Major spoilers for Newborn lie ahead, so read on at your own discretion.

This weekend marks the debut of yet another title on the 2026 movie schedule, Newborn, which stars David Oyelowo in the lead. Written and directed by Nate Parker and partially inspired by the true story of Richard Rosario, the film sees Oyelowo play Chris Newborn, a man trying to readjust to life after serving seven years in solitary confinement. Considering this is a psychological thriller, the movie has some twists and turns, including a major third-act twist, and Oyelowo spoke to CinemaBlend about filming it.

In Newborn, shortly after Chris is released from prison, he – along with his partner, Tara and their son, Jake – travel from New York to a remote resort to relax. Chris’ time at the resort is particularly tough due to his memories of being incarcerated and the unexpected arrival of his younger brother, Keith, who’s a drug addict. Keith – who Chris saves from life in prison by taking the blame for a hit-and-run at the start of the film – warns Chris about men supposedly looking for him and asking questions about Jake.

Keith also manages to convince Chris that Tara is conspiring against him for financial gain, and that leads to a heated confrontation during which Chris points a gun at his partner. What viewers learn from Tara in this moment, though, is that Keith is actually, having died amid Chris' imprisonment. With that, the “Keith” at the resort – and at Chris’ apartment earlier in the movie – is only in Chris’ subconscious. When I spoke to David Oyelowo, he shared his reaction to the twist and why he had to tread carefully from a performance standpoint:

So, for Oyelowo, the key was to not give away the twist in his performance prior to that scene but also not go out of his way to do anything that seemed inauthentic to the narrative or his character. Some movie twists are great, while other plot twists can leave a lot to be desired. With that in mind, it’s completely understandable as to why Oyelowo wanted to be careful when it came to filming the Keith-related reveal.

The Nightingale star also made a few more good points about filming that major twist scene. As he pointed out during our interview, there were certain elements beyond his control. On that note, Oyelowo explained how Nate Parker figured into all of it:

Considering this is the same actor who excellently portrayed Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma (and dealt with the impact of staying in character for months), I’m not surprised to hear such cerebral thoughts from Oyelowo. He, of course, also has to give himself some credit, though, because his performance also has to work for the twist to really feel palpable. It’s honestly quite devastating when Chris turns around to see Keith is gone and realizes his brother is not truly there.

That kind of reveal speaks to the intimate nature of Newborn and by extension, the fact that it’s not simply a prison movie. What the Keith reveal represents is how those who’ve experienced trauma can carry a portion of that with them and how that emotional baggage can manifest in visceral ways. Fans can come to their own conclusions, though, by seeing the film for themselves, as it’s currently playing exclusively in AMC Theaters.

David Oyelowo has played some very personal roles before, but he really had to rise to the occasion for his new title on the 2026 movie schedule, Newborn. A psychological thriller, the film sees Oyelowo play Chris Newborn, a man who attempts to readjust to society after spending seven years in solitary confinement for a crime he didn’t commit. Director Nate Parker penned this original screenplay, but it was also inspired, in part, by one man’s actual experiences, which Oyelowo discussed with CinemaBlend.

Parker’s film isn’t a direct true crime film, though it is partially influenced by the story of Richard Rosario. In 1996, Rosario began serving a 25-years-to-life sentence for a murder he insisted he didn’t commit, and he also asserted he had 13 alibi witnesses. In 2016, though, after Rosario had been incarcerated for 20 years, a judge ruled that he hadn’t received a fair trial, and he was released from custody. When I recently spoke with David Oyelowo about Newborn, he laid out how Rosario became involved with the production:

I can understand why Oyelowo would’ve been pleased to have Rosario as a resource during the development process. For one, Rosario’s presence could’ve helped inform the more grounded elements of the movie. Also, the Bronx native could serve as a starting point for Oyelowo when it came to fleshing out the character of Chris. The British actor – who also co-produced Newborn – went on to share more on Rosario and how important he was to his work on the movie:

Oyelowo has stunningly played characters like Bass Reeves and Red Tails’ 1st Lt. Joe "Lightning" Little. He also really tested himself by playing Martin Luther King Jr. in 2014’s Selma. During a previous talk with Oyelowo, he explained that playing Dr. King had a major impact on him since he remained in character for months. Oyelowo didn’t do that for his newest movie, as he explained to me during our chat. Still, it’s abundantly clear that he credits a lot of his work to his desire to lean on Rosario while developing his role as Chris.

While incarceration is a key part of Chris Newborn’s story and that of Richard Rosario, don’t get the impression that this is a prison movie. David Oyelowo also emphasized during our chat that he and the creative team opted not to dwell on Chris being behind bars but more so on his adjustment to being on the outside again. A film like this can definitely be exciting, but it takes on a deeper meaning when it pulls from the experiences of someone like Richard Rosario.

Check out Newborn when it opens exclusively in AMC Theaters nationwide on April 10.

In the U.S., it's time to pay your taxes this week. Perhaps after doing so, you just want to drop down on the couch and ignore the rest of the world as you stare at all the money you used to have. The good news is that a subscription to your favorite streaming platform always pays for itself in hours of content. This week is no different.

From a major series finale on Disney+ to a new comedy series launching on Apple TV+ and one of the biggest live events of the year, there's plenty to keep you busy on streaming this week.

Behind the Curtain: Stranger Things: The First Shadow - April 15 (Netflix)

Stranger Things fans are surely waiting with bated breath for the final episodes of the series to arrive on Netflix. While an exact date for Stranger Things Season 5 is still in limbo, fans who have kept paying for their Netflix subscription might be able to scratch the itch with a new documentary about Stranger Things: The First Shadow, a West End play based on the series.

Daredevil: Born Again Season Finale April 15 (Disney+)

Daredevil: Born Again has been a smash success, so you can be sure that a lot of fans will be tuned in to the season finale of the show. We can guess the show will try to go out with a bang. Having said that, don’t expect the series to end cleanly, as we already know that Season 2 is on the way, so hold on to that Disney+ subscription.

Government Cheese - April 16 (Apple TV+)

Those looking to have a little more fun watching TV this week may want to make sure they have an Apple TV+ subscription, as the strangest but also the funniest show on streaming this week has to be Government Cheese. The show stars David Oyelowo, who also produced, as the patriarch of the Chambers family. After being released from prison, he reconnects with his family, only to find the familial structure they have formed in his absence to be difficult to get used to.

Light & Magic, Season 2 - April 18 (Disney+)

Industrial Light & Magic has spent the last several decades producing some of the greatest special effects in the history of cinema. The first season of Light & Magic told a nearly complete story of the special effects house, but apparently, there is a little more to tell, as a three-episode second season will arrive on Disney+ this week.

WrestleMania 41 - April 19-20 (Peacock)

The WWE’s biggest event of the year is back. It's time once again for WrestleMania. As in previous years, WrestleMania will be a two-night event and will include such marque matchups as John Cena vs. Cody Rhodes for the WWE Championship. To watch this year’s show, you’ll need a Peacock subscription.

With Daredevil: Born Again coming to an end, Disney+ needs another prestige series to take its place. Luckily, it has one, as Andor Season 2 launches next week. It's time for Star Wars fans to get excited.

In any case-of-the-week procedural, you get a slew of guest stars popping in and out. However, in The Good Wife, the army of talent Robert and Michelle King’s show assembled to support the cast of regulars is next level. From actors we already knew and loved when the show was airing on CBS in the 2010s to performers who have since become A-list names, this list is really a who’s-who of Hollywood’s finest talents.

Pedro Pascal - Nathan Landry - 6 Episodes

These days, we know Pedro Pascal as Mr. Fantastic in the Fantastic Four or Joel in The Last of Us. However, before all that – and even before he died on Game of Thrones – he played the prosecutor Nathan Landry in six episodes of The Good Wife across Seasons 1 (Episodes 8, 13, 14 and 15) and 2 (Episodes 1 and 12).

Cristin Milioti - Onya Eggertson - 1 Episode

A handful of years before she was revealed as the mother of the How I Met Your Mother cast and over a decade before she stunned us all with her portrayal of Sofia Falcone in The Penguin, Cristin Milioti played the paranoid Onya Eggertson in Season 2, Episode 1 of The Good Wife.

Brian Tyree Henry - Randall Simmons - 1 Episode

In Season 2, Episode 2, Brian Tyree Henry plays Randall Simmons, a man Will and Alicia defend in military court. Of course, after this brief role, the actor went on to have an illustrious career as he starred in the hit show Atlanta and films like Causeway (for which he earned a 2023 Oscar nomination).

Rachel Brosnahan - Caitlin Fenton - 1 Episode

Rachel Brosnahan is Lois Lane in James Gunn’s Superman, and before that, she was The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Before those career-defining fast-talking roles, she played Caitlin Fenton, a client Alicia worked with during Season 2, Episode 6.

Michael J. Fox - Louis Canning - 26 Episodes

I think there’s an argument to be made that The Good Wife should be considered one of Michael J. Fox’s best projects. Yes, there’s Family Ties, Back to the Future and Spin City. However, his cunning and sly lawyer Louis Canning is an incredible character who he plays to perfection in 26 episodes across Seasons 2 through 7.

Ana Gasteyer - Judge Patrice Lessner - 5 Episodes

Making sure the lawyers say “in my opinion” in their various statements is Judge Patrice Lessner’s signature move, and it’s hilarious. That funny element of this character is perfect, too, considering she’s played in Seasons 1, 2, 4 and 6 by Saturday Night Live alum and comedy genius Ana Gasteyer.

Mike Colter - Lemond Bishop - 21 Episodes

Mike Colter has become a Michelle and Robert King repertory player thanks to his leading role in the show Evil, and you likely also recognize him for playing the titular Luke Cage in the Marvel series. However, before that, he played the drug lord Lemond Bishop in 21 episodes of The Good Wife between Seasons 1 and 6.

Melissa Benoist - Molly - 1 Episode

I was introduced to Melissa Benoist when she appeared on Glee. Then, The CW’s Supergirl made her a household name. However, long before all that, she had a small guest starring role on The Good Wife as Molly, Cary Agos’ first cousin, in Season 2, Episode 9.

David Oyelowo - Judge Edward Weldon - 1 Episode

From Selma to Lawmen: Bass Reeves, David Oyelowo has become well known for playing very powerful people. That was true back in 2010, too, when he played Judge Edward Weldon in Season 2, Episode 11 of The Good Wife.

Jeremy Strong - Matt Becker - 5 Episodes

Long before playing the “eldest boy” in the cast of Succession and winning an Emmy for his portrayal of Kendall Roy in the HBO hit, Jeremy Strong played pollster Matt Becker in five episodes of The Good Wife. While we’ve come to know this actor for his big roles in film and television, his early career features this fun, smaller and memorable character who appeared in Seasons 2 (Episodes 13, 15, 16 and 17) and 4 (Episode 21) of the CBS hit.

Rita Wilson - Viola Walsh - 6 Episodes

There’s a rotating cast of entertaining lawyers who pop in from time to time to be a thorn in the side of Lockhart/Gardner. This includes Michael J. Fox and Martha Plimpton’s iconic defense attorneys. It also includes Rita Wilson’s lawyer, Viola Walsh, who was featured in six episodes of the show between Seasons 2 and 6.

America Ferrera - Natalie Flores - 4 Episodes

The year after Ugly Betty ended, America Ferrera joined the cast of The Good Wife for three episodes in Season 2 (Episodes 15, 18 and 20), then popped up again during Season 5, Episode 8. She played student Natalie Flores in the show. After that, she went on to lead the comedy Superstore and played a major role in the cast of 2023’s Barbie.

Taye Diggs - Dean Levine-Wilkins - 3 Episodes

I was introduced to Taye Diggs thanks to his role as the Bandleader in one of the best musicals, Chicago. He’s also very well known for films like House on Haunted Hill, Rent, and Set It Up. So, it was fun to come see him play on The Good Wife when he appeared in Season 6, Episodes 2, 3 and 5 as the lawyer Dean Levine-Wilkins.

Sarah Silverman - Stephanie Engler - 1 Episode

Sarah Silverman had been in the comedy game for a long time before playing Stephanie Engler in Season 2, Episode 22 of The Good Wife. And she brought that sense of humor to the show while also showing off her more dramatic side while playing this client of Lockhart/Gardner.

Michael Kelly - Mickey Gunn - 2 Episodes

Michael Kelly is one of those actors who seemingly has shown up in everything. He’s a well-known character actor who has been in projects like Jack Ryan, Lioness, The Penguin, House of Cards and so much more. And in Season 3, Episodes 2 and 8 of The Good Wife he played Mickey Gunn, a political strategist who spent a lot of time verbally sparring with Alan Cumming’s Eli Gold.

Sterling K. Brown - Andrew Boylan - 1 Episode

Sterling K. Brown is a staple on television, thanks to his starring roles in This Is Us and Hulu’s Paradise. However, as he was coming up as an actor, he guest-starred on a whole bunch of network procedurals, including The Good Wife, where he played complicated eyewitness Andrew Boylan in Season 3, Episode 4.

Meghann Fahy - Shelby Hale - 1 Episode

Meghann Fahy’s leading role in Freeform’s The Bold Type introduced me to her, then she broke big because she was part of The White Lotus’ Season 2 cast. In the lead-up to all that, she guest-starred in Season 3, Episode 6 of The Good Wife as Shelby Hale.

Matthew Perry - Mike Kresteva - 3 Episodes

Matthew Perry’s Mike Kresteva proved to be a snarky adversary of Alicia in his introductory episode (Season 3, Episode 19). And seeing him come back in Season 4, Episodes 1 and 18, was always fun! Overall, while the actor brought the sarcastic sense of humor we know and love him for thanks to Friends, this show also let him show off a more dramatic side.

Kristin Chenoweth - Peggy Byrne - 2 Episodes

The Good Wife loves its Broadway guest stars, and one of their biggest gets on this front was Kristin Chenoweth. The Tony winner and Wicked alum played Peggy Byrn in Season 4, Episodes 1 and 6 and it was always fun to see her interact with Alan Cumming’s Eli Gold.

Nathan Lane - Clarke Hayden - 15 Episodes

In the beginning (Season 4), Clarke Hayden is a trustee assigned to Lockheart/ Gardner, and he worked on their horrendous financial situation. Later, he worked with the firm as a lawyer. This character who appears in 15 episodes across Seasons 4 and 5 is played by the remarkable Nathan Lane, who you most definitely know from his legendary work in films like The Birdcage, The Producers and The Lion King.

Carrie Preston - Elsbeth Tascioni - 14 Episodes

Carrie Preston’s Elsbeth Tascioni was so iconic on The Good Wife and The Good Fight that she got her own show. After starring in 14 episodes of the flagship show across every season (except Season 2) and five episodes of the spinoff and winning an Emmy for her work, the Kings created Elsbeth, a hit CBS show based around Preston’s lawyer-turned-crime-solver.

Stockard Channing - Veronica Loy - 11 Episodes

Who do you hire to play Julianna Margulies’ on-screen mother? Stockard Channing, of course. In 11 episodes across Seasons 4, 5, 6, and 7, the Grease actress appeared as Veronica Loy, the mom of our leading lady, Alicia Florrick.

Will Patton - Mike Tascioni - 4 Episodes

Elsbeth talks a lot about her ex-husband and her son. While we didn’t meet her kid, Teddy, until Elsbeth, we did meet her former spouse, Mike Tascioni, in four episodes of The Good Wife during Season 7, Episodes 15, 16, 17 and 19. He was played by Will Patton, who you likely recognize from one of the best sports movies, Remember the Titans, and shows like Yellowstone.

Parker Posey - Vanessa Gold - 3 Episodes

Who can go toe-to-toe with Alan Cumming and play his ex? Parker Posey, of course. The indie film darling played Eli Gold’s ex-wife in Season 3, Episodes 6, 15 and 20, and she was the perfect person to play this vital character in the political consultant’s story.

Da’Vine Joy Randolph - Margie - 1 Episode

Oscar winner Da’Vine Joy Randolph appeared in one episode of The Good Wife, Season 4, Episode 21, to be exact. She played Margie on the show. These days, she’s best known for her turns in The Holdover, Dolemite is My Name and Only Murders in the Building, so it’s cool to think that this CBS procedural was one of her first-ever on-screen gigs.

Gillian Jacobs - Sonia - 1 Episode

In an almost blink and you’ll miss it role, Gillian Jacobs (of Community fame) appeared in the pilot of The Good Wife as Alicia and Cary’s assistant.

Christina Ricci - Therese Dodd - 1 Episode

Before The Good Wife, we knew Christina Ricci from The Addams Family and Casper. In more recent years, she and the Yellowjackets cast are all the rage. However, for one episode in 2012, Season 4, Episode 7, to be exact, she played comedienne Therese Dodd in the hit CBS drama.

Wallace Shawn - Charles Lester - 3 Episodes

We know and love Wallace Shawn for saying “inconceivable” in The Princess Bride, and we also adore him for his roles in The Incredibles, Toy Story and more. We also know and love him for playing the Lemond Bishop’s lawyer, Charles Lester, in both The Good Wife and The Good Fight. And for the sake of this story, he was specifically in three episodes of the flagship series, appearing in Season 4, Episode 16, Season 5, Episode 13 and Season 6, Episode 22.

