Can rheumatoid arthritis be fatal. How does RA affect life expectancy. What are the main complications of rheumatoid arthritis. How can RA patients improve their prognosis.

The Impact of Rheumatoid Arthritis on Lifespan

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects joints and other tissues throughout the body. While RA itself is not directly fatal, it can lead to complications that may impact life expectancy. A study involving nearly 30,000 RA patients in Taiwan revealed an average life expectancy reduction of 4.97 years compared to the general population. However, it’s crucial to note that with proper management and treatment, many individuals with RA can achieve a lifespan comparable to those without the condition.

Factors influencing life expectancy in RA patients include:

• Disease progression
• Age at diagnosis
• Sex (females are more likely to develop severe RA, while males have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease)
• Lifestyle factors (smoking, alcohol consumption)
• Presence of other medical conditions

Is there a difference in life expectancy between seropositive and seronegative RA patients? Research suggests that individuals with seropositive RA are at a greater risk of developing severe forms of the disease and related complications, such as rheumatoid nodules and vasculitis, which may impact their overall prognosis.

Cardiovascular Complications in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Heart disease is one of the most significant complications associated with RA, contributing to reduced life expectancy in some patients. The chronic inflammation caused by RA can damage arteries, heart muscles, and surrounding tissues, leading to various cardiovascular issues.

Pericarditis: A Common Cardiac Complication

Pericarditis, the inflammation of the pericardium (the protective sac around the heart), is the most frequent cardiac complication in RA patients. Although it affects less than 10% of RA patients symptomatically, any pericardial symptoms can potentially be life-threatening.

Atherosclerosis and Increased Cardiovascular Risk

RA patients have a higher likelihood of developing atherosclerosis, characterized by plaque buildup in the arteries. This plaque tends to be more brittle in RA patients, increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Some RA medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids, may exacerbate this risk.

How does RA affect cardiovascular health beyond atherosclerosis? The Arthritis Foundation reports that RA patients face:

• Nearly double the risk of ischemic stroke
• Triple the risk of deep vein thrombosis
• More than quadruple the risk of pulmonary embolism

Respiratory Complications in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Respiratory problems represent another significant complication of RA that can impact life expectancy. The inflammatory nature of RA can affect various parts of the respiratory system, leading to conditions such as:

1. Interstitial lung disease
2. Pleural effusion
3. Pulmonary nodules
4. Bronchiectasis

How do these respiratory complications manifest in RA patients? Symptoms may include shortness of breath, persistent cough, and chest pain. Early detection and management of these conditions are crucial for maintaining lung function and overall health in RA patients.

Infection Risk in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

Individuals with RA face an increased susceptibility to infections, which can significantly impact their health and lifespan. This heightened risk stems from two primary factors:

1. Compromised immune system function due to the autoimmune nature of RA
2. Immunosuppressive effects of certain RA medications

Common infections that RA patients may be more prone to include:

• Respiratory tract infections
• Urinary tract infections
• Skin infections
• Opportunistic infections

How can RA patients reduce their infection risk? Preventive measures such as regular vaccinations, maintaining good hygiene practices, and promptly seeking medical attention for any signs of infection are essential for RA patients to minimize their infection-related complications.

Disease-Modifying Treatments and Their Impact on RA Prognosis

Advancements in RA treatment have significantly improved the outlook for patients in recent years. Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and biologics play a crucial role in managing RA and reducing the risk of complications.

DMARDs: The Foundation of RA Treatment

DMARDs work by suppressing the immune system’s overactive response, thereby reducing inflammation and preventing joint damage. Common DMARDs used in RA treatment include:

• Methotrexate
• Hydroxychloroquine
• Sulfasalazine
• Leflunomide

How do DMARDs improve long-term outcomes for RA patients? By slowing disease progression and reducing inflammation, DMARDs can help prevent joint damage, maintain functional ability, and potentially reduce the risk of RA-related complications.

