It has been five years since David Lowery released The Green Knight, his otherworldly and hauntingly beautiful take on a classic Arthurian tale. Starring Dev Patel as a headstrong yet unproven knight as he journeys to test his courage, this great fantasy epic quickly became one of the best films of 2021. With stunning visuals, a story that methodically builds tension, and some of the best production design in years, this unnerving epic is great from start to finish. Yet, there’s one scene that still gives me chills after all this time.

No, it’s not the various encounters with the Green Knight that bookend the film. Nor is it the strange and off-putting sequence with the Lord and Lady that tend to the young knight. Instead, it’s a brief yet unforgettable meeting with a young scavenger picking through the corpses of fallen soldiers.

Sir Gawain’s Encounter With The Young Scavenger Is Straight-Up Bone-Chilling

Not long after Sir Gawain’s journey gets underway, he stumbles upon the fallout of a major battle between two unknown parties. Riding amongst the dead and their belongings on his quest to find and confront the Green Knight, he has a chance encounter with one of the most unforgettable characters in the entire movie: Barry Keoghan’s scavenger.

From poking around the dead bodies to talking about nature swallowing up the dead to bouncing between glee and sorrow from the sight, the young stranger is unstable, and his nature is straight-up unsettling. You don’t know anything about him, but you know he can’t be trusted. So, when he gives Gawain directions for a forest chapel, it doesn’t take long to come to the realization that this is someone who can’t be believed.

As pointed out in CinemaBlend’s Green Knight review, the battlefield-roaming stranger has sinister intentions, and his offer of help is nothing more than him setting a trap for what is probably his latest victim. Gawain foolishly walks into the trap, leading to a more violent and less ambiguous meeting with the scavenger and his gang, who strip him of everything and leave him for dead.

We Don’t Know Anything About The Scavenger, And That Makes This So Much More Unsettling

What has always drawn me to this scene, and this character in particular, is that we know nothing about him and learn nothing about him before the Green Knight ending. Though Gawain later retrieves the axe the young scavenger stole from him, the character is never seen or heard of again. This brings me to some big questions I’ve long had about the boy and his appearance.

With the movie having multiple scenes that blend reality and fantasy, and Gawain being forced to overcome a series of tests to prove himself, could this whole interaction be nothing more than a hallucination? Or is this another test of the young knight’s virtues to prove himself worthy? Or is the boy a living, breathing person who’s been broken and desensitized by the cruelty and violence of the world?

I’m still trying to make sense of this encounter, but it remains such a bone-chilling and unforgettable scene all these years later. If you’ve been meaning to revisit The Green Knight, it’s currently streaming with a Netflix subscription.

SPOILER WARNING: The following article gives away major details from the plot of Monkey Man, so proceed with caution as you read on.

When Dev Patel landed his breakthrough role as the lead in the Best Picture Oscar winner, 2008’s Slumdog Millionaire, the world foresaw many great things in the young, British actor’s future… but becoming an action movie star was probably not quite one of them. However, not only has he achieved that long-desired goal, but has also reinvented himself as an action movie filmmaker with the release of his feature-length directorial debut, Monkey Man, which is easily one of my favorite movies of 2024 so far.

It also appears that critics are praising Monkey Man — which also had a pretty impressive first weekend at the box office — for what has proven to be a strong first try from behind the camera for the Academy Award nominee, who shows some amazing promise as a filmmaker for the visceral style and unbridled passion loaded in each and every frame from start to finish. That being said, I am delighted Jordan Peele and Universal stepped in to bring the film to the big screen instead of its initial plan to be released direct-to-streaming on Netflix. It probably goes without saying that I am already feverishly looking forward to seeing what Patel bring us next in this new era of his career but, first, I would like to explain what I believe makes his debut such a winning cinematic experience.

Dev Patel Brings A Refreshing Spin To The Revenge Genre

Something I noticed a while back and have since accepted over time is that, when it comes to even the best revenge movies, it is usually pretty easy to guess what you are in for — narratively speaking, that is. Whether you are revisiting Quentin Tarantino’s two-part saga, Kill Bill, watching the John Wick movies, looking back at 1994’s The Crow — which has a reboot on the way — or other classics, it is clear that the protagonist’s main goal is to take out their enemy, often by lethal means. However, the main thing that differentiates each of these films from one another is the way in which the story is executed, and I believe Dev Patel delivers one of the most unique examples in years with Monkey Man.

