Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista Star in The Wrecking Crew: Brothers, Hawaii, and Explosive Action

Two brothers, Hawaii, and a whole lot of wrecking along the way. Amazon MGM Studios has unveiled the first look at The Wrecking Crew, the highly anticipated buddy-cop action comedy starring Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista as estranged half-brothers forced to reunite after their father’s mysterious death. The film premieres exclusively on Prime Video on January 28, 2026.

Directed by Ángel Manuel Soto (Blue Beetle), The Wrecking Crew follows Jonny (Momoa)—a loose-cannon cop—and James (Bautista)—a by-the-book Navy SEAL—as they navigate decades of bad blood while investigating a vast conspiracy surrounding their father’s murder in Hawaii.

The project originated from a viral 2021 Twitter exchange when fans demanded to see these action stars share the screen. What began as social media wishful thinking has transformed into one of 2026’s most eagerly awaited action comedies.

The Plot: Murder, Mystery, and Family Drama

Set in Hawaii, The Wrecking Crew centers on two half-brothers who couldn’t be more different. Jason Momoa plays Jonny, a hot-headed reservation cop from Oklahoma who’s been suspended and returns to Hawaii for his father’s funeral. Dave Bautista portrays James, a disciplined Navy SEAL commander stationed at Pearl Harbor.

After more than 20 years of bad blood, the brothers are forced to work together when their father—a detective who did great things in the community—is mysteriously murdered. As they search for the truth, buried secrets resurface and loyalties are tested.

The investigation uncovers a conspiracy threatening to tear their family apart. According to Jacob Batalon, who plays a private investigator: “It’s a lot of crazy, ridiculous action scenes for sure. It’s basically just about Hawaii and they’re basically trying to figure out who murdered their father.”

From Viral Tweet to Reality

The Wrecking Crew’s journey represents a remarkable Hollywood success story driven by fan enthusiasm and social media. In 2021, Dave Bautista tweeted: “Just going to throw this out into the atmosphere and see what happens,” expressing his desire to work with Jason Momoa.

The tweet went viral instantly. “The whole thing went viral,” Momoa recalls. “And I’m like, ‘Holy shit, we’re doing this.‘” MGM won a four-way bidding war for the project. Just two months and eleven days later, the project was greenlit.

Bautista posted a celebratory Instagram update: “2 months 11 days wait time. Acceptable! We came, We hugged, We conquered. We materialized this from nothing more than love, respect and a desire to work together again. We manifested the shit out of this!“

Momoa expressed amazement: “It’s amazing – you try to work your whole career to get an opportunity like this, and he just tweets something. And then I got asked about it on Corden, and now our phones won’t stop ringing.”

Character Dynamics and Chemistry

Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista bring vastly different energies, creating the perfect buddy-cop dynamic. Director Ángel Manuel Soto emphasized this contrast: “As men, they couldn’t be more different from each other. So what you see in the movie is not that different from the way they are in real life.”

Momoa’s Jonny is a reckless, rule-breaking cop. Bautista’s James represents the complete opposite—disciplined, methodical, and committed to doing things by the book. This clash creates both comedy and conflict.

The two actors share genuine chemistry, having previously worked together on Apple TV+’s See and in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune franchise. Their established relationship translates to authentic on-screen camaraderie mixed with believable sibling rivalry.

Intense Action Sequences

The Wrecking Crew features intense physical action that pushed both actors to their limits. One memorable scene involved an extended fistfight between the brothers during a rainstorm.

“I’m not gonna lie to you,” Momoa confessed. “When you have Bautista mounted up on top of you and he’s throwing punches, you’re like, ‘Fuuuuuck, I know you did wrestling and shit, but man, if you slip I’m fucked.'”

Production took place across Hawaii and New Zealand, with the Hawaiian islands providing stunning backdrops for high-speed chases and explosive set pieces. First-look images reveal the actors riding motorcycles through Hawaiian streets, sitting against police cars drenched by rain, and navigating the islands’ beautiful terrain.

Star-Studded Ensemble Cast

The Wrecking Crew assembles an impressive supporting cast. Claes Bang (The Northman) brings international credibility, while Temuera Morrison—who worked with Momoa on both Aquaman films—plays the Governor of Hawaii.

Jacob Batalon, known for playing Ned Leeds in the Marvel Spider-Man films, portrays a street-savvy private investigator with knowledge of the brothers’ father. Additional cast members include Frankie Adams, Miyavi, Maia Kealoha, Stephen Root, and Morena Baccarin.

The film marks the final acting role of David Hekili Kenui Bell (Lilo & Stitch), who tragically passed away on June 12, 2025. His performance will serve as a heartfelt tribute.

Creative Team Behind the Film

Ángel Manuel Soto, fresh off directing Blue Beetle, brings his action sensibilities to The Wrecking Crew. The Puerto Rico native found natural connections between his homeland and Hawaii: “Both American islands on opposite sides of the continent but with similar traditions as well as threats.”

This understanding informs the film’s approach to depicting Hawaii as a living character with its own identity and beauty. Soto’s vision combines spectacular action with genuine respect for Hawaiian culture.

Screenwriter Jonathan Tropper (Your Friends & Neighbors, upcoming Star Wars: Starfighter) penned the screenplay. Tropper had previously worked with both Momoa and Bautista on See. The story’s seed came from Momoa: “It was about having a father figure who was a detective. All of the kids were in law enforcement or the military but none considered each other to be true family. But when they were together, it brought the best out of them all.”

Tropper focused this sprawling family premise on two brothers, allowing for deeper character exploration. Though Shane Black wasn’t involved, the film stands as a tribute to his influential buddy-cop work, with Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista incessantly cracking wise while cracking skulls.

Production and Release Strategy

Principal photography took place throughout 2024 and wrapped in early 2025. David Leitch was once attached to direct before scheduling conflicts forced him to step away, bringing Soto aboard. The film achieved Completed status in September 2025.

Amazon MGM Studios positioned The Wrecking Crew as a major early-2026 release on Prime Video, bypassing theatrical distribution for the streaming platform’s massive global reach.

The announcement of first-look images in mid-December 2025 generated massive excitement. Fans of both Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista—cultivated through Game of Thrones, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, DC’s Aquaman, and WWE—eagerly anticipate this collaboration.

A full trailer is expected in January 2026. As Momoa summarized: “We just wanted to beat each other up on screen and have fun doing it.”

The Wrecking Crew represents everything fans want from a buddy-cop action comedy: massive stars, explosive chemistry, beautiful locations, and non-stop action mixed with hilarious banter. Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista’s genuine friendship and contrasting screen presences create the perfect foundation for this Hawaii-set adventure.

When The Wrecking Crew premieres on Prime Video on January 28, 2026, viewers will witness the culmination of a project that began with a tweet and transformed into a full-scale action comedy event. Two brothers, decades of bad blood, one murdered father, and a whole lot of wrecking—it’s the action movie fans manifested into existence.

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