In a move signaling a seismic shift in studio strategy and a bold return to theatrical dominance, Warner Bros. Pictures has officially greenlit Fast, the long-delayed action thriller from powerhouse creator Taylor Sheridan. The project—once considered dead amid industry upheaval—has roared back to life with an all-star creative team, a commanding new lead, and a highly coveted spring 2027 release date.

Brandon Sklenar, the rising talent who captivated viewers as Spencer Dutton in Sheridan’s 1923, is set to headline the feature. Not only will Fast become Sklenar’s biggest leading-man vehicle yet, it will also reunite him with Ben Richardson, the acclaimed cinematographer behind Beasts of the Southern Wild, Mare of Easttown, and The Fault in Our Stars. Richardson will transition to the director’s chair for the first time—an inspired and ambitious pairing designed to transform Fast into one of the defining action thrillers of the decade.

A Creative Reunion Charged With Momentum

For fans of Sheridan’s sweeping frontier sagas, the Sklenar–Richardson reunion feels like a natural evolution. On 1923, Sheridan’s scripts demanded emotional precision, breathtaking action, and raw cinematic scope—all areas where Richardson’s photography and Sklenar’s intensity fused seamlessly. That creative chemistry caught studio attention, setting the stage for what insiders describe as a “high-voltage, character-driven action film.”

Sklenar, whose star continues to rise following high-profile roles in 1923 and the upcoming film adaptation of It Ends With Us, is widely seen as one of Hollywood’s most promising new leading men. Fast marks his first headlining role in a major studio tentpole—an opportunity industry watchers believe could propel him into full-fledged A-list territory.

Warner Bros. executives, in an unusually celebratory public statement, praised Sheridan’s “astounding and unparalleled” storytelling instincts and highlighted their confidence in the Sklenar–Richardson collaboration. According to insiders, the studio views the pairing as a fresh alternative to formulaic franchise sequels and a chance to build a new marquee action property centered on grounded performances rather than CGI spectacle.

A Sheridan Project Pulled From the Ashes

While Fast is now positioned as a prestige action drama, its path to the screen has been anything but smooth. Sheridan penned the script nearly a decade ago, shortly after achieving critical acclaim with Sicario and Hell or High Water. The screenplay made the rounds quickly, attracting interest from multiple studios, with Warner Bros. ultimately landing the rights in 2018.

For a brief moment, Sheridan was poised to direct, and A-list actors—including Chris Pratt—reportedly circled the project. Yet the film stalled in the wake of corporate restructuring at Warner Brothers, which cast doubt on mid-budget originals. With a projected budget of $60–$70 million, Fast became a casualty of shifting priorities, cost-cutting measures, and pandemic-era uncertainty.

By 2020, the studio had considered sending the film straight to HBO Max, but even that option was deemed too costly. When Warner Bros. put the project into “turnaround,” Fast was inches from slipping into Hollywood oblivion—a fate shared by countless stalled thrillers.

The film’s revival under Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav marks one of the most significant theatrical plays the studio has made since its merger. Sources close to the deal say Zaslav personally championed reviving high-impact original films as core theatrical events—and Fast became the test case for this pivot.

A Multi-Studio Negotiation That Proves Sheridan’s Power

Bringing Fast back from development purgatory required more than studio enthusiasm—it demanded intricate corporate diplomacy.

Sheridan remains contractually bound to Paramount under one of the most lucrative and exclusive overall deals in recent television history. As the creative force behind Yellowstone, 1883, 1923, Mayor of Kingstown, and Special Ops: Lioness, Sheridan is considered the beating heart of Paramount’s streaming and broadcast strategies.

To secure his participation as both writer and producer on Fast, Warner Bros. had to broker a rare, complex agreement with Paramount—one that insiders say confirms Sheridan’s near-unprecedented influence in Hollywood. Paramount reportedly granted an exception allowing him to fully engage with the Warner Bros. project, a concession that underscores the creative and financial value Sheridan now holds across the entire industry.

The final negotiations involved not only Paramount but also the upper ranks of Warner Bros. Discovery and the producers at Hayday Films and Boss Ranch Productions. The collective effort reflects how essential Sheridan’s signature blend of gritty realism, emotional depth, and adrenaline-fueled action has become in a movie landscape hungry for theatrical tentpoles not tied to superheroes or legacy franchises.

Ben Richardson Takes the Helm — And Raises Expectations

Perhaps the most intriguing creative decision is Sheridan’s choice to pass the directorial reins to Ben Richardson. Though a first-time feature director, Richardson has built an extraordinary reputation for crafting emotionally resonant visual storytelling. His cinematography—often marked by intimate character studies juxtaposed with sweeping natural vistas—has earned praise from critics, festival programmers, and industry professionals alike.

Richardson’s transition to directing is widely seen as a strategic move that aligns perfectly with Sheridan’s evolving cinematic ambitions. While the script remains tightly under wraps, sources describe Fast as fast-paced, character-centered, and emotionally charged—a film where performance and style are as essential as action.

Early word is that Richardson plans to bring a “hyper-realistic” visual approach to the project, using practical effects and immersive camera work. In other words: expect a grounded thriller with the intensity of Sicario, the character weight of Wind River, and the crisp action pacing Sheridan perfected in his earlier scripts.

Hollywood Positions Fast as a Major 2027 Event

With a confirmed theatrical release date of April 23, 2027, Warner Bros. appears to be positioning Fast as a major spring blockbuster—strategically placed just before the traditional summer season to give it breathing room and industry spotlight.

Its release timing signals confidence, not only in Sheridan’s screenplay and Richardson’s direction, but also in Sklenar’s rising star power. Insiders note that if Fast performs as expected, it could launch a new franchise or spark a creative partnership that extends well beyond this film.

More broadly, the movie represents a test of Hollywood’s appetite for original, adult-oriented action thrillers—projects once common in the early 2000s but increasingly rare in today’s franchise-heavy market.

A Resurrection Years in the Making

After nearly a decade marked by industry upheaval, pandemic slowdowns, corporate shakeups, and shifting studio priorities, Fast has re-emerged as one of Hollywood’s most ambitious new action projects.

Now, with Brandon Sklenar at the wheel, Taylor Sheridan behind the script, Ben Richardson stepping into a bold new role, and Warner Bros. staking an aggressive theatrical claim, Fast is no longer a lost project—it is a cinematic milestone in the making.

When the film finally hits theaters in 2027, it won’t just mark the debut of a new action thriller. It will stand as the culmination of years of persistence, negotiation, and raw creative force—an event forged not just by its story on screen, but by the Hollywood saga behind it.