Samuel L. Jackson and Joel Kinnaman are teaming up for The Beast, an explosive new action thriller directed by Renny Harlin. The film puts the President of the United States behind the wheel of the most heavily protected vehicle in the world when a violent coup plunges the country into chaos.
Currently in post-production, The Beast is expected to arrive in October 2026 in the United States.
Plot
When a militia of unidentified hostiles launches a coordinated coup against the United States, the President, played by Samuel L. Jackson, suddenly finds himself fighting for survival.
Separated from his wife and with his Secret Service agent Taft, played by Joel Kinnaman, seriously injured, the President has little choice but to take matters into his own hands.
His unlikely weapon is the presidential limousine itself.
Known as The Beast, the heavily armored vehicle contains a series of highly classified offensive capabilities that have never been revealed to the public. Forced to take control of the limousine, the President must learn exactly what the vehicle is capable of while navigating a country thrown into violence.
His mission is bigger than simply surviving. He must protect his injured agent, find his way back to his wife and stop the coup before the United States—and potentially the world—falls into chaos.
The Beast
- Director: Renny Harlin
- Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Joel Kinnaman, Guy Burnet
- Genre: Action, Thriller
Samuel L. Jackson Plays the President
Jackson takes on the role of the President of the United States, placing the legendary actor in the middle of an all-out action scenario.
Rather than remaining safely inside a presidential bunker, this President is forced into the field and behind the wheel of an extraordinarily powerful armored limousine.
The premise gives Jackson plenty of opportunity to combine his trademark intensity with a more physically driven action role.
Joel Kinnaman as Secret Service Agent Taft
Joel Kinnaman co-stars as Secret Service agent Taft, the President’s injured protector.
Taft’s condition becomes one of the driving forces behind the President’s desperate mission. The relationship between the two men also adds a personal element to the otherwise massive political crisis.
A Presidential Limousine Like You’ve Never Seen Before
At the center of The Beast is, naturally, The Beast itself.
The presidential limousine is already famously associated with extreme security, but the movie takes that concept much further. In the film, the vehicle is essentially a highly classified weapon on wheels, equipped with offensive capabilities that even the President has not fully understood.
The result is a particularly intriguing action-movie setup: one President, one nearly indestructible limousine and an entire militia trying to bring them down.
Renny Harlin Directs
The Beast is directed by veteran action filmmaker Renny Harlin, whose career includes films such as Die Hard 2, Cliffhanger and Deep Blue Sea.
Harlin also reunites with Samuel L. Jackson for the fourth time following their collaborations on The Long Kiss Goodnight, Deep Blue Sea and Cleaner.
The screenplay comes from Umair Aleem, whose previous writing credits include the action thriller Kate.
The Cast
The confirmed cast includes:
- Samuel L. Jackson — President of the United States
- Joel Kinnaman — Secret Service Agent Taft
- Guy Burnet
- Eoin Macken
The Spanish government’s film catalogue lists Jackson, Kinnaman, Macken and Burnet among the principal performers.
Action, Suspense and a Race Against Time
With a coup underway and enemies closing in, The Beast looks designed as a high-concept action thriller built around a contained but massive survival scenario.
The concept also gives the movie an unusual central character: the presidential limousine. Rather than simply serving as transportation, The Beast becomes the President’s most important weapon and potentially his only chance of surviving the assault.
For fans of political thrillers, military action movies and high-octane Hollywood spectacle, the combination of Samuel L. Jackson, Joel Kinnaman and Renny Harlin makes The Beast one to watch.
The Beast Release Date
The Beast is currently listed for a 2026 release, with IMDb listing October 2026 for the United States. The film is currently in post-production.
Title: The Beast
Genre: Action / Thriller / Drama
Director: Renny Harlin
Writer: Umair Aleem
Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Joel Kinnaman, Guy Burnet, Eoin Macken
Runtime: Approximately 100 minutes
Release: October 2026 (U.S.)
