The first trailer for Netflix's War Machine channels classic Predator vibes as Reacher star Alan Ritchson leads a squad of soldiers against an unstoppable killer robot

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A massive mech full of advance weaponry hunts a squad of US Army Rangers in Netflix's War Machine

The giant robot villain of Netflix's War Machine charging up an energy blast
(Image credit: Netflix)

The first trailer for Netflix's War Machine is here, and despite the title matching the name of Don Cheadle's MCU superhero identity, the film has nothing to do with Marvel. Instead, it focuses on Reacher star Alan Ritchson as a US Army Ranger in training who comes up against a totally unexpected foe.

Here's the trailer:

WAR MACHINE | Official Trailer | Netflix - YouTube WAR MACHINE | Official Trailer | Netflix - YouTube
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As you can see, Ritchson's Ranger, codenamed '81', will have to lead his squad of trainees in a seemingly hopeless battle against some kind of giant mech of undetermined origin. In practice, it kinda looks like a fairly straightforward riff on Predator, with the giant killer robot packed with advanced high-tech weaponry taking the place of the deadly Yautja hunter as the movie's big villain.

Directed by Patrick Hughes, the film also stars Dennis Quaid, Stephan James, Jai Courtney, Esai Morales, Blake Richardson, Keiynan Lonsdale, and Daniel Webber.

Here's the official logline from Netflix: "During the final stage of U.S. Army Ranger selection, an elite team’s training exercise turns into a fight for survival against an unimaginable threat."

Ritchson is known for his role as Jack Reacher in the Prime Video streaming series Reacher, in which he portrays a former soldier who travels the country using his keen intellect and frankly massive physical stature to solve crimes and right wrongs.

Though it seems unlikely to come to pass, Ritchson has been a fan favorite choice to take on the role of Batman in the new DC Universe. However, it seems that he may still be in the running for a part in the DCU, but as a different unnamed character.

Before any of that, we'll get a chance to see him as a sci-fi action hero in the classic story of Man vs. Killer Robot when War Machine lands on Netflix on March 6. For more, check out our picks for the best sci-fi movies of all time.

George Marston
George Marston

I've been Newsarama's resident Marvel Comics expert and general comic book historian since 2011. I've also been the on-site reporter at most major comic conventions such as Comic-Con International: San Diego, New York Comic Con, and C2E2. Outside of comic journalism, I am the artist of many weird pictures, and the guitarist of many heavy riffs. (They/Them)

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