The iconic warrior Red Sonja slashes her way back to the big screen in this brutal, action-packed adaptation of the beloved comic series. Starring Matilda Lutz (Revenge, The Ring: Rasen) as the flame-haired avenger, the film follows Sonja’s quest for vengeance in a savage, hyper-stylized fantasy world. After her family is slaughtered, Sonja is left with nothing but rage—until a divine encounter grants her unmatched combat skills, bound by an oath: she may only lie with a man who can defeat her in battle. Now, armed with her sword and fury, she cuts a bloody path through warlords, monsters, and the tyrannical Emperor Dragan (Robert Sheehan), who seeks to enslave her homeland.

Directed with visceral intensity and rich world-building, Red Sonja delivers epic battles, dark magic, and a warrior who refuses to bow. Think Conan the Barbarian meets Mad Max: Fury Road, with a feminist edge that stays true to the character’s roots. From bone-crunching fight choreography to stunning mythical landscapes, this is sword-and-sorcery at its most ferocious—a triumphant return for one of fantasy’s most enduring heroines.

Red Sonja characters and cast

1: Matilda Lutz as Red Sonja

Matilda Lutz undergoes a breathtaking physical and emotional transformation to become Red Sonja, the legendary warrior whose name strikes fear across the land. Having trained for months in sword combat, horseback riding, and stunt work, Lutz performs nearly all her own action sequences, bringing an unparalleled authenticity to Sonja’s whirlwind fighting style. Her portrayal captures both the character’s unrelenting ferocity in battle and the haunted vulnerability beneath her hardened exterior, particularly in flashbacks revealing the trauma that forged her into the She-Devil with a Sword.

Lutz’s performance reaches its zenith in a breathtaking one-take siege sequence where Sonja carves through an entire army singlehandedly, her crimson hair whipping through the chaos like a battle standard. The actress balances Sonja’s mythic grandeur with raw humanity, ensuring this iteration stands apart from previous adaptations. Her chemistry with co-stars—particularly Wallis Day’s Annisia—adds layers of complexity to Sonja’s journey from lone avenger to reluctant leader.

2: Wallis Day as Annisia

Wallis Day delivers a powerhouse performance as Annisia, a fellow warrior whose mysterious past becomes inextricably linked to Sonja’s destiny. Day brings both lethal physicality and emotional depth to the role, having undergone extensive weapons training to perfect Annisia’s distinctive dual-blade combat style. Her character serves as both foil and mirror to Sonja—where Sonja fights with unrestrained fury, Annisia employs calculated precision, creating fascinating contrasts in their battle dynamics.

The emotional core of Day’s performance emerges in a brutal, rain-soaked duel against Lutz’s Sonja, where years of repressed trauma and rivalry explode in a clash of steel and willpower. Day masterfully reveals Annisia’s complex motivations through subtle glances and controlled movements, making her far more than just another warrior in Sonja’s path. Their fraught relationship evolves into one of the film’s most compelling arcs, culminating in a shocking revelation that recontextualizes both characters’ journeys.

3: Robert Sheehan as Emperor Dragan the Magnificent

Robert Sheehan reinvents villainy as Emperor Dragan the Magnificent, a decadent sorcerer-king whose cruelty is matched only by his theatrical flair. Sheehan crafts a villain who is equal parts terrifying and mesmerizing, draping Dragan in silks and gold while his eyes burn with megalomaniacal ambition. The actor studied historical tyrants and mythical tricksters to develop Dragan’s unsettling mannerisms—his voice oscillates between a purr and a scream, keeping both characters and audience perpetually off-balance.

Sheehan’s most chilling scene occurs when Dragan psychologically tortures Sonja by recreating her childhood home, complete with spectral versions of her murdered family. This sequence showcases the actor’s ability to pivot from charming to monstrous in a heartbeat. Dragan’s obsession with breaking Sonja’s spirit rather than simply killing her creates a uniquely personal antagonist, making their final confrontation all the more cathartic.

4: Michael Bisping as Hawk

UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping makes his acting debut as Hawk, a grizzled mercenary whose moral compass spins wildly between self-preservation and reluctant heroism. Bisping brings authentic combat expertise to the role, performing complex fight sequences with terrifying realism. His Hawk moves with the efficient brutality of a career soldier, every punch and parry reflecting years of real-world fighting experience.

Beyond the physicality, Bisping reveals unexpected depth in Hawk’s relationship with Sonja, portraying a world-weary warrior who recognizes his own wasted potential in her uncompromising fury. Their tense alliance provides some of the film’s most unexpectedly poignant moments, particularly when Hawk makes the ultimate sacrifice to give Sonja an opening against Dragan’s forces. The retired fighter proves surprisingly adept at conveying complex emotions through minimal dialogue, letting his battered face and weary eyes tell much of Hawk’s story.

