Jeremy Renner gets his own John Wick — and in 12 Bullets he has just 12 shots to take down London’s gangs

Jeremy Renner is heading back into action territory — and this time, it sounds like he’s about to tackle his own version of a John Wick-style thriller. The film’s called 12 Bullets, and no, that’s not a metaphor. He literally only gets twelve rounds, and apparently, every one is meant to count.

Here’s how the setup goes: Renner’s character is an American — shrouded in mystery, of course — who ends up launching a solo fight against rival criminal gangs that are tearing each other (and London) apart. The kicker? Supposedly, London’s meant to be one of those “strictly no guns” cities, which adds a nice bit of tension to the plot. Yet, somehow, it’s awash with crime lords, bullets, and, well, one mysterious Yank armed with precisely a dozen shots at survival. If you’re getting déjà vu from any number of one-man-against-the-underworld films, you’re not alone, but the twelve bullet angle does at least promise a bit of fresh jeopardy.

Jeremy Renner’s ‘12 Bullets’ teams him with the producers of The Town and Wind River for a new action thriller set in ‘gun-free’ London.

All The Usual Suspects

Here’s where it gets a bit more interesting — and possibly a tad “old mates’ club”. Thunder Road, the outfit behind the John Wick films, are producing, with Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee calling the shots. Both previously teamed up with Renner on his more serious outings, namely The Town (where Ben Affleck pointed a camera at Boston’s seedier side and Renner bagged himself an Oscar nomination) and Wind River (that chilly thriller from Taylor Sheridan before he was the King of Yellowstone).

An added connection: this one’s directed by Sean Ellis (still best known for Cashback for my money), and the script comes from Tim Walker. UK broadcaster Sky is co-financing, their parent company Comcast in the mix too — so expect plenty of London street scenes as the bullets count down.

The Rennerverse

If you’re only clocking Renner for Marvel — you know, all those hours spent as Clint Barton aka Hawkeye — it’s worth remembering his CV is stacked with prestige dramas and other genre hits. In The Hurt Locker, he was all nervy tension and bomb-defusing grit. He turned up in Arrival and American Hustle as well, not to mention his ongoing lead gig since 2021 in Mayor of Kingstown, where he’s embroiled in more low-level crime drama, albeit on the other side of the Atlantic.

• John Wick producers behind it
• Directed by Sean Ellis
• Script from Tim Walker
• Thunder Road’s Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee producing
• Previous Renner collaborations: The Town, Wind River
• Set in ‘gun-free’ London with just 12 bullets on offer