While the 2017 action-thriller American Assassin includes real-life elements like the CIA, it’s less clear whether the movie itself is actually based on a true story. Like many entries in the genre, American Assassin involves a global threat and explosive action. While real espionage can involve similar circumstances, many spy movies – including those featuring the CIA – often elect to tell a completely fictional story rather than retelling an actual case.
Starring The Maze Runner‘s Dylan O’Brien, Michael Keaton, and Taylor Kitsch, American Assassin centers around CIA black ops recruit Mitch Rapp. As the plot unfolds, Rapp is seconded to a high-stakes operation to prevent a rogue former Navy SEAL from detonating a nuclear weapon. Thanks to its explosive action and impressive supporting cast, the movie made $67 million against an estimated $33 million budget – despite mixed reviews and a disappointing 34% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Among the issues highlighted were the movie’s generic storytelling, which relates to its inspiration.
American Assassin Review
American Assassin is a preposterous, but lean and mean Mitch Rapp thriller adaptation elevated by Michael Keaton’s turn as Rapp’s grizzled mentor.
American Assassin Is Not Based On A True Story
Although the CIA is a real agency dedicated to stopping global terrorist threats, among other priorities, American Assassin‘s plot is not itself inspired by any real cases or stories. In an over-crowded genre, this approach is nothing new. In fact, the vast majority of action spy thrillers are completely fictional, with only a select few like Argo and Zero Dark Thirty taking on a true story.
Given the details of American Assassin‘s plot, this approach makes sense. The movie features several larger-than-life plot elements, such as Taylor Kitsch’s rogue black ops operative and his convoluted plan to procure a nuclear device. However, just because American Assassin is not based on a true story, it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have some interesting inspiration.
American Assassin Was Based On The 2010 Book From Vince Flynn
Instead of being inspired by true events, American Assassin is actually based on author Vince Flynn’s 2010 novel of the same name. Flynn wrote numerous novels in which Rapp appears prior to 2010, but American Assassin serves as a prequel and is chronologically the character’s first appearance. Initially, producers had wanted to adapt Flynn’s popular novel Consent To Kill, but it soon became clear that American Assassin was a better introduction for a prospective franchise.
Rapp has proved to be an extremely popular character, appearing in 14 of Flynn’s novels. After the author’s death in 2013, his story has continued in nine further books courtesy of writer Kyle Mills. The movie’s disappointing box office and critical performance put any prospective plans for a film series on hold. However, Rapp’s continued role on the page proves that the character has captured the imagination of a significant audience – irrespective of American Assassin‘s ultimate failure.
American Assassin
- Release Date
- September 14, 2017
- Director
- Michael Cuesta
- Cast
- Kamil Lemieszewski , Sanaa Lathan , Trevor White , Dylan O’Brien , David Suchet , Scott Adkins , Andrew Pleavin , Michael Keaton , Taylor Kitsch , Shiva Negar , Navid Negahban
- Runtime
- 111minutes