Of course, as per tradition, the main plot (also crafted by Patel) is relatively simple, following a loner known as “Kid” (Patel) plotting to find and punish the corrupt police chief (played by Sikandar Kher) who murdered his mother, Neela (Adithi Kalkunte), and when he was a child. However, the story is infused with a refreshing emotional pathos that strongly reinforces the idea that our hero deserves his revenge no matter how bloody it gets (more in that later), both in the shocking brutality of the inciting incident (Kid watches his mother get burned alive) and his powerfully written arc from helplessly succumbing to his pain to boldly channeling it into his actions. Yet, it also goes further than that.

Perhaps the most appealing draw of Monkey Man is the culturally relevant perspective that Patel brings to the story, which is set in India and seeks to comment on real socioeconomic issues the country (as well as other countries) face today — such as poverty, political corruption, religious unrest, and plenty more topics the filmmaker mentions when speaking to BBC. 

Furthermore, even the film’s title and certain thematic elements are drawn from a real Hindu legend known as the Hanuman, whose primate-like appearance and notoriety as a protective deity are acknowledged in the opening scene to symbolically set up Kid’s arc. Patel also pointed out on The Tonight Show how the film redefines the obligatory action movie training sequence in a unique way that honors Indian culture with Kid punching the rice out of a dusty rice bag as a nearby tabla player (Zakir Hussain) keeps rhythm.

Monkey Man Almost Gives John Wick A Run For His Money

When the trailer for Monkey Man first dropped, showing Patel’s Kid laying waste of countless henchpeople while dressed in a black suit, I couldn’t help but think one thing: This guys wants to be John Wick. Indeed, the film does acknowledge the influence that the Keanu Reeves-led action franchise (arguably the best cinema has ever offered) has over the story and its style in a scene when Kid visits a firearms dealer who offers him a type of pistol used in the first movie. However, make no mistake — this is no rip-off.

In fact, there were moments in Monkey Man that I found to be even more exhilarating than some of best sequences from the John Wick movies, which are praised for their beautiful, almost balletic fight choreography. However, Patel — who is actually trained in Taekwondo, according to Den of Geek — goes for a fight style that feels even more off-the-cuff and ceaselessly brutal, accompanied by cinematography that, despite some over-reliance on “shaky cam,” enhances the graphic nature of the violence in a deliriously immersive manner.

However, what really makes the beautifully raw choreography so effective is that, unlike John Wick, Kid does not start off as a badass. Our first sight of the character in his signature monkey mask comes early on when he moonlights at an underground MMA fighting club run by Tiger (Patel’s Chappie co-star, Sharlto Copley) as a journeyman — or, in other words, is paid to have the living crap beat out of him. After he is taken in by a local temple of Ardhanarishvara following a brush with death, its leader, Alpha (Vipin Sharma) advises him to fight with purpose, giving him the will and courage to complete his goal and avenge his mother with a brash boldness in his every move.

What I Would Like To See Dev Patel Tackle Next

With Monkey Man, Patel has proven that he has what it takes to join the ranks of action movie maestros like Chad Stahelski, John Woo, Kathryn Bigelow, and other legends of the genre, and on his very first try at feature-length filmmaking, too. Thus, I cannot wait to see what high-paced, ultra-violent thriller he might bring us next.

However, in all honesty, I really do not care much what he tries to do next. Whether it is, indeed, another action piece, or a new horror movie, or perhaps even a musical comedy, I am so impressed with the thematic eloquence and visually entrancing style of his debut that I'm fully on board for wherever his directorial career takes him.

It is always exciting to see a filmmaker put out a really good movie on their first try and Monkey Man is absolutely no exception. Just like his character in the film, Dev Patel has come a long way from his humble beginnings on the Skins cast and become an inspiration to his culture and to a new generation aspiring artists from all walks of life.

SPOILER WARNING: The following article contains light spoilers for Monkey Man. If you have not yet seen the film, proceed at your own risk!

Monkey Man is an action movie that earns its rating via pure ferocity. There are stylish and spectacular fight sequences, but they also get quite brutal. Particular beats of this nature stick in your mind long after the credits roll – including the separate moments that see Dev Patel’s Kid both bite an opponent’s nose off and use his teeth to drive a dagger into a man’s neck.

