Brandon Sklenar revealed that he underwent a major physical change to star in Taylor Sheridan's upcoming Warner Bros. action thriller, F.A.S.T. Speaking about his recent back-to-back film preparation, the 1923 and It Ends With Us actor stated that he "got massive" to portray a Delta Force operator leading a covert Drug Enforcement Administration strike team against CIA-protected drug dealers, with the film slated to arrive in theaters in May 2027.

The project marks a return to feature film screenwriting for Sheridan, who spent recent years building a massive television slate with shows like Yellowstone, Tulsa King, Landman, Mayor of Kingstown, and Lioness. Directed by longtime Sheridan collaborator Ben Richardson, F.A.S.T. returns the filmmaker to the tactical, border-conflict tone that first earned him acclaim on the big screen.

Sklenar's Physical Preparation and the 'Iron Jane' Connection

Sklenar's comments about his size gain surfaced while he was discussing his work on another upcoming project, the female bodybuilding drama Iron Jane. According to People, Sklenar plays a coach working with an aspiring bodybuilder in that drama, and the heavy muscle mass he carried into the shoot was actually built earlier in the year for Sheridan's action thriller.

"I trained in a very specific way for the film, but it wasn’t necessarily about bulking up. I put on a bunch of size for another film I had done earlier in the year," Sklenar told The Hollywood Reporter, as reported by ScreenRant. "I’m starring in this film Taylor Sheridan wrote called F.A.S.T. for Warners. It’s coming out in May. I played a Delta Force operator, and I got massive. So I was still kind of working with that foundation."

While Sklenar did not specify the exact amount of weight or muscle he added for the part, his remarks drew immediate reactions from military commentators. According to OutKick, real-world Tier One military operators rarely carry bodybuilder physiques, as excessive bulk can hinder endurance when rucking through mountains or attempting to blend in during low-visibility operations.

Nevertheless, the physical preparation underscores the action-heavy demands of Sheridan's latest theatrical lead role.

Plot Details and a '1923' Creative Reunion

In F.A.S.T., the story centers on a down-on-his-luck former special forces commando returning stateside who is recruited by the DEA to lead a black-ops strike team targeting drug dealers operating under the protection of the CIA. While MovieWeb and ScreenRant describe the lead character broadly as a former U.S. Special Forces officer or soldier, Sklenar's own comments specifically identify his character's background as a Delta Force operator.

The production serves as a direct reunion for key veterans of the Yellowstone prequel series 1923. Sklenar headlined both seasons of the period drama as Spencer Dutton, while Richardson directed episodes of both 1923 and the earlier prequel 1883. F.A.S.T. marks Richardson's feature directorial debut.

Beyond 1923, Sklenar has rapidly expanded his theatrical resume with roles in It Ends With Us (2024), Drop (2025), and The Housemaid (2025), and he has previously expressed interest in reprising an older version of Spencer Dutton for Sheridan's planned follow-up series, 1944.

Ensemble Cast and Sam Claflin's 'Wild' Role Switch

Surrounding Sklenar is a deep ensemble cast, though Warner Bros. is keeping individual character breakdowns closely guarded. According to MovieWeb, the supporting lineup includes LaKeith Stanfield, Jason Clarke, Sam Claflin, Trevante Rhodes, and Juliana Canfield, while ScreenRant also notes the inclusion of Wilson Bethel and Chloe Coleman.

While specific character names remain under wraps, Claflin recently shared that his participation in the film took an unexpected turn after Sheridan personally intervened in the casting process.

Speaking with Collider in remarks cited by MovieWeb, Claflin explained that he originally auditioned for a different part before receiving a phone call from the writer-producer.

"I remember Taylor calling me. Because originally I auditioned for one role, and they were like, 'Actually, we want you to play this role,'" Claflin recalled. "And I was like, 'I actually preferred this role!' This is the one I really wanted to do because he’s a bit… He’s a wild one, you know, and I think that that gave me a lot of opportunity to have a lot of fun. I took a risk. We’ll see how it plays out."

Claflin added that early viewers who have seen his performance described the part as a major departure from his previous work, leading the actor to note that out of the entire ensemble, he felt he was the one who "took a big risk."

From Stalled Mid-2010s Script to Summer Box Office Contender

Although F.A.S.T. is positioning itself as a fresh theatrical draw for 2027, the screenplay dates back to the early phase of Sheridan's Hollywood career. According to FanBolt, Sheridan originally wrote the script in the mid-2010s, during the same era he penned acclaimed theatrical thrillers like Sicario (2015), Hell or High Water (2016), and Wind River (2017).

The project initially stalled at Warner Bros. over its projected $60 million to $70 million budget before the studio revived the feature in 2025 with Richardson attached to direct and Heyday Films producing alongside Sheridan's Bosque Ranch banner. It serves as Sheridan's first produced feature film screenplay since 2021, when he wrote and directed Those Who Wish Me Dead and co-wrote Without Remorse.

As for when audiences will see the film, outlets offer slightly differing details on the exact release calendar.

According to MovieWeb and FanBolt, F.A.S.T. is scheduled to open in theaters on May 14, 2027, following an August 2026 calendar update by Warner Bros. that shifted the title back three weeks from an earlier April 23, 2027 slot to position it at the start of the summer box office season. Other coverage, including OutKick and Sklenar's own interview comments, refers more broadly to a May 2027 release window.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will Taylor Sheridan's 'F.A.S.T.' be released in theaters?

Multiple entertainment outlets, including MovieWeb and FanBolt, report that Warner Bros. has scheduled F.A.S.T. for a theatrical release on May 14, 2027, after moving it from an earlier April 23, 2027 date. Other reports and star Brandon Sklenar refer more broadly to a May 2027 premiere window.

What roles are the supporting cast members playing in 'F.A.S.T.'?

Aside from Brandon Sklenar leading the film as a former special forces and Delta Force operator recruited by the DEA, the specific characters played by supporting cast members LaKeith Stanfield, Jason Clarke, Sam Claflin, Trevante Rhodes, Juliana Canfield, Wilson Bethel, and Chloe Coleman have not yet been disclosed.

Claflin did reveal that Sheridan reassigned him from the role he initially auditioned for to a more unpredictable character.

How much muscle did Brandon Sklenar gain for the movie?

Neither Sklenar nor the production team has disclosed an exact poundage or specific workout regimen for F.A.S.T. However, Sklenar stated that he "got massive" for the military role earlier in the year and used that bulked-up physique as his physical foundation when transitioning into his subsequent drama, Iron Jane.

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