Adam Driver, Miles Teller Star in Fincher’s ‘Paper Tiger’

Adam Driver and Miles Teller headline a new crime drama, “Paper Tiger,” set in 1980s New York. The film’s trailer, released by Rolling Stone, shows the two actors as brothers who chase the American dream while becoming tangled in a Russian mob. The movie is slated for a summer 2026 release, with a limited theatrical run before streaming on a major platform.

The story taps into a wave of 1980s nostalgia in Hollywood, where filmmakers revisit the decade’s gritty urban landscape and the rise of organized crime. In the real world, the 1980s saw a surge of Russian immigrants who established powerful criminal syndicates in New York’s Lower East Side. “Paper Tiger” uses this backdrop to explore how ambition can lead to moral compromise, mirroring the era’s real tensions between law, money, and survival.

Director David Fincher, who has recently shifted from thriller to period crime, brings a sharp visual style to the film. The production was announced in 2024, with a budget of $25 million and a shoot schedule that spanned three months in New York and Los Angeles. Rolling Stone praised the trailer’s “tight pacing and authentic period detail,” noting that Driver’s brooding intensity and Teller’s gritty charm create a compelling dynamic. The screenplay, written by Aaron Sorkin‑proven writer Ethan Coen, promises a blend of sharp dialogue and raw emotion.

“Paper Tiger” will debut at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, where it is expected to compete for the People's Choice Award. Following the festival buzz, the film will hit multiplexes in late October and stream on Netflix by early 2027. Critics anticipate that the movie could spark renewed interest in 1980s crime narratives and highlight the enduring impact of the Russian mob on American urban life.