Brothers by Blood takes place in Philadelphia, and picks up with eight-year-old Peter Flood after he helplessly watches on as his little sister is killed by a neighbour’s reckless driving. Tormented with grief and resentment, his father finds revenge as the only solution, leaving lasting generational wounds.
Thirty years later, Peter still wrestles with the guilt he feels over his sister’s death and his father’s vengeance. As he tries to distance himself from the criminal family business, his cousin, Michael, becomes more powerful in the hierarchy. Bonded by blood, neither man can escape violence as they are dragged further into a chilling cycle of betrayal and retribution. You can find our review here.
The movie stars Matthias Schoenaert (The Old Guard), Joel Kinnaman (The Suicide Squad), and Maika Monroe (The Stranger), and we caught up with the latter to discuss her taking on the role of Grace.
Monroe's first major blockbuster role was in Independence Day: Resurgence; while many fans didn't feel that it lived up to the classic first instalment, it grossed just shy of $400 million worldwide, and director Roland Emmerich has said on multiple occasions that he hopes Disney will make a third movie. We asked Maika if she had a good time making that sequel, and whether she would return if asked (the actress played the adult version of Patricia Whitmore).
"Yeah. For me, I felt really lucky because not everyone has the experience of working on a huge production that can feel overwhelming and whatever. I just had such an absolute blast on that film," Maika revealed. "I was such a huge fan of the first film, and getting to work with Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman was like a dream for me. I had a blast on that, so yeah, I would definitely be open to it. You never know what's going to come your way, so I'm definitely open."
The Independence Day franchise is one with plenty of potential, and with a little less time spent on nostalgia, a third chapter could prove to be a must-see. Bringing back some cast members will be essential, though, and Maika Monroe should definitely be a priority for Disney if it happens.
Brothers by Blood will be released in Select theaters, On VOD & Digital on January 22nd, 2021.