Kyle MacLachlan - Josh Perotti - 4 Episodes

Kyle MacLachlan is a TV legend. Obviously, Twin Peaks is what he’s best known for, and more recently, he and the cast of Fallout have made quite the splash on streaming. Between all that, he appeared in four episodes of The Good Wife (Season 4, Episodes 14 and 15 and Season 6, Episodes 5 and 6). He played Josh Perotti on the show, a federal prosecutor.

Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor - Linda Underwood - 1 Episode

Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor is best known for her work in movies like Origin, King Richard and Nickel Boys, and she’s reached great acclaim for them. In the earlier days of her career, though, she was featured in Season 1, Episode 5 of The Good Wife, where she played Linda Underwood.

Matthew Lillard - Rowby Canton - 2 Episodes

It’s honestly a joy to see Matthew Lillard in anything. Of course, we know him best as one of the original Ghostfaces in Scream and Shaggy from Scooby-Doo, and he’s made waves in recent years for Five Nights at Freddys. However, he can do more than genre work, as proven by his two episodes of The Good Wife (Season 5, Episode 11 and Season 7, Episode 12) where he played musician Rowby Canton.

Vanessa Williams - Courtney Paige - 4 Episodes

Vanessa Williams is well known and loved for her roles on long-lasting shows like Ugly Betty and Desperate Housewives. However, she’s also a King repertory player. She appeared in four episodes of The Good Wife, Season 7, Episodes 7 through 10, as CEO Courtney Paige, and then she showed up as a totally different character years later in the spinoff series, Elsbeth.

This list is honestly barely scratching the surface of the iconic actors who have been recruited to guest star on The Good Wife. The list is honestly elite, and it’s always fun to go back and see so many performers during so many different stages of their careers.

The list of Taylor Sheridan’s shows feels like it's neverending, and the so the Rolodex of famous actors he’s also gotten into said series also feels infinite. From Kevin Costner’s role as John Dutton in the game-changing Yellowstone to Zoë Saldaña and Jeremy Renner’s turns in shows from Sheridan that aren’t about the Dutton family, the group of actors he’s gathered for these projects is staggering. 

Kevin Costner - Yellowstone 

Kevin Costner is kind of the man who started it all. At the time, he was the most famous person in the Yellowstone cast, and for five seasons he played the patriarch of the modern Dutton family, John Dutton. While he did leave Taylor Sheridan’s flagship western after the first half of Season 5, there’s no denying how much this character gave to the show and his career. 

Sam Elliott - 1883 

Some of Sam Elliott’s best movies, like Tombstone, are Westerns. And while Elliott has dabbled in television, there’s no doubt 1883 is a standout moment in his career. He joined Sheridan’s show as Shea Brennan, a Union Civil War veteran who agrees to take a group of immigrants West. He leads the group of pioneers on a journey from Texas to Montana, and Elliott gives a standout performance as the no-nonsense yet emotionally complex leader of the caravan. 

Harrison Ford - 1923 

Harrison Ford had never led a TV show until 2022 when he starred in 1923 as Jacob Dutton. While he’s known and beloved for playing Indiana Jones and Han Solo in film franchises, the Yellowstone prequel series was a fantastic turn in his career as he reunited with Helen Mirren, and led the spectacular cast of 1923. 

Zoë Saldaña - Lioness 

There are so many actors on this list who we likely never thought we’d see leading a TV series because they’re big movie stars. Well, if you’ve seen the Avatar movies or the Marvel movies in order, you’re aware that Zoë Saldaña has been busy for years between those and other projects. However, she joined the cast of Lioness in 2023 Joe, a CIA operative. 

Helen Mirren -1923 

Cara Dutton is one of the leaders of the Dutton household, and Helen Mirren plays her perfectly. She’s a confident Irish woman who knows how to run her household, and she and her husband Jacob are a perfect pair. Part of the reason why is Mirren and Harrison Ford are an excellent couple is they came back together for this project after working together on The Mosquito Coast in 1986. 

Tim McGraw - 1883 

When you think of Tim McGraw, country music is likely the first thing that comes to mind. However, he’s also a great actor, and 1883 proved that as he led the series as James Dutton, the man who moved his family from Tennessee to Montana to the ranch that is known today as The Yellowstone. McGraw played the character – alongside his wife Faith Hill who plays Margaret Dutton – for the first time in Yellowstone, and then after that, he signed on to make this miniseries about the Dutton’s big move. 

Kelly Reilly -Yellowstone 

Kelly Reilly was an established character actor before this, but Yellowstone made her a star. Her turn as Beth Dutton is magnificent, and watching her spar with Wes Bentley’s Jamie Dutton and fall in love with Cole Hauser’s Rip Wheeler are two of the reasons why she’s one of the major highlights of Taylor Sheridan’s flagship series. 

Billy Bob Thornton- 1883 

If you want to see the power of Taylor Sheridan and his casts, look no further than the fact that he got Billy Bob Thornton to make a cameo as Marshal Jim Courtright in Episode 2 of 1883. After that, he went on to sign up to lead Sheridan’s show Landman. However, the television journey within this Paramount universe began on the Yellowstone prequel.  

Jeremy Renner - Mayor Of Kingstown 

After starring in Taylor Sheridan’s film Wind River, Jeremy Renner collaborated with him again by joining the cast of his and Hugh Dillon’s show Mayor of Kingstown. The Avengers actor plays the titular Mayor, Mike McLusky, and he helps broker power between law enforcement, the prison and the power players in the town.  

Cole Hauser - Yellowstone 

Rip Wheeler was branded with the Y when he was young, and he’s given it to many ranch hands who live and work on the Yellowstone. While he’s not a Dutton by blood (though he is by law since he married Beth), he’s arguably one of the most loyal members of the family. Cole Hauser is the man behind this beloved character. While he had roles in big movies like Good Will Hunting, Dazed and Confused and 2 Fast 2 Furious, this part is arguably what made him a star.  

Faith Hill - 1883 

Faith Hill and Tim McGraw have been married since 1996, and in 1883 they played the married couple Margaret and James Dutton. Hill is best known for her music and she had a few minor acting roles earlier in her career. However, this Yellowstone prequel was her first leading role, and she killed it as the surefire, tough and loving pioneer and mother.  

Tom Hanks - 1883 

You’ll probably do a double take when you see Tom Hanks as General George Meade in Episode 2 of 1883. The iconic actor appeared in a flashback that showed Tim McGraw’s character fighting in the Civil War. While we know him for starring in massive movies like Saving Private Ryan and Sleepless in Seattle, in this Taylor Sheridan show, he played a small yet impactful part in this sweeping story.  

David Oyelowo - Lawmen: Bass Reeves 

From The Butler and Selma, David Oyelowo is a formidable actor known best for his roles in these historic dramas. In 2023, he joined Sheridan’s series Lawmen: Bass Reeves, to play the titular man who was the first Black deputy U.S. Marshall. 

Wes Bentley - Yellowstone 

Jamie Dutton is a fascinating character. He’s not a cowboy like his brothers, and he’s always butting heads with his sister Beth. His story is complex and driven by his confusion about his place in his family. Wes Bentley plays this complex and often villainous character so well, and it’s a great addition to his already impressive career that includes films like American Beauty and The Hunger Games.  

Rita Wilson - 1883 

In Episode 6 of 1883, Rita Wilson appears to play a shop owner named Carol. Both she and her husband Tom Hanks had small cameos in this Yellowstone miniseries, and it goes to show how many incredibly famous and talented actors and singers will show up for these shows, even for a small part. 

Shea Whigham - Lawmen: Bass Reeves 

Colonel George Reeves was the Confederate army leader who cheated Bass Reeves out of his freedom. He’s played by Shea Whigham, a fantastic character actor who is known for his roles in TV shows like Perry Mason, Boardwalk Empire and more. It’s also worth mentioning that Lawmen isn’t the first time he’s worked with Sheridan as he had a role in Sicario: Day of the Soldado, which the Yellowstone creator wrote. 

Luke Grimes - Yellowstone 

Much like his on-screen siblings played by Kelly Reilly and Wes Bentley, Luke Grimes had a solid career before Yellowstone. However, his turn as Kayce Dutton made him a household name. Also, on top of his successful acting career, which involves this massive modern Western, he’s a country singer, and his music has been featured in Taylor Sheridan’s show.  

Nicole Kidman - Lioness 

Nicole Kidman plays CIA senior supervisor Kaitlyn Meade in Lioness. Before this, she made an impact in the TV space through the HBO hit Big Little Lies. She also starred in the shows The Undoing and Nine Perfect Strangers before signing on to be part of Taylor Sheridan’s political thriller that airs on Paramount+. 

Sylvester Stallone - Tulsa King 

Other than a few cameos and guest spots here and there, Sylvester Stallone hasn’t really done TV in a big way. However, that changed when he signed on to play Dwight "The General" Manfredi in Taylor Sheridan’s gangster drama Tulsa King. 

Will Patton - Yellowstone 

If you haven’t watched Yellowstone, be warned, there’s a major spoiler ahead! You’ve been warned.

One of the big reveals in Yellowstone came when Jamie found out that John Dutton wasn’t his biological father, and he was adopted. In Seasons 3 and 4, Wes Bentley’s character reconnected with his birth father, Garrett Randall, and he’s played by Will Patton, who is also known for movies like Remember the Titans and Armageddon.  

Morgan Freeman - Lioness 

Of course, Morgan Freeman plays a powerful character in Lioness. The actor with the most illustrious career and seriously iconic voice, joined the Taylor Sheridan show to play Secretary of State Edwin Mullins. 

Dennis Quaid - Lawmen: Bass Reeves 

In Lawmen: Bass Reeves, Dennis Quaid plays Sherrill Lynn. He is one of the series regulars, and like the titular character, he’s a deputy U.S. Marshall. 

Josh Holloway - Yellowstone 

Typically, in a Yellowstone show, one of the Dutton's adversaries is some sort of outsider who is trying to take their land. In Season 3, that guy was named Roarke, and Lost’s Josh Holloway played him. 

Aidan Gillen - Mayor Of Kingstown 

You know and likely love to hate Aidan Gillen as Littlefinger in Game of Thrones. I guarantee you’ll also know and love to hate him as the evil Milo in Mayor of Kingstown too. 

Michael Kelly - Lioness 

Michael Kelly is well known for his roles in action-packed and political thrillers like House of Cards and Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan. So, his joining Lioness to play the CIA’s deputy director Byron Westfield feels very fitting.  

Donald Sutherland - Lawmen: Bass Reeves 

The late great Donald Sutherland’s final role was as Judge Parker in Lawmen: Bass Reeves. From M*A*S*H to The Hunger Games to Pride and Prejudice, and so much more, his career was truly legendary and he capped it off with this Taylor Sheridan show. 

Josh Lucas - Yellowstone 

When you think of John Dutton, Kevin Costner is understandably probably the first person you think of. However, he’s not the only actor who plays the Yellowstone’s patriarch. In flashbacks, he’s portrayed by Josh Lucas, an actor who is also known for his parts in films like Sweet Home Alabama and Ford v. Ferrari. 

Graham Greene - 1883 

In the finale of 1883, Graham Greene plays Spotted Eagle, a Native American leader who helps guide James Dutton toward what will become his home in Montana. Before this, Greene worked with Sheridan on the film Wind River, and he has a history with other members of the Yellowstone cast as he performed alongside Kevin Costner on Dances with Wolves. 

Jacki Weaver - Yellowstone 

Jacki Weaver – an actress known for her roles in films like Silver Linings Playbook and Animal Kingdom – joined Yellowstone in Season 4 as Caroline Warner. She’s one of the folks who works at Market Equities, and she’s trying to obtain part of the Dutton’s ranch to build an airport.

Jerome Flynn -1923 

Jerome Flynn is best known for playing Bronn – a killer and cynical mercenary – on Game of Thrones. In 1923, he plays Banner Creighton, a rancher who gets into a partnership with a businessman who is trying to take the Dutton’s ranch. 

Andrea Savage - Tulsa King 

You likely know Andrea Savage as a comedic actress because of her roles in shows like I’m Sorry, Episodes and Veep. However, she turned into the dramatic genre and showed off a different side of her range by playing Stacy Beale in Tulsa King. 

Neal McDonough - Yellowstone

You can always count on Neal McDonough to play a really good bad guy. He did it in DC’s Arrowverse as Damien Darhk. He did it in Justified as Robert Quarles. Of course, he did it in Yellowstone too, as he played one of Season 2’s antagonists, Malcolm Beck. 

Overall, the list of performers who have worked on one of Taylor Sheridan’s many shows is overwhelming and growing. From A-listers to legendary character actors, many have said yes to working on these series, and that will likely keep happening as the super producer and writer continues to create. 

Whether it's in biopics or in other historical movies, playing an important person often leads to some of the most amazing performances put on film. There are far too many to count, much less list here, but we do think you'll agree that this list of 32 actors playing famous people rank among the best. 

Ben Kingsley - Gandhi

The 1982 epic Gandhi starring Ben Kingsley as the revered leader of India and icon to peaceful protestors all over the world is an amazing movie. At the heart is Kingsley's amazing, transformative performance. He looks and sounds just like Gandhi, it's almost uncanny. 

Margot Robbie - Tonya Harding

When the news first broke that Australian Margot Robbie was cast to play controversial US Olympic figure skater Tonya Harding in I, Tonya, it's safe to say that many were skeptical. It took the actor all of about 30 seconds of screen time in the movie to prove those skeptics very wrong. Robbie is fantastic as the troubled skater with a family life that you wouldn't wish on anyone. 

Paul Dano - Brian Wilson

The Brian Wilson biopic Love & Mercy seems to have been overlooked by many, but if you're a fan of The Beach Boys, you need to see it. John Cusack plays the older Wilson in the 1980s and it is fantastic. Paul Dano, who plays the Pet Sounds-era Wilson, is simply amazing. He completely disappears into the role. 

Reese Witherspoon - June Carter Cash

Reese Witherspoon and Joaquin Phoenix are both amazing in Walk the Line as June and Johnny Cash. Really both deserve to be on this list, but we've the honor to Witherspoon if only because she won Best Actress at the Oscars in 2006. 

Robert Downey, Jr - Charlie Chaplin

It took a long time for Robert Downey to win an Oscar, which he finally did for Oppenheimer. More than 30 years before that win, he earned his first nomination for 1992's Chaplin for playing the legendary actor and Hollywood trailblazer. It's a movie that doesn't get talked about much these days, but it's still great. Especially Downey's performance. 

Natalie Portman - Jackie Kennedy

Jackie Kennedy has to be a tricky person to play. She is so iconic and so well known to so many people that the scrutiny would be stressful. Luckily for all of us, Natalie Portman hit it out of the park when she played the former First Lady in Jackie. 

Meryl Streep - Margaret Thatcher

It's hardly surprising to see Meryl Streep's name on any list of great performances. She has been arguably the best actor in Hollywood for 50 years. One of her finest performances came in 2011's The Iron Lady where she played the first female prime minister of the United Kingdom, Margaret Thatcher. 

Rami Malek - Freddy Mercury

You knew we couldn't have this list without including Rami Malek's incredible performance as Freddie Mercury in the biopic about the late Queen singer, Bohemian Rhapsody. It's not all about the prosthetic teeth, as Malek nailed so many nuances and mannerisms of the icon rock star. Just as in real life, the performance at Live Aid at the end of the movie brings down the house. 

Val Kilmer - Jim Morrison

If you grew up in the '90s, The Doors was probably a seminal film for you. Val Kilmer blew audiences away as the late Jim Morrison. It was so good you'd swear you were watching the real Morrison as he rose to fame and then burned out quickly before tragically becoming a member of the "27 Club" in 1971.

Denzel Washington - Malcolm X

A powerful personality takes an actor with equal strength to pull off and in Malcolm X, Denzel Washington is more than up for the task. Playing the combative, controversial civil rights leader could not have been easy, yet Washington brings him back to life in every way. It's the reason everyone should see this biopic. 

Faye Dunaway - Joan Crawford

Faye Dunaway gives the performance of a lifetime in Mommie Dearest. It's scary and mesmerizing. Joan Crawford was one of the most beloved actors in Hollywood in the Golden Age in Hollywood, but this movie changed the public's opinion of her forever - and not for the better. 

Jennifer Lopez - Selena

Before played the murdered superstar Selena in the movie of the same name, Jennifer Lopez had had a few roles in movies, but after Selena, she was the legend we all know today. It's a groundbreaking performance. 

David Oyelowo - Dr, Martin Luther King, Jr.

Everyone in America has heard the powerful voice of Martin Luther King, Jr. hundreds of times. His speeches are part of everyone's education. That makes David Oyelowo's turn as the civil rights leader that much harder - and that much more impressive. It's just fantastic. 

Cate Blanchett - Bob Dylan

Okay, we admit, technically Cate Blanchett is playing a character named "Jude Quinn" in I'm Not There, but c'mon, let's be real, she's playing Bob Dylan. It's an uncanny performance as well. There is actual footage of Dylan from that time in his career in the excellent D.A. Pennebaker-directed Dont Look Back. Compare that to Blanchett and you'll realize just how great she was. 

