Peacock Gets Crime Drama With Stellar Cast Based On Real-Life Gang

Creating a fascinating idea for a feature-length production, the creative team behind The Bikeriders took a healthy dose of American history and pulled a storyline from it. The movie is based on the photo book of the same name with images captured by legendary photographer, Danny Lyon.

Lyon actually rode with and followed the very real Chicago chapter of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club, snapping pictures along the way to bring the world of these mysterious clubs out of dark gathering places and into the daylight. 

In Nichols’ The Bikeriders, the Outlaws have their name changed to the Vandals Motorcycle Club, a group of riders who meet up in Chicago during the mid-60s. What begins as a family-like environment quickly goes downhill when greed and a lust for power are mixed with heavy drug and booze usage.

Through it all, Austin Butler’s Benny is torn between the love of his life, Kathy (Jodie Comer), and his brothers in bikes, Johnny (Hardy) as well as the group he’s dedicated his life to.

The casting team for The Bikeriders rolled hard when it came to creating the perfect ensemble to play alongside Austin Butler, Jodie Comer, and Tom Hardy. Included in the lineup to fill out the rest of the bike gang are Michael Shannon (Man of Steel), Norman Reedus (The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon), Boyd Holbrook (The Sandman), Mike Faist (West Side Story), Damon Herriman (Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood), and more.

After celebrating its premiere at the 2023 Telluride Film Festival, it would be almost a full year until The Bikeriders geared up and revved its engines for a wide release in the U.S. in late June 2024. Although the film gained mostly positive reviews from critics, it didn’t quite clear its production budget of $30-40 million, earning only $35.3 million at the global box office.

Part of its failure to sell tickets could be in part due to its timing, with the release occurring alongside the boom of Inside Out 2 and Bad Boys: Ride or Die.

When considering the date that it was released, it’s a bit shocking that The Bikeriders will already be rolling onto streaming next week. But, seeing as how the movie was made available on VOD at the very beginning of July, it seems like Focus Features was eager to get more eyes on its newest production. 

Soon, Peacock audiences will be able to decide for themselves whether Jeff Nichols hits the tone of the classic American motorcycle club or if the draw is more in the A-list names when The Bikeriders cruises onto Peacock on August 9.