Biologics: Targeted Therapy for RA

Biologic drugs offer a more targeted approach to treating RA by focusing on specific components of the immune system involved in the inflammatory process. Examples of biologics used in RA treatment include:

• TNF inhibitors (e.g., adalimumab, etanercept)
• IL-6 inhibitors (e.g., tocilizumab)
• B-cell depleting agents (e.g., rituximab)
• T-cell costimulation inhibitors (e.g., abatacept)

What advantages do biologics offer in RA management? Biologics can provide rapid and significant improvement in RA symptoms, potentially leading to better disease control and reduced risk of long-term complications.

Lifestyle Factors Influencing RA Prognosis and Life Expectancy

While medical treatments are crucial in managing RA, lifestyle factors play a significant role in determining a patient’s overall health and life expectancy. Key lifestyle considerations for RA patients include:

Smoking Cessation

Smoking is a well-established risk factor for RA development and can exacerbate disease progression. How does smoking affect RA patients? It can increase inflammation, reduce the effectiveness of RA medications, and contribute to cardiovascular complications. Quitting smoking is one of the most impactful steps an RA patient can take to improve their prognosis.

Regular Exercise

Physical activity is crucial for maintaining joint flexibility, muscle strength, and overall cardiovascular health in RA patients. What types of exercise are beneficial for RA patients? Low-impact activities such as swimming, cycling, and yoga can help improve joint function and reduce pain without putting excessive stress on affected joints.

Balanced Diet

A healthy, anti-inflammatory diet can complement medical treatments and potentially reduce RA symptoms. What dietary approaches may benefit RA patients? Mediterranean-style diets rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and omega-3 fatty acids have shown promise in reducing inflammation and improving overall health in RA patients.

Stress Management

Chronic stress can exacerbate RA symptoms and potentially contribute to disease flares. How can RA patients effectively manage stress? Techniques such as mindfulness meditation, deep breathing exercises, and regular relaxation practices can help reduce stress levels and improve overall well-being.

The Importance of Early Diagnosis and Treatment in RA

Early diagnosis and prompt initiation of treatment are crucial factors in improving long-term outcomes for RA patients. The concept of the “window of opportunity” in RA treatment emphasizes the importance of early intervention.

Why is early diagnosis so critical in RA management? Early detection and treatment can:

• Prevent or minimize irreversible joint damage
• Reduce the risk of extra-articular complications
• Improve the chances of achieving remission or low disease activity
• Potentially preserve long-term functional ability and quality of life

How can individuals ensure early diagnosis of RA? Being aware of early RA symptoms, such as joint pain, stiffness, and swelling, and seeking prompt medical attention can lead to timely diagnosis and treatment initiation.

Monitoring and Managing Comorbidities in RA

RA patients often have comorbid conditions that can impact their overall health and life expectancy. Effective management of these comorbidities is essential for optimizing outcomes in RA patients.

Common Comorbidities in RA

What health conditions frequently coexist with RA? Common comorbidities include:

• Cardiovascular disease
• Osteoporosis
• Depression and anxiety
• Fibromyalgia
• Gastrointestinal disorders

How should RA patients approach comorbidity management? Regular health screenings, open communication with healthcare providers, and a holistic approach to treatment that addresses both RA and comorbid conditions are crucial for comprehensive care.

Cardiovascular Risk Management

Given the increased cardiovascular risk in RA patients, proactive management of heart health is essential. What strategies can help mitigate cardiovascular risk in RA patients?

• Regular monitoring of blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and other cardiovascular risk factors
• Aggressive management of traditional cardiovascular risk factors (e.g., hypertension, dyslipidemia)
• Consideration of preventive therapies such as statins in high-risk patients
• Promotion of heart-healthy lifestyle habits

By addressing these comorbidities alongside RA management, patients can potentially improve their overall health outcomes and life expectancy.

The Role of Patient Education and Self-Management in RA Care

Empowering RA patients with knowledge and self-management skills is crucial for optimizing treatment outcomes and quality of life. Patient education and self-management programs can significantly impact disease control and overall well-being.

Key Components of RA Self-Management

What aspects of self-management are particularly important for RA patients?

• Medication adherence and understanding treatment regimens
• Joint protection techniques and ergonomic adaptations
• Pain management strategies
• Energy conservation and fatigue management
• Emotional coping skills

How can healthcare providers support patient self-management? Offering structured education programs, providing access to reliable information resources, and encouraging participation in support groups can enhance patients’ ability to effectively manage their condition.

