Shadow Force: release date, trailer, cast and everything we know about the Kerry Washington action movie

Kerry Washington in Shadow Force
Kerry Washington in Shadow Force (Image credit: Juan Pablo Gutierrez/Lionsgate)

Kerry Washington becomes a full-fledged action star in the 2025 new movie Shadow Force. And with a fun cast behind her and a director known for some underrated action movies, this could be one to keep an eye on.

Turning initially under-the-radar action movies into hits has been a specialty of Lionsgate, the studio behind Shadow Force. Among Lionsgate’s slate of classic action movies are the John Wick franchise (including the upcoming John Wick spinoff, Ballerina), Den of Thieves 2: Pantera and Fall. Will Shadow Force be the next one to join that group?

We’ll have to wait to find out, but in the meantime, here is everything you need to know about Shadow Force.

Shadow Force release date

Shadow Force is debuting May 2 exclusively in US and UK movie theaters.

That is the same weekend as the latest Marvel movie Thunderbolts. But if you’re not an MCU fan and still want some good popcorn fun as the summer blockbuster season begins to kick into high gear, then Shadow Force could work out as a nice alternative.

Shadow Force cast

Kerry Washington stars alongside Omar Sy as the main characters of Shadow Force, Kyrah and Isaac.

Washington is an Emmy-nominated actress (and Emmy-winning producer) probably best known for her role as Olivia Pope on Scandal, though she’s also memorably starred in TV series like Boston Legal, Little Fires Everywhere, Confirmation and Unprisoned. On the movie side she has starred in Ray, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Django Unchained, The Prom and, most recently, The Six Triple Eight.

Omar Sy in Shadow Force

Omar Sy in Shadow Force (Image credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate)

Omar Sy is a French actor that came to international prominence with his role in the movie The Intouchables, which he followed up with some Hollywood blockbusters like X-Men: Days of Future Past and Jurassic World. More recently he has been seen in titles like The Book of Clarence. But Sy is best known for his role as Assane Diop in the Netflix series Lupin.

Others in the Shadow Force cast include Mark Strong (Dune: Prophecy), Da’Vine Joy Randolph (The Holdovers), Cliff “Method Man” Smith (Power Book II: Ghost) and Jahleel Kamera (Manifest).

Shadow Force plot

From an original script written by Joe Carnahan and Leon Chills, here is the official synopsis of Shadow Force:

“Kyrah and Isaac were once the leaders of a multinational special forces group called Shadow Force. They broke the rules by falling in love, and in order to protect their son, they go underground. With a large bounty on their heads, and the vengeful Shadow Force hot on their trail, one family’s fight becomes all-out war.”

Shadow Force trailer

Get a sneak peek at the movie with the official Shadow Force trailer right here:

Shadow Force (2025) Official Trailer - Kerry Washington, Omar Sy - YouTube Shadow Force (2025) Official Trailer - Kerry Washington, Omar Sy - YouTube
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Shadow Force director

Joe Carnahan is also serving as the Shadow Force director. Carnahan has made his career making more mid-budget, under-the-radar action movies, many of which become fan favorites. Here’s a look at his directing resume to date:

  • Blood, Guts, Bullets and Octane (1998)
  • Narc (2001)
  • Smokin’ Aces (2006)
  • The A-Team (2010)
  • The Grey (2011)
  • Stretch (2014)
  • Boss Level (2020)
  • Copshop (2021)

Carnahan was also an executive producer on the TV show The Blacklist, where he also directed a few episodes.

Shadow Force behind the scenes

While Lionsgate is the main studio label behind Shadow Force, the movie was also made in association with Media Capital Technologies, along with production companies Made with Love, Simpson Street and Indian Meadows.

Shadow Force producers include Kerry Washington, Pilar Savone, Stephen “Dr.” Love and Sterling K. Brown.

Shadow Force poster

(Image credit: Lionsgate)
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Michael Balderston

Michael Balderston is a DC-based entertainment and assistant managing editor for What to Watch, who has previously written about the TV and movies with TV Technology, Awards Circuit and regional publications. Spending most of his time watching new movies at the theater or classics on TCM, some of Michael's favorite movies include Casablanca, Moulin Rouge!, Silence of the Lambs, Children of Men, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest and Star Wars. On the TV side he enjoys Only Murders in the Building, Yellowstone, The Boys, Game of Thrones and is always up for a Seinfeld rerun. Follow on Letterboxd.

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