Josh Hartnett Reunites with Tommy Wirkola for a Tension-Filled Action-Thriller
In a development that fans of offbeat genre cinema have eagerly awaited, Josh Hartnett will star in and produce All Day & All Night, an action-thriller from director-writer Tommy Wirkola. The project marks a collaboration between Wirkola and John Niven on the screenplay, with Hartnett stepping into a lead role that places him at the center of a high-stakes, high-concept narrative. XYZ Films is aboard as the financier and producer, with IPR.VC backing the project as it moves toward production in 2026.
Story Premise: Crime, Reality TV, and a Desperate Escape
The film centers on Billy Davies, a reformed bank robber whose daughter has earned a spot at Harvard. When the pressure to fund tuition collides with a renewed temptation, Billy returns to crime with a crew. A bank heist spirals out of control, and the crew stumbles onto the set of a failing reality TV show. What begins as a crash course in misfortune evolves into a nerve-wracking cat-and-mouse game: Billy must stay on air long enough to fashion an escape from pursuing cops and murderous rivals, while producers fight to keep their ratings afloat and the show from cancellation. The premise blends tense action with meta-commentary on the spectacle of reality television, a niche Wirkola has explored with a sharp, satirical edge in past projects.
Creative Team and Production Trajectory
Tommy Wirkola will direct and co-create the project, continuing a fruitful partnership with XYZ Films. The financier and production company will be backed by IPR.VC, underscoring the project’s appeal to investors seeking bold genre fare with potential for global resonance. XYZ’s Guy Danella, who has previously overseen Wirkola collaborations including Violent Night, will produce All Day & All Night alongside the company’s slate team. The involvement of Wirkola, Hartnett and XYZ traces a lineage of collaboration that has successfully transported Wirkola’s distinctive energy into English-language storytelling, while expanding Hartnett’s presence in contemporary action-thrillers.
Industry Context: AFM Showcase and 2026 Production
All Day & All Night is set to debut to international buyers at the AFM marketplace, a crucial venue for positioning high-concept genre titles before cameras roll. The 2026 production timeline places the movie in the current wave of mid-budget thrillers designed to appeal to both streaming platforms and traditional theatrical release strategies. Hartnett’s involvement adds a familiar anchor for audiences who remember his work across a range of dramatic and genre projects, while Wirkola’s track record with adrenaline-fueled action and black-comedic tones promises a distinctive tonal blend.
Industry Reactions and What to Expect
Hartnett’s post-credits life includes a mix of prestige projects and genre ventures, with Verity in post-production and a Netflix miniseries project on the horizon. Wirkola’s ongoing output, including Violent Night 2 and Shiver for Sony, signals a director who thrives on kinetic set-pieces and sharp, dark humor. The collaboration with XYZ Films highlights a modern model for financing and distributing ambitious genre titles, particularly as streaming ecosystems compete with traditional box office expectations. Fans can anticipate a film that leans into a twist-filled plot, high-stakes action, and a premise that plays with the voyeuristic thrill of reality TV without losing sight of character-driven stakes.
What This Means for Fans and the Market
For Josh Hartnett fans and genre enthusiasts, All Day & All Night signals a reinvigorated phase of his career—one that embraces both star power and a willingness to push narrative boundaries. For Wirkola, the project embodies his signature blend of relentless energy, inventive set pieces, and a sly sense of humor about modern media. As AFM slides into focus and production gears up for 2026, industry watchers will be keen to see which distributors and co-producers come aboard, and how the film will position itself within the expanding space of high-concept thrillers.
“I’ve been a fan of Josh Hartnett’s work for as long as I can remember and I can’t wait to go make All Day & All Night with him, along with my friends at XYZ,” Wirkola commented, signaling a collaborative future that could yield a fresh take on a familiar action-thriller blueprint. XYZ’s leadership echoed that sentiment, praising Hartnett as an iconic presence and underscoring the project’s ambitious dream-team ambitions.
With Hartnett actively balancing early post-production work on other high-profile projects, and Wirkola wrapping up Violent Night 2 while preparing Shiver for release, All Day & All Night promises to be a timely crossroad of star power, genre innovation, and streaming-ready spectacle.
