Stanisland Magazine

Startling story directed by Gus Vant Sant taps Bill Skarsgård for true crime movie, ‘Dead Man’s Wire’

There’s been a handful of great movies to hit cinemas this year, and we’re about to get another. “Dead Man’s Wire”, starring Bill Skarsgård and a line of prestigious entertainers, recounts the life behind one of America’s true crime sagas. The film is directed by Gus Van Sant of Good Will Hunting fame, and this time he takes his art to a place of high-stakes momentum.

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The Plot

Dead Man’s Wire is based on the true story of 45-year-old Tony Kiritsis (Skarsgård), who in 1977 took mortgage broker Richard Hall (Dacre Montgomery) hostage.

Kiritisi famously held a sawed-off shotgun to his head and attached a series of explosives to him, connected by a dead man’s switch. The story inspired a documentary and now a major motion picture by Vant Sant.

Motives

The exact motivations are reported to be a mix of mental health issues and personal financial woes. Kiritsis was in arrears to a mortgage company from which he sought debt forgiveness and a public apology from. He died at his home of natural causes in 2005 after being released from a psychiatric hospital.

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Casting and Production Details

The film is directed by filmmaker Gus Vant Sant and also stars Al Pacino, Cary Elwes, Coleman Domingo, and Myha’la.

Release Date

The film is expected to release on the 9th January 2026.