After a fateful near miss an assassin battles his employers, and himself, on an international manhunt he insists isn’t personal.
Netflix Presents: Michael Fassbender “THE KILLER”
Arliss Howard, Charles Parnell, Kerry O’Malley, Sala Baker
With Sophie Charlotte and Tilda Swinton
Casting: Laray Mayfield Sound Design: Ren Klyce Music: Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross Costume Designer: Cate Adams Editor: Kirk Baxter ACE Production Design: Donald Graham Burt Director of Photography: Erik Messerschmidt ASC Executive Producer: Alexandra Milchan Producers: William Doyle, Peter Mavromates Produced By: Ceán Chaffin p.g.a.
Based on the graphic novel series “The Killer” Written by Alexis “Matz” Nolent Illustrated by Luc Jacamon Originally published in the French language by Editions Casterman
Screenplay By: Andrew Kevin Walker
Directed By: David Fincher
Release Date: In Select Theaters October 27 / On Netflix November 10
It’s always an exciting time in cinema when a new David Fincher movie is on the horizon. The modern master of suspense, Fincher’s filmography ranges from chilling murder-mysteries such as Seven and Zodiac to the generations-spanning romance of The Curious Tale Of Benjamin Button, neo-noir The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and true-life tale The Social Network. Now, he’s about to unleash bold new thriller The Killer, a new kind of hitman movie starring Michael Fassbender (in his first role since 2019’s X-Men: Dark Phoenix) as a meticulous professional assassin whose life spirals out of control when a job goes wrong.
The new issue of Empire features the most in-depth look at the movie you’ll find anywhere on Earth – including an access-all-areas on-set report from three locations across the globe, following Fincher and his crew and witnessing his precise, pulse-pounding filmmaking in action. We have brand-new interviews with Fincher and Fassbender from on set about what makes their mysterious eponymous killer tick, how they’re putting the audience inside his head, their process of working together, pulling off incredible stunt sequences and much, much more. And in a rare, revealing additional retrospective interview, Fincher looks back at some of the most stand-out shots from across his entire career – from Ben Affleck’s cringeworthy smile in Gone Girl, to Panic Room’s swooping long-take, and more – sharing the fascinating stories of how they came to be.
The newsstand cover for our David Fincher special is a moody, rain-splattered compilation of some of his most iconic characters – Morgan Freeman’s Detective Somerset from Seven,Brad Pitt’s Tyler Durden from Fight Club, Rooney Mara’s Lisbeth Salander from The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, the Zodiac killer, Rosamund Pike’s Amy Dunne from Gone Girl, and Michael Fassbender’s new hitman protagonist – illustrated exclusively for Empire by Paul Shipper.
Fincher-focused delights aside, the stacked new issue also contains a deep-dive into the new Hunger Games prequel, The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes; a celebration of Gravity’s 10th anniversary with Alfonso Cuarón; a set report from Aardman’s stop-motion sequel Chicken Run: Dawn Of The Nugget; we dig into the much-anticipated British indie How To Have Sex; there are fresh looks at anime series Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, Bradley Cooper’s musical biopic Maestro, Michael Mann’s racing drama Ferrari; and much, much more.
Trust us – this issue is all Killer, no filler. Empire’s David Fincher celebration issue, saluting the work of one of Hollywood’s biggest names, hits newsstands from Thursday 28 September.
The subscriber cover is a noir-ish vision of Michael Fassbender’s titular assassin from The Killer, stalking cobbled streets for his next target, decked out in tourist get-up so as to go unnoticed – illustrated exclusively for Empire by Corey Brickley.
What’s in the box? The new issue of Empire magazine, that’s what. Incredible, globe-trotting on-set access of The Killer, and brilliant writing, from Nev Pierce, who got up-close and personal with David Fincher, Michael Fassbender, and Tilda Swinton.
In absolute stillness, an unnamed assassin lurks in the darkness, surveilling his next target with an almost inhuman patience. But beneath his steely resolve is a man wrestling with his inner conscience. When a botched hit leaves the gunman with no choice but to retire from the world of professional killing, his shadowy past isn’t so willing to let him go – making him a target for his former employers, and his own demons. Teaming up with screenwriter Andrew Kevin Walker for the first time since Se7en, David Fincher’s cold-blooded action thriller is a masterful work of icy precision, punctuated by meticulously executed, genuinely jaw-dropping action set pieces. Heading up a stellar cast, Michael Fassbender is mesmerising as the titular killer, his poise and physicality perfectly embodying a man losing the control that once defined him.