Daniel Day-Lewis - Abraham Lincoln

Of all the amazing performances on this list, Daniel Day-Lewis as Abraham Lincoln in Lincoln just may be the best. It frankly could be the greatest acting performance of all time. There's an argument for it, at least. He's simply incredible and brings the tragic president to life like no one else has before or since, and likely never will. 

Cillian Murphy - J. Robert Oppenheimer

Cillian Murphy won a well-deserved Best Actor Award for playing J. Robert Oppenheimer in Oppenheimer. It's a subtle, smoldering performance, just like the personality of the real Oppenheimer. Playing the scientist in his greatest moments in life and his lowest, it's a fantastic showing by the Irish actor. 

Cynthia Erivo - Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman is one of the most important people in US history, but one that hasn't been explored on film nearly as much as you might expect. Luckily, when someone did decide to finally tell her full story on the big screen in 2019's Harriet, they had the good sense to cast Cynthia Erivo as the former slave-turned-freedom fighter. She's amazing. 

Forest Whitaker - Idi Amin

Forest Whitaker is pretty great in everything he's in. He cranks his talent up to another level in The Last King Of Scotland as the brutal dictator of Uganda, Idi Amin. He's so good there are even moments where viewers might feel compassion for the man, despite his worst tendencies as the leader of the country. 

Jessica Chastain - Tammy Faye Bakker

If you were around in the 1980s, you remember all the insanity around Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker. Jim Bakker crying on TV with Tammy Faye right next to him is something no one will forget. Jessica Chastain's turn as the evangelical preacher's wife is just as memorable. 

Philip Seymour Hoffman - Truman Capote

it's hard to imagine anyone will ever play Truman Capote as well as the late Philip Seymour Hoffman in Capote. The role completely takes control of the actor in the best way. It might as well been the writer himself. You completely forget there is even an actor behind the role. 

Daniel Kaluuya - Fred Hampton

Fred Hampton was a controversial and complicated leader in the Black Panther Party in the 1960s. Casting a Brit like Daniel Kaluuya in the role was a daring choice by the filmmakers of Judas and the Black Messiah, but it paid off brilliantly as Kaluuya nails the role. 

Gary Oldman - Winston Churchill

Winston Churchill has been played on the big and small screen by plenty of great actors. John Lithgow (The Crown), Brendan Gleeson (Into the Storm), and Albert Finney (The Gathering Storm) have all garnered praise for playing the legendary prime minister. Gary Oldman, who won an Oscar for playing Churchill in 2017's The Darkest Hour may just be the best. His reading of those famous speeches is just mesmerizing. 

Angela Bassett - Tina Tuner

Tina Turner was a fierce woman, who deserved a fierce performance and she got one with Angela Bassett in What's Love Got To Do With It. Bassett's performance is transcendent and certainly deserved the Oscar nomination she received. She should've won it! 

Austin Butler - Elvis Presley

Austin Butler got so caught up in his performance as Elvis Presley in Elvis that critics of the actor complained that even months later he was still talking like the King of Rock and Roll. he wasn't, but that does say something about how good he was in the Baz Luhrmann-directed bio flick. 

Jesse Eisenberg - Mark Zuckerberg

When The Social Network was first announced, many were confused as to how someone could make an interesting movie about the founding of Facebook. It turns out, that if you get a great writer like Aaron Sorkin, a great director like David Fincher, and someone like Jesse Eisenberg to play the Mark Zuckerberg, you can make it look easy. The movie is great, and Eisenberg's performance is pitch-perfect. 

Leonardo DiCaprio - Howard Hughes

Howard Hughes is one of the most mercurial and odd celebrities in US history. In The Aviator, Leonardo DiCaprio fully embodies everything about the director and businessman. He takes on his greatest triumphs and sinks to the depths of Hughes' despair in the lowest points of his mental illness with the same gusto. 

Charlize Theron - Aileen Wuornos

Serial killer Aileen Wuornos was a terrifying person. A true monster, as the name of the movie about her is called. That's not to say a viewer can't have some sympathy for the circumstances that brought her to the point of murder, but you can't excuse her. Charlize Theron does an incredible job bringing all of that to the role in Monster. 

Sean Penn - Harvey Milk

Milk is one of the great political movies of the last few decades and the biggest reason why, besides the inspiring story, is Sean Penn's performance as Harvey Milk. Like Penn has done so often in his career, he completely disappears into the character. It is Harvey Milk.  

George C. Scott - George Patton

George S. Patton was a great, and complicated leader in World War II. He was responsible for some of the greatest military gains in the war, and he couldn't keep himself out of trouble with his controversy. George C. Scott's portrayal of the general in Patton is amazing. Even though the opening scene of him making a speech in front of the flag is fictional, it sets the tone perfectly and the movie never lets up. 

Cate Blanchett - Katharine Hepburn

Leonardo DiCaprio is fantastic in The Aviator as Howard Hughes, but he's not the only great performance in the movie. Cate Blanchett as the iconic Katharine Hepburn is, well, iconic. There's just no better word for either. It's not only a spot-on impression, the portrayal nails everything that was great about Hepburn. 

Robert De Niro - Jake LaMotta

Jake LaMotta was one of the toughest prizefighters of all time. His incredible story and Robert De Niro's performance are the two things that make Raging Bull legendary. Scorsese's direction is pretty great too. 

Helen Mirren - Queen Elizabeth II

it's really hard to play a person who has been on television screens all over the world for decades. Helen Mirren takes on that difficult task in Queen Elizabeth II. The late Queen was an icon in every sense of the word and playing her could not have been easy, yet, when you have the talent of Helen Mirren, it looks easy. It surely wasn't. 

In recent years Kaley Cuoco has taken on some pretty complicated characters on series like The Flight Attendant and Harley Quinn, and even 2022’s Meet Cute took a deceptively dark turn. She’s continuing along those lines in Role Play on Amazon’s Prime Video, playing an assassin for hire opposite David Oyelowo. Critics were able to screen the new action comedy before its streaming release on January 12, and opinions seem to be less than favorable.

Kaley Cuoco — in her first movie playing a mom — stars with David Oyelowo as married parents of two Dave and Emma. The couple decide to spice up their marriage with some role play, leading Dave to discover that his wife is leading a double life. Peyton Robinson of RogerEbert.com rates it just 1 star out of 4, saying Role Play provides feeble fight scenes and too few laughs. The result is a movie that feels more like a screen test than completed product, Robinson says, writing: 

Matt Hambridge of FandomWire also calls out the movie for not providing many laughs, adding to that minimal action and few thrills. Only partially saved by its lead actors, Role Play is another forgettable January release, and Hambridge rates it 4 out of 10, saying: 

Coleman Spilde of The Daily Beast advises people to “Skip This,” as not even Kaley Cuoco can save it from its lack of verve. Role Play doesn’t allow time for her character to work through her moral dilemmas, and it doesn’t provide enough action. Spilde continues: 

Matt Donato of Paste gives it a 5.5 out of 10, saying the movie achieves the basic blueprint for “secret identity lover” films but lacks anything beyond the bare minimum, despite Kaley Cuoco’s efforts. Donato writes: 

Ian Sandwell of Digital Spy seems to agree, calling Role Play “bland and inoffensive.” The critic rates the movie 2 out of 5 stars, writing: 

Critics don’t seem over-excited about Kaley Cuoco’s latest offering, though she and David Oyelowo do seem to be the best parts, according to many of the reviews. While Role Play holds a paltry 19% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes (from 19 reviews), the audience score is much higher at 75% Fresh. That’s from the less than 50 opinions submitted as of this writing, so both of those percentages are going to change as more people weigh in, but this could be an indication that viewers will embrace the movie despite critics' opinions. 

Only time will tell, and if you want to form your own opinion, Role Play is available to stream now with an Amazon Prime Video subscription. Be sure to see what other films are headed our way soon by checking out our 2024 movie calendar. 

Among the upcoming 2024 movies new to theaters this weekend is The Book of Clarence, a comedy set in biblical times from writer/director Jeymes Samuel. But you might not want to trust the image that might pop in your head when imagining an entry into biblical epics, because The Book of Clarence puts forth a fresh, (and as one of its stars RJ Cyler puts it: “so swaggy”) vision that elevates the genre to new heights. When CinemaBlend spoke to the cast, they shared how the set helped bring a certain energy to set. 

Jeymes Samuel was behind 2021’s The Harder They Fall following being music consultant on 2013’s The Great Gatsby alongside Jay-Z, along with helming the legendary rapper’s Jay-Z: Legacy and being a musician in his own right under The Bullitts. When I spoke to the cast of The Book of Clarence, they shared the big part music played on set. Here’s what David Oyelowo shared: 

David Oyelowo previously worked with Samuel as a part of The Harder They Fall's cast (which landed on 2021’s best Netflix movies), and he was back for seconds to play John the Baptiste in The Book of Clarence. In his comments to CinemaBlend (which you can check out in full in the video above), he shared the unexpected artist that Samuel pointed to when it came to him giving him pointers on playing the Judaean preacher. 

LaKeith Stanfield leads The Book of Clarence as the titular Clarence (along with playing Clarence’s twin brother Thomas), who decides to capitalize on the rise of Jesus Christ by pretending he’s a Messiah in his own right in order to pay back the money he owes. While speaking to us, here’s what Stanfield shared about the songs that blasted on set: 

While one certainly might not expect Kool & The Gang’s party hit to be part of the making of a biblical epic, the anecdote from LaKeith Stanfield speaks to the good energy Jeymes Samuel brought to the actors, especially as Clarence goes on a rather intense journey throughout the film. RJ Cyler, who plays Elijah, the best friend and partner in crime to Stanfield’s Clarence, Samuel’s approach on set was really helpful to him being a musician himself who is constantly listening to music in his life. Here’s what Cyler told us: 

Surely “Lucifer” is a somewhat unexpected pick, but Jay-Z did produce The Book of Clarence! Ahead of the new movie hitting theaters this Friday, January 12, check out what critics are saying about it, including CinemaBlend’s The Book of Clarence review, which gave the film 3.5 out of 5. 

We’re not too far into the new year at this point, film fans, but there are already a number of entries on the 2024 movie schedule that either have dropped already or will soon. In the latter release bucket is Prime Video’s Role Play, an action comedy starring Kaley Cuoco and David Oyelowo. The two play a married couple who find themselves in a very precarious situation, due to some professional entanglements on the part of Cuoco’s character. While the production demanded quite a bit of the two stars, they’ve definitely played challenging roles before. So when I spoke to them ahead of the film’s release, I couldn’t help but ask about the gigs that have had the biggest impacts on them. 

It goes without saying that both of the stars are tried and tested performers at this point in their careers and have produced excellent work. That’s one of the reasons I was so excited to speak to them on behalf of CinemaBlend. The two didn’t seem to have too much trouble choosing the roles that tested them the most. David Oyelowo pointed to his acclaimed turn as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Ava DuVernay’s historical drama, Selma. The British performer explained to me just why he found the process of playing the civil rights leader so “intense”: 

One can definitely understand why that would be such a tough role to put down after months of filming. I’d also agree with the notion of someone’s family not being too keen on having the reverend stick around for so long. The Cloverfield Paradox star’s efforts paid off, though, as his portrayal was spot-on – so much so that Steven Spielberg wanted him to reprise King in another movie.

Kaley Cuoco is arguably best known for her comedic work on shows like 8 Simple Rules and The Big Bang Theory. After she finished the latter though, she made the “humbling” transition to HBO Max/Max’s The Flight Attendant. The show saw her play an airline stewardess, who found herself wrapped up in a murder mystery. Not only did the subject matter weigh heavily on Cuoco, but there are other reasons why her time working on Season 2 was “just 24/7 depression”:

Around that time in 2021, Kaley Cuoco had split from her second husband, Karl Cook, and it sounds like life wasn’t easy at that point. It’s good to hear the actress – who welcomed her first child with Tom Pelphrey earlier this year – was able to find the light.

The concept of not being able to let a role go is pertinent, in regard to Role Play. The movie centers on happily married couple Emma and Dave Brackett, who seem to be a normal pair. While Dave is mild-mannered, Emma is actually an assassin, who’s keeping that information from her partner and kids and having a tough time discarding her longtime gig. That leads to a number of thrills throughout the film.

It certainly seems like some roles can cut deeper than others and ultimately have lasting effects on actors. Yet it would appear that both Kaley Cuoco and David Oyelowo were able to overcome any obstacles in that regard and re-center themselves after the jobs were done. Surely, they’ll continue to play complex roles and, because of their past experiences, I’d wager that they’ll be strong enough to handle whatever baggage might come with them.

Prime Video subscription holders can check out Role Play when it hits the platform on January 11.

Yellowstone fans have quite a while to wait before the release date of the series’ final episodes, but fortunately for those who have been enjoying creator Taylor Sheridan’s other projects, there’s still plenty in the works. Lawmen: Bass Reeves — the first entry in an expected anthology series, which stars David Oyelowo as the titular character — is Sheridan's latest offering, available to stream Sunday, November 5, with a Paramount+ subscription. Critics had the chance to screen the first few episodes ahead of their release, and they aren’t quite in agreement with how well this latest Western works.

Taylor Sheridan is named as an executive producer on the Paramount+ series, but unlike his other projects, he did not write or direct any of the episodes. In addition to David Oyelowo, other members of Lawmen: Bass Reeves’ cast include Dennis Quaid and Donald Sutherland in this drama based on the life of the first Black U.S. Marshal west of the Mississippi. Let’s see what the critics have to say, starting with Alex Maidy of JoBlo. Maidy rates it a “Good” 7 out of 10, calling the first episodes “exciting, emotional and violent,” and writing: 

David Hookstead of OutKick says Taylor Sheridan has “another massive hit” on on his hands, and fans of his other series won’t be disappointed, as Lawmen delivers the performances and dark, gritty content we’ve come to expect. The critic continues: 

Akos Peterbencze of Paste calls Lawmen: Bass Reeves a “damn good Western.” It undoubtedly follows the imprint established by Taylor Sheridan but benefits from having creator and showrunner Chad Feehan’s undivided attention. Peterbencze writes: 

Not all of the critics agree, however, and Ben Travers of IndieWire grades it a C-. Lawmen: Bass Reeves is too formulaic, too rushed and too incurious, Travers says, to delve into the nuances of a former slave forced to fight for the Confederate army and a pacifist who picked up a gun every day. In the critics’ words: 

Daniel Fienberg of THR echoes the above sentiment, saying that Bass Reeves deserves to have his story told, but Lawmen doesn’t do justice to the man’s experience. Fienberg writes: 

The critics do seem to agree that the man portrayed by David Oyelowo is deserving of such a series, but it’s in the writing and execution that they disagree on how successful Chad Feehan was in that endeavor. It sounds like fans of Taylor Sheridan’s other works will be pleased, as Lawmen: Bass Reeves captures the same spirit, so if you’d like to check this series out, you can catch the series premiere on Paramount+ on Sunday, November 5. 

Amidst the upcoming Yellowstone shows that are heading to both TV and streaming (via a Paramount+ subscription), Taylor Sheridan continues to expand his slate of offerings for viewers in need of smart and methodical pulp westerns. Next up on the list is Lawmen: Bass Reeves, the first season of a historical anthology, for which Sheridan teamed up with fellow executive producer David Oyelowo, and which boasts Ray Donovan and Rectify vet Chad Feehan as its creator and showrunner.

The series, which was temporarily being branded as a second season for 1883, aims to dramatize the epic life and legacy of slave-turned-U.S. Marshal Bass Reeves, a legend in Texas and other Southern states who isn’t nearly as widely revered in other parts of the country. Feehan aims to fix that with this eight episode season, and he secured a pretty stellar cast to bring the justice-seeker’s story to streaming audiences. 

David Oyelowo (Bass Reeves)

The Emmy-nominated David Oyelowo broke out on the small screen as part of the UK spy drama Spooks, but inarguably has found his biggest successes through cinema, as a co-star of such celebrated works as 2012’s Middle of Nowhere, 2013’s The Butler, and 2014’s Selma and A Most Violent Year. Which isn’t to take away from his TV voice work as Star Wars Rebels’ Alexsandr Kallus or The Lion Guard’s Scar. He most recently starred in Apple TV+’s sci-fi adaptation Silo, and will soon be seen in the Jay Z-produced biblical comedy The Book of Clarence.

In Lawmen, Oyelowo rocks both a clean-shaven face and a mustache as the titular icon Bass Reeves, whose storied life took him from the dangers of warzones and Southern plantations to a place of authority at a time when Black men rarely attained such responsibilities. In both life and the new series, Bass is/was a badass whose loyalties stretch as far and wide as his horse-riding and sharpshooting talents.  

Lauren E. Banks (Jennie Reeves)

An up-and-coming actress who previously appeared in such shows as Netflix’s Maniac and AMC’s Dietland, Lauren E. Banks’ biggest role to date was as the private attorney co-lead Siobhan on Showtime’s City on a Hill. In 2022, she also appeared in the acclaimed streaming limited series Roar and Gaslit. 

Banks joined Lawmen: Bass Reeves in the role of Jennie Reeves, the titular cowboy’s wife. It’s known that the couple sired a slew of children together, which speaks to the fact that Jennie is a strong and dependable provider for her family through thick and thin.

