Amazon MGM Studios is heating up the summer slate with Heads of State, a high-stakes buddy comedy that pairs up Idris Elba and John Cena as unlikely world leaders forced to team up to save the planet. The film, which hits Prime Video on July 2, just dropped its first trailer—and it’s giving action, chaos, and plenty of comedic friction.
Directed by Ilya Naishuller (Hardcore Henry, Nobody), Heads of State leans all the way into the genre’s sweet spot: international stakes, reluctant allies, and wild action sequences. But instead of secret agents or ex-military heroes, this time it’s the Prime Minister of the UK and the President of the United States leading the charge.
Elba plays Sam Clarke, the ever-composed and no-nonsense Prime Minister. Cena steps into the role of Will Derringer, a brash former Hollywood star turned U.S. President who believes diplomacy should come with a side of explosions. Their public rivalry is making headlines, but that tension takes a backseat when they become targets of a deadly global conspiracy. Their elite security details? Useless. Their political alliances? Crumbling. Their only shot? Trusting each other.
Helping them (and often saving their necks) is Priyanka Chopra Jonas as Noel Bisset, an MI6 agent with both brains and brawn—she’s out here sliding under cars and making the spy life look too good. Also joining the mission are Jack Quaid, Carla Gugino, Stephen Root, Sarah Niles, Richard Coyle, and Paddy Considine—rounding out an ensemble that’s as stacked as it is sharp.
The script was penned by Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec, and Harrison Query, from a story by Query. Producers include Peter Safran and John Rickard, with Cena, Elba, Nemec, and Marcus Viscidi serving as executive producers.
The trailer teases a jet ambush, hand-to-hand combat, and verbal sparring that’s just as explosive as the stunts. It’s clear this film is just as much about the banter as it is about the bullets. Think Air Force One meets Midnight Run, but make it modern—with two action stars who know how to land a punchline just as well as they throw a punch.
It’s also a reunion for Cena and Elba, who last faced off in James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad. While they didn’t share scenes in the Fast & Furious franchise, their chemistry in Squad proved they’ve got the chops to deliver both high-octane thrills and laugh-out-loud moments. Heads of State leans into that same energy—but swaps out antiheroes for politicians with PR crises and bruised egos.
With a release smack in the middle of the July 4th week, the film arrives just in time to scratch the summer blockbuster itch. It’s perfectly timed for barbecues, fireworks, and streaming something loud, fun, and totally over the top.
Amazon MGM Studios has been on a roll, recently dropping hits like A Working Man and G20, and Heads of State looks poised to keep that momentum going. Up next are The Accountant 2 in theaters (April 25) and Another Simple Favor on Prime Video (May 1).
If you’re into action comedies with political satire, global danger, and two charismatic leads constantly trying to one-up each other, Heads of State might be your popcorn movie of the summer. And if the trailer is any indication, it’s not just about saving the world—it’s about doing it with style, shade, and a few surprise allies along the way.