Those specific scenes certainly stood out to me watching the film for the first time, and I thusly felt compelled to ask Patel about it when I interviewed him last month during the Monkey Man virtual press day. He noted that both of those teeth-centric moments were in the script that he went into production with, and explained that the idea is to showcase the extreme mentality of the protagonist. Said the actor/filmmaker,

It’s established early in Monkey Man that Kid has a hunger for vengeance, wanting to kill the people who responsible for his mother’s murder, and that single-minded drive practically turns him feral. He’s logical and he formulates a plan, but when is executing and “in the moment,” you practically expect his eyes to roll back like a Great White Shark.

Dev Patel’s debut performance as an action lead is special, and as a filmmaker, he doesn’t protect the audience from any of the brutality. Not only do we see Kid taking a chomp of cartilage, but we also get a hardcore shot of the now-noseless man bleeding and screaming. And as for driving the knife in with his teeth, the moment doesn’t exactly play out quickly. The production of Monkey Man was far from easy, but the end result of the hard work is a film with phenomenal intensity.

Following a super buzzy premiere at the SXSW Film Festival last month, Monkey Man is now playing in theaters, and it arrived in second place at the weekend box office. Following a turn that critics have described as “a man possessed,” Dev Patel will hopefully get to continue his aim of unleashing cinematic fury and chaos.

Mild spoilers for Dev Patel’s Monkey Man are ahead. If you haven’t seen this action entry on the 2024 movie schedule, you can catch it in theaters now. 

While Dev Patel’s career reinvention, the injuries he overcame while making Monkey Man and the incredible action in the film have been at the center of the project's positive discourse, conversations about the transgender representation in the film have also been a point of conversation. It’s a fantastic film with LGBTQ+ representation, and recently, Patel spoke about why it was important to include these trans and gender-nonconforming characters in his directorial debut. 

In Monkey Man, Patel’s character is taken in by a group of transgender and gender non-conforming characters after falling off a bridge. They help nurse him back to health, explain to him why they live away in a temple, and ultimately, they help him defeat his enemy. The director/star explained why including these characters meant so much to him, telling Variety:

The Hijra community in India today includes transgender and intersex folks, and according to NYT they make up “their own somewhat secretive subculture” in India’s LGBTQ+ community. Also, in 2014, per NYT, the country’s Supreme Court recognized this third gender, marking a landmark moment for transgender people living there. 

Dev Patel said that he wanted to represent the three genders, and the temples that showed “freedom,” “sexuality” and “philosophy” that were ahead of their time: 

Vipin Sharma, who plays Alpha, one of the leaders of this community, spoke to Variety about going to a screening of Monkey Man for the trans community. He explained why it meant so much to him and the audience he was with, saying:

It’s wonderful to hear that so many have felt seen by Monkey Man, and that they found the trans representation in the film touching. 

Monkey Man has been getting positive reactions from critics and audiences alike, with many pointing to the valiant point Patel made about it being an “anthem for the underdog, the voiceless, the marginalized" as a reason why. This group of people who take Kid in are accepting, loving and strong, and their stories shine a light on and represent the Indian trans community. To see all these wonderful characters as well as the epic action in Monkey Man, you can catch the film in theaters now. 

Dev Patel’s film debut in one of the 2000s' best movies, Slumdog Millionaire, was considered a Cinderella story in almost going straight to DVD, only to become a theatrically-released Best Picture winner. The British actor’s directorial debut almost tells the same story, as it was originally going to be a Netflix new release until Jordan Peele stepped in to bring it to theaters.

Back in 2021, the action flick Monkey Man had a $30 million deal at Netflix, but sources told Deadline that after the streamer bought the movie, it felt the action thriller would be too rough for the Indian market, not to mention that its co-financier Bron Studios went bankrupt. That's all the more reason why Dev Patel made sure to mention at the TCL Chinese Theatre that filmmaker Jordan Peele saved his movie, saying:

Jordan Peele had a lot of faith in Dev Patel’s directorial debut. Something important to know about Monkey Man is that the Nope director himself saw Patel’s movie and was really impressed with it, so much so that he got his production company, Monkeypaw Productions, to encourage Universal to buy Monkey Man for $10 million. Finding a home on the big screen will do better financial wonders for Patel’s movie compared to streaming. Theatrical movies tend to make more money from the box office numbers of multiple theaters compared to what's accumulated for exclusivity on one streaming platform.

It turns out that Dev Patel and Jordan Peele have something in common about their starts in the entertainment industry. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel actor explained that the Get Out director seeing the skills of another upcoming director brought him back to his own beginnings.

