Dev Patel is further showcasing his filmmaking versatility, signing on to write, direct, and star in ‘The Peasant,’ a distinctive period action thriller from Fifth Season and Thunder Road Pictures.

The film marks a reunion between Patel and Thunder Road, which previously produced ‘Monkey Man’ — Patel’s feature directorial debut that he also co-wrote and starred in.

Described as an adrenalized revenge thriller, ‘The Peasant’ draws comparisons to ‘Braveheart’ and ‘John Wick,’ with touches of King Arthur, blending the worlds of medieval knights and feudal India. Set in the 1300s, the story follows a shepherd who launches a furious campaign against a group of mercenary knights who have ravaged his village, revealing hidden depths to his character.

Fifth Season, which is financing and producing the project, originally developed the film with Will Dunn, a writer known for his work on Marvel Studios’ Ms. Marvel. The screenplay gained considerable attention, earning a spot on the 2023 Black List, the industry’s roundup of the most popular unproduced scripts.

In Patel’s adaptation, the original Italian setting and the protagonist’s ties to the Pope have been reimagined, transporting the story to a richly vibrant, almost mystical India. Producers are optimistic that ‘The Peasant’ could serve as the launchpad for a new franchise.

Thunder Road is no stranger to successful action franchises, being the powerhouse behind the blockbuster ‘John Wick’ series. Their impressive track record also includes the ‘Sicario’ films, and they are set to release ‘Fight or Flight,’ an action movie starring Josh Hartnett, in May.

Patel’s ‘Monkey Man,’ which also centered on revenge, was set in India and followed a man infiltrating a nightclub to take vengeance on the person responsible for his mother’s death.

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