Marvel hero Chris Hemsworth puts away the cape and hammer and puts on his mad scientist persona for his next movie, “Spiderhead.” Hemsworth plays Steve Abnesti, a dubious scientist who tests experimental drugs on convicts at a remote prison.
“He has noble intentions, but there are some darker things lurking underneath the surface with him,” director Joseph Kosinski told Entertainment Weekly recently, “He is the genius visionary behind the whole Spiderhead program.”
Konsinksi recently directed the massive “Top Gun: Maverick” hit, where he partnered with Miles Teller, who stars as Hemsworth’s lab rat Jeff. “Jeff works closely with, and sort of forms a friendship with, Abnesti,” Teller explained in the same interview. “I wanted to portray that sense of trust, in the beginning, to help show that there’s a real earnestness and sincerity on Abnesti’s part toward helping everybody. He has a soft spot for Jeff, and I think their dynamic is really entertaining to watch.”
“Spiderhead” is based on the 2010 New Yorker short story “Escape From Spiderhead” by George Saunders. “Spiderhead” was adapted by Rhett Reese and Paul Wenick, who have worked together on both “Deadpool” movies and “Zombieland.”
Here’s the official synopsis:
In the near future, convicts are offered the chance to volunteer as medical subjects to shorten their sentences. One such subject for a new drug capable of generating feelings of love begins questioning the reality of his emotions.
“Spiderhead” also stars Jurnee Smollett, known for “Birds of Prey” and “Lovecraft Country.”
The cast also includes Charles Parnell, Nathan Jones, Tess Haubrich, Bebe Bettencourt, Daniel Booko, Angie Milliken, and more. “Spiderhead” premieres on June 17 on Netflix but opens in select theaters on June 10. Watch the clip below: