Prime Video’s upcoming action-adventure film The Bluff has generated significant buzz as one of 2026’s most anticipated releases, blending high-seas piracy with family drama in a swashbuckling tale directed by Frank E. Flowers. Set in the 19th-century Caribbean, the movie stars Priyanka Chopra Jonas as a former pirate forced to protect her daughter from vengeful enemies when her hidden past resurfaces. With Karl Urban as the ruthless antagonist, a supporting cast including Ismael Cruz Córdova, Safia Oakley-Green, and Lauren Cohan, and production wrapped in Australia in mid-2025, The Bluff promises explosive set pieces, emotional depth, and Chopra Jonas at her most fierce. Slated for a global premiere in early 2026, this R-rated adventure aims to carve its place alongside modern pirate classics while showcasing diverse representation and female empowerment on the high seas.

The plot follows Eula (Chopra Jonas), a hardened ex-pirate who has settled into a quiet life on a remote island with her young daughter. Her fragile peace shatters when old crewmates—led by Urban’s menacing captain—return seeking revenge for a betrayed heist. As storms rage and blades clash, Eula must confront buried secrets, teach her daughter survival, and outwit pursuers in a relentless chase across turquoise waters and jagged cliffs. Flowers, known for Bob Marley: One Love (co-writer), infuses the script (co-written with Joe Ballarini) with themes of redemption, motherhood, and colonialism’s legacy in the Caribbean. “It’s not just swords and ships—it’s about a woman’s unbreakable will,” Chopra Jonas said in a 2025 Variety interview.

Chopra Jonas, also producer via Purple Pebble Pictures, delivers a career-defining performance: physically demanding stunts (sword fights, leaps from rigging) paired with raw vulnerability as a mother shielding her child. Urban brings brooding menace, his villain a mirror to Eula’s past self. The ensemble shines: Córdova as a conflicted ally, Oakley-Green as Eula’s spirited daughter, and Cohan in a pivotal role. Cinematography by John Mathieson (Gladiator) captures Queensland’s Gold Coast doubling for the Caribbean—emerald seas, thunderous storms, golden sunsets—while a score blending orchestral swells with Caribbean rhythms heightens tension.

Production faced challenges: Delayed by 2023 strikes, filming commenced in 2024 with rigorous safety for water sequences. Chopra Jonas, post-Citadel and Heads of State, embraced the role: “Eula’s a warrior mum—relatable yet epic.” Flowers drew from historical female pirates like Anne Bonny, adding authenticity.

Early reactions praise diversity—South Asian lead in a Western genre—and empowerment themes. With a reported $80 million budget, expectations are high for Prime Video’s push into blockbuster originals.

The Bluff isn’t mere escapism; it’s a mother’s odyssey amid chaos, proving strength isn’t always loud. As release nears, anticipation swells—this could redefine pirate tales for a new era. Stream 2026—prepare for waves.