Benedict Cumberbatch Stars in Guy Ritchie's Dark Family Thriller
Director Guy Ritchie teams up with Benedict Cumberbatch and Anthony Hopkins for a twisted tale of aristocratic greed. The thriller explores a deadly family succession battle filled with betrayal.
Black Bear's newly formed theatrical distribution division just dropped major news about their 2026 lineup. The independent studio plans to kick off the year with Jason Statham's action-packed Shelter before moving on to another high-profile project from a familiar face.
Guy Ritchie's latest directorial effort, Wife & Dog, now has an official release date of October 23, 2026. The film brings together an impressive cast including Benedict Cumberbatch, Rosamund Pike, Cosmo Jarvis, James Norton, Paddy Considine, and Anthony Hopkins.
A Deadly Family Drama Unfolds
The plot centers around the Fairbank family's ruthless pursuit of power. According to early details, the story explores how "the relentless greed of the Fairbank family and their associates sparking betrayal and murder in a succession battle."
This project represents Ritchie's signature blend of dark comedy and thriller elements, though with a fresh twist. Instead of his usual street-level criminals, the director turns his attention to aristocratic characters with murderous intentions.
Ritchie's Busy Production Schedule
Wife & Dog represents just one piece of Ritchie's packed upcoming slate. The filmmaker is preparing to reunite with Jason Statham for Viva La Madness, a long-awaited follow-up to Layer Cake. Statham will play the same unnamed protagonist Daniel Craig portrayed in the original film.
Another collaboration brings back Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels veteran Vinnie Jones. Sources describe this unnamed project as something that "feels so brilliantly British. It's going to be loud, fast and unapologetically patriotic. Jason and Vinnie are so brilliant together on screen and everyone working on the film was thrilled to hear that Vinnie had signed up."
Black Bear's Distribution Ambitions
The studio's new distribution arm aims to release up to 12 theatrical titles annually. Their upcoming slate includes Daniel Roher's Tuner, starring Dustin Hoffman, Havana Rose Liu and Leo Woodall, set for May 22. The film follows a piano tuner who becomes a safe cracker.
Ritchie also has In the Grey in development, reuniting him with Jake Gyllenhaal from The Covenant, plus Henry Cavill and Eiza González from The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. The story involves two extraction specialists helping a negotiator secure millions in stolen cash.