The Impact of Patient Engagement on RA Outcomes

Research has shown that engaged and informed patients tend to have better health outcomes in chronic conditions like RA. How does patient engagement translate to improved RA management?

• Better adherence to treatment plans
• More effective communication with healthcare providers
• Improved ability to recognize and respond to disease flares
• Greater likelihood of adopting and maintaining healthy lifestyle habits

By fostering patient engagement and self-management skills, healthcare providers can help RA patients take a more active role in their care, potentially leading to better disease control and improved long-term outcomes.

In conclusion, while rheumatoid arthritis can impact life expectancy through various complications, advancements in treatment and management strategies have significantly improved the outlook for RA patients. Early diagnosis, appropriate medical treatment, lifestyle modifications, and proactive management of comorbidities are key factors in optimizing health outcomes and potentially extending life expectancy in individuals with RA. By adopting a comprehensive approach to RA care that encompasses medical management, patient education, and self-management strategies, many RA patients can lead fulfilling lives with a quality of life and life expectancy approaching that of the general population.

Can you die from rheumatoid arthritis? Lifespan and outlook

A person cannot die from rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, RA can increase the risk of developing complications, such as heart disease. Some of these can be life threatening.

RA is a chronic medical condition that involves increased levels of inflammation in tissues throughout the body.

The condition can make a person more likely to develop health complications affecting the heart and lungs. The risk of complications depends on a range of factors, including age, disease progression, and a person’s lifestyle.

There is currently no cure for RA. However, effective treatment can slow down or stop the condition’s progression and help prevent complications. Treatments work best when a person starts them early in the disease progression.

In this article, we look at how RA may affect a person’s lifespan.

A note about sex and gender

Sex and gender exist on spectrums. This article will use the terms “male,” “female,” or both to refer to sex assigned at birth. Click here to learn more.

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A person cannot die from RA. However, people with RA typically have a slightly reduced life expectancy. A study of almost 30,000 people with RA in Taiwan found that people with the condition have an average life expectancy reduction of 4.97 years.

However, with the correct management, many people with RA can have the same life expectancy as those without it.

People with seropositive RA are at a greater risk of developing severe forms of RA than those with seronegative RA. They also have a higher risk of developing physical complications such as rheumatoid nodules and vasculitis.

Widespread inflammation from RA can increase a person’s risk of developing other life threatening complications.

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RA causes inflammation throughout the body that, over time, can damage organ tissues. Having RA-related complications can affect a person’s lifespan.

Existing conditions

Findings of a 2017 study indicate that the following are more likely to cause death in people with RA than in the general population:

• cardiovascular disease
• respiratory disease
• infection
• musculoskeletal conditions

People with RA may be more likely to develop infections because of reduced immune system function. Some medications prescribed to treat RA can also increase the risk of infection.

Other risk factors

It is difficult to predict how complications of RA may affect a person’s lifespan. This is because their risk and severity depend on a wide range of factors.

Factors can include:

• RA progression
• sex, with females being more likely to develop severe RA, though males with and without RA have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease
• age at diagnosis, with early diagnosis improving a person’s outlook
• lifestyle factors such as smoking and drinking alcohol

Authors of a 2018 study report that overall mortality rates among people with RA have decreased in recent years. This may be at least partially due to improved treatment methods.

Medications such as disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and biologics can reduce the risk of RA-related complications.

Learn more about DMARDs and biologics here.

As RA progresses, long lasting or frequently occurring inflammation in the joints can lead to permanent joint damage. This can affect the cervical spine joints in the neck and may cause nodules to form under the skin.

RA can also increase the risk of certain health conditions. The following sections discuss three main complications: heart disease, respiratory problems, and infection.

Heart disease

RA can cause inflammation and damage to the arteries, the heart muscles, or tissues surrounding the heart.

Pericarditis, which is inflammation of the pericardium (the pouch surrounding the heart) and fluid buildup in this pouch, may be significant factors. Pericarditis is the most common cardiac complication of RA, though people rarely experience symptoms. Fewer than 10% of people with RA have symptomatic pericarditis.

