Mark Wahlberg’s new heist thriller, Play Dirty, receives a Prime Video release date and reveals its first image. Co-written and directed by Shane Black – best known for Iron Man 3, The Nice Guys, and The Predator (2018) – the upcoming crime thriller follows a thief attempting a high-stakes heist that pits him against a South American dictator, the New York mafia, and the wealthiest man on the planet.
In addition to Wahlberg in the lead role, the cast also includes Oscar nominee LaKeith Stanfield (Judas and the Black Messiah), Rosa Salazar, four-time Emmy winner Tony Shalhoub (Monk), Emmy winner Keegan-Michael Key (Key and Peele), Nat Wolff, DCU and MCU star Chukwudi Iwuji, Thomas Jane, and Saskia Archer.
Now, via Collider‘s Exclusive Preview event, a first-look image from Play Dirty has been revealed, showing its two stylish leads, Wahlberg and Stanfield, on their way to their next mission. Play Dirty premieres on Prime Video on October 1. Check out the image below:
What This Means For Play Dirty
Play Dirty is based on the Parker series of novels written by Donald E. Westlake under the pen name Richard Stark, specifically the first installment in the series, The Hunter (1962). In turn, Play Dirty will serve as the third film adaptation of The Hunter after John Boorman’s Point Blank (1967) and Brian Helgeland’s Payback (1999).
The most recent take on the series arrived in 2013, when action star Jason Statham stepped into the тιтular role in Parker. Now, Wahlberg will be the latest actor to play Parker on screen, alongside LaKeith Stanfield as Grofield, another recurring character in Stark’s novels. Like past adaptations, Play Dirty follows Parker as he attempts a high-stakes heist.
To pull off the job, he ᴀssembles a talented crew that includes Grofield and Zen (Rosa Salazar) to help navigate the danger. Described as a “gritty, clever caper,” the story blends elements from the original novels and follows the team’s efforts to outsmart the powerful forces determined to bring them down.
Our Take On The Play Dirty Image
Judging by the first-look image, Play Dirty appears poised to carve out its own idenтιтy apart from past adaptations, Point Blank and Payback. John Boorman’s 1967 adaptation leaned into avant-garde noir, while Brian Helgeland’s 1999 version was bathed in cold and brutal revenge.
Shane Black’s version appears to be grounded in a more stylish grit, as Wahlberg and Stanfield stride through a modern urban sprawl with a casual confidence. The duo’s fashion choices alone, including Wahlberg’s classic leather jacket, suggest a slicker take that could balance tough-guy swagger with offbeat comedy.
Given the director’s signature style that blends crime and comedy, Play Dirty could finally deliver an adaptation that leans into entertainment value without losing its edge. Wahlberg and Stanfield’s chemistry could echo the same vibe seen in The Nice Guys. If Black brings that same energy here, Play Dirty may be the best adaptation of its source material yet.
Source: Collider
