Overview
A frustrated office worker discovers his father was an elite assassin. He's recruited into the secret society of killers and undergoes brutal training that transforms him into a deadly weapon.
Released in 2008, Wanted was directed by Timur Bekmambetov and produced under the Universal Pictures banner. The film occupies a significant place within the Independent — telling a self-contained story outside of shared-continuity superhero franchises.
The film features lead performances from James McAvoy, Angelina Jolie, Morgan Freeman, among others, anchoring a story that adapts characters first brought to life in Independent. Its source material gives the film a foundation rooted in decades of published storytelling, which Bekmambetov and the creative team interpret through a cinematic lens.
Its 6.7 rating reflects a film that divided audiences — appreciated for its ambition and spectacle by some, criticized for pacing and execution by others. Its place in the genre remains a frequent discussion point.
Principal Cast
Trivia & Facts
Wanted released in 2008, placing it within the 2000s era of comic book cinema — a decade that marked the modern superhero cinema revolution.
Directed by Timur Bekmambetov, the film was produced by Universal Pictures and adapts source material from Independent.
The principal cast features James McAvoy and Angelina Jolie, with key supporting roles played by Morgan Freeman, Common.
The film belongs to Independent — an independent / standalone production, not tied to a shared cinematic universe.
Wanted carries an audience rating of 6.7 — a middling reception but one that hasn't prevented its cultural footprint.
The Independent source material for Wanted has been in continuous publication for decades, giving filmmakers a rich well of storylines, character arcs, and iconography to draw upon.
Modern superhero films like this one use a mix of practical effects and digital VFX, with entire sequences often shot against volume walls or LED stages pioneered by shows like The Mandalorian.
Wanted is catalogued on Movies on Comics among our collection of 163 comic book films spanning 48 years of cinema — from Richard Donner's 1978 Superman to the present day.