Beverly Hills Film Festival 2026: ‘Guns Up’ star teases best scene viewers should look for and there’s a cheeky ‘John Wick’ Easter Egg
'Guns Up' was one of the films screened at the Beverly Hills Film Festival 2026. Starring Kevin James and Christina Ricci, the Edward Drake- written and helmed action thriller follows Ray Hayes (James), a former cop- turned- mob henchman who goes to great lengths to keep his family safe after his final job goes horribly wrong. Drake also serves as the producer alongside Jeffrey Greenstein, Jon Keeyes, Mandi Murro, J. J. Nugent, and Tobias Weymar. The film was originally released last year in the United States and is currently available to watch on Prime Video.
The film follows Ray as he fights off a slew of attackers sent to kill him, blending high‑octane action with a good blend of comedy. Throughout the night he's on the run, Ray struggles to protect his family while hiding the truth about his double life. Teasing the film was Rhys Athayde, who plays a member of a rival gang in the film. "It's about family, it's about action," Athayde said in an exclusive interview with MEAWW. “[Kevin] James is in the mob, and he's trying to leave. He's trying to have a good life with Christina [Ricci]. But the other mob boss, played by Timothy Murphy, comes in and takes over, and James has to figure his way out."
The actor hinted at a lot of chaos and a lot of fun, while also dropping a 'John Wick' Easter Egg that was referenced in the film. "I don't want to spoil anything, but there is a scene where someone says, 'Is this person John Wick? And someone says, 'I think you're married to John Wick.' It is a phenomenal sequence that follows right after."
Rounding up the cast alongside Athayde, James, and Ricci are Maximilian Osinski as Antonio Castigan, Luis Guzmán as Ignatius Locke, Melissa Leo as Michael Temple, Leo Easton Kelly as Henry Hayes, Keana Marie as Siohbán Hayes, Timothy V. Murphy as Lonny Castigan, Joey Diaz as Charlie Brooks, Francis Cronin as Danny Clogan, Solomon Hughes as Ford Holden, and Miroslav Barnyashev as Harry the Hammer. The official logline of the film reads, "A cop moonlighting as an enforcer for the mob learns he’s not the most dangerous member of his family…" In related news, the BHFF opened on April 13 and will run through April 19.