Demi Singleton (Sally Reeves)

Now at 16 years old, NOLA native Demi Singleton only has a handful of credits to her name, but it’s clear she’s making every choice count. Alongside her first role in 2019’s Goldie, Singleton landed a co-starring role in another historical drama, Godfather of Harlem, as gangster Bumpy Johnson’s granddaughter Margaret. She then hit an even higher level of fame in 2021 portraying the hyper-talented athlete Serena Williams in the Oscar-winning drama King Richard. 

For Lawmen, Singleton took on the role of Sally Reeves, Bass and Jennie’s eldest daughter, who no doubt develops some mothering skills of her own as the sibling to so many younger brothers and sisters.  

Dennis Quaid (Sherrill Lynn)

Throughout his many years in Hollywood, Dennis Quaid has largely been known for playing sympathy-earning protagonists in such favorites as Innerspace, Any Given Sunday, Frequency, The Day After Tomorrow and many more. Though mostly known for his film work, Quaid has developed his TV filmography in the past decade or so, with such projects as Vegas, Fortitude, Goliath and 2023’s Full Circle. He’ll soon be seen playing the titular former POTUS in the upcoming drama Reagan. 

Dennis Quaid gets to drop the good guy persona ever so slightly for Lawmen: Bass Reeves, where he plays U.S. Marshal Sherrill Lynn, a Deputy U.S. Marshal who crosses fateful paths with David Oyelowo’s character. Quaid is no stranger to Texas westerns, having portrayed Sam Houston in The Alamo, and for a Yellowstone-esque connection, the actor also played Doc Holliday to Kevin Costner’s Wyatt Earp in the 1994 film of the same name. 

Shea Whigham (George Reeves)

An actor who is often among the best parts of every project he stars in, Shea Whigham broke out in the 2000 war film Tigerland, and has played a slew of characters boasting military and/or law enforcement titles in the decades since. His TV career took off thanks to his role as Eli Thompson in HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, and he’s stick with the premium cabler for later projects such as True Detective, Vice Principals, Perry Mason, and The Righteous Gemstones, not to mention other acclaimed dramas such as Waco, Gaslit, Fargo and Homecoming, to name but a few.

Shea Whigham looks right at home in Lawmen: Bass Reeves as another military man named George Reeves. With the series lead sharing this character’s surname, he’s presumably the slave owner responsible for Bass early on. 

Bass Reeves is set to make its streaming premiere on Paramount+ on Sunday, November 5, with back-to-back episodes dropping at once. Head to our 2023 TV premiere schedule to see what else is heading to the small screen in the meantime.

With several upcoming Yellowstone shows on his creative deck, Taylor Sheridan’s next TV offering, the anthology-sparking Lawmen: Bass Reeves, comes from the dedicated efforts of star and executive producer David Oyelowo and creator Chat Feehan. The Paramount+ original released its first official trailer, as seen above, and I think everyone watching will agree it looks like it’ll stand proudly next to 1883 as another powerful and pulse-pounding frontier tale on the streaming platform. And Oyelowo’s badassery cannot be denied, even alongside the entirety of the Dutton family tree.

Anyone who isn’t already familiar with the legend of real-life Deputy U.S. Marshal Bass Reeves is in for quite an education, although everyone who is familiar will also be entertained, as Lawmen is covering the full storytelling gamut. It’s been a years-in-the-making passion project for Oyelowo to bring some form of Reeves’ story to the screen, and he naturally commands the shit out of the screen anytime he’s featured. 

The trailer features flashbacks of Reeves’ days as a criminal-thwarting federal peace officer in Arkansas, as well as his present-day tale (so to speak), in which he’s enlisted as a Deputy U.S. Marshal by Donald Sutherland’s domineering Judge Parker. To overly generalize things, the show focuses on David Oyelowo’s character tracking bad guys and shutting shit down with a team of fellow badasses on horseback, such as Dennis Quaid’s Marshal Sherrill Lynn and Barry Pepper’s Esau Pierce.

Pepper’s grizzled character looks like he knows a million ways to skin someone alive, which kinda runs counter to the emotion-dampening stoicism that Reeves brings. As a Black authority figure during that time period, there wasn’t much room to show any amount of weakness, and the performance delivers in full on that front. Not that he isn’t showing some emotion when using an assortment of weapons to take down thieves and other ne'er-do-wells, but those moments only get teased out in tiny pieces. 

I’d be remiss if I showered all the praise on Oyelowo (who shares co-producing honors with wife Jessica Oyelowo) without spreading those props out to also include co-star Lauren E. Banks (City on a Hill) as Jennie Reeves, who clearly knows how to hold her own ground in the face of seemingly certain doom at the gnarled hands of a group of hooded white folk. “Then I’ll just shoot you twice, just to be safe,” gets all the snaps and pops and crackles. He best get off that woman’s land before his last thought ends up splattered across his buddies’ hoods. 

Let’s give it up for that dude who was totally on fire in there, too. Because that’s gotta suck.

Along with the new trailer, Lawmen: Bass Reeves creator Chad Feehan shared a message that pointed out exactly why he’s at the show’s helm, from a Texas childhood fascination with the stories, to crossing paths with the fervent David Oyelowo, to a renewed thrust of research. And here’s how he explained what all that effort and energy became:

The original release plan for Bass Reeves was as a second season of 1883, which otherwise doesn’t appear to be continuing. But plans changed down the line, as the idea became more about celebrating the lawmen of yesteryear, without the need to tether the story to the Yellowstone universe. I wouldn’t have hated seeing some connective tissue between these worlds, as ridiculous as that might be where real-world people are concerned. I suppose it could still happen, though, so I’m keeping hope alive to see someone in the Dutton clan marveling at how much of a badass Oyelowo is.

Lawmen: Bass Reeves is set to begin streaming on Sunday, November 5, with its first two episodes available for everyone with a Paramount+ subscription. Head to our 2023 TV premiere schedule to see what other new and returning shows are galloping towards us next. 

Have you ever felt trapped by your environment, longing for something more beyond the cramped quarters you call “home”? That, essentially, describes the feelings of Rebecca Ferguson’s character in Silo, but her situation is a far more mysterious and volatile case of being trapped.

Developed by Justified creator Graham Yost and based on a trilogy of novels by Hugh Howey, this new Apple TV+ original series is a dystopian tale of a community living in the titular underground chamber (the origins of which remain unknown) in order to shelter themselves from the uninhabitable Earth outside (the accuracy of which is uncertain in the eyes of some). With an Apple TV+ subscription, you can learn the truth behind these people’s claustrophobic existence — but, first, let’s take a look at who makes up the Silo cast, along with a tip of where you may have seen them before.

Rebecca Ferguson

In addition to leading the Silo cast, Rebecca Ferguson serves as executive producer — the first time she has held this position for a TV series and, not to mention, her first time starring on a TV series since Lifetime’s The Red Tent, on which she appeared a year after playing Queen Elizabeth on Starz’s 2013 miniseries, The White Queen. The Swedish actor is better known on the big screen, stealing the show in 2017’s The Greatest Showman cast or playing one of the greatest modern horror villains, Rose the Hat, in Mike Flanagan’s adaptation of Stephen King’s Doctor Sleep. Ferguson is also returning to the big screen in 2023 by reprising her roles in the Mission: Impossible movies and Denis Villeneuve’s Dune adaptation in their new, highly anticipated follow-ups.

Avi Nash

The last time Avi Nash starred on a post-apocalyptic TV series was when he joined AMC’s The Walking Dead cast from Season 8 to Season 10 as Siddiq. Before then, he made his feature film debut opposite Patricia Clarkson and Sir Ben Kingsley in the 2014 dramedy Learning to Drive, had a small role opposite Jason Biggs in the 2016 comedy Amateur Night, and that same year played a young Barack Obama’s college buddy, Saleem, in the Netflix original biopic, Barry. Nash also appeared in a couple episodes of Silicon Valley and more recently starred in the Covid-era ensemble comedy, There There.

Common

Grammy-winning rap artist Lonnie Rashid Lynn (better known as Common) has portrayed himself a number of times onscreen — such as in movies like Ocean’s Eight and Girls Trip and TV shows like The Simpsons. However, he also gained a reputation for his genuine talent in portraying other, complex characters — such as one of the John Wick movies’ most memorable adversaries, Cassian, or Elam Ferguson, an emancipated slave who becomes the chief of the railroad police, on AMC’s Hell on Wheels. He also played civil rights leader James Bevel in 2015’s Selma — the film that also earned him and John Legend Oscars for their original song, “Glory.”

David Oyelowo

Speaking of Selma, portraying Martin Luther King Jr. in Ava DuVernay’s biopic (which deserved an Oscar nomination) is what David Oyelowo is best known to many for. Previously, the English actor earned acclaim for his performances in Oscar favorites like 2005’s The Last King of Scotland, 2011’s The Help, Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln, and Lee Daniels’ The Butler, to name a few. Since then, his most notable credits have included the Netflix original sci-fi flick The Cloverfield Paradox; the 2018 dark comedy, Gringo; Doug Liman’s adaptation of the sci-fi novel, Chaos Walking; and the 2022 whodunit, See How They Run.

Harriet Walter

Dame Harriet Walter is a highly acclaimed veteran actress with many award nominations to show for it — including three Emmy nominations for her guest appearances on HBO’s Succession and the hit Apple TV+ original series, Ted Lasso. Some of her most notable big screen credits include the 1995 Jane Austen adaptation, Sense and Sensibility; J.J. Abrams’ 2025 revival of the Star Wars movies, The Force Awakens; the 2019 Elton John biopic, Rocketman, and Ridley Scott’s The Last Duel. Audiences may also recognize her from the small screen as Lady Shackleton on Downton Abbey, Clemmie Churchill from Netflix’s hit historical drama, The Crown; or as Dasha on Killing Eve. 

Rashida Jones

Rashida Jones’ Silo role marks a bit of change of pace for the actor, who is best known for making people laugh as part of the Parks and Recreation cast or as the title role of TBS’ cop show spoof, Angie Tribeca. However, the daughter of legendary musician Quincy Jones and late actor Peggy Lipton has appeared in her fair share of dramas — such as 2010’s The Social Network — and even wrote one of the most heart-wrenching, let alone best, episodes of Black Mirror: “Nosedive.” Some of Jones’ other notable acting roles include Louisa Fenn on Boston Public, her recurring role as Karen alongside NBC’s The Office cast, and movies like I Love You, Man and Inside Out.

Chinaza Uche

Like some of his fellow Silo cast members, Chinaza Uche also previously racked up a post-apocalyptic title on his resume in the form of an episode of AMC’s The Walking Dead spin-off, Fear the Walking Dead, in Season 6. Before then, he appeared in a 2013 movie alongside The Walking Dead star Danai Gurira called Mother of George, shared the screen with Oscar winner Meryl Streep in 2015’s Rikki and the Flash, and made guest appearances in other series like Blue Bloods and The Blacklist. He could more recently be seen playing Henry in Apple TV+’s biographiccal period drama, Dickinson, and starring in writer and director Zach Braff’s moving drama, A Good Person.

Tim Robbins

Tim Robbins also has a few apocalyptic titles under his belt — namely Steven Spielberg’s War of the Worlds and another literary adaptation about a community mysteriously forced underground called City of Ember. Of course, the Academy Award winner (for 2003’s Mystic River) has led a career defined by a variety of different genres and themes — such as classic sports movies like Bull Durham, Stephen King adaptations like The Shawshank Redemption and Season 2 of the Hulu original horror TV show, Castle Rock, and twisted psychological thrillers like Jacob’s Ladder. Robbins was also in classics like 1986’s Top Gun, 2000’s High Fidelity, and 2006’s Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny.

See this talented ensemble in action and, hopefully, learn the truth about what lies beyond their characters’ cramped community when you stream Silo on Apple TV+, which is available now.

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In the pantheon of Disney movies, 1991’s The Rocketeer rest comfortably in cult favorite territory. While the movie wasn’t financially successful enough to warrant greenlighting a sequel, in recent years there have been various attempts to revive the franchise for the big screen. Well, it looks like the latest effort on that front is the most promising one yet, as word’s come in that a Rocketeer movie starring a Black lead is in the works.

David Oyelowo of Selma and Star Wars Rebels fame is producing The Return of the Rocketeer alongside his wife, Jessica Oyelowo, through their Yoruba Saxon production company. Written by Now You See Me’s Edward Ricourt, Deadline reports that feature will be a Disney+ exclusive that follows a retired Tuskegee Airman who becomes the new Rocketeer. While it’s possible that David Oyelowo could also star in the upcoming Rocketeer movie, that hasn’t been cemented.

Judging by the title, it sounds like The Return of the Rocketeer will serve as a legacy sequel rather than a full-blown reboot, in the same vein as how the new Jumanji movies are tied to the 1995 original. In other words (and keep in mind that this isn’t officially confirmed yet), while The Return of the Rocketeer would likely be set in the same continuity as the original Rocketeer movie, it would, for the most part, be working off a clean slate and be easily accessible to people unfamiliar with the exploits of Billy Campbell’s Cliff Secord, the first person to hold the Rocketeer mantle when he discovered the rocket pack built by Howard Hughes, played in the movie by Terry O’Quinn.

1991’s The Rocketeer also starred Jennifer Connelly as Jenny Blake, Cliff Secord’s love interest; Alan Arkin as Peevy Peabody, Cliff’s airplane mechanic; Timothy Dalton, a Hollywood star and Nazi spy; and Paul Sorvino as Eddie Valentine, the criminal who leads the gang Sinclair hired to steal the rocket pack. Directed by Jumanji and Captain America: The First Avenger’s Joe Johnston, The Rocketeer was based off the same-named comic book character who debuted in 1982’s Starslayer #2 and was an homage to the Saturday matinee film heroes seen from the 1930s to 1950s.

News of The Return of the Rocketeer comes five years after it was reported that the Rocketeer franchise would be rebooted with The Rocketeers, which would have starred a Black female character. Max Winkler and Matt Spicer were hired to write the screenplay, but evidently that project fell through. 10 Cloverfield Lane’s Dan Trachtenberg also pitched a Rocketeer reboot to Disney that would have seen the Nazis invading New York City, but nothing came of that idea either. However, we haven’t been without Rocketeer content in recent years, as there’s a Disney Junior series that features Cliff Secord’s great-granddaughter, Kit Secord, flying around and protecting the town of Hughesville.

As soon as more details about The Return of the Rocketeer trickle in, we’ll let you know. For now, make sure you’re subscribed to Disney+ if you’re interested in any of the streaming service’s other original content, and check out our 2022 release schedule to learn what movies are coming out next year.

Finally hopping its way into theaters after several COVID-related delays, Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway will bring Beatrix Potter's most beloved character back to the big screen. Likewise, James Corden will also return to voice the titular bunny. Once again starring Domhnall Gleeson and Rose Byrne and featuring the returning voice talents of Margot Robbie, Elizabeth Debicki, and Sia, this live-action/animated sequel includes some new faces and voices this time around — many of whom you'll recognize, including David Oyelowo. If you're wondering where you've seen/heard the Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway cast before, we're here to help!

Domhnall Gleeson (Thomas McGregor/Mr. Jeremy Fisher)

Reprising his role as Thomas McGregor, Domhnall Gleeson returns to play the male lead in Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway. He also voices Mr. Jeremy Fisher. First gaining notice for playing Bill Weasley in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 and 2, Gleeson became a Tony-nominated actor for his 2006 Broadway performance in The Lieutenant of Inishmore. Later, the actor starred in Ex Machina, About Time, Frank, Goodbye Christopher Robin, Crash Pad, and The Little Stranger. Also, Gleeson played General Armitage Hux in the Star Wars movies. His other film credits include Brooklyn, The Revenant, A Futile and Stupid Gesture, Never Let Me Go, True Grit, Anna Karenina, Dredd, Calvary, Unbroken, and mother!

Additionally, on television, Domhnall Gleeson starred in HBO's Run last year. Most recently, the actor appeared in BBC 4's Frank of Ireland, which he co-created with his brother, Brian Gleeson, who plays the titular Frank. His other TV credits include Catastrophe, Your Bad Self, and When Harvey Met Bob. Currently, Gleeson is filming a role in HBO's The White House Plumbers.

Rose Byrne (Bea McGregor/Jemima Puddle-Duck)

In the part of Bea McGregor, Rose Byrne returns to play the female lead in Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway. She also lends her voice to the role of Jemima Puddle-Duck. Following her lead performance in The Goddess of 1967, Byrne transitioned into Hollywood with Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones. She found success through her Emmy-nominated part in FX's Damages and her standout supporting turn in Bridesmaids.

From there, Rose Byrne starred in the Insidious movies, the Neighbors movies, I Give It A Year, Adult Beginners, The Meddler, Juliet Naked, and Instant Family. Her other film credits include X-Men: First Class and Apocalypse, Knowing, 28 Weeks Later, Marie Antoinette, Tory, Wicker Park, Get Him to the Greek, The Place Beyond the Pines, This Is Where I Leave You, Annie (2014), and Spy. As a voice actress, Byrne is heard in I Am Mother and Jexi. Last year, the actress starred in Like a Boss and Irresistible. On TV, Byrne appeared in FX's Miss America. Later this year, she'll star in Apple TV+'s Physical.

