The Protégé: Maggie Q stars in John Wick-esque action thriller

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

Everyone's Tuesday just got a swift kick in the ass thanks to the new and action-packed trailer for The Protégé. Directed by Martin Campbell (Casino Royale, Green Lantern, The Foreigner) and written by Richard Wenk (The Equalizer, 16 Blocks), this over-the-top thrill ride stars Maggie Q (Fantasy Island, Priest), Samuel L. Jackson (The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard, Spiral: From the Book of Saw), and Michael Keaton (Birdman, The Founder), with Robert Patrick (Terminator 2: Judgment Day), Patrick Malahide (The Long Kiss Goodnight), and Lili Rich (Till Death, Infinite), among others.

Dear Lionsgate and Millenium Media, take my money! This adrenaline-filled trailer is precisely what I needed to give today's news cycle a bit of spice. We're real action movie hounds in my house, and The Protégé looks to have much of what I look for in the way of a pulse-pounding thriller. Plus, can we please give it up for Maggie Q in the role of Anna? I've never seen her kicking ass quite like this, and I'm more than ready to watch her give everyone hell.

Here's the official synopsis:

Rescued as a child by the legendary assassin Moody (Samuel L. Jackson) and trained in the family business, Anna (Maggie Q) is the world’s most skilled contract killer. But when Moody – the man who was like a father to her and taught her everything she needs to know about trust and survival – is brutally killed, Anna vows revenge. As she becomes entangled with an enigmatic killer (Michael Keaton) whose attraction to her goes way beyond cat and mouse, their confrontation turns deadly and the loose ends of a life spent killing will weave themselves even tighter.

"With this film, I think people are going to be surprised at the depth of his characters as opposed to the impressiveness of the action," Maggie Q recently told IGN. "You have both… But if you are really looking for inside information, we focused mostly on the chemistry and the authenticity in the relationships… It’s what drives the film, and gives it purpose."

"Martin feels the way I do… There is no point in making an action movie just to make an action movie if you don’t have characters that people really care about and want to go on a journey with. That’s an empty movie. And we did not want to make an empty movie we wanted to make the opposite. And I believe that he did. I can’t even tell you how great it was to see him work and what he brought to me as an actor on every level."

The Protégé is scheduled for an August 20 debut.