Morgan Freeman Stars as Cool Villain in New Trailer for ‘Gunner,’ an Action Movie Filmed in Alabama
@ReadWhatRickWrote 
Fans of action movies can now get a glimpse of "Gunner," an adrenaline-pumping film shot in the Birmingham area during spring 2023. The trailer, released by Warner Bros. this week, showcases stars Morgan Freeman and Luke Hemsworth, alongside intense fist fights, gun battles, explosions, and a dramatic prison escape. (Check out the trailer in the video above.)
Alabama viewers will spot a familiar Birmingham landmark in the trailer: Sloss Furnaces makes a notable appearance at the 1:11 mark and features prominently throughout the clip.
In "Gunner," Freeman takes on the role of Kendrick Ryker, a relaxed drug lord, under the direction of Dimitri Logothetis, who co-wrote the script with Gary Scott Thompson, known for "The Fast and the Furious." Hemsworth plays Lee Gunner, a military veteran whose conflict with Ryker’s drug cartel escalates after Gunner’s two sons are kidnapped during a fishing trip.
The cast also includes Joseph Baena (Arnold Schwarzenegger’s son) and Grant Feely from Alabama, who appeared in Disney’s “Obi-Wan Kenobi” series.
The film utilized various locations in the Birmingham metro area, including Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park in McCalla and Watermark Place, a former outlet center in Bessemer.
Logothetis praised Freeman’s portrayal, predicting it would be a standout in the film. “I like my bad guy characters to be likable,” he said. “You can’t get more likable than Morgan Freeman. He just exudes warmth.”
At 87, Freeman embodies a calm yet menacing villain in the "Gunner" trailer, maintaining his composure even when confronted by the intense protagonist. As the plot reveals, Gunner’s sons are held by Ryker’s son, leading to a tense standoff.
“If he hurts my boys, I’m going to kill you and kill everyone you know,” Hemsworth’s character declares.
“Whoa, that’s a lot of killing for one man,” Freeman’s Ryker replies wryly. Despite Ryker’s apparent nonchalance, the action-packed trailer suggests a fierce rivalry.
"Gunner" is scheduled for release on August 16, available on digital streaming platforms and in select theaters, according to IMDb.
