Photo Credit: Gonzalo Marroquin/Getty Images 
In the new series Man on Fire, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II stars as the well-known (and conflicted, to say the least) character of John Creasy. The show itself revisits A.J. Quinnell’s novel with a different lens, moving away from earlier adaptations and into a version built for long-form storytelling. Across seven episodes, viewers will follow the former Special Forces mercenary trying to rebuild his life while carrying the effects of his past. When violence reenters his life, any attempt at stability begins to unravel.
For Abdul-Mateen, the appeal of the role began with the complexity of the show’s lead. Creasy is not framed as a traditional hero, nor is he someone fully in control of his existence. “For me, it was really the opportunity to tell a story about this character who was in a circumstance that he had no business being in,” he said. “When I step outside of the character and look at him, I know that he’s just not ready to be in this circumstance. He should not be taking care of anyone’s kids; he shouldn’t be trying to save anyone but himself.”
Born in New Orleans, Yahya’s perspective informs how the performance unfolds. Rather than leaning into the mystique of what this character represents, the actor plays Creasy as unsettled, someone reacting in real time to pressure and danger. “This John Creasy, I don’t think he’s very cool,” he said with a laugh. “I think he’s stressed out, honestly.” The decision marks a departure from previous portrayals, including Denzel Washington’s widely recognized turn in the 2004 film. Abdul-Mateen understood the comparison but chose a differentsrc=”https://media.essence.com/vxcjywbwpa/uploads/2026/04/AA21Of89.img_.jpeg” alt=”Yahya Abdul-Mateen II Reimagines John Creasy In Netflix’s ‘Man on Fire’” width=”400″ height=”266″ />Steven Caple Jr. helming “Man on Fire,” (2026). Courtesy of Netflix
Director and executive producer Steven Caple Jr., who helmed projects such as The Land, Creed II, and Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, saw an opportunity that was somewhat similar to Abdul-Mateen. When he first read the material, he focused less on what had been done before and more on what remained untold. “I felt like there was just a lot to explore,” Caple said. “How do you explore trauma and mental health, and how do you blend that in with the genre component? How does action sort of serve someone from rising from the ashes?” His approach set the tone for a series that places attention on internal struggle, as well as physical conflict.
Caple also played a critical role in bringing Abdul-Mateen into the project, but collaboration between the two extended beyond the actual casting aspect of things. The Wonder Man star described the process as deliberate, with an emphasis on maintaining a personal connection to the material. “We sort of conspired to treat this like a series of many movies,” Abdul Mateen explained. “Steven is extremely smart, and he loves film and I think he wanted to bring a cinematic experience to these episodes—we worked closely to keep the work personal.” The structure of the series reflects both the actor and the director’s intention, with each episode contributing to a broader narrative.
Production also marked a return to the screen for Abdul-Mateen following a period spent away from major releases. Industry strikes paused several projects, while his time on Broadway in Topdog/Underdog brought his focus more toward live performance. He also made a conscious decision to step back. “It was important for me to just go and get a life,” he said. “If and since I have been blessed to be working, I’ve also found that it’s very important when you can get a job and also make time for life.”
As Abdul-Mateen put it, the allure of Man on Fire ultimately returns to the character’s “instability,” along with the challenge of trying to navigate it. Creasy is not presented as someone with clear answers. He reacts, adapts, and at times struggles to keep up with what is unfolding around him. The tension between all these factors drives the series forward and reframes a familiar story through a unique emotional lens.
“We love to see people persevere in extraordinary circumstances,” Abdul-Mateen said. “So that’s what I really locked into; this man living with an extraordinary circumstance, but still trying to survive.”
Man on Fire premieres April 30, exclusively on Netflix.
TOPICS: Man on Fire Netflix Steven Caple Jr. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II
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Author: Okla Jones
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