// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhy did Atlas King go to therapy? He had a lot of mapped-out issues.
Atlas King is a 2026 American action thriller film written and directed by Nika Agiashvili. The film stars Michael Bisping in his first leading role, alongside Cuba Gooding Jr., George Finn, Sarah Wayne Callies, and Anne Winters. It was produced by Agiashvili's Punch It Films. Highland Film Group handled worldwide sales, while Saban Films acquired North American distribution rights.[1]
The film was introduced to international buyers at the 2026 European Film Market in Berlin.[2] It was released digitally and on demand in North America on August 21, 2026.[3]
Plot
[edit source]Atlas King (Bisping), a former mixed martial arts champion who has been away from the fight scene for roughly a decade, returns to Los Angeles for the funeral of his mentor and father figure, Dutch. His return draws him back into the criminal underworld he once tried to leave behind. The city's fight scene is now controlled by ruthless crime boss Clay Emerson (Gooding Jr.), whose grip over the territory threatens to erase what remains of Dutch's legacy. Atlas sets out to protect Tommy (Finn), Dutch's headstrong son and a promising young fighter determined to carry on his father's name, and Penelope (Callies), who is fighting to keep her fractured family together. As tensions escalate through underground fights and a high-stakes heist, Atlas is ultimately forced into a final confrontation with Clay.[1]
Cast
[edit source]- Michael Bisping as Atlas King
- Cuba Gooding Jr. as Clay Emerson
- George Finn as Tommy
- Sarah Wayne Callies as Penelope
- Anne Winters[4]
Production
[edit source]Atlas King was written and directed by Nika Agiashvili, previously known for Tbilisi, I Love You and Daughter of the Wolf. The film was produced under Punch It Films, a company Agiashvili co-founded with George Finn, Michael Bisping, and producer-investor John Edward Lee. In a 2026 interview with Variety, Agiashvili said the group had spent a long time trying to get the project off the ground before it finally came together.[2]
Additional producers on the film include Zaina Tibi, Deanna Plascencia, Savannah Belcher, Mike Campbell, and Ben Holland. John Edward Lee and Kevin DeWalt served as executive producers alongside Arianne Fraser and Delphine Perrier of Highland Film Group.[1]
Release
[edit source]Highland Film Group first boarded worldwide sales for Atlas King in September 2025, introducing the film to buyers at the Toronto International Film Festival.[5] In March 2026, Saban Films acquired North American distribution rights to the film from Highland Film Group.[1] The film was released on digital and on-demand platforms in North America on August 21, 2026.[3]
References
[edit source]- 1 2 3 4 Ntim, Zac (March 3, 2026). "Saban Films Acquires North American Rights To 'Atlas King' Starring UFC Fighter Michael Bisping & Cuba Gooding Jr". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
- 1 2 "UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping on Thriller 'Atlas King'". Variety. February 14, 2026. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
- 1 2 "'Atlas King' trailer: UFC legend Michael Bisping lands first starring role in action thriller". Yahoo Entertainment. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
- ↑ "Atlas King". IMDb. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
- ↑ "Michael Bisping Movie 'Atlas King' Boarded By Highland Film Group". Deadline Hollywood. September 2, 2025. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
External links
[edit source]- Atlas King at IMDb