While pericarditis is rarely a serious complication, any symptoms affecting the pericardium can be life threatening.

People with RA are also much more likely to develop atherosclerosis, which is a buildup of plaque in the arteries. In a person with RA, this plaque is more likely to be brittle and break away, leading to a higher risk of heart attack and stroke.

Some RA medications, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids, may also increase the risk of atherosclerosis. Other medications, including JAK inhibitors, can increase the risk of other major cardiac events.

The Arthritis Foundation notes that RA increases the risk of several other heart complications, including:

• a nearly doubled risk of ischemic stroke
• a tripled risk of deep vein thrombosis, which refers to blood clots in the legs
• a more than quadrupled risk of a life threatening pulmonary embolism

Respiratory disease

According to the Arthritis Foundation, beyond complications that affect the joints, people with RA are most likely to experience complications involving the lungs.

RA increases the risk of respiratory issues, such as:

• nodules in the lungs
• pleural effusion
• bronchiectasis
• interstitial lung disease

The rate of interstitial lung disease is eight times higher in people with RA. It occurs when excessive inflammation from an overactive immune system causes scarring in lung tissue. This can make breathing difficult or impossible, and a person could eventually need a lung transplant.

People with RA may also have a higher risk of developing blockages in the small airways of the lungs. Sometimes, RA medications can also cause adverse reactions in the lungs and lung lining.

Infection

People with autoimmune conditions such as RA are more susceptible to potentially serious and even fatal infections.

In people with RA, it is still unclear whether this susceptibility results from the condition or a side effect of RA medications, including biologics and steroids.

Vaccinations, such as the COVID-19, flu, and pneumococcal vaccines, can help prevent some infections associated with RA.

For more advice on COVID-19 prevention and treatment, visit our coronavirus hub.

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Other complications

Other complications from RA include:

• inflammation in the eye
• osteoporosis
• anemia
• type 2 diabetes
• rheumatoid vasculitis
• lymphoma
• chronic kidney disease
• depression

Learn more about the effects of RA on the body here.

Most people with RA can lead a full and active life. It is important for a person to follow a healthy lifestyle to reduce the risks of other illnesses associated with RA.

There is no cure for RA. Treatments aim to slow the progression of the condition and manage symptoms such as inflammation and pain.

An effective treatment plan can help prevent complications of RA. Some home remedies may also help manage RA symptoms and protect against complications.

Doctors may recommend that people with RA make changes to their diet and lifestyle, such as:

• quitting smoking
• doing regular low impact exercises, such as swimming and light muscle training
• eating a balanced diet and avoiding processed foods
• going to counseling or engaging with a support group
• taking plenty of time to rest throughout the day

People with RA should work directly with a doctor to create and adapt their treatment plan.

Regular appointments with a rheumatologist may also help. The specialist can monitor the progression of the disease and recommend any necessary treatment changes.

Complementary therapies — such as massage, meditation, and acupuncture — may also benefit people with the condition. Results can vary, so it may help to try a few different techniques.

Following an anti-inflammatory diet for RA can also help.

Learn about 11 home remedies for RA here.

RA is a chronic condition with no known cure. People do not die from RA. However, it can lead to serious complications that can compromise overall health.

A person with RA may have a reduced life expectancy. However, the condition affects each person differently, and it can be difficult for doctors to predict an individual’s outlook.

Receiving treatment and making recommended lifestyle changes early on can help manage symptoms and improve a person’s outlook.

A person with RA should work directly with a doctor and rheumatologist to set and modify treatments. Doing this can help manage symptoms and slow the progression of the disease.

Can Rheumatoid Arthritis Kill You? Research and More

Researchers have found a connection between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and a shorter lifespan. However, this condition affects people differently, and disease progression differs from person to person, so it’s hard to predict one’s prognosis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes pain and swelling in different joints in the body and can also affect the internal organs.

It’s possible to live a long life with RA, but it is estimated that the disease can potentially reduce life expectancy by 3 to 10 years.

There’s no cure for RA, although remission can happen. Even when the condition improves, symptoms can return, or you can develop comorbidities, putting you at risk for complications.

