Dead Man’s Wire(2026)

R
1h 45m

Release Date: Jan 9, 2026 | Limited

In 1977 Indianapolis, a desperate man takes the mortgage broker he blames for his ruin hostage, strapping a shotgun to both their necks with a deadly rig. As the standoff plays out on live television, old wounds, media frenzy and moral ambiguity blur together in a tense true-crime confrontation that exposes rage, desperation and the spectacle of public sympathy.

Releases

Original Release | Jan 9, 2026

Jan 16, 2026 | Wide

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(U.S. Only)

Director & Top Cast

Gus Van Sant
Director

Dacre Montgomery
Richard 'Dick' Hall

Bill Skarsgård
Tony Kiritsis

Colman Domingo
Fred Temple

Al Pacino
M.L. Hall

Cary Elwes
Michael Grable

Myha’la

Linda Page

Jordan Claire Robbins

Doreen

John Robinson

Actor

Stephanie Bertoni

TV News Anchor

Vinh Nguyen

James

Mark Helms

Frank Love

Kyle Rankin

Rookie Cop

Daniel R. Hill

Jimmy Kiritsis

Casey Feigh

Actor

Todd Gable

Chief Gallagher

John N. Dixon

First Responder

Katie Kinman

Ibby Hall

Other Details

Country of Origin: United States

Language: English

Summaries

Plot Summary

Dead Man’s Wire is a 2025 American crime thriller directed by Gus Van Sant from a screenplay by Austin Kolodney, based on the real 1977 hostage crisis involving Tony Kiritsis. The film stars Bill Skarsgård as Kiritsis and Dacre Montgomery as Richard Hall, the mortgage broker he holds captive with a sawed-off shotgun wired in a deadly loop. The ensemble cast also includes Cary Elwes, Myha’la, Colman Domingo, and Al Pacino, bringing depth and tension to a story rooted in economic frustration and media spectacle. Set amid the gritty backdrop of 1970s America, the film examines how a single act of violent defiance can evolve into a public spectacle, forcing viewers to confront issues of class, justice, desperation, and the media’s role in shaping narratives. Dead Man’s Wire blends period detail with intense character drama as it recreates one of the most astonishing hostage standoffs in modern U.S. history. The film premiered out of competition at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival in September 2025 and is scheduled for a limited U.S. release on January 9, 2026, expanding widely on January 16, 2026. With its blend of true-crime intrigue and nuanced performances, Dead Man’s Wire will resonate with audiences who appreciate character-driven thrillers grounded in real events.

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Fun Facts

Art dept. sourced actual micro-fiche print-outs from the original 1970s bank that refused Tony Kiritsis his loan—every yellowed ledger page you see on-screen is period-authentic, not artificially aged.