‘Dead Man’s Wire’ Trailer Finds Bill Skarsgård at the Center of a True Kidnapping Story

Bill Skarsgård leads an ensemble cast in the trailer for director Gus Van Sant’s Dead Man’s Wire. The true-crime film also stars Al Pacino, Coleman Domingo, Cary Elwes, Myha’la, and Dacre Montgomery. Van Sant, the Academy Award-nominated director of Good Will Hunting, is at the helm of the movie, with a script from Austin Kolodney, who is making his feature writing debut.

Dead Man’s Wire is based on a true story that follows Skarsgård’s Tony Kiritsis, a man pushed to his limits, who takes a hostage in a desperate bid to be heard. The film’s official synopsis expands on the true story that inspired it, setting the stakes and leaving enough mystery to draw viewers in.

On February 8, 1977, Tony Kiritsis entered the office of Richard Hall, president of the Meridian Mortgage Company, and took him hostage with a sawed-off shotgun wired with a “dead man’s wire” from the trigger to Tony’s own neck.

The trailer highlights the cast, with Skarsgård as the driving force who loops in the other characters. Montgomery is the unfortunate hostage, who is strapped to the device that inspired the film’s title. Domingo also makes an impactful appearance throughout the trailer, proving to be a contemplative force who has Tony’s ear, with Pacino looking to talk some sense into him. Dead Man’s Wire also looks to feature dark humor, with several comedic moments peppered throughout, enticing potential audiences ahead of its January 2026 release.

‘Dead Man’s Wire’ Expands Bill Skarsgård’s Exceedingly Impressive Resume

Dead Man’s Wire embraces a film aesthetic of the era, locking into the 1970s feel. While it is based on a true story, some elements may be embellished or altered for cinematic appeal. Still, it captures elements reminiscent of Shane Black’s humorous crime films, like The Nice Guys, or even Derek Cianfrance’s recent Roofman. While general audiences have yet to lay eyes on the finished film, the true-crime story looks to be another lauded film for Van Sant and the star-studded cast.

Early reviews have heaped stellar praise on Van Sant’s film, with Rotten Tomatoes currently showing Dead Man’s Wire at 97% Fresh based on 34 reviews at the time of writing. MovieWeb’s review of the film states:

The film doesn’t obfuscate the terror Kiritsis wrought, nor does it condone his violence. But cleverly, it calls into question the double standards to which society holds people like Kiritsis and the corporations they target. Banks may not literally be strapping guns to people’s necks, the film argues, but their practices are no less violent and brutal. Those with power believe that they can mold the world into their image. But Van Sant has crafted a film that reminds us that as long as people like Tony Kiritsis live, there will always be a reckoning for such hubris.

Dead Man’s Wire is another unique role on Skarsgård’s resume, with the actor recently returning as Pennywise in It: Welcome to Derry. The star has made memorable appearances beyond his lauded and terrifying turn in Stephen King’s It adaptations, including Zach Cregger’s Barbarian and Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu, with a standout performance as Count Orlok. Skarsgård also played the villain in John Wick: Chapter 4, with other bold choices in Boy Kills World and the latest adaptation of The Crow. However, Dead Man’s Wire aims to adapt his unique adaptability into an unstable yet potentially sympathetic man who makes extreme and illegal choices.