Imagine the irony that Dev Patel said his career intervention was inspired by Jordan Peele when Peele himself seems to be inspired by the young filmmaker too. Their beginnings are very similar in that the Us director was first a comedy actor who starred with Keegan-Michael Key in one of the best sketch comedy shows, Key and Peele. Then he felt like directing was more fun for him with his debut being the Oscar-nominated film Get Out. With the number of times Peele has seen Monkey Man, and having gone out of his way to get it released in theaters, it looks like the former comedy actor was motivated by Patel too.

Patel was similarly in the same boat making his acting debut as part of the cast of the British comedy series Skins. Now he’s on the brink of being the lead in action movies and directing.

Dev Patel may be responsible for creating the critically-raved action film Monkey Man, but Jordan Peele is who we have to thank for having it released in theaters compared to streaming. It looks like the two collaborators have learned a lot from each other and are impressed with each other’s career paths. You can visit your local theater and see the 2024 movie release Monkey Man playing now.

Dev Patel has led an impressive career since making his big screen debut in 2008’s Academy Award Best Picture winner Slumdog Millionaire. Now, with a plethora of film and TV acting credits to his name, Patel has taken his talents behind the camera with Monkey Man. Actually, he’s pulling quadruple duty in his first directorial effort, also serving as the film’s star, writer and producer, and it seems his hard work has paid off. Critics who caught an early screening ahead of the movie’s April 5 release are calling Patel “a man possessed” as they rave about his newfound filmmaking skills. 

In the action thriller Monkey Man, Dev Patel plays “Kid,” a man earning his living through underground fights in which he wears a monkey mask. He’s also on a quest for vengeance for the death of his mother when he was young. The movie was met with much enthusiasm when it premiered at South by Southwest, and as it prepares to hit theaters, the director continues to draw praise from critics like CinemaBlend’s Erik Swann, who wrote on Twitter: 

Germain Lussier of Gizmodo calls it a can’t-miss action flick, marveling that this is Dev Patel’s rookie effort. He says it’s “borderline superhuman” that the actor could produce such a confident film, constructed this beautifully with intention behind every frame on his first try. The critic continues: 

Brian Truitt of USA TODAY agrees, rating Monkey Man 3 out of 4 stars and warning moviegoers not to underestimate the actor’s skills behind the camera. In addition to being able to frame some impressive action scenes, Dev Patel’s movie will make you think, Truitt says, continuing: 

Consequence’s Liz Shannon Miller grades the movie a B+, noting that Dev Patel doesn’t seem to struggle with directing himself, and while Kid isn’t as nuanced as some of his past roles, he shows a good blend of physical prowess and vulnerability. The critic says: 

Jake Coyle of the AP says the evolution of Dev Patel’s career has been thrilling to watch, and in addition to achieving a “forceful” effort as his first directing credit, he also proves he’s still expanding his talents as a performer. Coyle writes: 

Will Monkey Man go down as one of the best action films of the year? Grab a ticket and decide for yourself. The film hits theaters on Friday, April 5, and be sure to check out our 2024 movie release calendar to see everything else that’s available and coming soon on the big screen. 

Back in 2014, Jordan Peele shocked the entertainment world with a revelation: while he had spent over a decade of his career dedicated to comedy, he let it be known that his true goal was to make horror movies. Since then, Peele has become one of the world’s most respected genre filmmakers, crafting a string of hits with Get Out, Us, and Nope. What he has done is remarkable – and it has inspired major ambition in Dev Patel, who wants to follow in Peele’s footsteps by becoming known as an acclaimed action director.

The two filmmakers have become linked thanks to Monkey Man – Patel’s directorial debut, which is an eye-popping and spectacular cinematic experience that impressed Peele to the extent that he got it a distribution deal with Universal Pictures. Patel isn’t yet an established name in the action genre, instead better known for his dramatic work in films like Slumdog Millionaire and The Green Knight, but he explained to me in an interview last month that he and the Nope director talked a lot about rebranding one’s career in Hollywood:

In Monkey Man, Dev Patel stars as a protagonist who has committed his entire life to a mission of revenge – hoping to confront and kill the men who had a hand in the murder of his mother when he was a child. Wearing a monkey mask and participating in rigged underground fights, he gets an in into a restaurant/club where his targets regularly take refuge, and after getting a job and getting to know the lay of the land, he executes his grand plan.