James Corden (Peter Rabbit)

As our titular hare, James Corden returns to the voice booth to bring the animated Peter Rabbit to life once more. Better known as the host of The Late Late Show with James Corden, the actor found fame through starring/co-writing BBC's Gavin & Stacey, for which he won a BAFTA. He also won a Tony for his Broadway performance in One Man, Two Guvnors. Prior to this stage work, Corden received acclaim for his performance as Timms in The History Boys. He reprised this role for the 2006 film version. His other notable film credits include Into the Woods, Begin Again, Ocean's 8, Cats, Kill Your Friends, Gulliver's Travels, Starter for 10, and The Three Musketeers. Most recently, Corden had a Golden Globe-nominated supporting turn in The Prom.

As a voice actor, additionally, James Corden is heard in The Emoji Movie, Smallfoot, Trolls, Planet 51, and the English dub of Animals United. He also lent his voice to the UK version of Norm of the North. Last year, Corden was heard in Superintelligence and Trolls World Tour.

David Oyelowo (Nigel Basil-Jones)

Playing the dastardly Nigel Basil-Jones, David Oyelowo is the human antagonist in Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway. Rising to prominence through his commanding lead performance as Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma, Oyelowo was Emmy-nominated that same year for his central role in HBO's Nightingale. His other lead performances include A United Kingdom, Queen of Katwe, Gringo, Don't Let Go, Five Nights in Maine, Middle of Nowhere, and Who Do You Love? His other notable film credits include Lee Daniels' The Butler, Jack Reacher, Lincoln, A Most Violent Year, Interstellar, A Wrinkle in Time, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, The Last King of Scotland, The Help, The Cloverfield Paradox, and Red Tails. Last year, he appeared in Come Away and The Midnight Sky. This year, Oyelowo provided supporting turns in Chaos Walking and The Water Man, which served as his directorial debut.

Additionally, on television, David Oyelowo appeared in Les Miserables, Five Days, and the upcoming The Girl Before. As a voice actor, Oyelowo can be heard in The Lion Guard and Star Wars Rebels.

Margot Robbie (Flopsy Rabbit)

As the voice of Flopsy Rabbit, as well as the narrator of this tale, Margot Robbie returns to the voice booth for Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway. A rising superstar following her scene-stealing supporting turn in Martin Scorsese's The Wolf of Wall Street, Robbie received her first Oscar nomination for her lead performance in I, Tonya. Later, she starred in Suicide Squad, Focus, Mary Queen of Scots, Focus, Terminal, The Legend of Tarzan, Z For Zachariah, and Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. She received her second Oscar nomination for her supporting turn in Bombshell. Her other notable film credits include Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, About Time, Goodbye Christopher Robin, and The Big Short.

Furthermore, on TV, Margot Robbie played Donna Freedman in over 300 episodes of the Australian series Neighbours. She also starred in ABC's Pan Am. Last year, Robbie reprised her role as Harley Quinn in Birds of Prey, which she produced. She also starred in and produced last year's Dreamland. Outside of acting, Robbie produced Promising Young Woman. Next, she'll star in The Suicide Squad and David O. Russell's new film.

Elizabeth Debicki (Mopsy Rabbit)

Returning to the role of Mopsy Rabbit, Elizabeth Debicki provides another supporting vocal performance in Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway. Following her breakout role in The Great Gatsby, Debicki turned heads through her standout performances in The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Widows, and Macbeth (2015). The actress received more notice through her roles in Showcase's The Kettering Incident and BBC One/AMC's The Night Manager. Prior to these acting turns, Debicki gave an award-nominated performance in Sydney Theatre's stage production of The Maids.

From there, Elizabeth Debicki had a starring role as Virginia Woolf in Vita & Virginia. Last year, Debicki starred in The Burnt Orange Heresy and impressed in Christopher Nolan's Tenet. Her other film credits include A Few Best Men, Everest, Breath, The Cloverfield Paradox, and The Tale. She also lent her voice to Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets. Next, Debicki plays Princess Diana in The Crown Seasons 5 and 6.

Aimee Horne (Cottontail Rabbit)

Filling in for Daisy Ridley, who lent her voice in 2018's Peter Rabbit, Aimee Horne receives one of her most high-profile film acting roles yet in Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway. Most notably, the actress received notice and acclaim for her stage work, notably for her touring role as Polly in Fawlty Towers Live. Prior to this vocal performance, Horne played Ms. Woodcock in Burning Man. She also provided a supporting turn in Love is Now. Additionally, the actress starred in short films like 2010's The Filmmaker and the upcoming The Playlist. Furthermore, Horne can be heard in 2014's Raker. Outside of film, Horne had guest star appearances in Winter and Psychotown. As a voice actress, she has done a large volume of voiceover work.

Hayley Atwell (Mittens)

Joining the voice ensemble for Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway is Hayley Atwell as Mittens. Receiving her breakout role in The Duchess, for which she was BAFTA-nominated, Atwell was Golden Globe-nominated for her lead performance in Starz's The Pillars of the Earth. Shortly thereafter, she found more prominence when she played Peggy Carter in Captain America: The First Avenger. She reprised this role in ABC's Agent Carter, as well as Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Ant-Man, and Avengers: Endgame. Her other film credits include Testament of Youth, Cinderella (2015), Christopher Robin, Blinded by the Light, Jimi: All Is By My Side, Brideshead Revisited, and Cassandra's Dream. Next, Atwell will star in Mission: Impossible 7.

Outside of film, Hayley Atwell led ABC's Conviction and BBC One's Howards End and The Long Song. She also voices a main character in Netflix's 3Below: Tales of Arcadia. Additionally, Atwell is seen in Black Mirror and Any Human Heart. Away from acting, the actress hosts the spy podcast, True Spies.

Sia (Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle)

Similar to the first movie, Sia lends her voice to the role of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle in Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway. Best known as the chart-topping artist behind "Chandelier" and "Cheap Thrills," the musician-turned-actress is heard in a couple of animated movies, including My Little Pony: The Movie and Charming, along with the original Peter Rabbit. She also narrated the 2018 documentary, Dominion. Also, Sia provided cameos in Annie (2014) and Piccadilly Jim. On TV, additionally, Sia can be seen in Nobodies and Home and Away and heard in South Park, Transparent, and Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?

Outside of acting, Sia made her feature screenwriting and directorial debut with this year's controversial Music. She also wrote original music for the soundtrack of 2018's Vox Lux. Her music can also be heard in Zootopia, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, Dumplin', Pitch Perfect 2, Fifty Shades of Grey, The Great Gatsby, Finding Dory, Dolittle, Fifty Shades Freed, Lion, Star Trek Beyond, and Wonder Woman, to name only a few movies.

Lennie James (Barnabas)

In the role of Barnabas, Lennie James joins the voice cast of Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway in a supporting turn. Most notably, James is known for playing Morgan Jones in AMC's The Walking Dead and Fear the Walking Dead. He also played the mysterious Robert Hawkins in CBS's Jericho. Additionally, James is the creator, writer, and lead actor behind Sky Atlantic's Save Me.

Furthermore, Lennie James wrote and starred in Storm Damage, resulting in a BAFTA nomination for the TV actor. His other notable TV credits include Low Winter Sun, Line of Duty, Hung, and Out of the Blue. Most recently, James lent his voice to Amazon Prime's Invincible. Additionally, in film, James can be seen in Blade Runner 2049, The Next Three Days, Get On Up, Sahara, 24 Hour Party People, Snatch, and Lost in Space.

Damon Herriman (Tom Kitten)

Also joining the vocal ensemble of Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway is Damon Herriman, who lends his voice to the role of Tom Kitten. Best known for his portrayal of Dewey Crowe in FX's Justified, Herriman gained notice for his striking portrayals of Charles Manson in Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time In Hollywood and Netflix's Mindhunter. He also starred in the title role of Punch in 2020's Judy and Punch. His other notable film credits include J. Edgar, The Nightingale, The Lone Ranger, The Water Diviner, Son of a Gun, Son of the Mask, Candy, Redbelt, House of Wax, and 100 Bloody Acres. Earlier this year, Herriman was heard in the role of Kabal in Mortal Kombat.

Additionally, on television, Damon Herriman plays a main role in FX's Mr. Inbetween. He's also in the main cast of Epix's Perpetual Grace, LTD and Showcase's Lambs of God. Earlier this year, Herriman appeared in BBC's The Serpent. The actor's other television credits include Battle Creek, Squinters, Incorporated, and The Commons.

Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway is in theaters now.

David Oyelowo and Oprah Winfrey have worked on two significant films in the last decade – The Butler and Selma. The two played mother and son in the former, and that bond seemed to go beyond the big screen. After working together, the actor revealed a sweet story about becoming besties with the TV personality and how his mom felt about it.

Having acted together on several occasions, David Oyelowo and Oprah Winfrey’s bond has become strong over the years. After losing his actual mother, their working relationship has evolved into a real mother-son dynamic. The acclaimed actor said the following on The Late Late Show about his special relationship with the media mogul:

Knowing their relationship formed on the set of the Lee Daniels-helmed film made their bond even more heartwarming. But of course, Oprah Winfrey wouldn’t see herself as David Oyelowo’s mother. As the Midnight Sky actor pointed out, she is the appropriate age to be his mother. I’m sure Winfrey sees herself more like a big sister or fun aunt, but it's the bond that counts.

During David Oyelowo's Late Late Show appearance, host James Corden asked the actor what his mother might think about his relationship with Oprah Winfrey. The conversation took a turn as Oyelowo spoke on his mother’s reaction to certain roles in his career. According to him, his mother had a different reaction to Winfrey playing his mother in The Butler. As Oyelowo explained:

It’s nice to know that the actor’s mother somewhat approved of Oprah Winfrey as a mother figure. She seemed more delighted about Winfrey than any of David Oyelowo’s other roles. But who wouldn’t? It’s Oprah Winfrey! That makes the actor-director and the talk show titan’s bond even more touching given his mother’s passing.

Besides David Oyelowo, Oprah Winfrey seems to have bonded with many celebrities comparably. But given their work on The Butler and Selma, the two’s bond appears to go beyond just casual friends.

The act of playing an astronaut is one that’s pretty physically demanding, as all the wire work in the world can only get you part of the way towards a believable performance. To go the full mile, even an actor like David Oyelowo needs some advice to make it all believable; which is why it’s a good thing that his co-star/director for the Netflix blockbuster The Midnight Sky George Clooney was on hand to give him, and the rest of the cast, some pointers. Looks like those lessons from Gravity are still paying off to this day, as Clooney helped make those spacewalks more believable.

As CinemaBlend’s own Sean O’Connell was on hand to speak with David Oyelowo, on behalf of Netflix’s The Midnight Sky being released into theaters and streaming, spacewalking was a natural choice of discussion. Not only because of George Clooney starring as an astronomer trying to stop a crew of astronauts from landing on a post-apocalyptic Earth, but also because just seven short years ago, he too was a man among the stars. That only made this new gig a match made in heaven, as David Oyelowo shared the advice that helped him nail those spacewalks:

In an interesting note of coincidence, this isn’t David Oyelowo’s first time spacewalking for a Netflix picture. As a member of The Midnight Sky cast, Oyelowo found himself performing an EVA maneuver not too long after making The Cloverfield Paradox. Although that previous scenario was a bit varied from the more grounded experience that George Clooney was trying to bring to the screen this time out. So a different brand of realism was needed to tie things together in the Netflix original movie.

Knowing how to balance reality and fiction in space has kinda/sorta become George Clooney’s thing, as anyone who knows about that time he helped rewrite a scene in Gravity can tell you. Giving notes to help supplement the training of David Oyelowo, Tiffany Boone, and the rest of The Midnight Sky cast is just one of the many things that Clooney could do as director to help his actors bring realism to every aspect of his latest film. You can see the results of such work, as the movie is currently in limited theaters, with a Netflix streaming debut set for this Wednesday.

When Daniel Craig made his first appearance as James Bond in 2006’s Casino Royale, it was a bigger, badder, and bulkier take on cinema’s favorite spy unlike anything we had seen before. Now, his reign will end this April with his final performance as 007 in No Time to Die.

The big question now, and long-discussed even before, is who is next in line to be the seventh (or eighth, if you count David Niven) actor to play James Bond on the big screen? There is nothing set in stone as of now, but I have a few suggestions.

Henry Cavill

Playing Superman may have made him a household name, but it is clear that who Henry Cavill really wants to be is James Bond. The 36-year-old British star of Netflix’s series adaptation of video game The Witcher has practically spent most of his career outside of DC movies auditioning for the role of the famed spy.

His debonair performance as CIA agent Napoleon Solo in Guy Ritchie’s The Man From U.N.C.L.E. was essentially an American Bond and he nearly usurped Tom Cruise as the ultimate badass of the IMF in Mission: Impossible - Fallout’s epic restroom fight that saw him breaking mirrors and sinks as well as bones. Few things are as clear as the fact that Henry Cavill is tailor-made, head-to-toe and inside out, to play 007.

Benedict Cumberbatch

However, after the grittier edge that Daniel Craig brought to the role, perhaps it might be time to switch gears to a 007 who is, while still a master of espionage, a bit softer? Benedict Cumberbatch is not the first name, if not the among the very last, that comes to mind when the word “badass” is spoken, but I just might be willing to trust him with my life anyway on the sheer chance that he can outrun, and especially outwit, any obstacle that would come our way.

The 43-year-old London native is the go-to guy for playing the most brilliant minds imaginable, from his Oscar-nominated role as Alan Turning in The Imitation Game to the MCU’s expert surgeon-turned-Sorcerer Supreme Dr. Stephen Strange, and, of course, a modern-day iteration of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous detective in Stephen Moffat’s long-running Sherlock. If there is anything that the James Bond franchise could use, I would bet on a little more brains over brawn, and Benedict Cumberbatch would effortlessly bring the intelligence out of cinema’s most famous intelligence agent.

Tom Hardy

On the other hand, 007’s newfound grittiness is what reignited people’s interest in the franchise and who does not love seeing the MI6 agent take on death-defying stunts? A guy who knows a thing or two about grit and probably had a few near-death experiences on the set of Mad Max: Fury Road is the incomparable Tom Hardy.

The 42-year-old Oscar-nominee (The Revenant) has opted not to comment on any of his rumored chances to take over for his Layer Cake co-star Daniel Craig (despite recommending his Inception and Dunkirk director Christopher Nolan to helm an installment), but that is most likely to help protect his chances, which are not bad. Tom Hardy has the English origin, the imposing physicality, and more than enough spy movie credits to be a lock for the new James Bond.

Tom Hiddleston

There is also another British Tom in Hollywood who has some pretty good chances, and for many of the same reasons as Tom Hardy. Tom Hiddleston has had many fans backing him to be next in line to play James Bond, and not just for his Golden Globe-winning role as a hotel employee recruited by British Intelligence in the John Le Carré novel-inspired miniseries The Night Manager.

While he may not be as physically imposing, Tom Hiddleston most definitely possesses a charming suaveness and delectable intimidation that made his portrayal of Loki one of the best things about the MCU in its infancy. All he would have to do is switch that persona over to the good side and you have yourself the most classic appearance of 007 in decades.

Nicholas Hoult

It has been a while since we have seen the Bond franchise take 007 in a younger direction (a decision that is not without its advantages). The top name I have in mind to make that a reality is this accomplished 30-year-old, British actor who earned acclaim in his home and in the States when he was barely a teenager for his role opposite Hugh Grant in About a Boy… Not that that’s a role we really want to refer to when talking about his merits to play James Bond.

Nicholas Hoult has proven himself as an exceptional leading man in films like the romantic zombie comedy Warm Bodies or apocalyptic drama Young Ones, has endured the franchise machine for nearly a decade as Hank “Beast” McCoy since X-Men: Days Of Future Past, and, like his Mad Max: Fury Road co-star Tom Hardy, can pull off car chases and crazy action stunts, but might rather perform them in some more formal attire. It also appears that he is set to star in the upcoming seventh installment of the Mission: Impossible series, so it looks like Hollywood already sees his potential for 007.

Charlie Hunnam

OK, let’s talk about how much of Charlie Hunnam’s potential has been wasted in the years since playing the troubled Jax Teller on FX’s Sons of Anarchy. The British actor had a subtle taste of franchise glory as the lead of the modestly successful robo-smash-a-thon Pacific Rim, only to opt out of the dismal sequel, and when Guy Ritchie cast him as King Arthur, it was a critical and commercial misfire.

It is clear that this charming 39-year-old can act, as evidenced by his performances in recent turns such as The Gentlemen or the well-received Papillon remake. But he has yet to find a real cinematic sweet spot and I think that the character of James Bond is just asking to be the role that gives it to him. He has the voice, the physicality, and the revered stoicism right for the part that it is hard to believe, as he has claimed, that no one has called him about it yet.

Jude Law

Say, why has no one called Jude Law about playing James Bond either? He has been among the rumored candidates to replace Daniel Craig (without the best odds to land the role), but I mean, earlier in his career around the time that Pierce Brosnan was retiring from his stint, why was Law passed over then, too?

In Hollywood’s defense, the London-born star of the Barbara Broccoli-produced spy thriller The Rhythm Section was barely 30 when Die Another Day came out. Still, since then, they have to have taken note of his ability to be a ladies man in A.I.: Artificial Intelligence and Alfie, his heroic charm in Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, and skills in hand-to-combat as Watson in Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes movies, right? Jude Law has also starred in movies called Spy and Sleuth. What more does he need to do to be 007?

