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The Grey Man

The Grey Man is a 2022 American action thriller film directed by Anthony and Joe Russo and based on Mark Greaney’s 2009 novel of the same name.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Grey Man is a 2022 American action thriller film directed by Anthony and Joe Russo and based on Mark Greaney’s 2009 novel of the same name. It follows CIA operative Court Gentry, known as Sierra Six, after he uncovers damaging agency secrets and becomes the target of a global manhunt. The film was released as a streaming title on Netflix in 2022.

Plot

The film follows Court Gentry, a covert CIA operative known as Sierra Six, who discovers damaging secrets about the agency and is pursued by assassins and a rogue former colleague.

Cast

The principal cast includes Ryan Gosling as Court Gentry, Chris Evans as Lloyd Hansen, Ana de Armas, Billy Bob Thornton, Regé-Jean Page, Jessica Henwick, Wagner Moura, Julia Butters, Dhanush, and Alfre Woodard.

Production and release

The Grey Man was directed by Anthony and Joe Russo from a screenplay by Joe Russo, Christopher Markus, and Stephen McFeely. It premiered in 2022 and was released through Netflix.

Adaptation

The film adapts the first novel in Mark Greaney’s Gray Man series and was described as the launch of a potential franchise based on the books.

Key facts

  • The Grey Man is a 2022 American action thriller film based on Mark Greaney’s 2009 novel The Gray Man.
  • It was directed by Anthony and Joe Russo and stars Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans, and Ana de Armas.
  • The story follows CIA operative Court Gentry (Sierra Six) who is hunted after uncovering agency secrets.
  • The film was released as a Netflix streaming title in 2022.
  • It is the first adaptation in the Gray Man book series, intended to launch a franchise.

Frequently asked questions

What is The Grey Man?
It is a 2022 American action thriller film based on Mark Greaney’s novel The Gray Man.
Who directed The Grey Man?
Anthony Russo and Joe Russo directed the film.
Who stars in The Grey Man?
The cast includes Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Billy Bob Thornton, and Regé-Jean Page.
What is the film about?
It follows CIA operative Sierra Six after he uncovers corrupt agency secrets and is hunted worldwide.
Is The Grey Man based on a book?
Yes. It is adapted from Mark Greaney’s 2009 novel of the same name.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gray_Man_(2022_film)
    Supports: Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo; cast; adaptation from Mark Greaney novel; plot overview.
  2. Netflix — https://www.netflix.com/title/81160697
    Supports: Official synopsis describing the CIA operative, agency secrets, and pursuit.
  3. Apple TV — https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/the-gray-man/umc.cmc.76pyzfxoueax8kw5o3q7u5dkw
    Supports: Runtime and synopsis identifying Six, Denny Carmichael, Lloyd Hansen, and core plot.
  4. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_gray_man_2022
    Supports: Synopsis, release dates, genre, and content rating.