According to the Arthritis Foundation, more than 50% of early deaths in people with RA occur due to cardiovascular disease.

Read on to learn how you can reduce your risk.

If you’re diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, it’s important to understand how this condition can reduce life expectancy.

As a progressive illness, it’s not uncommon for RA symptoms to worsen over the years. It isn’t the disease itself that shortens life expectancy, though. Rather, it’s the effects of the disease.

The major effects involve:

• your immune system: As an autoimmune disease, rheumatoid arthritis weakens the immune system, making you susceptible to infections — some serious.
• chronic inflammation: Chronic inflammation can damage healthy tissues, cells, and organs, which can be life threatening if left unchecked.
• duration of the disease: If you’re diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at a young age, you’ll live with the disease longer than someone diagnosed with the disease later in life.
• comorbidities and complications: You can develop complications or other conditions while having RA, and these can affect your outlook. The longer you have the disease, the greater the likelihood of developing complications that could shorten your lifespan.
• untreated RA: Reduced life expectancy can also occur when RA treatment doesn’t work or if you don’t seek treatment for symptoms or complications. People living with untreated RA are twice as likely to die than people who are the same age without RA.

Other risk factors

Other factors that can affect life expectancy include your overall health, such as if you have other chronic conditions, your genetics, and your current lifestyle.

Other risk factors include:

Sex

According to the Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Network, more females are diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis than males. The disease tends to be more severe in females, too.

Sex and gender exist on spectrums. This article will use the terms “male,” “female,” or both to refer to sex assigned at birth.

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Seropositive RA

To diagnose RA, your doctor will run a blood test and check for two protein markers: rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-CCP, both auto-antibodies.

If the blood test shows the presence of these proteins, you have seropositive rheumatoid arthritis. If you have symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis without the presence of these proteins, your doctor may diagnose seronegative rheumatoid arthritis.

Typically, people with seropositive RA have more aggressive symptoms, contributing to a shorter life expectancy.

Smoking

Smoking is a serious risk factor for developing RA and impacts the disease’s severity.

Research has shown that you can reduce the risk of developing more severe RA by stopping smoking.

Rheumatoid arthritis complications — some potentially fatal — include:

1. Heart disease

The exact link between RA and heart disease is not exactly established.

However, it is known that people with RA are have a 1.5-fold risk of developing atherosclerosis. Plaque builds up in the blood vessels, causing the narrowing of the arteries, triggering high blood pressure, and restricting blood flow to the heart and other organs.

This can lead to heart disorders such as pericarditis, coronary artery diseases, and myocarditis.

High blood pressure can lead to a stroke or heart attack. Both are life threatening. Pieces of plaque can also break off, causing a blood clot.

People living with with rheumatoid arthritis are also more likely to develop atrial fibrillation. This irregular heartbeat leads to restricted blood flow, raising the risk for blood clots, heart attack, or stroke.

2. Lung problems

Inflammation doesn’t only affect the joints, it can also affect the lungs. This can lead to lung disease and lung scarring.

These conditions can cause:

• shortness of breath
• a dry, chronic cough
• weakness
• a buildup of fluid between the lining of the chest cavity and the tissue surrounding the lungs

Progressive lung disease can make breathing difficult, and people with it have a high mortality rate. Some people with RA may need a lung transplant to improve lung function and breathing.

3. Infections

A weak immune system due to RA increases the risk for infections like flu and pneumonia. Also, certain drugs used to treat RA may increase your risk for infection.

With rheumatoid arthritis, your immune system attacks your joints. These medications can help suppress your immune system, but a weaker immune system also increases your risk for infection.

4. Cancer

A weak immune system also puts you at risk for lymphoma. This is a type of cancer that begins in the white blood cells.

Lymphocytes are white blood cells that are responsible for immune responses. Lymphoma starts in these cells.

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), people with weaker immune systems also have a higher risk of developing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

5. Anemia

Chronic inflammation can also cause anemia, which is the reduction of red blood cells.

Anemia affects how well oxygen travels through your body. Low levels of red blood cells force your heart to work harder and compensate for low oxygen levels.

