Colin Farrell and the Russo Bros are teaming up for a bruising new action-thriller, Ordained
Here's one that'll make action fans perk up. Colin Farrell (movies and tv series) is set to play a priest with a past in Ordained, an action-thriller based on an indie comic that hasn't even hit shelves yet.
And yes, it's that cross-pollination you're thinking of: Farrell is fresh off DC's The Penguin, while the Russo Brothers are best known for their Marvel run. This project sits outside both camps. It comes from the indie publisher Bad Idea, with the film produced by the Russos' AGBO banner and written by John Wick's Derek Kolstad (movies and tv series).
What's the setup?
Farrell plays Father Roy Craig, a priest called in to perform last rites on a mob boss who somehow pulls through. Problem is, that last confession sticks. The boss sends gangsters, hitmen, and dirty cops to erase the only man who knows everything.
But Father Roy's not exactly a soft target. He's got a violent history that prepared him for a storm like this. The catch: he's a true believer who holds fast to the sixth commandment - "Thou shalt not kill." That tension is the hook. How do you survive a city of bullets without crossing that line?
Why this matters
This is the kind of package that turns heads in the action space. Kolstad's name screams clean, propulsive set pieces. The Russos bring scale and industry clout. And Farrell's been choosing sharp character-forward work lately - this lets him be both soulful and scary.
It also says something about where new action IP is coming from. Big studios still love brands, but the freshest ideas keep bubbling up from the indie comics scene. Ordained is getting scooped before the first issue lands, which tells you there's confidence in the premise.
The comic behind the movie
The source book arrives Dec. 10 from Bad Idea, written by Robert Venditti, with art by Trevor Hairsine and colors by Dave Stewart (movies and tv series). If you're trying to get ahead on tone and world-building, that release will be your first real look.
Bad Idea has made a name for itself with limited runs and a collector-leaning model - which can create heat fast if the story connects. AGBO, for its part, has the muscle to move swiftly if momentum builds.
- Star: Colin Farrell as Father Roy Craig
- Producers: AGBO (Russo Brothers)
- Screenplay: Derek Kolstad
- Source: Upcoming Bad Idea comic by Robert Venditti, art by Trevor Hairsine, colors by Dave Stewart
- Status: No production or release date yet
What this could mean for the action beat
Best-case scenario, this becomes a clean, character-led franchise launcher - closer to the first John Wick than a bloated sequel play. A faith-bound lead who won't pull the trigger gives stunt teams fun constraints, and constraints usually make action smarter.
For folks programming coverage calendars: circle Dec. 10 for the comic drop and watch for packaging updates from AGBO. If a director with a strong physical-action eye boards soon, you'll feel the temperature rise fast.
What to watch next
Keep an eye on who plays the surviving mob boss and the crew around him - that'll set the tone. And watch whether the film leans gritty and grounded or turns up the operatic style. Either way, Farrell as a priest dodging bullets without breaking his code? Feels like something you'll want on your radar.
More on the players behind the project: AGBO and the publisher Bad Idea.
