Akshay Kumar to lead alien thriller Samuk, Hollywood stunt experts join

Actor Akshay Kumar has signed director Kanish Varma's alien thriller Samuk. The film, produced by Vipul Shah and co-produced by Aashin A Shah is being developed as a large-scale pan-Indian theatrical release for 2027. The producers have said that the film will blend survival horror and alien thriller elements.

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Varma, known for Sanak, Inside Edge and Glory, has spent more than two years developing the film with Shah, according to reports. The upcoming alien thriller also brings in an international technical team, with creature effects designer Alec Gillis attached to design the alien creature and British stunt coordinator Luke Tumber set to oversee the action. The producers are focusing on practical effects, with the creature designed to exist physically on set rather than relying entirely on CGI.

While speaking about the film, Vipul Shah said, "We always try to challenge ourselves with different genres, and Samuk is something Indian cinema hasn’t attempted before. Our aim is to create a world-class alien thriller for audiences."

Varma said the film grew out of his interest in elite security forces and science-fiction horror films. "Samuk was born from my love for the SPG world and survival thrillers like Alien and Predator. Bringing those influences together with Akshay sir has been surreal," he said.

On the use of practical effects, he added, "I always wanted the creature to feel physically real on set. That old-school tactile horror is what made films like Alien timeless."

Sources close to the production described Samuk as a survival alien thriller combining practical creature effects, military realism and old-school horror aesthetics inspired by Alien and Predator.

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Akshay Kumar confirmed that he is part of the film, saying, "Yes, I've signed this film. I found the script and subject of Samuk fascinating. Alien thriller is a totally new genre for me and also for our films. I am very excited about it."

Veteran creature designer joins Samuk

Alec Gillis, an Academy Award-nominated creature effects designer known for work on the Alien and Predator franchises, including Alien: Romulus, has joined Samuk to create the alien creature. His credits also include Starship Troopers, Smile, It and Tremors. A veteran of Hollywood creature filmmaking for nearly five decades, he previously worked under Stan Winston on Aliens and the original Predator.

Calling the collaboration distinct, Gillis said, "Working with Kanishk has been fantastic because he genuinely loves practical creature filmmaking. Our goal is to create an alien predator unlike anything audiences have seen before."

He added, "Together, Kanishk and I designed the title character, which is truly a unique alien horror. In an era of CGI and AI, it is gratifying that directors and audiences still value handcrafted, human-made traditional monsters."

Creating a worthy nemesis

Referring to Kumar, Gillis said, "He has the physicality of Jason Statham and the likeability of Tom Cruise. The challenge is creating a monster worthy of facing him. My goal is to create an alien nemesis in Samuk whose energy and screen charisma equal Mr Kumar's. Defeating this new classic film monster will not be an easy task, even for him."

The action will be overseen by Luke Tumber, whose credits include Mission: Impossible, the Venom films, Star Wars, No Time To Die and Marvel’s Vision Quest. A former Royal Marines Commando, Tumber has worked on more than 100 international productions. He said, "Kanishk has a very clear vision for the action, and Vipul Shah wants the scale to feel truly Hollywood-level. Working with Akshay Kumar on this kind of grounded, high-intensity action film is incredibly exciting."

Tumber added, "This project represents an exciting fusion of international stunt expertise, visionary filmmaking, and authentic action cinema, and I'm proud to be part of bringing that vision to life. Together, we aim to deliver a film that combines powerful storytelling with cutting-edge live-action sequences that will resonate with audiences internationally." He also described Kumar as "widely recognised as the action hero of India."

Kumar was last seen in director Priyadarshan's Bhooth Bangla (2026), featuring Wamiqa Gabbi, Rajpal Yadav and late actor Asrani. The actor will also be seen in Welcome to the Jungle (2026).