Tomatoes at the time of writing). Watch the trailer above and learn more below.
A desperate man, a nation watching over him
Based on the real-life case of Tony Kiritis, the film traces the kidnapping that shocked the nation and recasts the kidnapper as an outlaw folk hero. As the media frenzy reaches a fever pitch, the conflict turns into a public trial of power, desperation, and ambiguous justice. It’s a snapshot of the mayhem of the ’70s that still resonates today.
Skarsgård plays Kiritsis, and is supported by a supporting cast that includes Dacre Montgomery, Coleman Domingo, Cary Elwes, Maihara, Al Pacino, Jordan Claire Robbins, and Daniel R. Hill.
Van Sant and parallel lines
“This project has taken a very winding road to completion. It is based on a carefully crafted true crime story that centers around the desperate actions of one man, Tony Kiritsis, in 1977,” Van Sant said in a statement to the Venice Film Festival. “Feeling betrayed by his mortgage company and convinced that they were exploiting him at his most vulnerable, he took drastic steps to regain control.”
“We began production on this film in November 2024, and soon after the world around us changed, we noticed disturbing parallels between our story and unfolding world events. This made this project both timely and uncomfortable. We recognize that we live in very difficult times, but we hope the film does not cause undue distress, and perhaps some discomfort is inevitable.”
Staff and release date
Directed by Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting, Elephant, Milk), with a screenplay by Austin Kolodny (Funny or Die and Comedy Central screenwriter making his feature film debut), cinematography by Arnaud Pothier, editing by Sahl Klein, production design by Stéphane Deschant, costume design by Peggy Schnitzer, and original music by Danny Elfman.
Dead Man’s Wire will be released in select U.S. theaters on January 9, 2026, and nationwide on January 16, 2026.
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