Charlize Theron proved to be an iconic action heroine in Mad Max: Fury Road. Meanwhile, David Leitch helped revitalize the genre after co-directing John Wick. Every so often, Hollywood manages to connect the dots, so, this summer, we get a collaboration between the two forces with Atomic Blonde. With its new, ’80s-esque title (it was originally going by The Coldest City), the actioner follows Theron’s character as a spy on a mission in Berlin. Ahead of the SXSW premiere, the first restricted trailer has now landed for the Kurt Johnstad-scripted film, based on Antony Johnston and Sam Hart‘s graphic novel.
“I hadn’t seen another character like her out there. She doesn’t apologize for anything. We made her strong and feisty. She’s cheeky. These were all things I responded to,” Theron tells EW, also opening up about the training. “Let’s be honest, I got my ass handed to me every day. I cracked through two of my teeth in the back of my mouth from clenching so much that I had to have massive dental surgery right before we left for Budapest to shoot the film.”
Also starring James McAvoy, John Goodman, Til Schweiger, Eddie Marsan, Sofia Boutella and Toby Jones, check out the trailer below:
The crown jewel of Her Majesty’s Secret Intelligence Service, Agent Lorraine Broughton (Theron) is equal parts spycraft, sensuality and savagery, willing to deploy any of her skills to stay alive on her impossible mission. Sent alone into Berlin to deliver a priceless dossier out of the destabilized city, she partners with embedded station chief David Percival (James McAvoy) to navigate her way through the deadliest game of spies.
Atomic Blonde opens on July 28.