LONG GONE HEROES Trailer (2024) Eden Brolin, Frank Grillo, Josh Hutcherson

LONG GONE HEROES Trailer (2024) Eden Brolin, Frank Grillo, Josh Hutcherson

LONG GONE HEROES Trailer (2024) Eden Brolin, Frank Grillo, Josh Hutcherson, Action Movie
© 2024 - Lionsgate

Long Gone Heroes - Official Trailer
Watch the Official Trailer from English movie 'Long Gone Heroes' starring Frank Grillo, Josh Hutcherson, Eden Brolin, Mekhi Phifer, Melissa Leo and Andy García. 'Long Gone Heroes' movie is directed by John Swab and produced by . To know more about 'Long Gone Heroes' trailer watch the video. Check out the latest English trailers, new movie trailers, trending English movie trailers, and more at ETimes - Times of India Entertainment.
The trailer for Frank Grillo and Josh Hutcherson’s new action movie, Long Gone Heroes, just dropped.

Frank Grillo is known for his roles in films such as The Purge: Anarchy and Captain America: The Winter Soldier. In Long Gone Heroes, Frank plays Gunner.

Gunner is a special forces soldier who’s seen more than enough horrors to last a lifetime. However, when Gunner’s niece is abducted in South America, he’s forced back into the war. By putting together a team of old and new friends, Gunner will stop at nothing to bring her home safe.

Starring alongside Frank is The Hunger Games and Five Nights At Freddy’s star, Josh Hutcherson. Josh plays computer wiz-kid, David, and by the looks of the trailer seems to be the member of Gunner’s team who is constantly underestimated.

Also starring in the movie are Eden Brolin, Mekhi Phifer, Melissa Leo, and Andy Garcia.

Directed by John Swab, Long Gone Heroes is an action-thriller that promises to leave you breathless. Check it out in theaters on September 20 and watch the trailer below!

"You had no idea... what you got yourself into down here." Lionsgate has revealed an official trailer for the action movie Long Gone Heroes, another of these generic action thrillers being dumped on VOD. A dime a dozen, am I right?! This one was filmed in Colombia and Puerto Rico (doubling as Venezuela). A special forces soldier who has given up country, religion, and even hope, must return to the field of battle to track down his niece – a reporter, caught in the middle of an illegal private contracting operation that went dead wrong. Another extraction story? Acclaimed actors Andy Garcia, Melissa Leo, Josh Hutcherson, and Frank Grillo star in a non-stop action thriller that will leave you breathless. Also featuring Eden Brolin, Mekhi Phifer, George Carroll, and Wendy Moniz. This looks exceptionally violent and intense, might even be slightly better than most of these generic VOD action movies. You never know? Check it out below.

Here's the official trailer (+ poster) for John Swab's film Long Gone Heroes, direct from YouTube:

Long Gone Heroes Poster

Gunner, a special forces soldier who has witnessed the darkest side of country and combat, is forced back into the field of battle to save his niece, who is being held in South America. As the fight intensifies, Gunner and his team discover that her disappearance is part of a corrupt private operation that hits way too close to home. Long Gone Heroes is directed by American filmmaker John Swab, director of the films Let Me Make You a Martyr, Run with the Hunted, Body Brokers, Ida Red, Candy Land, Little Dixie, and One Day as a Lion previously. The screenplay is co-written by John Swab and Santiago Manes Moreno. It's produced by Santiago Manes Moreno, Noli Molla, Scott Putman, Charlie Toro, Carlos Velazquez, and Cristina Villar. Lionsgate debuts Long Gone Heroes in select US theaters + on VOD starting on September 20th, 2024.
Frank Grillo leads the action-packed thriller Long Gone Heroes, reuniting with director John Swab for the fifth time.
The film follows Grillo's character, a former special forces operative, as he rescues his niece amidst a political conflict in South America.
Long Gone Heroes delves into a gritty narrative set against a backdrop of a political arms dispute in Venezuela, with a stellar ensemble cast.
Collider is thrilled to debut the first trailer and key art for Long Gone Heroes, an intense action thriller starring Frank Grillo, Josh Hutcherson, Andy Garcia, and Melissa Leo. Directed by John Swab, the film will hit theaters, On Demand, and Digital on September 20, 2024. Grillo, known for his rugged roles in The Purge series and Captain America, leads the film as Gunner, a former special forces operative. Grillo’s collaboration with director Swab is no coincidence—this marks their fifth project together. Grillo shared his admiration for Swab in a recent interview:

