Dav Patel’s ‘Monkey Man’ Springs From Netflix To Monkeypaw & Universal, Sets April Theatrical Release, Trailer Drops

The Dev Patel directed and starring action thriller, Monkey Man, is now getting a release via Jordan Peele‘s Monkeypaw and its deal at Universal. In more good news for exhibition, the movie will hit theaters on April 5.

You can watch the trailer here:

Monkey Man was originally set up at Netflix, however, Peele had the opportunity to see the movie, was immediately taken by Patel’s vision and felt the film deserved a big screen release.

Monkey Man follows one man’s quest for vengeance against the corrupt leaders who murdered his mother and continue to systemically victimize the poor and powerless. The pic is inspired by the legend of Hanuman, an icon embodying strength and courage. Patel plays the Kid, an anonymous young man who ekes out a meager living in an underground fight club where, night after night, wearing a gorilla mask, he is beaten bloody by more popular fighters for cash.

After years of suppressed rage, Kid discovers a way to infiltrate the enclave of the city’s sinister elite. As his childhood trauma boils over, his mysteriously scarred hands unleash an explosive campaign of retribution to settle the score with the men who took everything from him. Patel directed off his original story and screenplay with Paul Angunawela and John Collee (Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World).

Pic stars Sharlto Copley (District 9),Sobhita Dhulipala (Made in Heaven), Pitobash (Million Dollar Arm), Vipin Sharma (Hotel Mumbai), Ashwini Kalsekar (Ek Tha Hero),Adithi Kalkunte (Hotel Mumbai), Sikandar Kher (Aarya) and Makarand Deshpande (RRR).

Monkey Man is produced by Patel, Jomon Thomas (Hotel Mumbai, The Man Who Knew Infinity), Oscar winner Peele , Win Rosenfeld (Candyman, Hunters series), Ian Cooper (Nope, Us), Basil Iwanyk (John Wick franchise, Sicario films), Erica Lee (John Wick franchise, Silent Night), Christine Haebler (Shut In, Bones of Crows) and Anjay Nagpal (executive producer of Bombshell, Greyhound). 

EPs are Jonathan Fuhrman, Natalya Pavchinskya, Aaron L. Gilbert, Andria Spring, Alison-Jane Roney and Steven Thibault.

The movie is a Bron Studios production, a Thunder Road film, a Monkeypaw production, a Minor Realm/S’Ya Concept production, in association with WME Independent and Creative Wealth Media.

Also playing wide against Monkey Man on April 5 is 20th Century Studios/Disney’s First Omen and Viva’s animated movie Dragonkeeper.