Lionsgate has indisputably claimed its throne in the world of stylish, meticulously choreographed action-thrillers with the John Wick franchise. However, the unveiling of the first trailer for Universal and Blumhouse’s “Monkey Man,” directed by the multi-talented Dev Patel, challenges audiences to embrace a cinematic experience that is grander, more unpredictable, and visually striking.

Set against the bustling streets of contemporary Mumbai, “Monkey Man” narrates the gripping tale of Kid (played by Patel), an ex-convict whose reintegration into society serves as a harsh reminder of the enduring grip of India’s caste system, ensnaring the impoverished in cycles of violence and systemic poverty. Kid’s nostalgic recollections of a blissful childhood, guided by his mother’s captivating tales of Hanuman, sharply contrast with his adult life as an underpaid waiter, navigating a society where the privileged effortlessly manipulate the law.

The criminals plaguing Kid’s city mirror the villainous archetypes from the myths of his youth. In the trailer, Monkey Man unveils how Kid transforms into a masked cage fighter, embodying the spirit of Hanuman, and a John Wick-esque figure in black, driven to eliminate as many criminals as possible. The trailer teases an intriguing blend of ancient legend and contemporary crime, leaving audiences curious about the uniqueness of Monkey Man’s narrative, co-crafted by Patel, Paul Angunawela, and John Collee.

But both the film’s cinematography and its fight sequences seem like they’e going to be absolutely mesmerizing, and as surprising as this kind of turn for Patel might feel, it also might be one of the things that makes Monkey Man a hit when it debuts on April 5th.