The movie has its funny and emotional moments, but mostly Monkey Man is a teeth-grittingly intense feature (that was teeth-grittingly intense to make), and that’s the principal thing that Dev Patel wants to further bring to the world as he continues working behind the camera. He wants to still be known as the performer we know, but he has a vision for what he wants to do as an action director. He continued,

The work speaks for itself, but Dev Patel finding a partner in Jordan Peele for the film was incredibly special for the up-and-coming filmmaker. Based on his attitude during our interview (as you can see in the video above), he still seems to be processing the awesomeness of it all. Said Patel,

Audiences everywhere will have a chance to soon experience Monkey Man, which earned rave responses last month when it premiered at the SXSW Film Festival. Look for it in theaters this Friday, April 5, and stay tuned here on CinemaBlend for more from my interview with Dev Patel.

For a look ahead at what else is coming to cinemas and streaming in the coming months, check out our 2024 Movie Release Calendar.

It was not until Dev Patel tried his hand at writing and directing a feature film, Monkey Man, when he finally became the star of his own action movie. His turn as a man on a vengeful mission against corruption in the thriller, which is being likened to John Wick, is really a long time coming, since plenty of the Academy Award nominee’s credits have incorporated elements of the genre. Yet, the 2024 movie release marks the first time he has been the lead of this particular kind of film.

The former Skins cast member is not the only one who has the talent and the experience that warrants action movie stardom, but has yet to receive top billing for one. Hopefully, the following actors I have compiled below do not need to write or direct their own high-paced, thrill-a-minute blockbuster to cross that off their bucket list one day.

Alan Ritchson

At 6’2” and 230 pounds, Alan Ritchson was the perfect choice to lead the Amazon Prime original TV show, Reacher, and would be the perfect choice to lead any action franchise you throw at him. He may have nabbed a supporting role in Guy Ritchie’s The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, but I am still waiting to see his face on the majority of a poster. Maybe another Jack Reacher movie, starring him this time?

Zoë Kravitz

Having appeared in multiple comic book movies (including X-Men first class), leading an intriguing, paranoia-fueled Neo-Noir (2022’s Kimi), and showing up in one of the greatest action movies of all time (2015’s Mad Max: Fury Road), it is only a matter of time when Zoë Kravitz plays the central hero of her own contribution to the genre. I actually would not mind if the action film she receives top-billing for saw her reprise her great Catwoman portrayal from The Batman in a spin-off. 

Zac Efron

It is actually hard to believe that, despite being one of Hollywood's most versatile leading men, Zac Efron has yet to headline an action movie. He has done pretty much everything else you could imagine — including musicals (his breakout role in Disney Channel’s High School Musical, of course), sports biopics (the acclaimed 2023 A24 movie, The Iron Claw), and even a “brutal” post-apocalyptic thriller (2022’s Gold) — so what is stopping him from kicking some ass?

Maika Monroe

Having starred in creepy modern classics like It Follows and Watcher, Maika Monroe is easily one of our most talented horror movie Scream Queens — a title she will continue to honor by leading the new, disturbing detective thriller, Longlegs. Could playing an FBI agent in that upcoming 2024 movie bring her one-step closer to fulfilling her action star destiny? Because, as far as I am concerned, she already proved she was worthy by developing a, sort of, “gruff badass” persona for her role in the 2015 alien invasion movie, The 5th Wave.

Austin Butler

Austin Butler proved he was a movie star with his Academy Award-nominated performance in Elvis, but that could not prepare audiences for his surprisingly intimidating turn as the ruthless Feyd-Rautha in Dune: Part Two. It makes me wanna see how intimidating he could be as a hero, or even anti-hero similar to his role in the upcoming The Bikeriders, which looks pretty intense. Perhaps all these recent performances will get some action filmmaker’s attention soon. 

Zendaya

Speaking of Dune: Part Two cast members, the one who really steals the show in the second half of Denis Villeneuve’s Frank Herbert adaptation is Zendaya as Chani, who should be considered the true hero of the story if you understand the author’s true intentions with Paul Atreides’ arc. Of course, the Emmy-winning Euphoria cast member still, understandably, got second billing under Timothée Chalamet, but the powerful acting and stellar fight choreography she demonstrates in the sci-fi blockbuster absolutely warrants a grand-scale epic of her own.

LaKeith Stanfield

Here is another example of an actor who has shown astonishing versatility in his eclectic filmography so far — including some acclaimed comedies (such as Sorry to Bother You), some great horror movies (his scene-stealing Get Out role), and a mix of both (Disney’s Haunted Mansion). However, whenever Academy Award nominee LaKeith Stanfield has been cast in an action flick (namely The Girl in the Spider’s Web and Netflix’s original Western movie, The Harder They Fall), it has never been in the lead role.