James McAvoy

He has proven his chameleonic performing skills as a superhuman DID patient in M. Night Shyamalan’s Split and Glass, has experience inheriting a character from a previous actor after playing a younger version of Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men franchise, and dabbled in espionage alongside Charlize Theron in Atomic Blonde. However, I think I have to name only one movie to prove 40-year-old James McAvoy’s 007 potential: Wanted.

As a trainee to a fraternity of assassins with extraordinary abilities in Timur Bekmambetov’s adaptation of the Mark Millar comic book, James McAvoy made it clear he was primed for the action star life with every glorious pistol whip and the devilish grin he sported with it. Furthermore, he is Scottish, just like the man most often credited as the greatest actor to play James Bond, Sean Connery. So, there’s that.

David Oyelowo

You probably did not realize that David Oyelowo was British, did you? I cannot really blame you there. An actor whose most famous role to date is that of American icon Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Ava Duvernay’s Selma (having played several American roles since) is bound to be mistaken for a man of the States.

That is just one reason why it would be a treat to see the 43-year-old, two-time Golden Globe nominee fill the shoes of the British secret agent, in addition to his experience in action thrillers such as Captive and Jack Reacher. The bottom line is that David Oyelowo is simply a fantastic actor, one of the most acclaimed of his time, yet he has not received household name status yet. Picking him to be 007 would mark the end of his obscurity.

Simon Pegg

Am I the only one who is just a little tired of seeing Simon Pegg resorted to the Mission: Impossible franchise’s comic relief? His role of Benji Dunn went from goofy side character, to bumbling field agent, to far more experienced agent who is still the butt of the joke most of the time.

I believe the British, nearly 50-year-old star of Shaun of the Dead and Scotty of J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek franchise deserves to be given a spy movie role that would allow him to be taken more seriously, so why not go the full mile and cast him as James Bond? Simon Pegg, in his geektastic glory, has already had a taste of every franchise from George A. Romero’s Dead series to Star Wars, so filling in for Daniel Craig is more than just a natural fit, but would finally make him the leading action star that Hot Fuzz proved he deserves to be.

Idris Elba

Of course, I had to save the best choice for last. Rarely have I seen an actor receive as much support to land a role like Idris Elba has been rooted for to be the next James Bond. Quite frankly, despite my obvious support of the other aforementioned British actors, I do not believe there is a single person at the moment who deserves the honor more.

The 47-year-old Golden Globe-winner has played every kind of character imaginable, from a charismatic ship captain in Prometheus, an inspirational military official in Pacific Rim, and an unparalleled sharpshooting gunslinger in The Dark Tower. If you are keeping score here, you will notice that he is widely credited as the single best thing about each of those films, but has rarely been given the chance to lead a film that lives up to his talents. Give Idris Elba 007 and he will finally fulfill his destiny.

Daniel Craig will surely be missed for playing James Bond, but, luckily, there are plenty who can accept the torch with ease. For more updates on the upcoming No Time to Die and other 007 casting rumors, be sure to check back here at CinemaBlend.

There's a fascinating subset of inspirational sports and competition films coming out of Walt Disney Studios that successfully blend cultural issues with offbeat sporting events, from the cross-country running of McFarland, USA to the baseball-by-way-of-cricket stylings of Million Dollar Arm. These films use unconventional games to pull back the curtain on contemporary life lessons facing citizens of various cultures, and the outstanding practice continues this month when Disney releases Mira Nair's chess drama, Queen of Katwe.

Based on an actual story, Queen of Katwe follows African teenager Phiona Mutesi as she picks up the game of chess and uses her innate ability to dominate in the game to lift her out of a difficult home life in Uganda. Mira Nair filmed Katwe on location in Uganda, capturing the vibrancy of the native African culture, and tapped Hollywood A-listers David Oyelowo and Lupita Nyong'o to help her tell this uplifting tale. But because the movie swirls around young people taking a chance on the game of chess, I asked the cast what advice they would give any young children coming out of a Queen of Katwe screening and wanting to investigate further the intricacies of the timeless game. Oyelowo told me:

David Oyelowo also says that working on Queen of Katwe did indeed inspire him to sharpen his own skills at the game of chess himself, but that unlike Phiona, he never was able to predict a game eight moves ahead of an opponent. He tells me, with a laugh:

Thankfully, as part of the promotional push at the Toronto International Film Festival -- where the movie held its World Premiere -- Disney brought the real Phiona Mutesi and her chess coach, Robert Katende, to speak with select journalists, and I was able to ask them directly what advice they'd give to young players curious about taking up chess. First, Phiona told me:

Backing up his student's advice, Robert Katende told me:

And that's not just in chess. That's in everything. Here's video of the Katwe cast giving advice to young ones.

Mira Nair's Queen of Katwe opens in limited release on September 23, before going wider on September 30.

David Oyelowo might not have won the Oscar for his portrayal of Martin Luther King, Jr. in Selma -- heck, he didn't even get nominated -- but his performance wowed audiences. Even A-list director Steven Spielberg was blown away. In fact, Oyelowo recently revealed that the legendary filmmaker wants him to reprise his performance in Spielberg's long-gestating MLK biopic.

Speaking with Esquire, Oyelowo said that Spielberg approached him to express his desire to feature the actor in his film.

Back in 2009, Dreamworks Studios received the life rights to the civil rights figure and Spielberg has been attached to the still-untitled biopic ever since. According to the press release, it's the first film to receive the authorization of The King Estate and will utilize King's intellectual property to better portray the man on screen. Selma, on the other hand, did not utilize any of King's speeches. The Ava DuVernay film featured Oyelowo as King during the famous marches from Selma to Montgomery in Alabama that contributed to The Voting Rights Act of 1965.

When Selma as a whole essentially was snubbed by the Oscars, it caused a backlash from critics, moviegoers and the cast and crew. Oyelowo had been nominated for Best Actor at the Golden Globes, while DuVernay was nominated for Best Director, a category typically overpowered by white, male nominees. The film did win Best Original Song at the Oscars, thanks to the work from Common and John Legend, but the larger snubs, including for Best Picture, were bolstered by the political climate in the nation at the time. Protests incited by the deaths of African-American citizens like Michael Brown and Eric Garner were taking place when Selma opened, and the cast even wore "Black Lives Matter" t-shirts to a premiere for the film.

Despite all the film has done, David Oyelowo isn't too hasty to make a decision regarding Steven Spielberg's interest. Though he's extremely flattered by the comments, he's not sure about reprising his role, and another project, which he didn't name, already asked him to come back as MLK, and he declined. Oyelowo continued saying that he's proud of the work the production crew and the actors accomplished with this film and that it's time to let Selma stand on its own.

The 39-year-old David Oyelowo has had a lot of different roles in a vast swath of films that have been released in the past decade. He’s had everything from bit parts in blockbusters like Interstellar and Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes to show-stopping leads in projects such as his recent HBO film Nightingale and, of course, the Academy Award-winning Selma. Yet for all of his experience, and all of his craft, there is one role you’ll never be able to cast him in: the token black best friend.

In an interview with NPR, promoting Nightingale’s premiere on HBO this week; Oyelowo used his trademark candor and charm to talk about all sorts of odds and ends that went into his performance in the film. That's when David Oyelowo took the time to send a polite but firm message to anyone who would even think of hiring him as "the best friend."

Without skewing too politically, Oyelowo does make a good point even on a story level. The stereotypical black best friend character isn’t really all that developed, and nine times out of 10 is used to support the actor that’s meant to be the "star" of the project. Saying that out loud sounds even more ridiculous than it reads on paper, especially considering David Oyelowo has put in some powerhouse work in the films in which he has been a part. Selma alone shows how the man should be nominated for an Oscar, instead of trying to help Matthew McConaughey land Kate Hudson for the fifteenth time.

So if you’re writing a romantic comedy, or a heartwarming drama that requires a best friend character to lift the lead up, you shouldn’t even bother sending David Oyelowo your script. Not only will he probably fail to give it even a reading, it’ll probably be buried under the stack of scripts that he’s already wading through as potential candidates. However, you probably should send him your Marvel superhero scripts, because having Oyelowo in a Marvel project is probably too good of a prospect for him to turn down – especially if his Selma director, Ava DuVernay, lands herself in the realm of heroes.

Nightingale premieres on HBO tonight.

If you’re running a high school in the U.S., you may want to hold off on that petty-cash purchase of the film Selma. It seems that task has been taken care of without solicitation, courtesy of Paramount. The company announced that they will send a DVD copy of the film to every public and private high school in the country.

Yes, it seems that, per Paramount’s official announcement, Selma, which hits store shelves on DVD/Blu-ray on May 5, will also be coming to a strapped AV department class cart near you in the immediate future. Directed by Ava DuVernay, Selma was a biographically inspired film focusing on the struggles of Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo) at the height of the Civil Rights Movement as plans for a march on Selma, Alabama continued to be bombarded with recalcitrance from racist elements, reaping deadly consequences. It’s a powerful, celebrated film, whose unsuccessful nomination at the Academy Awards earlier this year proved controversial.

Interestingly enough, unlike other films focusing on Civil Rights figures, this picture tends to avoid the typical tragedy devices, painting a picture of a reluctant figure destined for martyrdom. While that was King’s fate in real life, that aspect doesn't manifest in the film. Rather, it comes across more as a historical snapshot at a specific moment in time, as America stood on the precipice of tumultuous tragedy in the South. In that sense, it lends itself well to showings in an educational setting, since its purpose is to illustrate the period in time in a contextually historical manner. Oyelowo’s celebrated performance as Dr. King doesn't depict a statuesque ideal of a human being, but rather a good, but flawed figure who finds himself swept up in the broader scheme of an unfolding history.

The move seems to mirror what was done in January, when admission to the film was offered free of charge at a theater in Selma. That gesture pointed to the film’s historical significance for the town in which it took place. Now, this latest move to proliferate to film amongst schools seems to be motivated in the same educational spirit. Yet, it might come across as overly self-reverential that a studio would actually distribute their film to schools, as if to insist their product is an intrinsically educational source of enrichment.

That perception could be supplemented by the reaction from the film’s snubbing in several Oscar categories, which led to director Ava DuVernay making an indignant diatribe lamenting the Academy’s decision, almost as if it was a tragedy in itself. Yet, despite the sour grapes perception, the film’s subject matter is definitely a poignant part of recent American history, which can be seen as ever-timely considering what’s been happening in Ferguson, New York, and, literally at this very moment, in Baltimore.

Ultimately, it comes down to this being a simple gesture of providing schools, some of which may be hurting for funds, a cinematic educational boost that will give teachers a little slack and give students a bit of a break. Besides, it might even set a fortuitous precedence, inciting Sony to send copies of Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 to security firms around the country. That’s a good thing…right?

Selma’s Oscar snub is still a sore point among film fans. The story was powerful and timely, the director’s work was astounding, and the performances were strong. So why didn’t it get any love outside of Best Picture and Best Original Song? There’s one Oscar voter who has a reason, but chances are it’ll infuriate all those who adored the film.

As part of an ongoing series, The Hollywood Reporter has been publishing conversations with different Academy voters each day leading up to the Oscars on February 22. The most recent installment centered on an anonymous female voter, who’s said to be a longtime member of the Academy’s 378-member public relations branch. When asked about her vote for Best Picture, she had some extremely blunt words to say about Selma.

Needless to say, this is pretty harsh.

The Academy has been under fire since the Selma snub. Many, including Academy Awards President Cheryl Boone Isaacs, called for more diversity among the contenders. Further fueling the outrage were Selma director Ava DuVernay and her star David Oyelowo. While the former is still admittedly sore over the Best Actor snub, the latter claimed that black stories are only honored when the characters are "subservient." On the other hand, Oprah, who produced the film, was happy for the nominations the film got. Selma’s losses are nonetheless shocking to most. Despite such high critical acclaim and its coincidental connection to nationwide protests surrounding the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown, the film has received little attention in the awards race.

This particular Oscar voter’s response will no doubt cause another swell of frustration among fans. Though, it’s important to note that this is the same person who said later on in her ballot response that Boyhood was "uneven."

Selma star David Oyelowo was one of those worthy actors who didn’t get to hear his name called out on Oscar morning when the Academy revealed the five members of this year’s Best Actor category. He’s not alone, as Jake Gyllenhaal (Nightcrawler), Oscar Isaac (A Most Violent Year) and Channing Tatum (Foxcatcher) all harbored hopes of breaking into a ridiculously tough category. But Oyelowo has thoughts as to why his depiction of Martin Luther King Jr. was snubbed by the Academy, and they’re pretty controversial.

While speaking at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, where he was accepting an award for being one of 2014’s virtuoso performers, Selma’s David Oyelowo was asked by moderator Dave Karger of Fandango what it’s like to be the subject of "Oscar snub outrage," meaning that many got angry on behalf of Oyelowo’s omission. He joked about it at first, but eventually got down to brass tax, stating:

As an example, David Oyelowo pointed out the fact that Denzel Washington should have won the Oscar for playing Malcolm X in Spike Lee’s biopic, and that Sidney Poitier deserved the Oscar for In the Heat of the Night. Both actors did take home Oscars, but for playing crooked police officers (in Training Day) and a potential angel assisting a farm-load of nuns (in Lilies of the Field).

You can hear David Oyelowo’s comments in full context in the video below. You can see that he’s half joking at first, but also very contemplative and serious about the issue at hand:

Is he right? He is, and he isn’t. If this is indeed a trend that has been prevalent for years, then it’s worth noting. Look at recent history. You have Chiwetel Ejiofor nominated for playing a slave. But you also have Denzel Washington nominated for playing a deeply flawed, marginally heroic airplane pilot in Flight. And Morgan Freeman earning a nomination for playing Nelson Mandela in Clint Eastood’s Invictus. Not exactly "subservient" figures.

This year, also, is an anomaly because of the sheer number of actors who legitimately could have viewed themselves as Oscar contenders. The field was ridiculously stacked this year, and in any other year, Oyelowo might have walked away with the Oscar in a landslide. What do you think of his comments? Is he on to something? Or is he merely upset at the snub?

George Lucas isn't someone you want upset at you. He's a very wealthy and very powerful man. That's why we're fearing for the the Academy after hearing news of the filmmaker's latest beef with the organization claiming that the nominations are nothing more than politics.

During his recent appearance on CBS This Morning, there to promote his new animated musical Strange Magic, Lucas found himself in a discussion about this year's Oscar nominations. According to The Hollywood Reporter, in response to Gayle King's question about whether he saw the all-white categories as a snub of qualified black actors, most notably David Oyelowo for his performance in Selma, he decided to offer up his opinions on the matter.

Lucas didn't stop there though. In referring to the members of the Academy, he said this to say as well.

Whether people agree with the Star Wars creator's comments is ultimately up to them, and while many factors may have affected why Oyelowo wasn't nominated, we should acknowledge the fact that Lucas has been in this business for a very long time and likely knows a thing or two about its fellow inhabitants. I, for one, have not yet seen the film but I am familiar with some of his other work including the highly-underrated film The Paperboy, the excellent 2006 film The Last King of Scotland and the fluffy but still highly-entertaining Tom Cruise-led Jack Reacher, and I can say there is no doubt he has a commanding presence. I'm confident that after seeing the film I too will be thinking he was deserving of a nomination.

The issue with the Best Actor category this year is that there are a ton of great performances so it's difficult to say whether or not Oyelowo actually was snubbed, but there is certainly grounds for an argument. I've seen Foxcatcher and Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), both of which's leads, Steve Carell and Michael Keaton, absolutely earned their Best Actor noms. I have yet to see American Sniper, The Theory of Everything and The Imitation Game but once again, see the potential for all three actors to receive nominations. For what it's worth, Keaton has this locked up but let's get back on topic.

Lucas worked with Oyelowo on his film Red Tails, ironically a film which he previously said was difficult to fund, do to its all black cast. The director, who spoke highly of the actor's abilities, isn't the only one blasting the Academy for its lack of black representation within this year's nominations. Spike Lee recently added his thoughts on the "Selma snubs," which include not only Oyelowo but also the film's director Ava DuVernay, in a recent conversation with The Daily Beast.

Selma wasn't completely left out of the Oscars as it did pick up noms for Best Picture and Best Song. However, Lucas and Lee are not the only ones voicing strong opinions on the omission in other categories.

With award season upon us, it's time to take a look back at the year and honor some of the actors that broke out in the industry. And among those is David Oyelowo, whose incredible performance as Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma has scored him a Golden Globe nomination. Along with the nomination comes more recognition, so Brad Pitt wants to make sure everyone is pronouncing Oyelowo’s name correctly. Watch his lesson on the subject below.

The clip, courtesy of The Telegraph, shows Brad Pitt at the Palm Springs International Film Festival awards gala. Pitt was a producer on Selma so he wasn’t there to win any awards, but it didn’t stop him from stealing the show. Pitt decided to take the time to teach the crowd an important lesson during his introduction for David Oyelowo. Oyelowo, a name that will surely be repeated often during the current awards season, may not roll off the tongue so easily. So Pitt shared his own way of learning the pronunciation, by song.

