Colombian-American actor Gabriel Sloyer takes on one of the film’s most menacing roles in Protector, the new action thriller starring Milla Jovovich and directed by Adrian Grünberg.

The film follows Nikki (Jovovich), a former war hero whose life is shattered when her daughter is kidnapped by a dangerous human trafficking ring. Forced back into the violent world she once left behind, Nikki launches a relentless mission through the criminal underworld to save her child — all while being hunted by the police and the military.

Sloyer plays the ruthless antagonist known as “Chairman,” a figure deeply embedded in the criminal network Nikki is determined to destroy. Speaking with Entertainment Affair’s Melissa Ramiz, the actor explained that he built the character by focusing on the emotional contrast between Chairman and Nikki. “I just thought about Milla’s character and tried to work backwards from there and do anything I possibly could to infuriate her character,” Sloyer said. “She cares so much about her daughter and for the chairman, it was just another day at the office.”

Sharing scenes with Jovovich, an iconic action star, proved to be a valuable learning experience for Sloyer. “It was an education,” he said. “She is a legend in the genre and I learned a lot from her about stillness and focus and how effortlessly she locks in.”

Even while portraying a villain, Sloyer said he looked for small moments that could add humanity to the character, including subtle hints about family pressures and his place within a much larger criminal organization.

Directed by Grünberg, Protector combines high-stakes action with darker real-world themes about human trafficking and the lengths people will go to protect their families. “I hope audiences call their moms,” Sloyer said. “And realize the lengths people will go to do the right thing and protect the ones they love.”

Protector hits theaters March 6, 2026.