The year 2022 saw a plethora of action crime thrillers, including Netflix's The Recruit, Apple TV+'s Echo 3, and, most notably, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, the sequel to Knives Out. It is about time we had more thrillers, specifically those with a military backdrop are much needed. After seeing multiple films in this genre, such as Top Gun: Maverick, The Contractor, and Devotion, it will be difficult for another film to provide us with the same thrill and adrenaline. However, Guy Ritchie is back with another banger following his 2021s Wrath of the Man with action king Jason Statham.
Guy Ritchie's The Covenant is an upcoming action crime thriller co-written, co-produced, and directed by Guy Ritchie, starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Dar Salim. The film, set in a military context in response to terrorism, promises action as well as a message reflecting a soldier's bond with his comrade. The film was announced in October 2021, and production began in February 2022, with the main cast assembled. Although the film was initially titled The Interpreter, the title was altered to The Covenant in December 2022. With that in mind, here's everything we know about The Covenant, one of the most anticipated films of the year.
The Covenant: The Plot
The Covenant, with the tagline "A bond. A pledge. A commitment," tells the story of Sergeant John Kinley (Jake Gyllenhaal) and Interpreter Ahmed (Dar Salim). Kinley recruits Ahmed to interpret with the locals and guide them through the terrains during their mission in Afghanistan, and it turns out that Ahmed really needs this job. When the soldiers' platoon confronts the Taliban in the desert, they are caught off guard, and the enemies knock Kinley down in the hopes of taking him hostage.
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However, Ahmed steps in and finishes off the rest of the Taliban, thereby rescuing Kinley by dragging him through the desert mountains to avoid the Taliban's sight. It turns out that Ahmed did not join the team for financial reasons but because he sought revenge on the Taliban for killing his son. At this point, John Kinley is thankful for his second chance at life and has returned to his homeland.
Then he learns that Ahmed has been pursued by the Taliban and is holed up somewhere in Afghanistan. When the authorities don't respond to his frantic requests, he goes to Afghanistan on his own to rescue the friend who risked his life for a total stranger. Will he be in time to save Ahmed? Or will he face the same fate at the hands of the Taliban?
The Covenant: The Cast & Crew
It is crucial for a film in this context to pick a suitable cast that can adequately portray the characters. The film appears to have done an excellent job of doing so, especially with the two main characters, who are the story's focus. Jake Gyllenhaal, who was nominated for an Oscar, will play Sergeant John Kinley, who will be assisted on the adventure by Dar Salim as Ahmed, the Interpreter.
The former is one of the most talented actors of our generation, and his consistency as an industry mainstay is nothing short of remarkable. Despite a difficult start to his career, he created a reputation for himself by earning an Oscar nod for Brokeback Mountain in 2006. He's also known for roles as Dastan in Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, Detective Loki in Prisoners, Louis Bloom in Nightcrawler, and Mysterio in Spider-Man: Far from Home. Dar Salim, on the other hand, is an Iraqi actor best known for his appearances in Game of Thrones, Dark Land, and The Devil's Double.
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In addition, Christian Ochoa Lavernia and Sean Sager will play Eduardo Hernandez and Charlie Crowther, respectively. While the former is renowned for his work on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Will & Grace, the latter is noted for his roles in Our Gill and The Gentlemen. Fahim Fazil, known for his villainous roles in Iron Man and American Sniper, will play the Taliban Commander in the film. Meanwhile, here are the members of the supporting cast: Antony Starr, Alexander Ludwig, Jonny Lee Miller, Emily Beecham, Bobby Schofield, Jason Wong, Swen Temmel, Fariba Sheikhan, Reza Diako, Abbas Fasaei, Rhys Yates, Ash Goldeh, and Hadi Khanjanpour.
As previously stated, the film is directed by Guy Ritchie, who was nominated for a BAFTA award for his work on Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels in 1998. He is most recognized for his work on the Sherlock Holmes TV series starring Robert Downey Jr. and Walt Disney's Aladdin. Among his best works as a filmmaker and writer are Snatch, Wrath of the Man, The Gentlemen, Suspect, and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.
The story was written by Ivan Atkinson (The Man from U.N.C.L.E), Mark Davies (Sherlock Holmes), and Guy Ritchie, and the music is composed by Christopher Benstead, who has previously worked on Gravity, Wrath of the Man, Aladdin, and Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerre. The film is produced by Guy Ritchie, Ivan Atkinson, Josh Berger, and John Friedberg, with Olga Filipuk, Samantha Waite, and Silvia Araez Guzman serving as executive producers.
Release Date
The Covenant, one of the year's most anticipated films, will be released in theaters worldwide on April 21.