Jamie Chung

Here is another example of an actor whose action-oriented roles have either been supporting parts in movies (such as The Man with the Iron Fists or The Misfits), stints on TV shows (such as 2008’s Samurai Girl or Fox’s Gifted), or even voice acting roles (like in Big Hero 6). Come to think of it, I think that Jamie Chung’s career as a whole thus far has been pretty underrated, so hopefully the chance to be the next great female action hero comes her way soon.

Aldis Hodge

Aldis Hodge actually has an interesting connection to the action genre, having starred in two Die Hard movies: Die Hard with a Vengeance and A Good Day to Die Hard — the latter of which marked his acting debut as a child. After putting that experience to good use with a portrayal of Hawkman that is the best thing about Black Adam, in my opinion, I am certainly hoping to see him soar higher in this realm, whether that means leading a superhero movie of his own or something more grounded.

Katy O'Brian

Am I the only one who takes one look at Katy O’Brian and sees an action movie star waiting to be born? Following her breakout film role in Love Lives Bleeding, the bodybuilder and Mandalorian actor is more than ready to lead something with a speedier pace on the big screen.

Bill Hader

I bet you did not expect a former SNL cast member to appear on this list, but I think Bill Hader might even be the most deserving one here. His role as a hitman seeking an acting career on Barry proved that he has some astonishing range, and his participation in the HBO series' more action-oriented sequences also shows he could do well in something like a grizzled detective role, a la John McClane.

Could any of these stars become the next Bruce Willis or Charlize Theron? Trigger fingers crossed.

With action reminiscent of the John Wick movies, and behind-the-scenes stories that are truly jaw-dropping, there’s no question that Dev Patel went through the wringer to make his movie Monkey Man. As the star, director, co-writer and producer on the project, he really put his mind, body and soul into this action flick on the 2024 movie schedule, and now he’s telling the brutal story about how he broke his hand while filming the project.  

Before they started shooting the movie, Patel broke his toes, per Digital Spy, and then as they were filming, he broke his hand. So, the phrase putting your blood, sweat and tears into something likely resonates with Dev Patel’s directorial debut Monkey Man. And it’s about to hit even harder as you hear the director/star tell the story of how he broke his hand. Speaking with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show, he said:

For context, Patel explained that he’s been working on this movie for over ten years, he’s had to turn down roles he always dreamed of taking to make this, and he’s overcome a ton of challenges to get it made. He was not about to let an injury stop him, and he explained that to Fallon, saying:

Adding insult to injury, this was not the only issue Patel was facing. They made this movie during the pandemic and they had to deal with multiple budget issues. This led to them having to film an action scene with his iPhone because a camera broke, and they had to glue breakaway tables back together themselves. Along the same lines, when he broke his hand, the Slumdog Millionaire star had to get creative about how he treated it, saying: 

As they made the movie, the crew dubbed the screw in Patel’s hand as “the one screw that kept the production alive,” because after he got it, the actor/director went right back to work:

While this injury could have ended the production, Patel pushed through the pain, literally. The crew was so grateful that they even made t-shirts with his hand X-ray on them to show their appreciation. 

All that hard work really paid off. Critics spoke highly of Monkey Man, and it seems like this project is poised to become one of Dev Patel’s best films, and who knows, maybe it’ll turn into one of the best action movies too. To see the actor in action, and how all his hard work and injuries paid off, you can catch Monkey Man in theaters starting on April 5.

Dev Patel’s Monkey Man premiered at South by Southwest to a standing ovation, and it was followed up by reviews that, while critical at points, had similar enthusiasm for the actor, his film and his potential as a director. Serving as the beloved performer's feature directorial debut, this action flick is one of the highly anticipated releases on the 2024 movie schedule. Let’s just say these critics’ reactions should get you pretty excited for not only the film’s April 5 release but Patel’s future as a director. 

Based on what we know about Monkey Man – a film that will see Dev Patel playing a man who is on a mission for vengeance against those who killed his mother – we figured we’d be getting high-octane action and an extreme story that matches the intensity of Jordan Peele’s best movies, seeing as the acclaimed director is a producer on this film. Well, the first reviews proved this assumption correct, as critics like Jacob Hall from Slash Film wrote:

Hall went on to say that the film feels like it’s trying to do too much at times, however, when Monkey Man is at its best it’s “frankly extraordinary.” 

