'Pretty Lethal' drops first look pics and a release date, teasing Uma Thurman in her most dangerous role
Uma Thurman is back in her signature action avatar, and we couldn't be more excited. The 'Kill Bill' actress is set to channel her inner action queen in the horror-action thriller 'Pretty Lethal', where she plays a killer ballerina. The film will premiere at SXSW in Austin, Texas, on Friday, March 13, 2026, before streaming on Prime Video on Wednesday, March 25. While most of the movie's key details are being kept under wraps, the makers have released two first-look images.
Formerly titled 'Ballerina Overdrive', Prime Video teases 'Pretty Lethal' as an action-packed thriller, "where five ballerinas, on their way to a prestigious dance competition, are barely on speaking terms when their bus breaks down in a remote forest. With no other options, they reluctantly seek shelter at an unsettling roadside inn run by Devora Kasimer (Uma Thurman), a reclusive former ballet prodigy," as per That Hashtag Show. The movie's synopsis adds, "From the moment they arrive, something feels wrong—and their worst instincts prove right. As the situation turns deadly, the fractured team must set aside rivalries and weaponize years of brutal training, turning grace, discipline, and even pointe shoes into tools for survival."
Directed by Vicky Jewson, the 'Pretty Lethal' script is written by Kate Freund. The film is produced by Kelly McCormick, along with Mike Karz, William Bindley, and Piers Tempest. Thurman, who recently delighted fans in 'Dexter: Resurrection', 'The Old Guard 2', and 'The King of Kings', is taking on a horror antagonist role for 'Pretty Lethal', one of her two confirmed upcoming projects alongside 'Red, White & Royal Wedding'.
'Pretty Lethal' brings to the fore the combat skills of ballerinas, where the characters transform years of intense dance training into deadly fighting techniques. Every move, from precise footwork to disciplined spins, becomes a tool for survival, and even their pointe shoes turn into weapons in high-stakes action sequences. "In Pretty Lethal, I wanted to bring the highly specific skillset of a ballerina to the action space… The troupe embraces teamwork, sisterhood, and ballet-fu in order to stay alive," Jewson said.
The cast of the movie includes Iris Apatow, Lana Condor, Millicent Simmonds, Avantika, and Maddie Ziegler, with Michael Culkin and Lydia Leonard in supporting roles. 'Pretty Lethal' is part of a slate of intriguing horror films coming in 2026, including Damian McCarthy's 'Hokum', 'Leviticus', 'They Will Kill You', 'Ready or Not 2: Here I Come', and 'The Bride!', as per ScreenRant.
