Guy Ritchie’s Star-Studded Thriller ‘Wife & Dog’ Locks In 2026 Premiere
Guy Ritchie’s latest crime caper, ‘Wife & Dog’, featuring Benedict Cumberbatch and Anthony Hopkins, is set to hit cinemas in October 2026. Expect a tangled web of family betrayal and murder.
Black Bear, a rising force in the independent film scene, has just rolled out its new U.S. theatrical distribution arm and is already making waves with a slate of major releases. Among the highlights, the studio is gearing up to kick off 2026 with Jason Statham’s action-packed Shelter, and now, they’ve locked in a cinema release for a fresh thriller from Statham’s mate, director Guy Ritchie.
Wife & Dog, boasting a top-tier cast including Benedict Cumberbatch, Rosamund Pike, Cosmo Jarvis, James Norton, Paddy Considine, and Anthony Hopkins, has had its first plot details revealed. The story dives into the cutthroat world of the Fairbank family, where
“the relentless greed of the Fairbank family and their associates sparking betrayal and murder in a succession battle,”
sets the stage for a gripping ride. Punters can mark their calendars for 23 October 2026, when the film lands in Aussie cinemas.
Family Feuds and Dark Humour
With Ritchie at the helm, Wife & Dog looks set to blend his trademark black comedy with a fresh twist, focusing on an aristocratic clan with murder on their minds. The combination of Cumberbatch, Pike, and Hopkins in the lead roles is sure to draw plenty of attention, and the film is already shaping up as a must-see for the year.
Ritchie’s knack for weaving together sharp wit and gritty drama is on full display here, promising a story that’s as clever as it is dark. The film’s premise, centred on a ruthless battle for power within a wealthy family, is classic Ritchie territory, but with a new spin that’s bound to keep audiences guessing.
Black Bear’s Big Plans
United Artists Releasing, working with Black Bear’s new distribution arm, is aiming to put out up to a dozen films a year. Alongside Wife & Dog, they’ve also set a 22 May release for Daniel Roher’s Tuner, starring Dustin Hoffman, Havana Rose Liu, and Leo Woodall. This one follows a piano tuner who turns to safecracking, while another hotly anticipated title, The Rivals of Amziah King, features Matthew McConaughey in a crime thriller role.
Black Bear’s approach is all about bringing a mix of genres and big names to the big screen, and their 2026 line-up is already looking stacked. With a focus on both established stars and fresh talent, the studio is keen to make its mark on the industry.
Ritchie’s Upcoming Projects
Wife & Dog is just one of several projects Guy Ritchie has on the go. He’s set to team up again with action legend Jason Statham for Viva La Madness, a long-awaited crime flick that serves as a sort-of-sequel to Layer Cake. Statham steps into the shoes of the same unnamed character played by Daniel Craig, who gets dragged back into the criminal underworld just as he’s about to retire.
There’s also word that Ritchie and Statham will be reuniting with Vinnie Jones, known for his role in Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels. Insiders say the project
“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.”
Not stopping there, Ritchie is also set to work again with Jake Gyllenhaal, Henry Cavill, and Eiza González on In the Grey. This one follows two extraction specialists and a senior negotiator as they try to escape with millions in stolen cash, promising another dose of high-stakes action and sharp dialogue.