Walton Goggins Steps Into Lead as Josh Brolin Exits John Wick Team's Mister
The team behind John Wick is revving up a new action thriller—and making a bold pivot: Walton Goggins replaces Josh Brolin ahead of production.
Walton Goggins is swapping his post-apocalypse dust coat for a blood-soaked mystery. He just stepped in to lead an action thriller called 'Mister,' taking over for Josh Brolin, who had to bow out because of scheduling. The pitch is wild: think Bourne-level amnesia paranoia, John Wick-style mayhem, and, yes, a dash of Scott Pilgrim energy. That last ingredient is not what I expected, and I mean that as a compliment.
The hook
Goggins plays a man who wakes up in a strange house, drenched in blood, with almost no idea who he is or how he got there. As the pieces snap into place, killers from his past come calling - including exes and even his former best friend. His only lifeline is to team up with his estranged daughter, played by Chloe Grace Moretz. The twist: she is also a pro in the family business. If they want to survive, they have to fix their relationship while dodging bullets. No pressure.
The casting shuffle
Brolin originally boarded the project in September but exited due to calendar conflicts. Goggins slides into the role as the film ramps up to shoot.
Behind the camera
- Producers: Bright White Light and Thunder Road (the folks behind the John Wick franchise)
- Director: Wade Eastwood, making his feature debut after stunt-coordinating on Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible films and Jumanji: The Next Level
- Filming: Starts next month in Madrid
- Status: Additional casting is underway
Why this pairing could pop
Goggins brings that unpredictable, wiry danger you simply cannot fake, and Moretz has the timing and physicality to sell a father-daughter assassin two-hander. The director seems pretty amped about it too:
'From our first conversations, I knew Walton would bring an unpredictable spark you simply can't manufacture - he's electric. Chloe brings an incredible mix of strength, vulnerability and razor-sharp timing. Together, they make Mister exactly what we set out to create: bold, funny and completely full-throttle.'
'Mister' is aiming to blend sharp character beats with full-throttle action. If Eastwood brings his stunt-world precision to a father-daughter reconnection story where every hug might be followed by a headshot, this could be a nasty-good time.
Developing. More as the shoot gets rolling in Madrid.