Dev Patel's Monkey Man: Discovering Its Similarities to Superman

The origins of ‘Monkey Man’ draw heavily from ancient Hindu mythology, particularly the story of Hanuman. During an appearance on ‘The Tonight Show’, lead actor and director Dev Patel discussed his excitement about bringing this action film to life and the positive reactions it received at SXSW. A significant influence for Patel was the Hindu deity Hanuman, which he referenced when explaining a necklace his father wore that featured Hanuman holding a mountain. Intrigued, Patel recalled asking his dad about it, who promised that his grandfather would share the story upon returning from Kenya.

Patel noted the parallels between Hanuman and iconic superheroes like Superman, highlighting traits such as nobility, strength, and courage. He emphasized that Hanuman is a hero who once lost faith in himself, echoing his own protagonist's journey in ‘Monkey Man’. 

Image Courtesy: CBR

This character, Kid, finds himself in an underground fight club, wearing a cheap rubber gorilla mask while being ridiculed by the audience. Patel described the film as the quintessential underdog story, where Kid embarks on a mission of revenge against those responsible for his mother’s death.

As he prepared for the film’s release, Patel reflected on the numerous challenges faced during production, including using GoPros for filming and relocating to Indonesia due to COVID-19. After Netflix picked up the film, Jordan Peele saw an early screening and decided to produce it, facilitating a theatrical release. The excitement around ‘Monkey Man’ grew as its trailers showcased intense action sequences of Kid battling henchmen.

Image Courtesy: CBR

Following this project, Patel will appear in the horror film ‘Rabbit Trap’, alongside Rosy McEwen and Jade Croot. Other notable action-thrillers featured at SXSW include Alex Garland's ‘Civil War’ and David Leitch's ‘The Fall Guy’, set to release in the coming months.

–Farheen Ali