Adria Arjona, known for her recent role opposite Glen Powell in Netflix’s “Hit Man,” is in the final stages of negotiations to star in and executive produce “Onslaught,” the upcoming action thriller directed by Adam Wingard, who is best known for his work on “Godzilla vs. Kong: The New Empire.” This casting news marks the first announcement for the highly anticipated film, and Arjona’s involvement is generating significant buzz within the industry.
Arjona is set to portray a mother who utilizes her unique skills to protect her family after encountering a threat that has escaped from a secret military base. The project is being described as a “gonzo action horror thriller,” which aligns with the director’s previous works. Adam Wingard, alongside frequent collaborator Simon Barrett, is penning the script. The duo has previously worked together on films such as You’re Next and The Guest. Filming for this project is scheduled to commence later this year in New Mexico.
In May 2024, A24 acquired the rights to produce “Onslaught.” The film will be produced by Aaron Ryder and Andrew Swett under their Ryder Picture Company banner, in collaboration with A24, and Alexander Black for Lyrical Media. Additionally, the production will involve the efforts of director Adam Wingard, manager Jeremy Platt through their new company Breakaway Civilization, and producer John Barrett. The financing for the project will be a joint effort between Lyrical and A24. Jon Rosenberg and Natalie Sellers from Lyrical, as well as A24, will serve as executive producers for the film.
Adria Arjona has built a diverse and impressive career, showcasing her talent across various platforms. She made her initial mark on television, with notable appearances in episodes of popular series such as “Person of Interest,” “Narcos,” and “True Detective.” Transitioning to the big screen, Arjona starred in the 2016 film “The Belko Experiment,” marking her foray into feature films.
In 2017, she took on the iconic role of Dorothy Gale in the Oz book adaptation “Emerald City,” which aired on NBC for a single season. Arjona’s versatility shone through as she portrayed Anathema Device in the first season of “Good Omens” and showcased her action chops in movies such as “Pacific Rim Uprising,” “Triple Frontier,” “6 Underground,” “Sweet Girl,” and Sony’s “Morbius.”
However, it was her portrayal of the skilled mechanic Bix Caleen in the “Star Wars” series “Andor” that truly propelled her into the spotlight. Starring opposite Diego Luna, Arjona’s performance garnered widespread acclaim when the Disney+ series premiered in 2022.
Continuing her success, Arjona received high praise for her role in “Hit Man” in 2024. Additionally, she expanded her repertoire by appearing in Zoe Kravitz’s directorial debut “Blink Twice” and taking on both the starring role and executive production duties in “Los Frikis,” an indie drama set in Cuba during the early 1990s. Arjona’s ability to tackle diverse roles across television and film solidifies her status as a rising star in the entertainment industry.
The release date for Andor Season 2 on Disney+ has been delayed due to the 2023 writers’ and actors’ strikes, which caused production to shut down for several months. While Lucasfilm has not announced a new premiere date, Stellan Skarsgård, a co-star in the series, mentioned in February that the new episodes will likely return “towards the end of the year or early next.” Given that another Star Wars series, Skeleton Crew, is set to premiere on Disney+ in December, it seems unlikely that Andor will be back on the small screen until sometime in 2025. As for Onslaught, its release date is still unconfirmed.
