Netflix has released a frantic teaser for its pharmaceutical drama, Pain Hustlers, starring Emily Blunt and Chris Evans (seen below). Harry Potter director David Yates helms the film, with writer Wells Tower adapting the book of the same name by author Evan Hughes.
The film follows Liza Drake, played by the Oppenheimer star, who just lost her job. Trying to make a living for herself and her daughter, she joins a failing pharmaceutical startup. While money starts rolling in when the company turns around, she finds herself in a criminal conspiracy.
Pain Hustlers Teaser: Emily Blunt and Chris Evans Lead Netflix Movie
The Pain Hustlers teaser focused on the chaotic nature in which Emily Blunt’s character finds herself. The footage only gives us a glimpse at what will happen. We see her turn from financial ruin to her turnaround. Introductions of characters see shady personalities like sales rep Pete Brenner (Chris Evans) and the manic boss (Andy Garcia). Between the red flags seen in the workplace and her daughter’s health declines (Chloe Coleman), Liza starts second-guessing her professional trajectory.
The leading stars will be joined by Catherine O’Hara (Schitt’s Creek), Jay Duplass (Transparent), Brian d’Arcy James (West Side Story), and Amit Shah (Happy Valley).
The story seen in the Pain Hustlers teaser deviates from the book. It focused on John Kapoor, who started his pharmaceutical company, Insys Therapeutics. He gained traction from the team he formed around him and a formula of fentanyl. After unethical strategies, like lying to insurance companies, insiders eventually came forward about the practices of the company. It led to legal battles and shaking up America’s opioid crisis.
The film will not have much promotion when it releases next month due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Streaming service companies like Netflix withhold residuals, regardless of the success of a show or movie. It is one of the main talking points of actors and writers, including a lack of writers in a writer’s room, the use of AI to write scripts and alter performances, and keeping streaming views a secret.
Netflix releasing the Pain Hustlers teaser revs up the marketing for its upcoming release. It will have a limited run in theaters on October 27 and on the streamer on October 27.
