Bill Skarsgård Takes a Hostage in Electrifying First Teaser for Gus Van Sant’s DEAD MAN'S WIRE
Row K Entertainment has released the first teaser trailer for Gus Van Sant’s Dead Man’s Wire, and audiences have loved it through its explosive run through the fall festival circuit.
The thriller, based on a shocking true story from the 1970s, has been earning rave reviews and standing ovations, audiences reportedly erupted in cheers during the Venice Film Festival screening.
Set in 1977, the film follows the real-life story of Tony Kiritsis, played by Bill Skarsgård, a man pushed to the edge who takes a prominent banker hostage. What starts as a desperate act quickly spirals into a media spectacle that captures the attention of the entire nation.
The official synopsis reads: “The morning of February 8, 1977, Anthony G. ‘Tony’ Kiritsis (starring Bill Skarsgård), 44, entered the office of Richard O. Hall, president of the Meridian Mortgage Company, and took him hostage with a sawed-off 12-gauge shotgun wired with a ‘dead man’s wire’ from the trigger to the Hall’s head.
“This is the true story of the stand-off that took the world by storm as Tony demanded $5 million, no charges & no prosecution, and a personal apology from the Halls for cheating him out of what he was ‘owed.’”
The tension, desperation, and media chaos of that event make Dead Man’s Wire feel relevant today. Skarsgård delivers what looks to be a great performance, bringing intensity and empathy to a man whose actions blur the line between justice and madness.
The film also stars Dacre Montgomery, Cary Elwes, Myha’la, Colman Domingo, and Al Pacino, rounding out an impressive ensemble cast.
Dead Man’s Wire is directed by Gus Van Sant, whose filmography includes acclaimed titles like My Own Private Idaho, Good Will Hunting, and more. The screenplay comes from Austin Kolodney.
After earning massive acclaim on the festival circuit, Dead Man’s Wire is set to open in select U.S. theaters on January 9, 2026, before expanding nationwide on January 16.