“Yeah, I got a guy named John Swab, who I’ve done five movies with now, Ida Red and Body Brokers. We just finished one with Mekhi Phifer, actually called Land of Grace, a really cool, kind of Extraction-esque type of film. I love this kid. I think he’s dynamite.”

In Long Gone Heroes, Grillo’s character is thrust back into action to rescue his niece, who is caught in a dangerous political conflict in South America. The film’s narrative is packed with high-stakes drama, as Gunner and his team uncover that her disappearance is tied to a corrupt private contracting operation—a situation that hits closer to home than they expected.

Long Gone Heroes poster

Long Gone Heroes is set against the backdrop of a political arms dispute in Venezuela, where U.S.-trained government intelligence plays a pivotal role. The plot follows Gunner as he navigates this treacherous environment, fighting to save his niece while confronting the moral and physical dangers posed by a corrupt operation. The film’s production journey began in September 2022 with initial photography in Puerto Rico, followed by a second session in Colombia in June 2023, capturing the region’s stunning landscapes to enhance the film’s gritty realism.

Where Do You Know the Cast of 'Long Gone Heroes'?

Josh Hutcherson, known for his role in The Hunger Games trilogy, stars alongside Grillo; Andy Garcia, who has a storied career with films like The Godfather Part III under his belt, adds a layer of gravitas to the movie; alongside Melissa Leo, an Oscar-winning actress for The Fighter, who brings her powerful screen presence to this action-packed story; while Mekhi Phifer rounds off the cast with his signature charisma and intensity. The cast is also rounded out by Juan Pablo Raba, Beau Knapp, George Carroll, and Eden Brolin.

Catch the exclusive trailer below, and prepare for the film’s release on September 20, 2024. With its mix of intense action, gripping drama, and a stellar cast, Long Gone Heroes is poised to be a must-watch this fall. Stay tuned for more updates as the release date approaches.
In my review for Hounds of War (2024) I joked how it seemed like Frank Grillo seemed to have a new film every week. That “joke” was further compounded by the fact he had two films out on the same day, with both Hounds of War and Long Gone Heroes.

As an action enthusiast, I initially concentrated on Hounds of War, given its association with action legend Isaac Florentine. However, I should have shifted my focus to Long Gone Heroes, an outstanding action thriller that serves as Grillo’s best leading role since Boss Level (2020).

Reuniting for the fifth time with writer/director John Swab, Long Gone Heroes is perfectly crafted for Grillo, featuring stoic heroes, despicable villains, and plenty of intense action scenes to satisfy his fans. While the Venezuelan settings may not seem entirely authentic, and the accents could be questionable, these are just minor issues that don’t detract from the film’s gripping nature. After all, audiences rarely complain when U.S. films mishandle Scottish accents, something I could take personally, yet I’m mature enough to overlook such details if the film excels in other areas. Trust me, Long Gone Heroes more than compensates for these slight production flaws.

Grillo is suitably grizzled (sorry couldn’t help myself) as ex-special forces soldier Gunner. Having turned his back on his career and his country, Gunner finds himself dragged back into action after his niece (Eden Brolin) is kidnapped in Venezuela. His niece is a young reporter who is down there as an act of defiance against her mother Olivia (Melissa Leo), a United States Governor. It looks like her kidnapping could be linked to some dodgy dealings her mother has had with drug lord Roman (Andy Garcia).

Olivia uses Gunner’s emotions against him, coercing him to enter Venezuela on a rescue mission. Assembling a team made up of Matty (George Carroll), West (Beau Knapp) and David (Josh Hutcherson) they trek into the violent terrain, with their only support being Guapo (Juan Pablo Raba), a local mercenary from Gunner’s past. It’s not long before this small team finds themselves in the thick of it, with it never being clear who will make it.

