Taron Egerton plays 'cunning killer' in new Netflix thriller

Netflix has released the trailer for a new survivalist thriller starring Taron Egerton.

The Welsh actor will play a "cunning killer" in the hunt-or-be-hunted film Apex, alongside Oscar winner Charlize Theron, the streamer said.

In the action-packed trailer, the Golden Globe winner speaks with an Australian accent as he hunts Theron.

The Rocketman star, who grew up in Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, faced a very different climate while filming in the Australian wilderness.

In photos from the film, Egerton has a shaved head.

He told People magazine: "I was very excited by not having to worry about what my hair looked like every day."

In a rare turn as a villain, Egerton plays a deadly assassin whose character Ben stalks Theron's Sasha after meeting her by chance at a petrol station.

The fictional Wandarra National Park where the chase takes place is based in New South Wales, with most of the filming taking place in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney.

Both stars faced gruelling training to prepare for their roles, from practicing extreme sports to fight choreography.

Theron said: "I had never climbed, except for trees when I was a kid in Africa.

"When I got to Australia I was kayaking a lot. That's a massive workout.

"I was just getting a strong as I could because I climb all of the actual mountains in the movie.

"I'm climbing all of it - and I'm climbing it barefoot on my own raw feet."

Egerton, who also appeared in spy franchise Kingsman, picked up a Bafta nomination for his turn as Elton John in Rocketman.

The pair remained good friends after working together on the 2019 film and reunited at a surprise lunch for the singer's birthday on Wednesday.

Apex will be available to stream on Netflix from 24 April.