Wild Card is a 2015 action-thriller film directed by Simon West, starring Jason Statham in the lead role. The film is based on the 1985 novel Heat by William Goldman, who also wrote the screenplay. It serves as a remake of the 1986 film Heat, which starred Burt Reynolds. This updated version blends gritty action, character-driven drama, and moments of dark humor, set against the backdrop of Las Vegas.
Jason Statham plays Nick Wild, a skilled but self-destructive bodyguard and gambling addict living in Las Vegas. Known for his expertise in handling dangerous situations, Nick has dreams of leaving the city for a fresh start in Corsica. However, his gambling debts and moral obligations keep pulling him back into trouble.
Nickโs world takes a turn when a friend, Holly (played by Dominik Garcia), is brutally assaulted by a sadistic mobster named Danny DeMarco (Milo Ventimiglia). Holly seeks Nick’s help to get revenge. Reluctantly, Nick agrees and orchestrates a brutal confrontation with DeMarco and his men, leaving the mobster humiliated.
Meanwhile, Nick takes on a side job protecting Cyrus Kinnick (Michael Angarano), a wealthy and socially awkward young man trying to experience the thrill of danger. Their unlikely bond develops as Kinnick sees Nick as both a protector and a role model.
However, DeMarco seeks retribution for his humiliation, and Nickโs gambling addiction spirals out of control, putting him in even greater danger. As Nick battles both external enemies and his inner demons, he must decide whether to risk everything for a chance at freedom or continue down his self-destructive path.
The film culminates in a tense series of confrontations, with Nick displaying his resourcefulness and combat prowess while seeking redemption.