Action maestro David Leitch, the mind behind Deadpool 2 and The Fall Guy, is back with a new crime thriller that promises more than just adrenaline. How to Rob a Bank hits theaters soon, and Leitch sat down with Collider to unpack the film's deeper layers—revealing that beneath the slick heists and star-studded cast lies a sharp critique of America's broken systems.
The film stars Nicholas Hoult as The Wolf, a YouTuber whose crew—played by Pete Davidson, Anna Sawai, and Rhenzy Feliz—broadcasts their bank robberies live, gaining viral fame. As their notoriety grows, an FBI agent (John C. Reilly) teams up with a hacker under house arrest (Zoë Kravitz) to bring them down. But Leitch emphasizes that the movie is about more than the chase.
Grounded in Reality: The 35mm Choice
Leitch made a deliberate technical choice to ground the film's dramatic sequences: he shot them on 35mm film. "I hadn't shot film in a while, and coming back to it was great," he said. The contrast between the polished, high-tech look of the content creator scenes and the raw, textured feel of the real-world drama creates a visual tension that mirrors the film's themes. "There is something that makes you feel like you're capturing reality when you shoot film," Leitch explained, noting that the format also shifts the energy on set—everyone is more focused, more present.
A Heist Movie with a Message
Leitch is candid about why he took on the project: the script spoke to the current moment. "People are dealing with health care debt, people are dealing with homes they can't afford," he said. The characters' motivations, which are deliberately withheld until the second act, are meant to be relatable. Even the FBI agent, played by Reilly, is struggling with his own disillusionment—he understands the robbers' frustrations even as he hunts them.
The director hopes the film will spark conversations about these pressing issues. "I don't think we talk enough about these issues," he said. "If you can leave this theater and you feel inspired to change something, then that's great." He encourages audiences to engage—whether through voting, peaceful protest, or simply talking with friends. "That's what art is supposed to do," he added.
For fans of the genre, How to Rob a Bank fits alongside other recent heist thrillers that blend action with social commentary, like Apple TV's ambitious 12 12 12. And for those who prefer their thrillers with a literary bent, there's no shortage of book-based adaptations to explore.
What's Next for Leitch?
Leitch also teased his upcoming project, Jason Statham Stole My Bike, which he promises is "as fun as the title itself." While he couldn't reveal what he's directing next, he's clearly excited about the future. For now, audiences can catch How to Rob a Bank in theaters and see if it lives up to its promise of being both a thrilling ride and a call to action.
