Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Karl Urban are set to headline a gritty, R-rated pirate adventure in the upcoming film The Bluff, produced by the Russo Brothers. Esquire has exclusively released the first-look
images from the project, teasing a violent, high-stakes story set in the late 1800s.
Chopra Jonas plays Ercell Bodden, a former pirate trying to leave her bloody past behind. Known as “Bloody Mary,” Ercell was once feared as one of the most brutal figures on the high seas. Despite attempting to turn over a new leaf, she is forced back into her violent ways when her old crew tracks her down, seeking revenge and the gold she stole from them. To prepare for the role, Chopra Jonas studied historical female pirates, aiming to depict the harsh realities of piracy rather than the glamorized versions seen in franchises like Pirates of the Caribbean.
Karl Urban’s Captain Connor and High-Seas Vengeance
Opposite Chopra Jonas, Karl Urban portrays Captain Connor, a narcissistic former member of the East India Trading Company and Ercell’s scorned ex-lover. Determined to capture her and restore his own social standing, Connor becomes the driving force of Ercell’s peril. Urban compared his character to Captain Ahab, motivated by personal vengeance and ambition. The first-look images show intense confrontations, with Ercell ferociously battling Connor and other foes, blending intense sword fights with raw emotional stakes.
The film also features Temuera Morrison as Quartermaster Lee, Captain Connor’s gold-hungry consigliere, alongside Ismael Cruz Córdova, Safia Oakley-Green, Zach Morris, David Field, and Vedanten Naidoo. The story promises to combine historical pirate drama with the personal stakes of revenge, loyalty, and survival, giving Chopra Jonas the opportunity to draw on her real-life experiences as a mother to inform Ercell’s fierce protective instincts.
Russo Bros’ Reunion With Priyanka Chopra Jonas
Directed by Frank E. Flowers, co-written with Joe Ballarini, The Bluff reunites Chopra Jonas with the Russo Brothers, who serve as producers. The project marks a shift from their superhero work, delivering a brutal and grounded pirate story for a streaming audience. Set to premiere on February 25, the film promises a blend of action, drama, and dark humor, offering a much grittier take on piracy than recent cinematic offerings.