Perri Nemiroff from Collider also agrees that this is a promising directorial debut. While noting that there is room for improvement, overall, she was impressed by Patel’s first go as director, writing: 

With action that’s reminiscent of the John Wick movies and a brutal and unique story reminiscent of Peele’s incredible horror movies, it seems clear to me that Monkey Man could become one of Dev Patel’s best movies. That was then backed up by reviews like Nathan McVay’s for Hey U Guys:

Serving as the star, director, producer and co-writer, Dev Patel clearly put his heart and soul into this epic action movie, and according to these reviews, his passion for this project is clear as day when you watch the film. 

In Robert Daniels’ review for Screen Daily, he wrote about Patel's style as a director and the "kinetic verve" he shot the film with:

The primary critique seems to be that while Patel’s drive to tell a compelling and important story is obvious, the story feels scattered at times. The Daily Beast’s Coleman Spilde explained that, writing:

While critics didn’t hold back in explaining their issues with Monkey Man, they also were loud and proud about what really worked in this movie. There’s a reason so many people love Dev Patel and his acclaimed career, and I think it’s safe to say they’re very excited for his next chapter as a director and star. 

So, will Monkey Man become one of the best action movies? That’s for you to decide when it hits theaters on April 5. 

Throughout his career, Dev Patel has given some incredible performances in everything from Arthurian legends like The Green Knight to Best Picture winners like Slumdog Millionaire, and even some of the best Wes Anderson movies. And now, the remarkably entertaining, engaging, and versatile actor will soon appear in what could be a new favorite action flick in Monkey Man.

If this is the first you’re hearing about Patel’s upcoming project that was co-produced by Jordan Peele and his Monkeypaw Productions, stick around because we’re about to break down everything we know about it. From its release date to its trailer and so much more, here’s your guide to Monkey Man.

What Is The Monkey Man Release Date?

Those who want to see Dev Patel kick a whole lot of ass don’t have to wait all that much longer as Monkey Man is set to be released on Friday, April 5th, Universal Pictures has announced. The movie will spark what could be a great April on the big screen, as it will be followed by highly-anticipated titles like Alex Garland’s Civil War, Rebel Moon: Part Two – The Scargiver, and Challengers, to name a few.

How To Watch Monkey Man

When Monkey Man is initially released, you’ll only be able to watch it on the big screen as Universal Pictures has made the new Dev Patel film exclusive to theaters. It should be noted that one point in the film’s life, it was slated to be a Netflix original movie back in 2021, but Deadline later reported that Jordan Peele was so impressed with Dev Patel’s action flick he felt it deserved a big-screen release.

The Monkey Man Trailer Gives Off Some Serious John Wick Vibes

Out of nowhere in late January 2024, Universal Pictures released the first Monkey Man trailer, a three-minute thrill ride that gives off some serious John Wick vibes. Revenge, hand-to-hand combat, chase scenes, and all other kinds of badassery can be found in the clip, and it has us pretty excited to say the least.

Though the trailer is fairly long for today’s standards, it doesn’t give too much away about the movie outside of the fact that it’s a revenge story. Honestly, that’s pretty refreshing to see in a day and age where a movie’s entire plot is basically revealed in promotional material. Instead, the characters (both good and bad) are teased, action sequences are hyped up, and intrigue flows throughout.

Dev Patel Leads The Monkey Man Cast

What do all of the best action movies have in common? Well, besides showcasing awesome action set pieces, tremendous stories, and great effects? If you guessed a strong cast then you’d be correct, and it appears that will be the case when Monkey Man makes its debut later this year.

The Monkey Man cast is anchored by Dev Patel, who takes on the role of a mysterious character known only as Kid, a man who goes on a path of vengeance after suffering a terrible tragedy. Though Patel is mostly known for comedic and dramatic roles, the talented actor does have some action experience under his belt thanks to movies like The Wedding Guest and Hotel Mumbai, but nothing like this.

Patel won’t be alone, as the upcoming action flick will also see performances from Sharlot Copley, Sobhita Dhulipala, Pitobash, Vipin Sharma, Ashwini Kalsekar, Adith Kalkunte, Sikander Kher, and Makarand Deshpande, to name a few.

