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:

• Olive Oyl (Florence Pugh) as a strong-willed harbor activist

• Bluto (Dave Bautista) as a brutal crime boss with a private militia

• 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

• Tone: Think The Batman meets Sin City, with stylized violence, noir visuals, and intense emotional stakes

• Music: A gritty remix of the classic Popeye theme composed by Hans Zimmer

• Tagline: “He’s strong to the finish… and this time, it’s personal.”

🎬 Cast

• Tom Hardy as Popeye

• Florence Pugh as Olive Oyl

• Dave Bautista as Bluto

• Paul Dano as Wimpy, a morally ambiguous informant

• Directed by: Guy Ritchie

• 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.