Netflix’s New Man On Fire Star Addresses Denzel Washington & Scott Glenn Character Comparisons

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John Creasy returns in the third installment of Netflix’s , and those involved know viewers will be comparing it to previous versions.

John Creasy, a former U.S. Army Special Forces captain who becomes a mercenary, first appeared on film in 1987, based on A.J. Quinnell’s 1980 novel. Scott Glenn, an Emmy nominee, played Creasy as he tries to find the people who kidnapped the child he was hired to protect. The character returned in the 2004 film Man on Fire, with Denzel Washington and director Tony Scott collaborating again on an adaptation of the novel.

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, known for his role in Wonder Man, now stars as Creasy in a new Netflix thriller. The series is based on both the novel Man on Fire and its sequel, The Perfect Kill. The story follows Creasy as he joins the security team of a friend and fellow veteran, Paul Rayburn, in Brazil, and develops a connection with Rayburn’s teenage daughter, Poe. After a bomb tragically kills Paul and his family, leaving only Poe alive, Creasy embarks on a mission for revenge and to uncover the truth behind the attack.

The cast of Man on Fire features Michael Abdul-Mateen II, alongside Billie Boullet as Poe, Bobby Cannavale as Paul, Scott McNairy, Alice Braga, Paul Ben-Victor, and Thomás Aquino. Created by Kyle Killen, who also worked on Halo, this action-thriller has received the best reviews of any adaptation of a Quinnell novel on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics have praised it, and audiences have given it a strong approval rating of 69%.

Before the April 30th release of Man on Fire, Ash Crossan from ScreenRant spoke with Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and director Steven Caple Jr. They discussed how their version of the story would be different from the previous films starring Denzel Washington and Scott Glenn. Caple Jr. joked that he’s familiar with revisiting well-known material, pointing to his experience directing the Rocky sequel Creed II and the recent Transformers movie, Rise of the Beasts.

The director explained that when approaching a story that’s been adapted before, he always focuses on the character first. Regarding the character Creasy from Man on Fire, he admitted there’s some consistency in how he’s portrayed across the three versions, specifically the past trauma he carries. However, he emphasized that the new Netflix series stands out because its central plot is different.

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II brought a unique energy to the project. Because he’s a different age than the previous actor, we had more opportunities for realistic and dynamic action sequences. This allowed us to stay true to the source material – the original films and books – while also adding our own creative vision and making the story our own. I think we successfully did that through the action, the locations, and, importantly, the cast we assembled.

Abdul-Mateen II explained that when taking on a well-known character, he first considers his specific duty to the role. For Man on Fire, he felt it was important to put his own spin on it. He then revisited the performances of Denzel Washington and Glenn, wanting to understand what audiences already loved about those characters, because ultimately, the audience is the most important part of the process.

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II believes audiences are central to any creative work – they drive the culture and bring the passion. When he’s working on a project that builds on something that’s been done before, he focuses less on how previous actors performed the role and more on understanding the cultural impact of those films and performances. He uses that cultural understanding to inform his own approach and create something new.

Reflecting on previous portrayals, as Caple Jr. pointed out, Abdul-Mateen II realized the core of Creasy in both films was his inner drive and passion. Once he embraced that, and the belief that the writers and directors felt the same way, he started exploring how to make the character his own. Ultimately, he was most excited to delve into the genuine and extraordinary reality of Creasy’s life.

Caple Jr. Was In Awe By One Of His Man On Fire Star’s Physicality

ScreenRant asked: Since this is the first TV show based on the series, and it’s drawing from two books, what new elements from the second book make this adaptation stand out?

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II explained that he found everything he needed within the script itself. He felt the material provided ample inspiration and direction.

ScreenRant asked me about the actors, and if anyone did anything on set that really stood out and actually influenced how their character developed. It’s funny, because sometimes those little unexpected moments really shape things!

We had two Brazilian actors involved in some intense torture scenes. One of them was a breakdancer, which unexpectedly became a key part of how we filmed one particular scene. He was suspended from chains, and his incredible body control allowed him to move in a way that felt genuinely horrifying and realistic. It was so convincing that even Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, his scene partner, was concerned he was actually being burned. The stunt team was also worried about his safety. It was amazing to see him work with his body like that – it’s not something you see often. Of course, there was also a language barrier, so we constantly checked in with the actors to make sure they were comfortable and not pushing themselves too far. It was a surprising and challenging experience.

Be sure to dive into some of our other Man on Fire-related coverage with:

  • Steven Caple Jr. on how the Man on Fire series adapted its books differently than prior takes
  • Caple Jr. confirming he snuck a few Tony Scott Easter eggs into the Netflix series
  • Caple Jr. confirming the next live-action Transformers movie won’t be a Rise of the Beasts sequel
  • Yahya Abdul-Mateen II weighing in on Man on Fire season 2’s chances
  • Abdul-Mateen II reacting to Wonder Man‘s season 2 renewal after almost being cancelled before it even released

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2026-05-04 21:20