I had noted in several of his previous movies, director John Swab has a very 1970’s sensibility in how he shoots his films, what I like to call “the no bullshit approach”. His action is shot cleanly and precise without attempts to inject unnecessary visual flourishes that only subtract from the on screen action rather than adding to it.

Even the emphasis on the film’s more dramatic, dialogue-driven scenes feels stripped down. Similar to the style of Walter Hill, the characters are reduced to their core elements. Aside from Grillo’s Gunner, we initially lack insight into the backgrounds of his teammates. We learn more about them through their actions in the field and a few significant lines of dialogue, revealing that they are deeply flawed individuals. However, when the moment calls for it, they demonstrate a strong moral compass. While they may make harsh comments, they are willing to risk their lives to uphold what is right.

This is beautifully illustrated by the film’s eclectic group of heroes. Unsurprisingly, Grillo shines as the group’s leader, the tough yet troubled Gunner, a character who appears emotionally drained. Through the journey to rescue his niece, he gradually regains a sense of humanity, all while taking down what can only be described as a small army. In my review of Hounds of War, I noted Grillo’s lack of presence during the second half of the film, but I can’t express the same concern here. He actively participates in several thrilling shootouts and fight scenes, notably engaging in a memorable hand-to-hand confrontation with Mekhi Phifer as the film races toward its climax.

The underrated Beau Knapp delivers strong support as West, the more reserved member of the team. Like Gunner, West exhibits clear disillusionment; however, it’s his loyalty to his friends that keeps him engaged. Knapp conveys a great deal through subtle movement and expression, allowing his emotions to unfold as the story progresses.

I’ve been consistently impressed by Knapp since his performance in The Signal (2014), always feeling he is on the brink of a major breakthrough. His standout supporting roles in films such as Southpaw (2015), The Finest Hours (2016), and Sand Castle (2017) showcase his versatility, even if his screen time was somewhat limited. This time, however, he is present throughout the entire film.

Knapp is certainly better utilized here than in the recent Road House (2024), which I felt squandered his abilities. Long Gone Heroes marks his second collaboration with Swab after the crime thriller Ida Red (2021), which also starred his Long Gone Heroes co-stars Frank Grillo and Melissa Leo.

Another Swab regular, George Carroll, also known as Slaine, delivers an impressive performance as one of Gunner’s teammates. Carroll acts as a bit of a good luck charm for John Swab, having appeared in even more of his films than Grillo. Although he may seem a bit rough around the edges compared to his teammates, he brings a significant amount of personality and heart to his character.

Similarly, Juan Pablo Raba portrays the Mercenary character Guapo, who initially comes off as cold-blooded but ultimately proves his loyalty in the field. It was great to see Raba back in action after his strong supporting roles in films like The Marksman (2021) and Freelance (2023). His role in this film provides him with more depth than either of those previous performances.

Then there’s Josh Hutcherson, one of the more recognizable actors in the cast. Following his slimy villainous turn in The Beekeeper (2024), he returns to the side of good as tech specialist David. Clearly out of his element, he quickly finds himself facing danger head-on. Hutcherson shines in the role of the anxious, fidgety tech geek, serving as our window into the film’s world, as David grapples with the bewildering events unfolding around him.

Other than Melissa Leo, Eden Brolin is the only main female character. Although she clearly wants to do the right thing, her character actually comes across as a bit of an asshole, with a discussion between her and Hutcherson’s David being a perfect example of this. With her muttering about him being an idiot, she seemingly forgets he’s put his life on the line to rescue her. Thankfully she comes around, especially when she realizes the risks those around her are taking to get her to safety.

Melissa Leo brings a level of gravitas to the film, despite her limited screen time, primarily appearing in the opening scenes. Portraying a United States Governor, her character is entangled in some highly questionable activities. While I won’t claim to be an expert on politics or suggest that the film’s discussions accurately reflect reality, they certainly add a layer of complexity that elevates Long Gone Heroes beyond a mere action film.

Further Star power is given by Andy Garcia, although his scenes are considerably brief, with henchman Mekhi Phifer being more the film’s main villain. Both portray vile human beings and easily rank up there with the most evil characters either actors has played.

