Bloodshot (film)

Lore & Background

Bloodshot premiered at the Regency Village Theatre in Westwood, Los Angeles on March 10, 2020, and was theatrically released in the United States on March 13, 2020, by Sony Pictures Releasing. The weekend of its release coincided with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to mass theater closures. The film grossed $37.3 million worldwide, but due to the closures, Sony made the film available on video on demand less than two weeks after its theatrical release. The film received generally negative reviews from critics, with criticism for Diesel's performance but praise for the action sequences and visual effects.

Reader's Guide

Bloodshot was developed as part of a five-picture deal between Sony Pictures, Original Film, and Valiant Entertainment to bring Valiant Comics superheroes to the big screen. The film was directed by David S. F. Wilson, with a screenplay by Jeff Wadlow and Eric Heisserer. Vin Diesel was cast in the lead role in March 2018, replacing earlier negotiations with Jared Leto. Principal photography took place in Cape Town, South Africa, and Prague, Czech Republic, among other locations. The film's release was heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to an early digital release and a box office total of $37.1 million against a $45 million budget. Despite its mixed reception, Bloodshot was intended to launch a shared cinematic universe, though no subsequent films have been confirmed.

Did You Know?

• The film was originally scheduled for release on February 21, 2020, before being moved to March 13.
• Jared Leto was in early negotiations to star as Bloodshot before Vin Diesel was cast.
• A post-credits scene featuring Ken Watanabe as Toyo Harada was planned but not filmed due to a change of copyright.
• The film was the most watched on Amazon Prime Video in its first three days of home release.