Though, I’m not too sure the name is as difficult to sound as Pitt claims it to be. But his singalong is endearing, and appropriate considering everyone should get very familiar with Oyelowo’s name. Oyelowo recently received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor for a Motion Picture Drama. During Pitt’s speech he begins his introduction to Oyelowo stating:

It’s a challenging role to pursue, but Oyelowo’s performance as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr was impressive in the epic drama, Selma. The inspirational film has been one of the most critically acclaimed films of the year. It’s an important historical story of Dr. King’s dangerous campaign march to secure equal voting rights in the face of a very violent opposition, along with Oyelowo as it’s lead, the story proves even more powerful.

And while this is Oyelowo’s first major role in a film, he is familiar with powerful stories playing supporting roles in films such as Lincoln and The Butler. The British actor has also played supporting roles in Rise of the Planet of the Apes and Middle of Nowhere. He began his career on stage at the Royal Shakespeare Company, later moved to television and film. His role in Selma was his first opportunity to really show the depth of his acting, and it proved him to be a sensational force. Whether or not Oyelowo wins Best Actor, his performance has paved a path to many more opportunities to come. And we look forward to seeing all Oyelowo brings us in the future, with a special thanks to Brad Pitt for helping us get the actor’s name right.

When Inhumans is released in 2018 during Marvel’s Phase 3, audiences will be exposed to a new side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Currently, powers in this universe can be attributed to science or cosmic phenomena, but thanks to the Inhumans, Marvel has a way to introduce genetic abilities. Most of these individuals can be found in the hidden city of Attilan, where their society has flourished for thousands of years in seclusion from the rest of the world. Inhumans may take place on Earth, but because of their history and technological advancements, we’ll likely be watching a story just as alien to the goings-on of the MCU as Guardians of the Galaxy.

While the term "Inhumans" refers to all the descendants of people who were experimented on by the Kree thousands of years ago in the Marvel universe, the movie’s main characters will likely be the Inhuman royal family. The following is a list of each character that needs to be included, as well as who is best suited to play them. If Marvel does everything right, Inhumans could be their best ensemble film yet.

Black Bolt

Who Is He?: Black Bolt is the ruler of the Inhumans. While his physical abilities already surpass most of his people, his main power is producing a particle from the speech center of his brain that can interact with electrons. This gives him his hypersonic voice, which is capable of unleashing massive destruction. A whisper can rock a building while a shout is capable of destroying a planet. As a result, he has undergone training to make sure he never speaks, whether conscious or asleep. Thanks to the metallic antennae he wears, Black Bolt is able to channel his powers in less destructive ways, like boosting his strength or manipulating energy.

Who Should Play Him: Marvel needs to get Vin Diesel on the phone and secure him for this role. Not only does he resemble Black Bolt, but it ironically parallels his role as Groot. In Guardians of the Galaxy, you hear Diesel’s voice but never see him, whereas in Inhumans, you’ll see him but he’ll never speak (aside from perhaps saying one destructive word). It’s too good of an opportunity for Marvel to pass up on!

Medusa

Who Is She?: As queen of the Inhumans, Medusa’s primary role is serving as interpreter for her husband Black Bolt – as she is able to understand and read his body language and mannerisms extremely well. However, she’s proven on multiple occasions that she’s an effective leader on her own. Medusa is able to control every strand of her prehensile hair, which is capable of lifting several tons, performing delicate procedures, and can even be fashioned into sharp, spear-like points. With her hair approximately six feet long, this makes her a dangerous adversary from both far away and in close quarters.

Who Should Play Her: Dina Meyer’s last attempt at a comic book property (playing Barbara Gordon in Birds of Prey) didn’t go well, but she deserves another shot at being a superhero. She’s capable of exuding a thoughtful demeanor that comes with being royalty, but as she demonstrated in the Saw movies as Detective Allison Kerry, she can also spring into action and deliver the intensity. She’s the perfect mix of queen and warrior.

Crystal

Who Is She?: Crystal is Medusa’s younger sister. She is capable of manipulating earth, air, water and fire, i.e. the "classic elements." In the comics, she has also been a member of the Fantastic Four and Avengers, and has been married to Quicksilver. Since Marvel will be introducing the speedster next year, it’s possible these two kids may eventually meet in the movies as well - especially if the theory that he and his sister, Scarlet Witch, are Inhumans is true.

Who Should Play Her: Well-known from movies like Wedding Crashers and The Great Gatsby, Isla Fisher is a versatile actress that would make a great Crystal. Not only does she resemble Meyer well enough, she’ll also be able to effectively portray Crystal’s gentleness and caring nature. Plus, she has plenty of experience with comedies, so if the film the film is looking to incorporate a fair amount of humor, she can be the one that delivers most of the light-hearted moments.

Karnak

Who Is He?: Like almost all Inhumans, Karnak’s physiology is superior to that of regular humans, but since he was never exposed to the Terrigen Mist, he never gained any superpowers. Instead, he has his very own unique ability garnered through extensive training: he is able to sense the weak point of anything, whether it’s a person, object or even a plan. As a master martial artist with a toughened exterior, this makes him an especially dangerous foe to anyone, even if they have superpowers.

Who Should Play Him: Action star Jason Statham has brought the pain repeatedly in projects like The Transporter series and the Fast & Furious movies. Not only does he look almost like Karnak (he just needs to grow some facial hair), but Statham has enough experience with physical roles that he’ll be able to show off Karnak’s martial arts abilities perfectly when 2018 rolls around. He’s already proven he’s good at being the anti-hero, so let’s elevate him to full-blown hero.

Gorgon

Who Is He?: Gorgon serves as bodyguard to his cousin Black Bolt, and interlopers need to watch their step around him. Because his legs were mutated when exposed to the Terrigen Mist, he is able to generate shockwaves and earthquakes with the stomp of his foot. His body is also much more resistant than the average Inhuman, and blunt force that would kill a normal person hardly affects him.

Who Should Play Him: He menaced Obi-Wan Kenobi as Jango Fett in Star Wars Episode II, he passed on the Green Lantern legacy to Hal Jordan as Abin Sur in Green Lantern, and it’s about time that Marvel casts Temuera Morrison for one of their movies. He’s one of those actors who gives great performances in action and sci-fi movies, but is continually underutilized. Let him unleash his ferocity as Gorgon in Inhumans. Watching him stomp his foot down is sure to leave the audience in awe.

Triton

Who Is He?: Triton is the brother of Karnak. Exposed to the Terrigen Mist when he was a year old, his skin turned green, and while he was able to breathe underwater, the downside was that he couldn’t breathe normal air. He was originally confined to a specially-made area for him in Attilan, but eventually a breathing apparatus was designed that allows him to survive on the surface. Triton’s aquatic physiology also allows him to swim at significant speeds and resist the pressures of the ocean.

Who Should Play Him: While he is a multi-ranged actor, in recent years David Oyelowo has shined as the villain in projects like Rise of the Planet of the Apes and Star Wars: Rebels. Let’s offset that negative energy by giving him a heroic role to play with. Plus, with the rights to Namor the Sub-Mariner still in flux, Oyelowo would have the unique opportunity to play the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first aquatic superhero. It’s quite the achievement, and since the movie will likely give him a few underwater action scenes, Oyelowo would be able to shine on his own while the rest of his cast is dealing with dangers on the surface.

Maximus The Mad

Who Is He?: Every member of the royal family mentioned so far is an ally to one another, but not this guy. Black Bolt’s brother Maximus The Mad is well-deserving of his nickname. Already intelligent and having a knack for inventing, the Terrigen Mist gave him the ability to manipulate minds for a short period of time. Due to his insanity, though, he’s never explored the full potential of his powers. Over the years he has staged multiple coups against his brother, and while he did succeed several times in taking the throne, eventually he was defeated and imprisoned. Chances are good that he’ll be the main antagonist for the 2018 movie.

Who Should Play Him: Adrien Brody has built a career off playing unique and eccentric characters. Who better to portray Black Bolt’s insane, power hungry brother? He can definitely pull of the insanity of Maximus, and appearance-wise he’s a great contrast to Vin Diesel. Also, Maximus has the potential to be a recurring villain in the MCU, which is something that doesn’t pop up often considering how often bad guys die in this universe. It goes without saying, but Marvel would be wise to lock Brody into a multi-film contract so that he can return to the role similar to way Tom Hiddleston has reprised Loki.

Lockjaw

Who Is He?: Resembling a giant bulldog, Lockjaw giant stature already shows off his power. As the name suggests, he has a jaw so strong that one time he clamped onto The Thing’s arm, and the Fantastic Four member couldn’t unhinge it. However, Lockjaw’s main ability is being able to teleport anywhere. Because of this, he serves as the royal family’s main form of transportation on Earth, and he can even travel to space

Who Should Play Him: Lockjaw will be have to be a CGI creation, but to do his grunts and barking, Marvel needs to hire the most experienced voice actor in the business: Frank Welker. Not only has he been providing voices since 1969 in a variety of movies and TV shows, but he voiced Scooby-Doo in the live-action movies. If that doesn’t qualify him to voice this CGI dog, I don’t know what does.

So far, despite the detective work of the internet's best scoopers, we're still unsure as to what the major threat in Star Wars: Episode VII really is. Some early chatter pointed in the direction of "Jedi Hunters," though if a recent report is to be believed, that might just be the assumed name of the forces menacing Luke, Leia, Han and company in the next chapter of the sci-fi saga.

Latino Review has been mowing through a sea of Star Wars Episode VII rumors and conjecture to find out the source of the "Jedi Hunters" rumors that we heard about earlier this week. It turns out that, despite previous reports, David Oyelowo is not on set, nor is he playing a CGI character, and is likely not one of three main villains in the film - the other two reportedly played by Lupita Nyong'o and Adam Driver. Which is too bad, consdiering Oyelowo is awesome. Get some Oyelowo in this movie, Disney!

What makes this whole rumor situation quite a bit messier and what may have added to the confusion is the fact that Oyelowo's name has been thrown around in connection with Star Wars Rebels, the new animated television series offshoot that will be telling older stories set in the Star Wars universe. So the information about his possible role in the Star Wars: Episode VII series remains suspect.. But if you can get David Oyelowo and his great voice for your movie, why wouldn't you? Star Wars, you're not better than David Oyelowo! The actor is about to have a moment, starring in this year's Interstellar and A Most Violent Year, and could enter the awards conversation this year or next for his portrayal of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the upcoming Selma.

While Oyelolo might not be involved, if the rest of the reports are to be believed, the new baddies in Star Wars: Episode VII have one goal, and it's one that may shape the future of the Star Wars universe.

Possible spoiler-ish details follow, so hold my hand and follow me, and I'll keep you warm all night, honey.

According to the earlier rumors (which come across mostly as informed speculation), the Jedi Hunters are seeking to resurrect The Sith. Apparently this quest will provide the plot for Star Wars: Episode VII to some degree, and a Sith Lord will be resurrected at some point in Star Wars: Episode VIII - leading to their eventual destruction in Star Wars: Episode IX. Latino Review says that the name "Jedi Hunters" is rather informal and premature, and that the characters can be more accurately described as mercenaries. The site also adds that there are scenes now being shot on a set that looks suspiciously like a new Star Destroyer - one of the premiere ships of the Empire - which should excite hardcore fans.

If Oyelowo isn't involved with Star Wars: Episode VII, then that means that the rumored villain trio is still short one interesting and compelling member. We still don't know what to expect from the inexperienced Nyong'o, who was absolutely gripping in 12 Years A Slave. Though it will be amusing to see Driver's anachronistic intensity in the Star Wars universe.

Star Wars: Episode VII hits theaters December 18, 2015.

Star Wars: Episode VII isn’t due out until the summer of 2015, but with the plotline tucked away in J.J. Abrams’ mystery box we’re all fixating on any and every casting rumor for clues of what the Star Trek rebooter has in store for this galaxy far far away. Hot on the heels of murmurs that Saoirse Ronan was being considered for a part in Episode VII comes news from Latino Review claiming that both David Oyelowo of Lee Daniels' The Butler and Michael B. Jordan of Fruitvale Station have taken meetings about the film. Of course a meeting is far from a guarantee in casting, but Jordan is said to have met personally with Abrams, which is a bit more promising.

To be frank, no one outside of Abrams and his crew knows what roles Oyelowo and Jordan are up for. But back in June, what appears to be casting breakdowns for Star Wars: Episode VII escaped some casting agency and found their way online. These included:

While rumors about continuing the saga of the Skywalker clan have been circulating the web, none of the above tips toward the possibilities of daughters or sons of Luke, Leia, or Han. However, that’s likely by design as the casting process on this project is being kept very quiet. So, “looks like a young Harrison Ford” would be wording to avoid lest something—like the breakdowns above—did leak. Looking at these though, it’s interesting that there is no signifier of race. This makes it trickier to guess what role Oyelowo and Jordan might be up for.

Considering he’s just 26, Jordan could be up for either of the twentysomething male roles above, the descriptions of which sound very similar demanding someone who exudes intelligence, and is physically fit. But my guess “not traditionally good looking” is code for character actor over leading man, so I’d guess Jordan would be mostly like seen for the confident handsome twenty-something out of the list above, especially since he’s said to be meeting with the director.

As for Oyelowo, this English actor is 37 years old, which means he’s more likely being considered for either the unfit thirty-something intellectual, or the fit forty-something who it is implied was once a soldier of some sort. From these descriptions, it’s impossible to guess which Oyelowo would be considered for, but go ahead and share you theories in comments.

For everything we know or have heard about Star Wars: Episode VII so far, you should click here.

David Oyelowo was everywhere last year, and that was no accident. Sure, he had no way of knowing that the tiny indie Middle of Nowhere, in which he plays the sensitive bus driver romantic interest of our lead heroine, would come to theaters just weeks after Jack Reacher and a month after Lincoln, in which he plays a black soldier brave enough to speak up to the President in the first scene. And, as he told me in our conversation last week, he had no idea that his voice would be the first thing anyone heard in the trailer for Lincoln, which arrived when there was massive speculation about what Daniel Day-Lewis's performance would sound like.

But the fact that Oyelowo has worked with a string of acclaimed directors and in a series of successful films, and has played a seemingly different character in every single one of them? That's no mistake at all. The 37-year-old veteran of the Royal Shakespeare Company in London, who made headlines a decade ago when he played Henry VI, has made his way through Hollywood carefully and slowly, taking on roles in films big (Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Jack Reacher, the upcoming Interstellar) and small (Middle of Nowhere, The Paperboy) that each reveal something new about him. In Lee Daniels' The Butler, in theaters this Friday, Oyelowo steps back into the past to play Louis Gaines, a college student who becomes involved with the Freedom Riders and eventually the Black Panthers as the Civil Rights movement builds in the 1960s. That leads to a series of clashes with his father Cecil (played by Forest Whitaker), the titular butler who works closely with the all-powerful Presidents inside the White House.

Oyelowo plays Louis from age 17 until his late 60s, a remarkable transformation made all the more incredible by how little makeup it took. I asked Oyelowo about that process, as well as the ways that director Lee Daniels' challenges him, how he found out he was such a big part of that Lincoln trailer, and a little about his upcoming work with Christopher Nolan on Interstellar-- and no, he hasn't read the script for that yet, so don't bother asking. Check out our interview below, and see Oyelowo and the rest of the all-star cast in The Butler this weekend.

I’m curious about how freakishly young you play at the beginning of this movie. I think you’re like 16 or something like that?

Yeah, yeah.

Were you wearing makeup? How’d you pull that off?

No, one of the biggest challenges about doing this film was Lee insisted on no makeup, until we were older. I’ve worked with him twice now and he’s all about authenticity, you know. Before each take, he’s right up in your face, checking that you didn’t put any makeup on or anything, because he wants the camera to catch every bead of sweat. So, that was actually a challenge. I was like, “Lee, you’ve got to help me out here.” I was going from so, I think, yeah, it’s 17 through to 68. So, I literally had to do crazy things like, you know, make sure I got 10 hours of sleep before the days I was playing young, drink lots of water, you know, just silly things that I almost had to experiment to find out if they actually worked. And then when I sort of get a bit older, literally, I would eat a lot of salty foods…

So you would puff up?

Yeah, and then drink lots of water. So apparently, this is what I found out, the water clings to the salt and you sort of puff out and literally you can see it overnight, and that helps. So, yeah, it was crazy things like that I had to do over the three months.

And then you go do another movie with makeup and you’re like, oh, this is so much easier.

Yeah, you know. I don’t have to eat salty food and you know, go to bed really early and all that good stuff, but you know what? I had played Henry VI at the Royal Shakespeare Company about 10 years ago.

Famously, a far as I can tell.

Yeah, yeah, it went incredibly well. And similarly I had to play from a very young to I think again from my teenage years through to maybe late 50s, maybe early 60s, and again, we were working with a director who wasn’t keen on makeup.

Even on stage, where you can get away with so much more.

Exactly, but that was kind of the point, because we didn’t want that to be distracting. And so much of aging is an attitude really, whether it’s confidence, whether it’s what’s happening physically with the body, the eyes, you know, with the emotions. When Lee first cast me as this, I said, you know what, I actually, and I didn’t mean it this way, I said, “Let’s do as little makeup as possible, I want to see if this is achievable, because I’ve done this once before in the theater. Let’s see if it works on film.”

So, it was almost a challenge to yourself.

