Netflix has released a teaser trailer for a new action thriller from two of the stars of Squid Game. Mantis follows a skilled ᴀssᴀssin who has temporarily left his profession, but returns to find new leadership in place at his old agency, while reuniting with his friend who is still in training.

Mantis’ cast includes Squid Game‘s Im Si-wan and Park Gyu-young (who played Myung-gi and No-eul in the Netflix hit series, respectively) as well as Jo Woo-jin. In addition to Squid Game, Park is known for the K-dramas It’s Okay to Not Be Okay and Sweet Home, both hits on Netflix. Im is less of a Netflix staple but has a vast filmography, including Emergency Declaration and Once Upon a Boyhood.

Netflix’s new thriller is directed by Lee Tae-sung, who co-wrote the script with Byun Sung-hyun. Mantis releases on Netflix on September 26, joining the streaming platform’s collection of Korean content, including many beloved movies and TV shows. Check out the teaser for Mantis below:

What This Means For Mantis & Its Stars

Park Gyu-young continues to be a heavy hitter for Netflix, while Im Si-wan may be on his way to being a regular among the streamer’s new movies and TV shows. The latter actor doesn’t have any other major upcoming projects, but Netflix is likely anticipating this movie’s release, hoping that the marketability of the Squid Game cast will help it succeed.

As far as what Mantis has to offer in and of itself, the trailer does an excellent job of teasing what is to come. Based on the opening lines, the story revolves around a strict code of conduct within this organization of ᴀssᴀssins, including the stipulation that they “must not kill minors,” a basic moral rule you don’t see specified in this type of movie too often.

Mantis sets up the character dynamics to be quite compelling, as the organization is rocked by new leadership, Jo Woo-jin’s character, who is described as a “legendary killer.” This looks to be another great movie like John Wick, exploring themes of mistrust, accompanied by high-octane action, which is practically a guaranteed hit for the streaming giant.

Our Take On Netflix’s Mantis

Following Squid Game, I am very excited to see more of Park, given her deeply nuanced performance and the somewhat open-ended conclusion to her character’s arc. Suffice it to say, Im was also incredibly memorable as Squid Game season 3’s last-minute villain, setting him up to be a fascinating, more heroic lead in Mantis.

Based on the trailer, the action in Mantis is also going to be a major selling point. The movie’s premise has inklings of John Wick, continuing the mᴀssive surge of similar тιтles since the seminal action thriller’s release in 2014. However, I also believe Mantis could have something unique to offer with how it handles the rules and relationships in the narrative.