Chris Evans is reportedly poised to join Emily Blunt in Netflix’s upcoming film Pain Hustlers.
Pain Hustlers has been described by insiders as a darkly comedic and fast-paced drama with tonal similarities to The Wolf of Wall Street and The Big Short. The story centers on Liza Drake, a high-school dropout portrayed by Emily Blunt, who transforms a failing pharmaceutical startup into a lucrative enterprise and becomes embroiled in a criminal conspiracy. The film promises a sharp look at ambition, corruption, and the cost of sudden success.
Chris Evans, widely recognized for his role as Captain America in numerous Marvel Cinematic Universe blockbusters and recently seen as the voice of Buzz Lightyear in Pixar’s Lightyear, is set to appear in Pain Hustlers in a role that has not yet been publicly disclosed. Evans’s involvement signals Netflix’s continued interest in attracting major Hollywood stars to headline their feature slate.
David Yates will direct Pain Hustlers. Yates is known for helming four films in the Harry Potter franchise, including both parts of the final installments, and directing entries in the Fantastic Beasts series. The screenplay is written by Wells Tower, a short fiction author whose work often explores complex characters and moral ambiguity—qualities that align with the film’s described tone.
The film is being produced by Wychwood Pictures and Grey Matters Productions. Cyrus Mojibi, Patrick Wade, Lawrence Kao, and Lloyd Everard are credited as co-producers, while Lewis Taylor and Ben Everard serve as executive producers. This production team suggests a concerted effort to assemble experienced behind-the-scenes talent to support the film’s ambitious narrative and high-profile cast.
Evans is already scheduled to appear for Netflix as a co-lead in The Gray Man, an action film set for release on July 15, 2022, in which he stars opposite Ryan Gosling. That project is directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, filmmakers known for their work on Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Endgame. According to industry reporting, Evans is expected to finalize his return to Netflix for Pain Hustlers in time for production to begin in August.
Netflix acquired Pain Hustlers for $50 million during the 2022 Cannes International Film Festival marketplace. The acquisition is part of the streamer’s strategy to secure distinctive, potentially awards-caliber projects featuring top-tier acting talent. After a notable decline in subscribers during the first quarter of 2022 and subsequent reductions in production spending, Netflix appears to be focusing on a smaller number of high-impact titles. The company aims to use star-driven films as flagship exclusives that can attract attention and bolster subscriber engagement in a highly competitive streaming market.
Insiders suggest Pain Hustlers will showcase an A-list ensemble while pursuing a more targeted distribution strategy. The approach reflects how Netflix has positioned previous star-driven exclusives, using high-profile casts and event-style releases to generate maximum visibility for select titles. If Pain Hustlers follows this model, it may become one of the platform’s major releases for the year.
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With David Yates at the helm and Emily Blunt leading the cast, Pain Hustlers looks set to blend sharp satire with tense dramatic stakes. The addition of Chris Evans rounds out a promising assembly of talent that could deliver both critical acclaim and commercial appeal. As production timelines firm up and more casting details are announced, the film will be one to watch for audiences interested in character-driven dramas that examine the intersections of ambition, ethics, and the business of modern medicine.