"Painter" Paints an Epic Future: James Cameron, John Wick Creator Team Up with Amber Midthunder & Walton Goggins

Get ready for a serious dose of action! A powerhouse team is coming together for a brand-new movie called "Painter," featuring some of the biggest names in Hollywood and promising to be your next favorite action franchise.

TL;DR: Here's the Lowdown!

• "Painter" is an upcoming action film from John Wick creator Derek Kolstad and executive producer James Cameron, picked up by 20th Century Studios.
• Amber Midthunder (from Prey and Fallout) and Walton Goggins (from Fallout and The White Lotus) are set to star as a daughter-father duo in a high-stakes kidnapping rescue mission.
• Veteran stunt coordinator Garrett Warren is making his feature directorial debut, aiming to make Midthunder "this generation's Sarah Connor" and kickstart a new action universe.

The Canvas is Set: A Major New Action Thriller is Brewing

Imagine this: the creative genius behind the bullet-riddled world of John Wick, Derek Kolstad, has penned a script so good it caught the eye of none other than James Cameron, the legendary filmmaker behind Avatar and Terminator. This dynamic duo is now bringing us "Painter," a high-octane action movie that's just been acquired by 20th Century Studios.

And if that wasn't exciting enough, they've already lined up two incredibly talented stars to lead the charge: Amber Midthunder, who absolutely blew us away in Prey, and the incredibly versatile Walton Goggins, fresh off his standout performance in Fallout.

A Father's Kidnapping, A Daughter's Unstoppable Mission

So, what's "Painter" all about? The story centers on Midthunder's character, a woman who has been meticulously trained from a young age. When her father is kidnapped, she has to unleash every single skill in her arsenal to bring him back. As you might have guessed, Walton Goggins will be playing her unfortunate father, setting up what promises to be an intense and emotionally charged rescue mission.

This isn't just a one-off adventure either. According to Drew Simon of Infrared Pictures, one of the production companies behind the film, "Painter will be a seminal action hero film, making Midthunder into this generation's Sarah Connor (Terminator)." That's a huge statement, but one we can definitely get behind after seeing Midthunder's fierce performance as Naru in Prey. The goal is clear: to kickstart an "exciting new franchise" in the action world.

"Painter will be a seminal action hero film, making Midthunder into this generation's Sarah Connor (Terminator). We loved [Derek] Kolstad's high-octane script, and we know, with Garrett Warren at the helm, this film will kickstart an exciting new franchise in the world of action."

— Drew Simon, Infrared Pictures President of Production

The "John Wick" Connection: Stunts, Skills, and Serious Stakes

It's no coincidence that "Painter" feels like it shares some DNA with the massively successful John Wick franchise. Both projects come from Derek Kolstad, meaning you can expect high stakes, meticulously crafted action, and protagonists driven by deeply personal motivations. Plus, the films share a similar philosophy when it comes to direction.

Much like John Wick's Chad Stahelski, "Painter's" director, Garrett Warren, comes from a robust stunt background. This movie will actually mark Warren's feature directorial debut, but don't let that fool you. He's a veteran stunt coordinator with an impressive resume, having worked on blockbusters like James Cameron's own Avatar and Avatar: The Way of Water, James Mangold's critically acclaimed Logan, and even the recent Road House reboot. With that kind of experience, we can expect some truly incredible, well-choreographed action sequences that will leave us on the edge of our seats.

Amber Midthunder and Walton Goggins: A Powerhouse Pairing for Your New Favorite Action Duo

Let's talk about the stars, because this pairing is truly something special. Amber Midthunder has quickly become a rising star and a credible leading action hero. Her breakout role as Naru in the 2022 Predator prequel, Prey, earned her widespread critical acclaim and solidified her status as someone who can carry a major action film. She recently appeared in the action-comedy Novocaine and the A24 thriller Opus, showing her range. Fans can also look forward to seeing her in the upcoming Prime Video adaptation of Stephen King's Carrie.

Walton Goggins, on the other hand, is a celebrated and incredibly versatile character actor. He's known for delivering unforgettable performances, whether he's playing the charismatic villain Boyd Crowder in Justified, the complex Shane Vendrell in The Shield, or the fan-favorite Cooper Howard (aka The Ghoul) in the hit Fallout series. He was also a highlight in the third season of HBO's The White Lotus, earning an Emmy nomination, and brought plenty of laughs reprising his role as Baby Billy Freeman in the fourth season of The Righteous Gemstones. Goggins is truly in a zenith year, and his involvement guarantees a compelling and nuanced performance, even in a high-octane action flick.

It's worth noting that actor Alan Ritchson, known from Reacher, was initially attached to play the father but had to step down due to scheduling conflicts. While Ritchson would have been great, the addition of Goggins brings a different, equally compelling energy to the role, and his dynamic with Midthunder is sure to be fantastic.

James Cameron's Midas Touch and the Promise of a New Franchise

Having James Cameron on board as an executive producer is a massive deal. His name is synonymous with groundbreaking cinema and creating iconic female action heroes like Sarah Connor (Terminator) and Ripley (Aliens). While he's busy with the future Avatar sequels (Avatar 3 is set for December 19, with more to follow, plus his historical thriller The Devils), his guidance and influence on "Painter" could be invaluable. It was Cameron, in fact, who steered the project to 20th Century Studios, recognizing its potential.

The vision for "Painter" is clear: to be more than just a single film. The producers, including Drew Simon and Sam Speiser of Infrared Pictures, along with Kolstad and his manager Josh Adler, are actively developing this as a franchise starter. With a strong script, a director who understands action intimately, and a leading lady poised to become a generation's action icon, "Painter" has all the ingredients to be a huge success and spawn a thrilling new universe for fans to dive into.

What We're Excited About for "Painter"

With its impressive roster of talent both in front of and behind the camera, "Painter" is shaping up to be a must-watch for action movie fans. The combination of Derek Kolstad's proven ability to craft engaging action narratives, James Cameron's legendary oversight, and the raw talent of Amber Midthunder and Walton Goggins makes this a project to keep firmly on your radar. We're particularly thrilled to see Midthunder continue her ascent as a formidable action star, potentially becoming the "Sarah Connor" of her era.

While we don't have a release date just yet, the anticipation is definitely building. Stay tuned for more updates as this exciting new action franchise takes shape!

Frequently Asked Questions About "Painter" When will "Painter" be released? As of now, 20th Century Studios has not announced an official release date for "Painter." Keep an eye on movie news for updates! Who are the main stars of "Painter"? The film will star Amber Midthunder (known for Prey and Fallout) and Walton Goggins (known for Fallout and The White Lotus). Who is directing and writing "Painter"? Garrett Warren, a veteran stunt coordinator (Avatar, Logan), is making his feature directorial debut. The script was written by Derek Kolstad, the creator of the John Wick franchise. What is "Painter" about? The story follows a young woman, trained from an early age, who must use all her skills to rescue her kidnapped father. Sources

• MovieWeb: John Wick Creator Derek Kolstad's New Action Movie Painter Has James Cameron as EP and Casts Amber Midthunder & Walton Goggins
• The Hollywood Reporter: Walton Goggins Joins Amber Midthunder in Action Movie ‘Painter,’ James Cameron Executive Producing (Exclusive)
• ScreenRant: Walton Goggins & Amber Midthunder Join James Cameron's Painter Cast
• Inkl: Walton Goggins to star in Painter
• Times of India: Walton Goggins, Amber Midthunder team up for Painter; Garrett Warren directs, James Cameron joins
• ComingSoon.net: Walton Goggins & James Cameron Join Painter Movie From John Wick Creator