CM Punk and Justin Long Star in Shudder's 'Night Patrol'

5 hours ago7 min read3 comments

Alright, folks, grab your popcorn because the worlds of professional wrestling and horror-comedy are colliding in what might be the most unexpected team-up since Shaq and Kazaam. WWE’s reigning World Heavyweight Champion, the straight-edge superstar himself CM Punk (that’s Phil Brooks for the uninitiated), is trading the squared circle for the silver screen, and he’s bringing a seriously fanged twist to the buddy-cop genre.Shudder, the streaming service that’s basically the cool, curated record store of horror, just dropped the news that 'Night Patrol' is hitting theaters on January 16, 2026, and the lineup is wild. Punk isn't just making a cameo; he's starring as a police officer who moonlights as a vampire.Let that sink in for a second. We’ve seen him drop pipe bombs in the ring, but now he’s presumably dropping fangs on perps.It’s a concept so ridiculous it just might work, like a behind-the-back, no-look pass in the final seconds of a game—high risk, high reward. And his squad? He’s sharing the screen with the perpetually nervous-but-hilarious Justin Long, a veteran of the genre thanks to the 'Drag Me to Hell' and the recent 'Barbarian', alongside the comedic chops of Jermaine Fowler, the rising talent of RJ Cyler, and even rapper Freddie Gibbs, which suggests this film’s soundtrack is going to be as hard-hitting as a Punk Go to Sleep lariat.This isn't Punk's first foray into acting—he’s had roles in 'Girl on the Third Floor' and that 'Rabbit Horror' segment—but this is his first major leading role in a feature with this level of buzz, a real main-event push. For Shudder, this is a major power play, a statement that they’re not just a niche streamer but a studio capable of pulling together a cast that bridges fanbases from sports entertainment, comedy, and hip-hop.It feels like a calculated move, similar to when a streaming service lands a major exclusive that gets everyone talking. The horror-comedy space has been killing it lately, but 'Night Patrol,' with its premise of a cop who literally has a thirst for justice, could either be a cult classic in the making, like 'From Dusk Till Dawn' meets 'The Other Guys,' or a glorious mess.Either way, the conversation around it is already more electric than a live Raw crowd. It’s a fascinating pivot for Punk, who, after his monumental return to WWE, is proving his career is as unpredictable and compelling as his promos.This isn't just a side hustle; it's a testament to his crossover appeal, and if he brings even half the intensity he brings to a Chicago crowd, we’re in for a seriously entertaining night at the movies. Mark your calendars, because January 2026 just got a lot more interesting.

#featured

#CM Punk

#Justin Long

#Night Patrol

#Shudder

#vampire comedy

#WWE

#2026 release