Actor Chris Pratt is back in action, this time as a Navy SEAL uncle, and Apple TV just released the first trailer for Way of the Warrior Kid. The footage introduces “Operation Warrior Kid,” a training plan built to help a bullied middle-schooler find his confidence. The film premieres globally on Apple TV on November 25, 2026, and here’s everything you need to know.
Chris Pratt and Jude Hill train together in a still from Way of the Warrior Kid, streaming on Apple TV November 25.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Premiere: Way of the Warrior Kid streams globally on Apple TV on November 25, 2026, per Apple’s trailer announcement.
- Stars: Pratt plays Uncle Jake and Jude Hill plays his nephew, Marc, alongside Linda Cardellini.
- Director: McG directs the film for Apple Original Films and Skydance.
- Source material: It adapts former Navy SEAL Jocko Willink’s 2017 novel Way of the Warrior Kid: From Wimpy to Warrior the Navy SEAL Way.
- Rating: The film is PG-13, per the studio materials.
What the First Trailer Shows
The trailer opens on a struggling kid and a very confident uncle. Marc is dealing with bullies, trouble at school and a serious lack of confidence. Jake, a decorated Navy SEAL, arrives with a plan.
That plan is “Operation Warrior Kid,” a summer-long program of early mornings, hard workouts and SEAL-honed lessons in discipline and resilience. It’s classic mentor-and-student territory, and the footage leans into the formula. (Think training montages, a few setbacks and one very motivated teenager.)
Pratt, 47, has framed the story as a relationship first and a military movie second. He said the film is “essentially an examination of this mentor-mentee relationship between an uncle and his nephew,” as he told Extra in February 2026. That framing explains why the trailer spends as much time on Marc’s self-doubt as it does on push-ups.
Now, on to the cast behind the characters.
Meet the Cast and Characters
Pratt leads the film as Jake, with 16-year-old Hill playing Marc. Hill is best known for Belfast, and this role puts him at the center of a family-friendly adventure. Cardellini plays Marc’s mom, and Willink himself appears in the cast.
The supporting lineup includes Parker Young, Levi McConaughey and Ava Torres. Skydance announced in September 2024 that McConaughey and Torres had joined the project. Skydance described Marc as a self-doubting boy who gets bullied and can’t complete a single pull-up.
Pratt also joined the project as a producer. He told Deadline in April 2024 that “Will Staples’ screenplay is incredible,” and said he was eager to read it because of his friendship with Willink. The film marks his first major collaboration with McG, the director behind Charlie’s Angels.
Next, a look at the book that started it all.
The Jocko Willink Book Behind the Film
Willink is a retired Navy SEAL who became a podcast host, bestselling author and motivational speaker. He wrote the Warrior Kid series after noticing that the books he read to his own children lacked strong role models. The first novel arrived in 2017, and the movie adapts it.
Skydance struck a global deal for the project in June 2024, reportedly worth $80 million to $85 million. That made it one of the biggest film-market deals in years.
Pratt has said he hopes the movie lands with young viewers. “Our young people need this movie,” he told Movieguide. He compared its potential to The Karate Kid and Rocky, which sets a high bar for a streaming release.
How Fans Are Reacting to the Trailer
Early reaction has been warm. Many viewers say they’re glad to see a live-action kids’ movie with real heart, and some compare the vibe to The Sandlot. Others have pointed out Pratt’s impressive physical transformation for the role.
Not everyone is sold. A few commenters have questioned the military angle in a movie aimed at middle-schoolers. That debate may heat up once the full film arrives.
For now, the trailer has done its job: it’s got people talking. Here’s when you can watch.
Release Date and Where to Watch
Way of the Warrior Kid premieres globally on Apple TV on Wednesday, November 25, 2026, according to Apple’s trailer announcement. The film was first set for November 20, so the new date is a small but notable shift. The timing also puts it right before Thanksgiving weekend.
Apple TV is also busy with other big releases this fall. Scroll down for more on the platform’s slate, including the 12 12 12 trailer with Anthony Mackie and Jamie Dornan. If you’re already planning family movie nights, you may also want to read about the Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew trailer.
Stay tuned to Bigwritehook for more on Way of the Warrior Kid as the November 25 premiere gets closer. Until then, the trailer makes one thing clear: Uncle Jake is ready, and Marc’s summer is about to get a lot harder.
