Adam Wingard on 'Onslaught,' Super Soldiers

Director Adam Wingard is returning to his independent filmmaking roots with the action movie 'Onslaught,' set for a theatrical release by A24 on September 4, 2026. In an interview with the AwardsWatch Podcast, Wingard discussed the film, which exists within the same cinematic universe as his 2014 cult hit 'The Guest.'

After nearly a decade working on major studio projects like the two 'Godzilla vs. Kong' films, 'Blair Witch,' and the live-action 'Death Note,' Wingard has reunited with his frequent screenwriting collaborator Simon Barrett for this new project. He described the film as an action-packed, kinky, bloody, and paranoid thriller. It stars Adria Arjona, Drew Starkey, Reginald VelJohnson, Rebecca Hall, and Dan Stevens.

Themes and Inspirations

Wingard stated that 'Onslaught' explores themes of institutional distrust and how governments and institutions want to harm us more than help us, viewing citizens as collateral damage rather than assets. The director said his research for the film involved looking into real-world cults and conspiracy theories about super soldiers. He described the film's villains as power-hungry characters who explore and exploit their own kinks.

The filmmaker suggested that making big-budget studio movies taught him valuable lessons about himself and his own creative process. He indicated that now was the right time to return to the smaller-scale, character-driven world he and Barrett had previously established, calling it a mature display of the promise he showed with earlier breakout films like 'You're Next' and 'The Guest.'

Cast and Creative Energy

Wingard expressed clear enthusiasm for his cast, singling out Adria Arjona's performance. He described her as a 'badass movie star' whose work in the film shows her action credentials and proves she is a rising talent. The director's positive and joyous energy was noted during the podcast interview, mirroring his demeanor when he introduced the film to a packed audience at the Alamo Drafthouse on South Lamar in Austin, Texas.

For Wingard, this project represents a return to a creative 'sandbox' he helped build. He framed it as a perfect, throwback action-horror hybrid, a genre he feels is rarely made today. The film is described as featuring ridiculous action mixed with outrageous world-building and 'killer needle drops' on the soundtrack.

Release Details

The film will be distributed in theaters by the independent studio A24. No streaming or home video release date was mentioned in the source interview. The full conversation with Adam Wingard is available on Episode 361 of the AwardsWatch Podcast, which can be streamed on platforms like iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music, and the AwardsWatch YouTube page.