Austin Butler is set to headline City on Fire, an adaptation of Don Winslow’s acclaimed crime novel that reimagines Homeric mythology through the brutal lens of 1980s gangland Rhode Island. The film marks a directorial return for Matt Ross, whose 2016 indie Captain Fantastic garnered critical acclaim. This time, Ross is trading forest communes for bloodstained boardwalks in a project that promises something far darker and more operatic.
Butler will take on the role of Danny Ryan, an Irish dockworker reluctantly drawn into a violent turf war between rival criminal factions. As the body count rises and loyalties unravel, Danny must navigate a collapsing world shaped by family, betrayal, and fate — a story that echoes The Iliad in leather jackets and gold chains. It’s a character that demands both smouldering restraint and raw intensity, two qualities Butler has been honing since Elvis.
The script, penned by Justin Kuritzkes (Challengers), is said to stick closely to the novel’s tragic, character-driven structure while embracing a street-level authenticity and hard-R edge. Producers reportedly made the project a top priority, aligning schedules and budget to lock in Butler, whose dance card has been notoriously full.
With casting underway for the Italian side of the conflict and this film serving as the potential launchpad for a trilogy, City on Fire might just be the beginning of a new mob mythos.
