Agent 47 returns in a glossy re-boot of 2007 movie 'Hitman', with first time director Aleksander Bach at the helm and 'Homeland' star Rupert Friend taking over as the shaven-headed assassin intent on uncovering the mysteries of his past.

'Hitman: Agent 47' poster
Rupert Friend is looking mean in 'Hitman: Agent 47'

From the producers of the original film, 'Hitman: Agent 47' is another high-octane action thriller with plenty of rapid fire gun fights, massive explosions, kooky gadgets and infeasible escapes, and while it is marketed as a re-make in the literal sense, there appears to be little in the way of re-hashed material from the original movie, which is just as well given the poor ratings following its release. After its first appearance at San Diego's Comic-Con last year, the first trailer has finally been unveiled to the public.

More: We had our first look at 'Hitman: Agent 47' in 2014

If you're unfamiliar with the story (which is, incidentally, based on the popular video game series), Agent 47 is the product of genetic engineering at the hands of The Agent Program who has, since birth, been trained up to utilise his superhuman strength, unfathomable foresight and impossible agility for the purpose of carrying out hits. With the ability to worm his way out of the stickiest situations, which indeed he goes on to do several times in this epic re-make, Agent 47 sets out on a mission to take down a rival corporation and is meanwhile faced with some deadly secrets about his origins. 'Hitman: Agent 47' introduces a new character, John Smith, played by Zachary Quinto, who's determined to protect Kaitya, the daughter of The Agent Program creator, because he believes she is in serious danger as the only thing that lies between Agent 47 and her father, who's currently estranged from both of them.

Watch the teaser trailer for 'Hitman: Agent 47' here: 


The movie was shot in Singapore and Berlin, which Quinto admits added a lot to the quality of the new 'Hitman' experience. 'I think the scope, the scale, the stakes, the cinematography of this film along with the architecture in the cities we were shooting in... we shot about two-thirds of this movie in Berlin and then the other third was in Singapore so these are very, very different but very dynamic cities and we embraced that and captured it in a really beautiful way', he explains. 'So there's all this happening on the cinematic level and then you add to that the action and the car chases and gun fights plus all the characters and their relationships. I think it adds up to be a satisfying experience.'

Rupert Friend in 'Hitman: Agent 47'
Rupert Friend swaps 'Homeland' for 'Hitman'

Aleksander Bach's 'Hitman: Agent 47' has been co-written by Michael Finch ('The November Man', 'Predators'), Kyle Ward ('Machete Kills') and Skip Woods ('A Good Day to Die Hard', 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine', 'Swordfish'), that latter of whom was the writer of the 2007 'Hitman' film. Some sources have revealed that it contains references from the 2012 game release, 'Hitman: Absolution', which will certainly encourage the die hard fans.

More: A new 'Hitman' game is released

'Hitman: Agent 47' will be released in US theaters on August 28th 2015.