It’s obvious Swab wasn’t interested in directing a typical bullet fest. This is especially apparent in the first half of the film where he takes his time to introduce us to the characters and plot elements. It is almost at the hour mark before the action truly kicks in, but before that Swab cranks up the tension. When the action finally does come it hardly lets up. While there is some obvious use of digital blood and gunfire, it’s not too obtrusive and is to be expected these days.

Another element that rises Long Gone Heroes above the norm is some classy cinematography from director of photography Brandon Cox. The jungle based scenes are particularly impressive, with Cox’s nighttime photography being particularly striking. To be honest, I thought Cox would have risen above the DTV/VOD market by now especially considering his quality collaborations with personal favorite Steven C. Miller. I’m not knocking DTV as many of my favorite films have gone this route, but Cox’s work is easily on par with many better known D.O.P’s.

Long Gone Heroes easily surpassed my expectations. Some minor faults aren’t enough to detail what is an utterly captivating action thriller that favors its characters as much as the action.

John Swab already has another film on the way, King Ivory, another crime thriller that seems to be another film taken straight from the headlines, with it putting a focus on Fentanyl trafficking. Sadly it doesn’t look like Grillo is back for that one, but I’m sure he doesn’t have to worry with him already having several other films awaiting release or going into production.

Long Gone Heroes is currently available on VOD and shouldn’t be missed. It’s one Grillo film that deserves more attention.
Actor Frank Grillo and director Jon Swab (Body Brokers, Ida Red) make a pretty damn good pair for the work they’ve done in the last few years. Their record continues of late with Long Gone Heroes which also has Eden Brolin, Josh Hutcherson, Melissa Leo, and Andy Garcia, and also reunites Grillo with his Lights Out co-star Mekhi Phifer.

Gunner, a special forces soldier who has witnessed the darkest side of country and combat, is forced back into the field of battle to save his niece, who is being held in South America. As the fight intensifies, Gunner and his team discover that her disappearance is part of a corrupt private operation that hits way too close to home. Acclaimed actors Andy Garcia, Melissa Leo, Josh Hutcherson and Frank Grillo star in a non-stop action thriller that will leave you breathless.

Swab and co-writer Santiago Manes Moreno penned the script. Lionsgate opens the film in select theaters, on demand and on digital from September 20. See the trailer below:
LONG GONE HEROES is a 2024 war drama thriller film directed by John Swab (One Day as a Lion, Ida Red), from a screenplay he co-wrote with Santiago Manes Moreno.

Gunner, a special forces soldier who has witnessed the darkest side of country and combat, is forced back into the field of battle to save his niece, who is being held in South America. As the fight intensifies, Gunner and his team discover that her disappearance is part of a corrupt private operation that hits way too close to home.

The cast includes Frank Grillo, Josh Hutcherson, Eden Brolin, Mekhi Phifer, Melissa Leo, and Andy García.

LONG GONE HEROES is set to debut in select theaters and VOD September 20th, courtesy of Lionsgate. Watch the official trailer below.
Frank Grillo is a soldier with a troubled past who must fight to rebuild his family in Long Gone Heroes. Following his breakout roles in Warrior, The Grey and Kingdom, Grillo has become one of the most recognizable faces in the action genre over the past decade, having starred in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Brock Rumlow/Crossbones, the time-looping action-comedy Boss Level and indie thriller Copshop. Grillo's talents have also extended to a variety of other genres, including the more horror-driven Purge franchise and the crime drama Body Brokers.

Grillo stars in Long Gone Heroes as Gunner, the leader of a special operations team who has been grappling with the death of his brother over the past 10 years, especially as his sister-in-law has kept him from seeing his niece. When she comes to him to ask for help with saving his niece, who's now an investigative journalist, after she's kidnapped in South America while investigating an illegal private contracting operation, Gunner must assemble his team of specialists, and the son of one of his former team members, to go south and rescue her in the hopes of salvaging his family.

