The life of author Vince Flynn is as inspirational and compelling as the characters in his popular espionage novels. He battled dyslexia as a child, was disqualified from Marine Corps Aviation school (complications from multiple concussions), and struggled to establish a business career. Flynn began writing spy stories in his free time, completing his first novel over several years, but was unable to secure a book deal. He decided to self-publish and became an overnight success… it would be cliché if it weren’t also true.

I mention all of this because the upcoming movie, American Assassin — based on his series of “Mitch Rapp” counter-terrorism novels — is not your typical revenge thriller. This film has been in the works for nearly a decade, with everyone from Antoine Fuqua to Bruce Willis to Chris Hemsworth attached to it at various stages of its long development cycle.

The film depicts an American college student, Rapp (Dylan O’Brien), and his quest to become a CIA assassin. Rapp is traumatized by the death of his fiance, who was killed during a terrorist attack at a beachside resort. He subsequently pursues training with a legendary Cold War veteran, Stan Hurley (Michael Keaton), to become a “ghost,” an off-the-books clandestine operator. 

The setup here feels like a marriage between Bourne and Bond, but looks decidedly more low-tech and visceral. This is obviously well-traveled territory, all-too familiar subject-matter from movies like Taken, Munich, and Jack Ryan. However, Flynn has a reputation for authenticity and accuracy, his books are read by heads of state including Bill Clinton and George W. Bush; he was even a story consultant during the height of Fox’s 24 TV series (Season 5). 

Sadly, Vince Flynn died in 2013, after a long battle with cancer. However, he leaves behind 15 novels, and judging by the quality of the action in this trailer, it’s likely we’ll be seeing much more of Rapp’s wetwork in the future.

What do you think of the action and the setup in this trailer for American Assassin? Let us know in the comments down below!

American Assassin hits theaters on September 15, 2017.

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SOURCE: CBS Films