October 5, 2023 Southbank Centre, Royal Festival Hall
October 6, 2023 Southbank Centre, Royal Festival Hall
After a fateful near miss an assassin battles his employers, and himself, on an international manhunt he insists isn’t personal.
Netflix Presents: Michael Fassbender “THE KILLER”
Arliss Howard, Charles Parnell, Kerry O’Malley, Sala Baker
With Sophie Charlotte and Tilda Swinton
Casting: Laray Mayfield Sound Design: Ren Klyce Music: Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross Costume Designer: Cate Adams Editor: Kirk Baxter ACE Production Design: Donald Graham Burt Director of Photography: Erik Messerschmidt ASC Executive Producer: Alexandra Milchan Producers: William Doyle, Peter Mavromates Produced By: Ceán Chaffin p.g.a.
Based on “The Killer” Alexis “Matz” Nolent Illustrator: Luc Jacamon
The retrospective supported by Netflix, Patron of the Cinémathèque Française (French Cinematheque), will open with a preview screening of The Killer followed by a discussion with Fincher. The next day, a screening of Zodiac will be followed by a Master Class with the director.
The Venice Film Festival has just announced its lineup for its upcoming 80th edition, running from August 30 to September 9. It includes the World Premiere in competition of David Fincher‘s upcoming film The Killer on Sunday, September 3, 7:30 pm CEST.
Logline: After a fateful near miss an assassin battles his employers, and himself, on an international manhunt he insists isn’t personal.
Cast: Michael Fassbender, Arliss Howard, Charles Parnell, Gabriel Polanco, Kerry O’Malley, Emiliano Pernía, Sala Baker, Sophie Charlotte, Tilda Swinton
Running Time: 1h 58m
Director’s Statement:
The Killer is my attempt to reconcile notions I’ve had for years about cinematic stories and their telling. I have always held: “What were you doing in Chinatown?… As little as possible”—to be the single greatest evocation of backstory I’ve ever heard. I was also playfully curious about the revenge genre as a tension delivery-system. So when Mr. Walker came aboard and fully embraced these notions/ questions about broad brushstrokes of understanding giving way to the blind-stitch of “moment expansion” – I felt we needed to try something. Mr. Fassbender’s 3-hour response time for: “Yes, let’s!” sealed it for us both and, of course, we all wanted Tilda (Mr. Walker wrote it with her in mind—but please don’t tell Ms. Swinton, she could become insufferable if she knows literally everyone feels this way about her.)
On February 24, 2023, on the stage of the Olympia in Paris, Director David Fincher received the Honorary César Award of the 48th César Ceremony, broadcast live by Canal+.
The films of David Fincher, including a brief look at The Killer (2023).
Belgian-French actress Virginie Efira, who later won the César for Best Actress, presented the award and introduced a surprise guest, Brad Pitt, who showed his love and admiration for his longtime friend with a touching speech.
Fincher was accompanied by his daughter and his wife and Producer Ceán Chaffin.
Brad Pitt’s speech and David Fincher’s acceptance speech.
After making his name creating iconic music videos for some of the biggest pop stars of the 20th Century, including George Michael, Madonna,and Michael Jackson, David Fincher made his feature film debut to mixed results, directing the third installment in the Alien series in 1992. Our celebration of this exacting filmmaker’s work begins with the film that came next, Se7en (1995), an unforgettable serial killer horror whose influence in style and tone is still felt across film and TV today.
Fincher’s subsequent films have made him one of the most sought-after and critically acclaimed (and occasionally divisive) directors working today. With his new film The Killer, starring Michael Fassbender and Tilda Swinton, scheduled for release in late 2023, we are delighted to offer audiences a chance to dive into Fincher’s dark world on the big screen through March and April at GFT. The season includes several screenings on 35mm, our first chance to screen Fincher’s Oscar-winning Covid-era release Mank, and a special discussion around one of his most enduringly beloved and controversial films entitled ‘Yes, We Are Going to Talk About Fight Club’.
Se7en: 15 – 19 March Fight Club: 21 March – 26 March + panel discussion Panic Room: 5 April Zodiac: 29 March – 2 April The Curious Benjamin Button: 9 – 10 April The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo: 23 April The Social Network: 16 – 19 April Gone Girl: 26 April Mank: 30 April – 3 May
CineMasters: David Fincher Ticket deal
Buy tickets to 6 or more different titles in the season and get one of those tickets free. Add all tickets in one transaction and the discount will be automatically applied to your basket at checkout.
The Fincher Analyst 