American Assassin

About American Assassin

American Assassin is a thrilling action movie released in 2017. The film is based on the 2010 novel of the same name by Vince Flynn, and follows the story of Mitch Rapp, a young man who becomes a CIA black ops recruit under the instruction of Cold War veteran Stan Hurley. They are then enlisted by CIA Deputy Director Irene Kennedy to investigate a wave of apparently random attacks on both military and civilian targets.

Making / Production

The film was directed by Michael Cuesta and produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Nick Wechsler. American Assassin underwent a unique production process, as producers sought to stay true to the source material while also modernizing the story for a contemporary audience. Filming took place in various locations around the world, including London, Rome, and Phuket.

Actors

• Dylan O'Brien played the lead role of Mitch Rapp. O'Brien brought a raw intensity to the character, portraying Rapp's transition from grief-stricken student to dedicated operative with skill and conviction.
• Michael Keaton portrayed Stan Hurley, a hardened Cold War veteran. Keaton's performance added depth and a sense of history to Hurley, grounding the film's more explosive moments.
• Sanaa Lathan played Irene Kennedy, the Deputy Director of the CIA. Lathan's performance provided a balanced counterpoint to the film's more action-oriented characters, offering a glimpse into the high-stakes political maneuvering behind the scenes.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The film is based on the 15th book in Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp series, despite being the first film adaptation of the book series.
• Prior to Dylan O’Brien's casting, Chris Hemsworth was offered the lead role of Mitch Rapp but turned it down due to scheduling conflicts.

Awards

While American Assassin did not win any major awards, it received positive reviews for its intense action sequences and committed performances, particularly that of Dylan O'Brien.

Quotes

• "Out there, there's no good and there's no bad. To survive out there, you gotta become the bad." - Stan Hurley
• "I trusted you. You should have trusted ME!" - Mitch Rapp

Music and Soundtrack

• The music for American Assassin was composed by veteran composer, Steven Price.
• The film features a mix of both orchestral music and more contemporary tracks, adding to the tension and pacing of the film.