Hollywood, May 26, 2025 — Get ready to eat your spinach. The internet is buzzing as the first official trailer for Popeye the Sailor Man (2026) drops, revealing a bold and unexpected live-action reimagining of the beloved cartoon character — this time portrayed by none other than Tom Hardy.
Scroll down to the bottom of the article to see the Trailer
Directed by Guy Ritchie, known for his gritty, fast-paced storytelling (Sherlock Holmes, The Gentlemen), the film gives a darker, more grounded tone to the classic sailor tale. Gone are the rubbery limbs and slapstick gags — in their place is a weathered ex-sailor with a violent past, a pipe clenched between his teeth, and forearms that could crush steel.
⚓ Trailer Breakdown
The trailer opens with Popeye, played by Hardy, walking through a crumbling dockyard at night. His voiceover growls: “I ain’t been a hero. I’m just a man who don’t back down.”
Moments later, we get our first look at:
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Olive Oyl (Florence Pugh) as a strong-willed harbor activist
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Bluto (Dave Bautista) as a brutal crime boss with a private militia
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A mysterious underground ring involving stolen spinach shipments used for illegal genetic enhancement
The trailer features gritty hand-to-hand combat, seafaring chases, and a dramatic final shot of Hardy screaming as he crushes an iron anchor barehanded — veins bulging, his eyes bloodshot, and his pipe erupting steam.
🥬 What We Know
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Tone: Think The Batman meets Sin City, with stylized violence, noir visuals, and intense emotional stakes
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Music: A gritty remix of the classic Popeye theme composed by Hans Zimmer
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Tagline: “He’s strong to the finish… and this time, it’s personal.”
🎬 Cast
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Tom Hardy as Popeye
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Florence Pugh as Olive Oyl
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Dave Bautista as Bluto
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Paul Dano as Wimpy, a morally ambiguous informant
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Directed by: Guy Ritchie
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Written by: Steven Knight (Peaky Blinders)
Popeye the Sailor Man (2026) sails into theaters worldwide on June 19, 2026, with IMAX and Dolby Cinema releases confirmed.
🛳️ The sailor is back. And this time, he’s not laughing. 🎞️ Watch the official trailer now on Paramount Pictures’ YouTube channel.
