Yahya Abdul-Mateen II has spent years proving he belongs among Hollywood’s most versatile leading men. With Man on Fire, which began streaming on Netflix today, April 30, he does more than prove it — he commands it.
The seven-episode series is based on A.J. Quinnell’s acclaimed 1980 novel and marks the third screen adaptation of the story of John Creasy, a Special Forces mercenary navigating violence, grief, and the fragile possibility of redemption. The 1987 film featured Scott Glenn, and the beloved 2004 version starred Denzel Washington. This Netflix iteration belongs entirely to Abdul-Mateen II — and he carries it with a magnetic presence that few actors working today can match.
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and the Weight of John Creasy
The version of Creasy that Abdul-Mateen II brings to life is not a man at the height of his powers. When audiences first meet him, he is in pieces. A mission in Mexico City has gone catastrophically wrong, costing him his entire team and leaving him adrift in PTSD, sleeplessness, and alcohol. That deliberate choice — introducing Creasy as broken rather than invincible — gives Abdul-Mateen II the full emotional range the role demands, and he delivers every bit of it.
Showrunner Kyle Killen has said Abdul-Mateen II was the only actor he considered for the part. The role required someone physically imposing and emotionally transparent at the same time — a combination the Emmy winner has demonstrated across Watchmen, Ambulance, and Candyman.
A Story of Revenge and Reluctant Connection
The plot kicks into motion when Creasy’s estranged mentor Paul Rayburn, played with warmth by Bobby Cannavale, pulls him into a mission targeting a terrorist network in Rio de Janeiro. When Rayburn is killed in a skyscraper bombing, Creasy becomes the sole protector of his teenage daughter Poe, played by newcomer Billie Boullet.
Their dynamic has emerged as one of the series’ most praised elements. Boullet, a Critics Choice Award nominee, brings intelligence and emotional precision to the role — holding her own against her far more experienced scene partner. Alice Braga rounds out the central cast as Valeria Melo, a driver who becomes Creasy’s most reliable ally on the ground.
Behind the Camera — Steven Caple Jr. Sets the Tone
Creed II director Steven Caple Jr. helms the first two episodes and serves as executive producer alongside Abdul-Mateen II. His influence registers immediately — a prison break sequence, a tense plane hijacking, and a relentless hospital firefight rank among the season’s most viscerally effective moments. The series was filmed across Mexico City and Rio de Janeiro, with both cities given room to shape the story’s mood and texture rather than simply serve as backdrop.
What Critics Are Saying About Yahya Abdul-Mateen II
Man on Fire arrives with a 56 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 64 out of 100 on Metacritic — generally favorable, if not unanimous. The split reflects a show that critics agree is elevated by its lead while occasionally limited by its script. Reviewers note that the writing keeps Creasy’s stoicism so tightly controlled that it sometimes restricts what Abdul-Mateen II can express — even as he finds quiet ways to let the character breathe.
Where critics consistently align is on Abdul-Mateen II himself. His Creasy is rusty but lethal, damaged but not defeated — a man rediscovering not just his skills but his reason to use them.
For Abdul-Mateen II, Man on Fire is a statement. His Creasy does not attempt to replicate Denzel Washington’s iconic 2004 portrayal — it builds something entirely its own. All seven episodes are streaming on Netflix now.
