Jackson's president turns armored limo into a weapon in The Beast trailer
The first trailer for Renny Harlin's The Beast shows Samuel L. Jackson as the U.S. President using his heavily armed presidential limousine to fight terrorists. He teams up with a wounded Secret Service agent played by Joel Kinnaman. The film is set for release on October 9.
The film marks a reunion of sorts for Jackson with the action genre, following his 2014 role in Big Game where he also played a president targeted by terrorists. Director Renny Harlin brings decades of experience from 1990s blockbusters like Cliffhanger and Die Hard 2, though his recent work includes the horror-focused Strangers series. The trailer emphasizes the limousine's secretive government-funded arsenal, which Jackson's character appears to discover with enthusiasm. Kinnaman's agent spends much of the footage wounded, creating a dynamic where the commander-in-chief takes the lead in combat. The October 9 release positions the film for fall box office.
This film could tap into audience appetite for escapist action where authority figures take decisive, physical action against threats. The casting of Jackson, known for commanding screen presence, may broaden appeal beyond typical action demographics. However, its portrayal of a president personally engaging in combat could reinforce simplified narratives about leadership during crises, potentially shaping viewer expectations about real-world responses to terrorism. The film's success may also signal whether mid-budget action thrillers still hold theatrical viability.