Adam Wingard, known for his recent work on the MonsterVerse franchise with films like "Godzilla vs. Kong" and "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire," is set to release his new sci-fi thriller, "Onslaught." The film marks a return to the director's earlier style, which focused on intense action and horror, reminiscent of his previous works "You're Next" and "The Guest."
"Onslaught" centers on Celeste, portrayed by Adria Arjona, an army sniper and single mother struggling to provide for her daughter. Her life takes a dangerous turn when a group of super soldiers escapes from a secret military facility with the apparent intention of hunting her family. While the trailer offers no explicit motive for the soldiers' pursuit, they are described as being akin to "heat-seeking missiles," suggesting they may be after something Celeste possesses.
The film is produced by A24, with Simon Barrett, a frequent collaborator of Wingard's, penning the script. This collaboration suggests that "Onslaught" may offer more depth than its basic premise of a mother against superpowered adversaries implies.
The cast includes several recognizable actors, such as Dan Stevens and Rebecca Hall, who have previously worked with Wingard. Professional UFC fighters Alex Pereira and Maurice Greene also make appearances, alongside Michael Biehn, Drew Starkey, Eric Wareheim, and Reginald VelJohnson.
Dan Stevens has described "Onslaught" as a "spiritual sequel" to his 2014 film "The Guest." In that movie, Stevens played David Collins, a super soldier programmed to eliminate anyone who threatened his identity. Wingard confirmed at San Diego Comic-Con that "Onslaught" is set in the same town as "The Guest" and that the covert experimentation that created David is connected to the events of the earlier film, suggesting a shared universe. However, it is unlikely that any characters from "The Guest" will appear in "Onslaught."
With a runtime of 92 minutes, "Onslaught" is scheduled to be released in theaters on September 4.