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Alongside Grillo, the ensemble Long Gone Heroes cast includes Five Nights at Freddy's' Josh Hutcherson, Yellowstone's Eden Brolin, Lights Out's Mekhi Phifer, Oscar winner Melissa Leo, and Oscar nominee Andy Garcia. Hailing from co-writer/director John Swab, the movie proves to be more than a routine military extraction thriller, instead following in the footsteps of classics like Apocalypse Now by being just as much about a character-driven saga as an exciting action blockbuster.

In honor of the movie's release, Screen Rant interviewed Frank Grillo to discuss Long Gone Heroes, how he brought John Swab onboard to salvage the movie's original script, the speedbump they encountered when production was shut down halfway through, getting to reunite with many members of the cast, and a brief tease of his DC Universe future.

Long Gone Heroes Had An "Interesting Journey" To The Screen
"...we didn't know what was going to happen."
Frank Grillo standing near a cliff and looking angry in Long Gone Heroes
Screen Rant: I'm really stoked to get to chat with you for Long Gone Heroes, it felt so different from so many action war movies we see, in that it's far more introspective and far more character-driven. I'd love to hear what it was about the script and your character that really drew you to want to be a part of it?

Frank Grillo: Well, it's an interesting journey with this movie. I got my buddy John Swab, who I've made five movies with, to direct it and come in and fix the script, because it was a little wonky. And we were in Puerto Rico shooting the movie, and then the movie got shut down because of a money situation, and we didn't know what was going to happen. And four or five months later, we got the call that it was back up, only in Columbia, and then we went and we kind of cobbled the movie together. And this is how amazing this guy is as a director, and my buddy Kevin, who edited the movie, who's Joe Carnahan and I's editor, it was a tough road to put the two parts together and make it kind of seamless and have it shift some scenes. To hear you say you watched it, you dug it. What was it like? You have no idea. It means a whole lot more than the average movie. So, that being said, it was an amazing thing. Once John got his hands on it and fixed the script, and we created these characters. It was an amazing thing to then go and shoot this movie, because it was so much more than just an extraction movie. You know what I mean?

Grillo's Familiarity With His Cast Made Build A Rapport Easy
"...I think they did a great job of some comic relief..."
Frank Grillo's Gunner sitting next to Beau Knapp's West in a restaurant booth in Long Gone Heroes
I love the rapport that you have with your main cast of characters, and I'd love to hear what it was like building that dynamic with everyone, especially since there was such a crazy schedule with the shooting?

Frank Grillo: Yeah, another great question. I've worked with Beau Knapp, and I've worked with George Carroll before, also with John Swab, Josh Hutcherson, came in, and I think killed it. And it was really great, because my job was not to be their friend. My job was to be their captain, the leader, so the other stuff was left to them, and I think they did a great job of some comic relief, because it's a heavy movie. It's kind of a heavy movie. Specifically, Beau Knapp and George Carroll, they had a good banter. And Hutchinson came in, and I gotta tell you, he's got a place in this action world. I believe everything he does, he's got a vulnerability to him. So, it was really fun finding all that, and creating this together, and then, pulling off whatever action we need to pull off. All the while, half the time, not knowing what we were going to do, because we were kind of fixing a movie that was in trouble. It's a great story. I wish people who saw the movie knew the story to the movie.

Mekhi Phifer as Moreau talking into a radio in a car in Long Gone Heroes
We're gonna get that story out, because I think people are gonna be extra intrigued to see how the movie turned out. Last we spoke was for Lights Out, and I love that you get to reunite with Mekhi for this, and you get an outright fight this time, instead of being friendly. I'd love to hear how closely these two movies were when they were shot, and about putting that fight together.

Frank Grillo: Yeah, so with Mekhi, it was a smaller role, but a pivotal role. And in the first part of the movie that we had to rewrite, because it went down, Mekhi's role was a little different, a little bit bigger, but I think it was more impactful in the second half of what you're seeing. And it was great doing that fight. It was all me and him. My stuntman, Greg Fitzpatrick, went over the table, but for the most part, it was Mekhi and I, and we had such good fun playing with that. I think it came out great. Again, John and Kevin, Kevin Hale was a super editor. He's cut, like, five of my movies. He fixed the whole movie, and he made that fight fast and furious and raw. And I'm happy with it, it really came out great.

