Taylor Sheridan’s Game-Changing Military Thriller Revealed a Brand New Side of 2025’s Biggest Star

There’s been a heated debate over whether Hollywood still has movie stars, but there are still some people who can draw audiences to theaters based on their presence alone. At the top of the pack is Michael B. Jordan, who’s racked up an impressive number of roles over the years. There’s his turn as Adonis Creed in the Creed franchise, portraying one of Marvel’s most layered antagonists as Erik Killmonger in Black Panther, and the dual role of Stack and Smoke in Sinners. It’s that last role that won Jordan an Oscar, but it’s not the first time he displayed the intensity needed for an action role.

That honor goes to Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse. Based on the novel of the same name, Without Remorse stars Jordan as John Kelly, a former Navy SEAL who is attacked in the middle of the night by a group of Russian soldiers who murder his wife. Kelly sets out to avenge his wife, covering a tangled web of secrets in the process. Jordan isn’t the only big name attached to Without Remorse, as its screenplay was co-written by none other than Taylor Sheridan. While Sheridan might have made some significant changes to Without Remorse‘s story, he crafted a searing action-thriller that let Jordan show off his range.

‘Without Remorse’ Showcases A Different Side To Michael B. Jordan

Image via Prime Video

Prior to Without Remorse, Michael B. Jordan was best known for his magnetic presence, whether it was his breakout role in Chronicle or bigger movies like Creed and Black Panther. Without Remorse shows that he could deliver some fiery intensity in his performances, which helps sell Kelly’s desire to avenge his wife. This is especially prominent in a scene where Kelly corners a corrupt Russian diplomat, then lights said diplomat’s car on fire and locks himself inside until he gets the names of the assassins who came after him. Though it might seem like a far cry from his previous work, Jordan admitted in an interview that he tries to put a little of himself in every role he plays.

“You take these roles that aren’t written specifically for [you] because they have a platform, and you inject yourself and your experience into the character. That’s the Trojan horse.”

Kelly’s intense dedication to his mission would match the same intensity that Jordan brought to Sinners a few years later. It’s also a key indicator that you’re watching a Taylor Sheridan project, as most of his characters tend to share that trait. In fact, one could argue that Sheridan built his entire television empire on the idea of men willing to go to any length to hold onto what’s theirs. Yellowstone had John Dutton (Kevin Costner) and his family fighting to hold onto their ranch, while Tulsa King and Mayor of Kingstown both zeroed in on men in positions of power willing to lie and kill to hold onto that power. Given that Tom Clancy also tends to write these types of characters in his books, it’s no surprise that Sheridan gravitated to Without Remorse.

A Sequel To ‘Without Remorse’ Is In The Works

Despite a less-than-stellar critical rating of 45% on Rotten Tomatoes, Without Remorse is slated to receive its own sequel. The seeds for that sequel are sown in the movie’s final moments, where John Kelly — now calling himself “John Clark” — reveals that he’s gathering operatives for a project called “Rainbow.” Fans of Tom Clancy’s work know that Clark is referring to Rainbow Six, the counter-terrorism unit consisting of soldiers from across the globe. The upcoming Rainbow Six movie assembled its own all-star team, including director Chad Stalheski (John Wick, Highlander). While updates on Rainbow Six have been slow, it more than likely won’t involve Taylor Sheridan as he’s set to leave Paramount for Universal, co-writing another military thriller with Call of Duty. If you’re still counting down the days until Reacher returns, then give Without Remorse a watch.