Yeah, but Lee always has to push everything the the nth degree, so I said less makeup and he’s like, “No makeup.” I was like, no, that’s not what I meant.

Well, with The Paperboy, you say he had similar natural techniques, but the tone of that movie is really different. It’s really big and your character goes through this crazy transformation at the end. Lee pushes you in one way on that, so when you transfer to something like this, is he pushing you in a different way?

He is, I mean, the thing with Lee is that not only is he pushing you in relation to the character you’re saying, but the more he gets to know you as an actor, he literally demands of you more than he has seen of you.

So, the better he knows you, the harder he pushes you?

Yeah, which I think is why I really, really enjoy working with him, because I’m always a better actor beyond the experience, because I always discover new things about myself. The Paperboy we really pushed it on the envelope in terms of a character who was duplicitous, someone who just wasn’t all that he seemed. Whereas with this, you know, the film largely centers around this family and it’s far more vulnerable, far more open in terms of feelings. There’s an openness and an honestly that isn’t in The Paperboy. The Paperboy is diametrically opposed, I would say.

Not about open emotions.

Exactly, it’s all about hidden emotion and a hidden inner life. So, with this, you know, he was really pushing me towards what it is to be, you know, can we show a boy becoming a man before our eyes? Can we show the birth of the civil rights movement through one person? It was in the same way that Forest beautifully embodies some of the pain, some of the subservience, that had been imposed upon black people through history, my character was taking on the fire that was burning within black people back then, to challenge this country for freedom and you know, I had to sort of embody that in an embryonic form and then for it to sort of gain in momentum through to its fruition through the course of the film.

The ‘60s have been this pretty big looming myth for American filmmakers and artists of all kind. There’s been this baby boomer nostalgia forever, and I’m curious about how that translates to you, not having been born here. Do you get that romanticism of it or is that something you sort of have to tune into to get into?

Well, you know, one of the things I benefited from, whether it was doing Redt Tails, which was set in the ‘40s or Lincoln in the 1800s or this film, is that I don’t really have a frame of reference. I didn’t grow up with it. So, I don’t have a romanticized view of what life might have been like or life is esteemed to have been like here in America. I literally have to go and start from scratch and learn and talk to people, either who lived through the era or be very fastidious, especially when it comes to like the 1800s in terms of all the material that’s out there and sort of build a history for my character on the basis of what I deem to be the realism of the day, and I think thats kind of stood me in good stead, because I come at it very much with a blank canvas and approach it like I do any role, which is to try to be as truthful as I can.

Back to Lincoln for a second, do you audition for a role that’s one scene like that. Do you have to go in against a hundred other people or does Steven Spielberg hunt you down somehow?

Well, it was a combination of the two. I believe what happened, or so I’m told, is that George Lucas was showing Steven Spielberg an early cut of Red Tails and apparently Spielberg turned to George and said I want that guy in my next film, which is a nice thing to have those two guys having by way of a conversation. As is the case with these films, you know, you’re not given a script, because it’s all very hush, hush. I just had this exact thing with Chris Nolan’s movie.

Yeah, have you read Interstellar yet?

No, no.

I didn’t think so.

No, I haven’t. It’s all so top secret, but it was the same with Lincoln. All I had for that was the Gettysburg address. I had to go in and do the Gettysburg address and then a scene that had nothing to do with the film, and then, yeah, thankfully, Steven thought I’m his guy.

And when did you find out that was you in the trailer? Because we didn’t know what he sounded like as Lincoln and it’s your voice, but everyone was like, wait is that Daniel Day Lewis? When did you first see that?

The whole Lincoln experience was me getting a lot out of a little. I mean, literally, my scene in Lincoln took a day to shoot. I was actually at the airport and a producer friend of mine from Paramount called me up and said, “Dude, the trailer is awesome,” and I was like, “What trailer?” He said for Lincoln. I literally was like, “For Lincoln? What do you mean I’m great in the trailer?” You know, so I quickly went to my phone and then the thing starts with my voice and goes to my favorite actor of all time is there being genius and then it ends with me and him at the end and I was that is crazy. If I had cut that trailer myself I couldn’t have done it better.

Last year, you were all over the place and you had this amazing variety of stuff, like every single part you were in seemed to be doing something different. Has there been a big difference in what you're offered since February of last year when Red Tails was released?

If anything, the change is that in having, and this was absolutely premeditated I mean, I turn a lot of stuff down, especially if it feels like I just did that already.

A lot of people don’t say that, that they don’t have that premeditation in choosing roles that might feel familiar.

Yeah, it’s a combination of good fortune and decision making. I mean, yes, I couldn’t have planned that Middle of Nowhere would come my way or The Paperboy would come my way. Those projects existed and thankfully the directors wanted me to do them. But I don’t want to do what I just did in Jack Reacher again, you know. I don’t want to play this sort of cop of FBI guy because before you know it, that’s what people are going to continue to come to you for.

That will keep you employed for the rest of your life.

And it has done, several great actors who I respect, who for whatever reason they sort of put a sell-by date down on their careers by doing that. I would rather be less rich and more fulfilled artistically than, like I said, put a sell-by date on my career, and I think that what playing that variety of characters has done for me is that filmmakers who otherwise wouldn’t necessarily have me on their radar, now do, because I think they see there’s a malleability with me, as opposed to, “Oh, ok, we’ll get the guy from Jack Reacher to do that because he’s good...” I’m having meetings with directors where they’re offering me or talking to me about roles that I know for a fact this time last year I would not be in the conversation. So, that’s, like I said, premeditated and I’m thankful that it’s paying off.

Well, it’s interesting about Jack Reacher and the Apes movies is that they’re both beginning of franchises, but they’re ones in which your role definitely would not carry on and that seems like something you knew going into it.

Absolutely.

I mean, you’re not going to say it like "I won’t be in Spider-man, because obviously, you can’t throw that off, but does that maybe appeal more to you?

Absolutely, it does. If I’m going to do a franchise, I want to be the guy, you know what I mean? That’s to me, what’s interesting, because to be third, fourth lead in something that may take up ten years of my life is artistically, it’s just not interesting to me, because either I want to be playing different kind of roles or I want to be front and center in a way that I can challenge the writers…

Oh, to have the power to add something.

Yeah, yeah, I can go in there and say, “Look guys, this is what worked about the last one. How about we try this, that, and the other...” and I know you don’t have that license or that liberty if you’re further down the totem pole. For me, it’s all about challenging the audience and by osmosis challenging myself. The minute you begin to stagnate creatively, I just think the audience gets bored of you and that’s the thing to guard against. So, yes, I’m very happy that I wouldn’t be in a sequel of Jack Reacher or Rise of the Planet of the Apes, because those are things I felt I hadn’t done and the audience hadn’t seen me do, and you know, it’s done now, moving on.

Well, and Interstellar too, you know Nolan makes big movies, but he never makes sequels to them, or at least it’s unlikely that he makes sequels to them, so I assume that’s part of the appeal.

Well, that’s all about Chris Nolan, for me. In the same way that if Spielberg calls, you go. If Nolan calls, you go. For me, if Rupert Wyatt calls, I’ll always go. Lee Daniels, I’ll go. These are filmmakers that I just think their work is always interesting. Their work is always unexpected and they fundamentally are all trying to push the envelope and that, to me, is what I just have to be around. I’ll do a scene in Lincoln over doing a great big role in a film that I don’t believe in, because just that day with Daniel Day-Lewis, I learned so much from watching him. Just from that day of having Steven Spielberg behind the camera, I’ll take that to my grave. It’s like I’ve been directed by one of the greatest filmmakers of all time and I know that’s the case now that I’m going into Interstellar. So, you know, that is way more meaningful to me than anything I don’t really believe in from the outset.

Is the Interstellar role bigger than the Lincoln one?

I can’t possibly tell you.

And then you might be in the trailer anyway. You might tell me it’s tiny and we might think it’s huge.

That’s now in my contract. No matter the size of the role, I have to be in the trailer.

During the casting process for The Dark Knight Rises we were constantly amazed by the number of incredibly talented actors that Christopher Nolan was able to bring together for the project, and he has been doing very similar work with his next film, the sci-fi thriller Interstellar. Ever since the director brought Matthew McConaughey on board back in March we've seen a steady stream of casting announcements - and that continues today. The Wrap is reporting that both David Oyelowo and Cloud Atlas' David Gyasi - who actually previously co-starred together in Anthony Hemmingway's Red Tails, are the latest stars to sign on for the movie.

While details about the plot have been kept to a minimum, the new film is said to be based on the work of Caltech physicist Kip Thorne and touches on scientific theories regarding wormholes and possibly time travel. Very little is known about the characters that any of the actors on board will play, and that extends to the roles played by Oyelowo and Gyasi, as the source of the news says that "details of their characters are being kept confidential." Jonathan Nolan, Christopher's brother and the screenwriter behind The Prestige, The Dark Knight, and The Dark Knight Rises, wrote the first draft of the screenplay, which Christopher then rewrote, splicing the film's concept with an idea that he had previously been working on.

While Oyelowo doesn't have a tremendous amount of genre filmmaking experience (outside of Rupert Wyatt's Rise of the Planet of the Apes) he has become one of the more sought after actors in Hollywood. Last appearing stateside in the Tom Cruise vehicle Jack Reacher, he will next be seen playing Forest Whitaker's son in Lee Daniels' The Butler - which will be out next month. He has also wrapped on the UK drama Complicit from director Niall MacCormick, Simon Brand's thriller Default, and Cynthia Mort's musical drama Nina.

Gyasi, who also hails from the UK, has spent most of his career on the small screen - though he did play the role of "Skinny Prisoner" in The Dark Knight Rises. His other previous credits include episodes of Doctor Who, and Torchwood.

The two stars join an ensemble cast that ranks as one of the best that Nolan has ever assembled. In addition to McConaughey, the film is also set to star Anne Hathaway, Michael Caine, Jessica Chastain, Casey Affleck, Topher Grace, Ellen Burstyn, John Lithgow, Bill Irwin, Wes Bently, and child actors Timothee Chalamet and Mackenzie Foy. Paramount Pictures has announced that they will be releasing the film in theaters on November 7, 2014, and at CinemaCon earlier this year it was announced that the director will once again be employing the use IMAX cameras for some of the filming. At this time there isn't any clear information regarding when they are planning to go into production, but presumably they will start up before the end of the year.

Boxers like Jake LaMotta and Muhammad Ali have had their stories told on the big screen, and apparently now it's Sugar Ray Robinson's turn. A new biopic based on Wil Haygood biography Sweet Thunder: The Life And Times Of Sugar Ray Robinson is now in development and it has been revealed that actor David Oyelowo is attached to star.

Deadline says that the project comes from producer Rachael Horovitz (Moneyball) and screenwriter/executive producer Danny Strong (Game Change) and is currently using a script written by Haygood. They are currently searching for a director, and depending on who is found Strong could do a draft of the screenplay as well. Apparently Strong, Oyelowo and Haygood were brought together on Lee Daniels' The Butler, which is based on an article that Haygood wrote and Strong adapted (Oyelowo is starring in the movie as the titular character's son).

Sugar Ray Robinson, who first started fighting professionally in 1940, is considered by many to be the greatest fighter of all time and finished with a record of 173-19. The new movie, titled simply Sweet Thunder will focus on the early part of Robinson's career when he was trapped in lower boxing classes due to his unwillingness to parter with organized crime and throw fights for profit.

Oyelowo, wowho also worked with Daniels on this year's The Paperboy, will next be seen in Steven Spielberg's Lincoln, which will be followed by Christopher McQuarrie's Jack Reacher. He is currently in production on Cynthia Mort's Nina, a music biopic about pianist Nina Simone. That film co-stars Zoe Saldana and Mike Epps.

A few weeks ago it was revealed that director Lee Daniels has one hell of a dream cast in mind for his next project, The Butler. That list included such A-list talent as Oprah Winfrey, Hugh Jackman, Mila Kunis and John Cusack. But while those actors would all be playing supporting roles, the report also said that the filmmaker was interested in having David Oyelowo, who has a role in Daniels' upcoming The Paperboy, star in the movie as the title character. It turns out that Oyelowo won't be playing the lead, however, as that part has gone to a different actor, but he will indeed be a part of the production.

According to Variety, Forest Whitaker has signed on to play Eugene Allen, a White House butler who served under eight U.S. presidents, while Oyelowo will play the butler's son. Also, while the casting of Jackman, Kunis and Cusack is still up in the air, Oprah is now in talks to play Allen's wife. Described as Daniels' passion project, the filmmaker wrote the script along with Danny Strong, who was recently hired to adapt Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol. The trade says that they are still going after the previously mentioned A-list talent as the plan is to set the movie up like Steven Spielberg's upcoming Lincoln, with a series of famous actors portraying famous people (the previous report said that Cusack would play Richard Nixon while Kunis would portray Jackie Kennedy).

I must say that the casting of Whitaker as Allen makes a hell of a lot more sense than Oyelowo - leading me to believe that the first report had a few of its facts wrong. If Oprah Winfrey, who recently turned 58 years old, was being looked at to play Allen's wife, why would they cast Oyelowo, who is only 35. Whitaker is a much more age appropriate choice and from a talent perspective, a great one in general.

If you were one of the many people this summer who went to see Rise of the Planet of the Apes, you would probably recognize the face of David Oyelowo. He played Jacobs, the profit-crazed head of the pharmaceuticals company in the film. Now, Variety is reporting that Oyelowo is in final negotiations for a role in Paramount’s/Skydance Production’s One Shot. The film centers on a former policeman, now a drifter, who is investigating the case of a sniper accused of killing five people. Because if there’s one person I want investigating an important case like that, it’s a…drifter?

Oyelowo will play a homicide detective also investigating the killings. He is cast alongside Tom Cruise who will be playing Jack Reacher, the aforementioned wandering detective. It would be easy to assume that Oyelowo will find it difficult sharing the screen with Tom Cruise, but he is an actor who has proven time and time again that he has serious chops. He was especially fantastic in 2006’s The Last King of Scotland, in which he negotiated screen time with subsequent Oscar-winner Forest Whitaker, and even his brief role in Rise of the Planet of the Apes was strong. The producers of One Shot are not alone in their recognition of Oyelowo’s talent. He was also recently in The Help and is set to appear in Red Tails for Lucasfilm.

When you take talent like Oyelowo and pair him with a great script, the results are often spectacular. One Shot is being written by Christopher McQuarrie and Josh Olsen; McQuarrie also directing the film. McQuarrie, who has so far written two films featuring Tom Cruise (Mission: Impossible-Ghost Protocol and Valkyrie), penned one of the best screenplays of the last twenty years in The Usual Suspects. For his part, Olsen gave us the film adaptation of A History of Violence, which was sensational and turned out to be better than its graphic novel antecedent. It’s hard not to get excited about this film.

One Shot is based on a book series by Lee Child, might not be a bad idea to give the series a read in case this becomes a franchise.

Precious director Lee Daniels has been circling a handful of projects with David Oyelowo, who’s about to be seen on screen in Disney’s The Help, so it was only a matter of time before they connected on a film in which they could collaborate.

That movie will be Daniels’ The Paperboy, a death-row drama that has seen its fair share of casting changes in the pre-production stage. Deadline reports that Oyelowo will join Daniels’ film in the role of Yardley, a journalist investigating the potential innocence of a convicted murderer (John Cusack) with help from a fellow writer (Matthew McConaughey). In previous reports, the two writers were supposed to be siblings. It would seem that’s not the case anymore (though I suppose adoption is always plausible). The film, produced by famed director Pedro Almodovar, is based on the novel by Pete Dexter.

Daniels obviously believes in Oyelowo’s talent. At one point they were set to make the Civil Rights drama Selma together, with Daniels boldly casting Oyelowo in the role of Matin Luther King Jr. Though that project stalled (temporarily, Deadline predicts), it’s good to see Daniels found another juicy role for this versatile, yet still unknown actor.

He won’t be unknown for long. Oyelowo has two major movies opening in August, starting with Rupert Wyatt’s Rise of the Planet of the Apes, where he’ll play Steven Jacobs, the businessman who inadvertently triggers the monkey infestation. Later, he appears in the aforementioned Tate Taylor-adaptation of The Help as a local preacher who offers support to Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer. Daniels might be snatching up Oyelowo right before his star rapidly ascends.

When the first person to be cast in Lee Daniels' historical biopic Selma was Hugh Jackman, it seemed clear that Daniels was struggling over the casting of the two major characters in the film, Martin Luther King Jr. and Lyndon Johnson. After all, how can any actor step into the shoes of two instantly recognizable historical figures, especially King, who is as iconic as the Lincoln Memorial at this point.

Clearly Daniels believes that David Oyelowo is up to that challenge. THR reports that the British actor has been cast to play King in the film, even as Daniels is still shipping it around to potential funders. Oyelowo had a role in The Last King of Scotland and the TV version of A Raisin in the Sun, but is largely unknown, which makes him a pretty good choice to slip into the role rather than overtaking it with that kind of "Hey, this famous person is playing that famous person!" stunt casting that's gotten old by now.

One more thing-- the THR story notes that the role of George Wallace is still up for grabs, which may mean that Robert De Niro is not on board after all, following a series of "is he or isn't he?" rumors in the last few weeks. Now's the chance for more famous actors to step in so maybe Daniels can actually get this thing funded.