5: Martyn Ford as General Karlak

Standing at an imposing 6’8″, Martyn Ford is the living embodiment of General Karlak, Dragan’s monstrous enforcer and the product of forbidden alchemical experiments. Ford’s sheer physical presence is enough to inspire terror—his Karlak moves with unsettling, almost mechanical precision, his enhanced strength allowing him to crush skulls barehanded. The actor underwent extensive prosthetic applications to achieve Karlak’s patchwork appearance, with visible stitches holding together mismatched body parts from different creatures.

What makes Ford’s performance remarkable is how he humanizes the monster, particularly in quiet moments when Karlak’s fading original personality briefly surfaces. A haunting scene where the beast pauses to stare at his reflection in a pool of blood reveals the tragedy beneath the brutality. His final battle with Sonja—a desperate clash of speed versus overwhelming power—stands as one of the film’s most visually inventive sequences, with Sonja forced to use the environment creatively to overcome his physical advantages.

6: Eliza Matengu as Amarak

Eliza Matengu brings regal mysticism to Amarak, the last priestess of an ancient order that once guided Sonja’s people. Matengu’s performance is all about controlled power—every movement, every line delivery feels ritualistic and deliberate, as if she’s constantly channeling forces beyond mortal comprehension. Her Amarak serves as the film’s moral center, trying to steer Sonja toward her destiny as a unifier rather than just a destroyer.

The actress shines brightest in a trance sequence where she channels the voices of Sonja’s ancestors, her body contorting unnaturally as different spirits speak through her. Matengu’s ability to instantly switch between distinct personalities in this scene is nothing short of astonishing. Her death at Dragan’s hands—a sacrifice to empower Sonja—becomes one of the film’s most emotionally devastating moments, made more powerful by the quiet dignity she maintains until the end.

7: Veronica Ferres as Ashera and the Mother of Red Sonja

Veronica Ferres delivers a dual performance of mythic proportions as both the goddess Ashera and Sonja’s murdered mother. As the deity, Ferres is all eerie serenity and unsettling presence, her voice seeming to come from everywhere at once during her appearances to Sonja. The actress worked with vocal coaches to achieve an otherworldly resonance, making even her whispers feel deafening.

Her portrayal of Sonja’s mother in flashbacks provides the emotional foundation for the entire story. In just a few brief scenes, Ferres creates a fully realized character—a woman of quiet strength trying to protect her daughter’s innocence in a brutal world. The contrast between her warm, human performance as the mother and her chilling, ethereal turn as the goddess showcases Ferres’ remarkable range. Her final appearance, where both roles merge in a vision guiding Sonja to her destiny, is a masterclass in emotional storytelling without words.

8: Katrina Durden as Saevus

Stuntwoman-turned-actress Katrina Durden steals every scene as Saevus, Dragan’s personal assassin and one of Sonja’s most dangerous opponents. Durden’s background in acrobatics and knife fighting shines through in Saevus’ fluid, almost dance-like combat style. The character moves with predatory grace, her twin daggers flashing like extensions of her body in intricately choreographed fight sequences.

What makes Durden’s performance exceptional is how she humanizes a seemingly one-note killer. Through subtle facial expressions and body language, she reveals Saevus’ growing disillusionment with Dragan, culminating in a shocking betrayal that costs the assassin her life. Her final battle with Sonja—a breathtaking vertical fight across crumbling temple ruins—showcases Durden’s incredible physicality and makes Saevus’ demise feel genuinely tragic rather than just another villain’s defeat.

9: Rhona Mitra as Petra

Rhona Mitra returns to her action roots as Petra, a rogue military commander who becomes Sonja’s unlikely ally. Mitra brings her signature smoldering intensity to the role, crafting a character who’s both fiercely competent and deeply weary of war. Her Petra moves with the economical precision of a career soldier, every action calculated for maximum efficiency whether in battle or political maneuvering.

The actress excels in showing Petra’s hard-won pragmatism clashing with Sonja’s idealistic fury. Their relationship evolves from mutual distrust to grudging respect, with Mitra particularly shining in quieter moments where Petra reveals the personal losses that shaped her cynical worldview. Her heroic last stand—holding a bridge against impossible odds to buy Sonja time—becomes one of the film’s most rousing sequences, thanks to Mitra’s ability to convey both terror and determination in equal measure.

10: Manal El-Feitury as Ayala

Manal El-Feitury provides the film’s emotional heartbeat as Ayala, a young rebel who reminds Sonja of her lost innocence. El-Feitury’s performance is all wide-eyed idealism and stubborn courage, creating a perfect contrast to Lutz’s world-weary warrior. The actress brings remarkable authenticity to Ayala’s journey from frightened refugee to determined fighter, making her character’s growth feel earned rather than rushed.

Her most powerful scene comes when she confronts Sonja about the cost of vengeance, forcing the hardened warrior to see herself through young eyes. El-Feitury delivers the film’s most poignant monologue with heartbreaking sincerity, her voice breaking as she describes watching Sonja slaughter enemies without mercy. This moment becomes the catalyst for Sonja’s ultimate character transformation, and El-Feitury makes every word land with devastating impact.