Netflix has released the first trailer for Project Power. This is a new superhero movie produced by the streaming service, but not of the Marvel or DC variety. Starring Jamie Foxx, it looks to be a fresh twist on the genre. Have a look.
As we can see, the premise sees pills that grant people several minutes of great power. But it is limited. Unlike Superman or Spider-Man, these superpowers are only temporary. Every person that takes one of the pills has a different power. As with any superpowered being, those powers can be used for good or evil.
Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman (Nerve, Paranormal Activity 3) directed the movie, with Mattson Tomlin penning the screenplay. Tomlin, it’s worth noting, co-wrote The Batman and is also on deck to write the Mega Man movie. Starring alongside Foxx are Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Dominique Fishback, Rodrigo Santoro, Colson Baker, Allen Maldonado, Amy Landecker and Courtney B. Vance.
Here is the official synopsis for Project Power.
“On the streets of New Orleans, word begins to spread about a mysterious new pill that unlocks superpowers unique to each user. The catch: You don’t know what will happen until you take it. While some develop bulletproof skin, invisibility, and super strength, others exhibit a deadlier reaction. But when the pill escalates crime within the city to dangerous levels, a local cop (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) teams with a teenage dealer (Dominique Fishback) and a former soldier fueled by a secret vendetta (Jamie Foxx) to fight power with power and risk taking the pill in order to track down and stop the group responsible for creating it.”
Netflix, like other studios, wants to get into the superhero movie game. But Marvel is owned by Disney and Warner Bros. owns DC. That means they need to get creative. Whether or not audiences respond remains to be seen, but this is certainly creative.
“I love big popcorn movies, but I also love it when a big popcorn movie has a little something to it,” Gordon-Levitt said of the film recently while speaking with Entertainment Weekly. “And I think this one has just enough. It’s not a movie that is going to hit you over the head with a message… but I think it asks questions that are really salient. Who has the power? And why?”
Project Power is set to hit Netflix on August 14.
So what do you think? Are you excited to check this one out? Do you like this take on the superhero genre? Join in on the conversation over on Facebook or Twitter!