Melissa Leo as Olivia looking smug while standing in the field near her house in Long Gone Heroes
I'd also love to hear about working with Melissa Leo in this film, because there's a lot of animosity between those two characters, and I'd love to hear about exploring that relationship with her, as well as just getting to the heart of it yourself.

Frank Grillo: Yeah, Melissa and I had worked together on a John Swab movie, Ida Red. I love Melissa. She's one of the best actors out there, Oscar actress. She's the real deal. We talked a lot about, again, part of the movie that we shot in Puerto Rico didn't make it on the screen, and we had to kind of finagle the story and why we were there. So, some of what you're seeing, again, is cobbled together by John Swab, and we had to fix it. And I know, they're going to probably say, "Why'd you have to tell them?" Because it's an important part. This is the narrative of how we got the movie made. It's an important part of the movie. It was so great, then, to banter with her, and she's got a vulnerability about her, and she's come to me with this. She's kind of swallowed her pride and come to me with this dilemma about my niece, who I have not seen. So, there's a lot of history that we have to get out to the audience without spending too much time doing it. But the way, I think, it lands in the film, you kind of understand that this family's been broken apart, and now there's a chance for it to be brought back together, if I can save a life. So it's fun movie stuff, it's why we go to the movies.

Long Gone Heroes Is A True Tale Of Redemption For Multiple Characters
There Was Once An Alternate Ending For The Movie
Frank Grillo as Gunner looking exhausted while holding his rifle in Long Gone Heroes
Do you feel that animosity came because she didn't let your character see his niece after his brother died? Or do you think it was there even before that?

Frank Grillo: No, I think what happens is, my brother dies. My brother went down, and I'm a special ops guy. I lost my s--t a bit, and my brother went down, and I wasn't in a good space, and she didn't want her child around me. Probably a good idea, right? Probably a good idea. I'm a dangerous guy who's off kilter, so once the separation starts, it just kind of builds, and 10 years go by. Now, I can follow her, because she's a senator, but I've not seen my girl, and there's a lot of guilt, and there's a lot of shame on my part, and it's tough to get all of that across, but that's what's happening. That was the baseline of our relationship, when she comes to me, and you see her in my garage.

It's such a great tale of redemption for both of your characters as, like you say, she has to swallow her pride, she has to try and take accountability for her actions, and then you have to really help mend this family back together.

Frank Grillo: You know, there was a version of this movie where, at the end, she's got the tape, and we're on the river, and we don't know what happens. And then John kind of figured, "No, that's not good enough. The audience has earned this, and Melissa needs to come clean." So, I love the way he pulled that together, and he's such a great filmmaker. He's got a movie with Ben Foster and my buddy James Badge Dale, that was just in Venice. It just shot him out of a cannon. I think he's having meetings right now in LA with CAA and William Morris and Netflix and all the agencies. So, you're going to hear a lot about John Swab.

James Gunn Is Keeping The DCU Timeline Even From His Actors "By Design"
"Guardians is a small thing compared to what this guy has in mind for DC."
Frank Grillo looking at the Creature Commandos Exclusive headerCustom Image by Sean Migalla & Grant Hermanns
I see I'm almost out of time, so before I let you go, I did also want to ask really quickly. I love that you are popping up in so much DC Universe stuff coming up, but they're all very different projects. I don't want to get you in trouble, but I'd love to know, can you tell me how the timeline is going to work out for those three different appearances?

Frank Grillo: I know, as far as timeline, Creature Commandos hits in December, and then as far as Superman and Peacemaker, that's out in 2025. They haven't told us anything by design. James Gunn is cutting everything right now, I'm about to go finish the last couple of episodes with James directing on Peacemaker, and that's about as much as I could say. It's all Rick Flag, it's all the same character throughout, which I love. I could not be more appreciative to James and Peter Safran. These guys are running DC now, and they've brought me into this fold in a big way. I think fans are going to be blown away by the mind of James Gunn. He's been let free. Guardians is a small thing compared to what this guy has in mind for DC. So stay tuned.