If left untreated, anemia can cause heart problems and heart failure.

Despite the risk, several strategies can improve your quality of life and reduce the risk of serious complications:

• exercise: Physical activity doesn’t only improve joint mobility, it can also reduce inflammation and pain. Aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week. Choose gentle exercises that don’t cause further joint pain, like walking, swimming, or biking.
• lose weight: Being overweight or obese puts more pressure on your joints, increasing pain and inflammation. Talk with your doctor about a healthy weight based on your age and height. Take steps to lose extra weight.
• eat a healthy diet: Consume more anti-inflammatory foods like fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to reduce pain and strengthen your immune system.
• quit smoking: Smoking can lead to lung inflammation and raise your blood pressure, putting you at risk for heart attack or stroke. Choose nicotine replacement therapy to quit, or ask your doctor about prescription medications to help stop cravings.
• follow your treatment plan and take medication as directed: Follow up with your doctor to monitor your progress. If symptoms don’t improve, your doctor may need to adjust your treatment.
• get a flu shot: Due to your risk for infection, talk to your doctor about getting an annual flu shot. This can protect against influenza and complications like pneumonia, ear infections, and bronchitis.
• schedule regular checkups: Don’t skip your annual physicals. Routine health screenings can identify problems early, such as irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, and lymphoma.
• reduce stress: Stress is an RA trigger. Chronic stress can prompt flares and inflammation. Practice stress management techniques. Know your limits, learn how to say no, practice deep breathing exercises, and get plenty of sleep.

You may also want to speak to your doctor about getting the vaccination for pneumonia. It’s often recommended for people with certain health conditions, including RA.

Rheumatoid arthritis can progress, so talk with your doctor about new or unusual symptoms. These include:

• shortness of breath
• a lump on your neck
• increased pain or swelling
• fatigue
• flu-like symptoms that don’t improve
• unexplained weight loss
• splinter hemorrhages around fingernails (vasculitis)

You should also see a doctor if your current therapy doesn’t improve your symptoms, or if RA starts to have a negative impact on the quality of your life.

Here you’ll find additional answers to common questions about RA and life expectancy.

What is end-stage rheumatoid arthritis?

When a person reaches the final stages of RA, the affected joints will be almost completely gone and fused together. However, a person is not likely to reach this stage with treatment. Even if they do, this usually only causes deformities. Death usually happens as a result of complications affecting the heart, lungs, or other systems, or if a person becomes ill with another disease.

What is the most common cause of death in patients living with rheumatoid arthritis?

Research shows that more than half of deaths related to RA happen due to cardiovascular diseases.

How did your rheumatoid arthritis start?

Doctors do not know what causes RA, but there may be triggers. This likely includes genetics, which means that a person will have family members with the condition. It also includes becoming ill with a bacterial viral infection and experiencing an injury. Females are more likely to develop RA than males.

Learn more about the rheumatoid arthritis causes.

Although rheumatoid arthritis may shorten life expectancy by 3-10 years, the disease affects people differently, and different factors play a role in lifespan.

You can’t predict this disease. But while some people experience serious complications, others go on to live long, healthy lives without complications.

Even though there’s no way to predict the progression of rheumatoid arthritis, treatments have improved over the years. This allows many diagnosed with the condition to live long, healthy lives into their 80s or 90s, with fewer complications of the disease.

With an early diagnosis and treatment, it’s possible to achieve remission and enjoy life to the fullest.

Film Especially dangerous (USA, Germany, 2008) – Afisha-Kino

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Bekmambetov’s fighter “Especially Dangerous” with Jolie and Khabensky after 14 years in the top Netflix – how did the film turn out, where Russian and world stars together

#Wanted #Angelina Jolie #James McAvoy #Timur Bekmambetov

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July 11, 2022, 18:35

Dmitry Proskurin

The sixth most-watched movie in July on Netflix is ​​the 2008 action thriller “Wanted” by director Timur Bekmambetov. The film reached this status 10 days after the appearance on the service.

