The trailer for The Amateur, the upcoming thriller from 20th Century Studios, has dropped, giving audiences a taste of the tense, global hunt for justice led by Rami Malek, with Laurence Fishburne on his trail. Inspired by Robert Littell’s 1981 spy novel, the film delves deep into the dark side of international espionage, betrayal, and a personal vendetta ignited by loss.
Rami Malek stars as Charlie Heller, a quiet, sharp-witted decoder for the CIA who keeps to himself—until his world is shattered by a terrorist attack in London that kills his wife, played by Rachel Brosnahan. When the agency fails to respond, Charlie doesn’t accept silence as an answer. Instead, he goes rogue, turning his skills into deadly tools as he seeks out his wife’s killers alone. And this time, the agency he once trusted might be more foe than friend.
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Laurence Fishburne enters as a seasoned CIA operative who tries to talk sense into Charlie, convincing him that revenge isn’t in his nature. But he soon discovers that Charlie is more determined—and far more capable—than anyone expected. As Fishburne’s character races to rein him in, Charlie slips through CIA traps and dodges pursuit with the expert maneuvers of a spy—exposing the agency’s weaknesses and using its own technology against it.
In the trailer, Malek’s Charlie is introduced as an unassuming “computer guy,” but as the story unfolds, we see that he’s anything but ordinary. From intense chase scenes to rigged roof glass pools (creating a new fear in us by the way), The Amateur promises the thrill of a classic spy movie but with a unique twist: a hero fueled not by patriotism but by personal grief and a determination for justice on his own terms.
The film is directed by James Hawes and boasts a powerhouse supporting cast, including Jon Bernthal, Caitríona Balfe, Michael Stuhlbarg, Holt McCallany, and Julianne Nicholson. The screenplay was adapted by Ken Nolan and Gary Spinelli, with Malek also stepping in as a producer alongside Hutch Parker, Dan Wilson, and Joel B. Michaels.
With the film set to release on April 11, 2025, audiences can look forward to a story that promises action and emotion in equal measure.