Taron Egerton’s new Apple TV+ series,Smoke, just debuted its first batch of episodeslast week, but another upcoming project from the star just got an exciting new look. Collider is thrilled to partner with Lionsgate toexclusively reveal the first official trailerforShe Rides Shotgun –a thriller following Nate (Egerton), an ex-con marked for death, who must protect his estranged daughter. The dangerous reunion sets them on a path of loyalty, strength, redemption, and love, as each reminds the other and learn what it means to unconditionally love someone.The film has been set for release in theaters on August 1.
Collider also had the chance to ask directorNick Rowlanda few questions, including what drew him tocasting Taron Egertonto the role of Nate:
“Taron was our top choicebecause he has that rare ability to embody danger and tenderness in the same breath.We needed someone who could feel genuinely threatening, but also break your heart, and Taron walks that line beautifully. From our earliest conversations, he connected deeply with the material and brought a fierce emotional intelligence to the role. He never played Nate as the ‘cool antihero.’ He played him as a wounded man trying to do one good thing in his life, andthat gave the film its soul. That balance was essential for Nate. We needed someone who could wear the scars of a violent past and still let light in through the cracks.His performance is raw, soulful, and stripped of vanity.”
He also described the bond between father and son at the heart of the movie as“urgent” and “fragile,”highlighting how both are forced to rely on the other to survive. He previews a bit of what fans can expect to see from their relationship, mentioning how Nate’s daughter“doesn’t just soften”him, she“challenges him.”He assures that their journey is the“emotional spine of the story”and teasesEgerton’s“powerful”performance.
Fans of the ‘She Rides Shotgun’ Book Will Be Pleased With the Film
She Rides Shotgunis based on the novel of the same name byJordan Harper, which holds a strong four-star rating on Goodreads from over 8,000 reviews. Whileadapting novels can add an extra layer of pressurewhen it comes to pleasing fans of the book, it also presents an opportunity to add to something beautiful. We also asked Rowland what he would tell fans of the novel about his adaptation, and he promised that fans will“recognize the emotional truth of the story”even through the changes that have been made:
“For fans of the novel,I think they’ll recognize the spirit of the book- the dark poetry of it, the urgency, the intimacy. We’ve made some changes, of course, to bring the story to life in a cinematic way, but we’ve tried to stay true to its emotional truth. At its core, it’s still about Polly and Nate. How love, even when it’s late and imperfect, can still matter. Still save you. Beneath the hard edges and violent momentum,there was always something deeply tender and almost mythic. It felt like an adult fairytale disguised as a crime story: a girl and her outlaw father on the run, moving through a world that wants to swallow them whole…For fans of the novel, I think they’ll recognize the emotional truth of the story. We’ve made some changes to suit the medium, but the heart remains the same. It’s still Polly and Nate’s story- but told with a particular attention to how she sees him, how she shapes him, and how, ultimately, she saves him.”
Closing out the interview, we had the chance to ask Rowland aboutCosmo Jarvis, with whom he worked in 2019 onCalm with Horses. Jarvis exploded to new levels of popularity last year thanks to his role inShōgun, and after recently starring inA24’sWarfare, he’s also been tapped for a role inChristopher Nolan’s next movie,The Odyssey. Rowland admitted that no one can ever“fully predict a moment like the one Cosmo is having now,”but he admits he“always knew he was special.”he also spoke about Jarvis’“deep sensitivity and instinctive understanding”of his character inCalm with Horses. He wrapped things up by affirming how"proud"he is of his former star, and how"excited"he is to see where he goes next — aren’t we all?
She Rides Shotgunwill be released in theaters on August 1. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates and coverage of the film, and check out the exclusive trailer above and the new poster below.