About Long Gone Heroes

Gunner, a special forces soldier who has witnessed the darkest side of country and combat, is forced back into the field of battle to save his niece, who is being held in South America. As the fight intensifies, Gunner and his team discover that her disappearance is part of a corrupt private operation that hits way too close to home. Acclaimed actors Andy Garcia, Melissa Leo, Josh Hutcherson and Frank Grillo star in a non-stop action thriller that will leave you breathless.

Long Gone Heroes is now in theaters and on digital platforms and VOD!

Source: Screen Rant Plus

Long Gone Heroes (2024) - Poster
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Long Gone Heroes
R
Action
Drama
Gunner, a battle-hardened special forces soldier, returns to action to rescue his niece in South America. He and his team uncover a corrupt private operation linked to her disappearance, revealing ties that hit close to home.

Director
John Swab
Release Date
September 20, 2024
Writers
John Swab , Santiago Manes Moreno
Cast
Josh Hutcherson , Frank Grillo , Andy Garcia , Melissa Leo
Character(s)
David , Gunner , Roman , Olivia
Runtime
122 Minutes
Main Genre
Action

Frank Grillo discusses his role in Lionsgate's Long Gone Heroes and the film's gripping political thriller elements.
Director John Swab's persistence revived the challenging production of Long Gone Heroes, filmed in Colombia.
Grillo shares his experiences working with co-stars Andy Garcia, Josh Hutcherson, Mekhi Phifer, and more.
Grillo talks about his favorite stunts, filming locations, and future aspirations with directors like Fincher and Scorsese.

Frank Grillo is one hell of a workhorse as a jack-of-all-trades talent. Whether you need a competent lead, a compelling villain, or a credible physical presence, Grillo fulfills that need as a character actor. He's having the time of his life in indie action films, comic franchises, and TV shows and wouldn't have it any other way. He stars in Lionsgate's action thriller Long Gone Heroes, which follows Gunner (Grillo), a special forces soldier who has witnessed the darkest side of country and combat, is forced back into the field of battle to save his niece, who is being held in South America. As the fight intensifies, Gunner and his team discover that her disappearance is part of a corrupt private operation that hits way too close to home. The season two Peacemaker star spoke to Bleeding Cool about taking the initiative on production, recruiting frequent collaborators, director John Swab, casting, how the director's persistence and resourcefulness provided a second life to production, and if there's any director or actor on his wish list for future projects.

Long Gone Heroes Star Frank Grillo on Action Thriller, Swab & More
Frank Grillo in "Long Gone Heroes" (2024). Image courtesy of Lionsgate
Long Gone Heroes: Frank Grillo on Production's Scrappiness and Heart
Bleeding Cool: What intrigued you about 'Long Gone Heroes,' and what does John Swab bring out of you as an actor that other creatives have not for you?
Good question. I dug the nuts and bolts of the story and love these types of distraction movies, the little political thriller stuff. There was another director, originally. The guy who wrote the original script was attached. One thing led to another, and I had the opportunity to choose the director, and [John] was my first choice because I'd done four movies with him. I knew this was a bit bigger than he had been used to budget-wise, but I knew he was ready for this. He knows how to execute the action and deal with a cast like this, and he did so beautifully.

What was it like working on set again with Mekhi Phifer and getting the opportunities with Josh Hutcherson, Andy Garcia, and your other castmates?

I reached out to Andy because we had a relationship. I told him to watch some of John's stuff. [The studio] brought in Josh Hutcherson after another actor had left. Beau Knapp is a buddy of mine and John Swab's. Mekhi was the buddy I had previously worked with on 'Lights Out' (2024). It was a collaboration of people we had all worked with, and we knew this would be a running and gunning type of guerilla filmmaking experience. We needed people we could trust. George Carroll, another guy who was in there for a couple of other movies with us, and we needed to form a group that could be teammates. It was tough to make this movie, and it fell apart once, but we returned and finished it in Columbia. John was steadfast. Without John's love for this movie, we would never have been sitting and talking about it.

