Dev Patel didn’t plan to direct the upcoming action thriller Monkey Man, which he also cowrote and starred in. The film faced setbacks including coronavirus-related delays and budget issues, but received a boost when Jordan Peele signed on as a producer, leading to Universal Pictures picking it up for distribution.
Monkey Man follows Kid (Patel), a young man seeking revenge against corrupt leaders responsible for his mother’s death. Patel drew inspiration from various action heroes and aimed to bring authenticity and cultural depth to the genre.