Wanted has previously appeared on Netflix (in 2018 and 2019), but has been available in the library for a total of seven months. Success in 2022 came as a surprise to the creators: “Sudden reason for pride! Subscribers rushed to reacquaint themselves with the insane superhero action movie,” Bazelevs, Bekmambetov’s company, rejoices.

What is “Wanted” about? And how Jolie, McAvoy and Morgan Freeman ended up in Bekmambetov’s film

The film is based on a comic book by Mark Millar. His plot – a boring clerk becomes a killer in the Brotherhood of Weavers sect, where assassins are trained.

Universal Studios adapted the comic book script – they wanted to make a violent action movie with a high age rating. But the producers did not like the first script – it turned out to be a standard Hollywood movie. Then, for the sake of an experiment, Universal called Timur Bekmambetov, who had not made films in English before.

Bekmambetov explained that he never aspired to Hollywood and became the director of “Wanted” “by coincidence.” He believes that he was called because of the success of the movie Night Watch. The film was shot in Prague, so Bekmambetov did not feel what a Hollywood project was doing.

And the bosses of Universal did not put pressure on Bekmambetov. He said that on the contrary, he received complete freedom and considers it a myth that Hollywood puts pressure on authors. Bekmambetov spent a year refining the script (tripled it) and believes that he made it deeper. All the special effects in the film (there are more than a hundred of them) were also made by Bekmambetov’s studio.

The main question – why so many stars in the project? James McAvoy said he liked the script and The Night’s Watch. McEvoy even called Bekmambetov a genius: “He thinks as if his head is in another room.” For the sake of the role, McAvoy rocked a lot, refused alcohol and overcame the fear of kissing Jolie. How did she get into the movie?

Bekmambetov said that negotiations with Jolie were difficult. She agreed, but subject to a modified script – Jolie wanted her character to die at the end of the film. Bekmambetov also talked about Jolie’s looseness – she wanted “the director to do everything with her.” For example, her make-up artists did not paint over her tattoos, but only added new ones – with the Russian words “determination” and “pain”.

How “Wanted” was promoted in Russia through the writer Lukyanenko, Urgant, Bezrukov and public opinion polls

In the Russian media, the film was presented as a great success – because never before had a director from Russia made such a budget blockbuster with Hollywood stars. A poll was even conducted by the Public Opinion Foundation – more than half of the viewers said that “Especially Dangerous” is a breakthrough in Russian cinema.

The film’s main marketing driver in Russia is Konstantin Khabensky, who plays a small role, but still among world stars. He said that he agreed to the role for this reason – he was interested in being side by side with great actors.

And it is important that Khabensky did not have a kiss with Jolie. She gave him artificial respiration. And with McAvoy everything was real.

Russian stars also participated in dubbing: Sergey Bezrukov, Gosha Kutsenko, Ivan Urgant. But at the same time, the last word of the film, even in the Russian version, is pronounced by McEvoy – “I hit”. The science fiction writer Sergei Lukyanenko was responsible for the replicas in Russian.

The success of “Wanted”: paid for itself several times over, two Oscar nominations, a failed sequel

“Wanted” received moderately positive reviews from viewers and critics.

• Kinopoisk – 6.8;
• IMDb – 6.7;
• Rotten Tomatoes – 69%

What they praise for. “Especially Dangerous” is a driving and inventive action movie that keeps you in suspense and does not slide down to the clichés of the genre. Bekmambetov added an oriental originality and cruelty to the film, which is unusual for sleek Hollywood.

What they criticize for. A complicated script, a lot of slow-mo scenes, Hollywood stars play weak characters. It is also noticeable that McAvoy is voiced by Bezrukov. And it is not clear why the film needs Khabensky, who is beaten in the script through jokes about a typical Russian with vodka.

But financially the film turned out to be successful. With a budget of $75 million, it grossed $341 million at the global box office, with about a third of the profit coming from viewers in the United States. Also, “Wanted” has two Oscar nominations – for work with sound.

Due to the success of the film, over the last 14 years there has been talk that the film needs a sequel. In 2009, Bekmambetov talked about the start of work on it, the studio found screenwriters, and Jolie abandoned the project. But the film was never put into production.

The last time Bekmambetov spoke about the continuation of “Especially Dangerous” was in 2020.