Long Gone Heroes Star Frank Grillo on Action Thriller, Swab & More
Juan Pablo Raba, Frank Grillo, and Josh Hutcherson in "Long Gone Heroes" (2024). Image courtesy of Lionsgate
Did you have a favorite scene or stunt you did in the film?
I loved doing the fight stuff with Mekhi. We had a lot of fun and laughed doing that.

How do you compare the atmosphere filming in Columbia, and did you get an opportunity to enjoy your time there? How does filming there compare to when you initially started in Puerto Rico?

That's a good question. Puerto Rico is a vacation spot, so it affected what we were shooting because it's weird. It's an island where people drink pina coladas and walk around in bathing suits. When we went to Colombia to recreate and finish the film, it was night and day. Colombia felt like Venezuela, and it felt dangerous. We were really in the jungle, whereas we were trying to find a jungle in Puerto Rico. Colombia lends itself to the movie in a way that allows us to make a much better film.

You've been such a great workhorse in your films whether it's action or dramatic roles. Are there any directors or actors you want to work with that you haven't had a chance to yet?

The way my career's gone, I've worked with some great directors, and there are some I want an opportunity to work with before I die. David Fincher comes to mind; he's amazing. I'd also love to work with Paul Thomas Anderson and Martin Scorsese. Who knows? There are a lot of talented men and women out there. It's interesting because I'm not in the studio system, so it's an interesting kind of Hollywood's weird animal. "Never say never," but I focus on what's in front of me with what abilities I have because I don't want to sit at home waiting for shit. There are a lot of talented actors I would love to work with as well, but it is what it is. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn't, I'm not bothered.

Long Gone Heroes Star Frank Grillo on Action Thriller, Swab & More
Cr: Lionsgate
Long Gone Heroes, which also stars Eden Brolin, Wendy Moniz, and Melissa Leo, is available in theaters, on demand and digital.
In Select Theaters, on Digital, and On Demand September 20. Starring Frank Grillo, Josh Hutcherson, Eden Brolin, Mekhi Phifer, Melissa Leo, and Andy García.

I had the opportunity to interview the badass actor, and Martial Arts action enthusiast Frank Grillo about his latest film, ‘LONG GONE HEROES‘ directed by John Swab. Catch us discuss Jiu Jitsu, stunts and working with John Swab again for the explosive action packed flick dropping today!!!

I also got to chat with the super talented Juan Pablo Raba who stars alongside Grillo as Special Operations Agent Guapo. Catch us discuss his military training, his insane introduction in the film, developing accents while living all over the world, his work on Narcos and Six, and current political affairs.

Frank Grillo known for playing Brock Rumlow / Crossbones Marvel Cinematic Universe and Sergeant Leo Barnes The Purge franchise. He has also appeared in Warrior (2011), The Grey(2012), End of Watch (2012), Zero Dark Thirty (2012), Wolf Warrior 2 and Wheelman (both 2017), and Boss Level (2021). Grillo’s television work includes the lead role in Kingdom (2014–2017) and recurring roles in Battery Park (2000), For the People (2002–2003), The Shield(2002–2003), Prison Break (2005–2006), Blind Justice (2005), The Kill Point(2007), and Billions (2020).

Juan Pablo Raba Vidal (Six, Narcos) is a Colombian film, TV and telenovela actor, best known internationally for his role as Gustavo Gaviria in the 2015 Netflix series Narcos.

Synopsis:

#LongGoneHeroesMovie Gunner, a special forces soldier who has witnessed the darkest side of country and combat, is forced back into the field of battle to save his niece, who is being held in South America. As the fight intensifies, Gunner and his team discover that her disappearance is part of a corrupt private operation that hits way too close to home. Acclaimed actors Andy Garcia, Melissa Leo, Josh Hutcherson and Frank Grillo star in a non-stop action thriller that will leave you breathless.

My reaction: Alongside an ensemble cast, Frank Grillo leads the explosive and gritty high-stakes action packed drama Long Gone Heroes as the merciless former special forces operative. The intense action thriller scours through a political conflict in Venezuela centering on greed, moral compass, political corruption, and briefly showcasing society’s desensitization to violence.

Long Gone Heroes – Watch the trailer now!

In Select Theaters, on Digital, and On Demand September 20