A Closeup of Denzel Washington in Man on Fire Netflix’s Man on Fire TV show remake gets a new update, with three actors joining the cast. Directed by Tony Scott, 2004’s Man on Fire starred Denzel Washington as CIA officer John Creasy, who seeks vengeance after an attack on the family he was hired to protect. Netflix’s TV remake of the movie, which was based on A.J. Quinnell’s novels, was announced back in March 2023. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is set to play Creasy, with the story set to follow the former special forces mercenary as he attempts to overcome his PTSD before being pulled back into action.

Now, THR reports that Alice Braga, Scoot McNairy, and Paul Ben-Victor have joined Abdul-Mateen II in the Man on Fire remake. Other supporting actors who were already announced include Billie Boullet and Bobby Cannavale.

Early details of the new characters played by Braga, McNairy, and Ben-Victor have also been released, with Braga set to play professional driver Valeria Melo, who has family connections to a Brazilian gang. Creasy hires Melo for a job, and she becomes a key ally as she tries to protect a young girl while seeking revenge against dangerous terrorists.

McNairy will play an intelligent CIA field agent named Henry Tappan, who is stationed in Brazil, while Ben-Victor will play the CIA director, Moncrief.

There has been talk of a potential Man on Fire 2 over the years, but the confirmation of the Netflix series means a sequel is now unlikely to happen.

What Man On Fire’s Latest Update Means For The Show

Where You’ve Seen The Cast Before

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II leaning forward over the driver's wheel in Ambulance

Netflix’s Man on Fire remake, with this latest casting update, is really starting to take shape. It was previously announced that the show hails from showrunner Kyle Killen, who is best known for helming Halo and Awake. At least one director has also been confirmed in Steven Caple Jr., who will direct the first two episodes of the eight-episode season. Caple Jr. recently directed Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023).

All the actors involved thus far have impressive credits under their belts. Abdul-Mateen II has starred in films like Ambulance (2022) and Candyman (2021), while Cannavale has appeared in titles like MaXXXine (2024) and The Watcher (2022). Boullet recently played Anne Frank in A Small Light (2023), and Braga has appeared in the likes of I Am Legend (2007), The Suicide Squad (2021), and Dark Matter.

McNairy most recently starred in Blumhouse’s 2024 Speak No Evil remake, which has been both a critical and commercial success. Ben-Victor, meanwhile, is a screen veteran, and has appeared in hit projects like The Wire, True Detective, and The Irishman (2019).

Our Take On Netflix’ Man On Fire Show

Abdul-Mateen II Has Big Shoes To Fill

Denzel Washington as John Creasy with fire behind him in the poster for Man on Fire

Prior to The Equalizer (2014), Man on Fire was the film that most firmly established Washington as an action star. He brought his signature charm to the role, which made Creasy easy to root for, but he was also violent in a way that was shocking at the time. Abdul-Mateen II certainly has his work cut out for him, then, but the supporting cast members are certainly a positive step for the show. With key creatives and cast members now in place, more information on the Man on Fire series is hopefully not far off.