Monkey Man Follows An Underground Fighter Seeking Revenge Against Those Responsible For His Mom’s Death

Monkey Man follows Dev Patel’s Kid, a young fighter who has long been subjected to brutal beatdowns in an underground fighting ring, as he sets out to find the people who murdered his mother and allowed corruption and the victimization of the poor to carry on for so long. This journey, which Universal Pictures has said is inspired by the legend of the Hindi deity Hanuman, will see Patel’s character go deep into the belly of the criminal underworld to get to the bottom of the story and settle the score once and for all. 

Monkey Man Is Dev Patel’s Directorial Debut

Dev Patel has spent the past couple of decades giving outstanding performances in movies like The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, The Man Who Knew Infinity, The Personal History of David Copperfield, and a variety of TV shows ranging from Skins to The Newsroom, but during that time he’s never directed or written one of his own projects. Well, that changed with Monkey Man.

The upcoming action thriller will mark Patel’s directorial debut, and based on what we’ve seen from the movie so far, it looks like he has a natural talent behind the camera. This is also the actor’s first time penning a script as well, a task he carried out with Paul Angunawela and Hottel Mumbai writer John Collee after coming up with its original story idea. It will definitely be interesting to see where he goes from here.

Monkey Man Is Rated R

With a story about an underground fighter going on a one-man path of vengeance and a trailer boasting all kinds of senseless violence, it should come as no surprise that Monkey Man is rated R. According to FilmRatings.com, the movie features strong bloody violence throughout its story, mature language, drug use, and intense sexual content and nudity. 

Though it’s not extreme enough to earn the dreaded NC-17 rating, the MPA’s description of the movie and what we’ve seen in the trailer makes Monkey Man sound pretty intense if we’re being completely honest.

We could very well be looking at the start of the next great action franchise, or at least the beginnings of Dev Patel’s career as a director. While we wait for more on Monkey Man and what its future holds, check out our breakdown of the 2024 movie schedule for the latest on all those other big releases coming to the silver screen in the coming weeks and months.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been around for more than a decade-and-a-half, and after 30-plus movies, TV shows, and specials, we’ve seen a ton of great actors play fan-favorite comic book heroes and villains. There are even actors who have played more than one character in the expansive franchise. But at the same time, there’s an even larger group of talented big-screen stars who haven’t donned a cape, mask, or spandex in the best Marvel movies. Here are 32 actors we still want to see in the MCU…

Ryan Gosling

For one reason or another, Ryan Gosling has yet to play a character in the MCU. One of the most talented and beloved actors of his time, the Barbie star would be perfect to play several characters ranging from Nova to Mr. Fantastic to even Earth-616’s Norman Osbourne if they wanted to have a younger actor take on the role of the famous Spider-Man villain. 

John David Washington

John David Washington has previously said he’d be open for an MCU role, and it’s probably going to happen sooner or later, considering the son of Oscar winner Denzel Washington is an incredibly talented and versatile actor. The Tenet and The Creator star has the range to handle just about everything thrown his way, be it as a villain or the next great Marvel hero.

Margot Robbie

It wouldn’t be all that surprising to see Margot Robbie join the list of actors to appear in the MCU at some point down the line, it’s just a matter of finding the right character for the beloved actress to play. There have been rumors about a Sue Storm role over the years, but Robbie would also be great playing villains like Lady Deathstrike.

Dev Patel

Dev Patel has established himself as one of the most interesting actors in Hollywood thanks to outstanding performances in movies like The Green Knight, Slumdog Millionaire, and his 2023 work with Wes Anderson. Watching the Lion star take on someone like Reed Richards or even Doctor Doom would be awesome, and he could honestly handle both.

Keanu Reeves

Throughout his career, Keanu Reeves has played iconic action characters like Johnny Utah, Neo, and John Wick. How cool would it be to see the eternally young actor join the MCU as someone like Dracula, Ghost Rider, or even Silver Surfer? We would even settle for a small voice role as a random one-off character.

Cillian Murphy

Cillian Murphy showing up in the MCU would be a massive get for the cinematic universe as it works towards the two upcoming Avengers projects, especially if he were to play Doctor Doom. While other actors would probably be better suited for the physicality of the iconic Marvel villain, Murphy would be perfect for the psychological aspects of the character. Add in his experience from playing Scarecrow in the Dark Knight trilogy and you have a perfect fit.

Vanessa Kirby

Vanessa Kirby has said in the past that it would be an honor to play Sue Storm, but the Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning actress could also handle a more sinister role if given the chance. Just imagine Kirby playing someone like Lady Death or even Black Cat if we get another Spider-Man movie.

Cynthia Erivo

How Cynthia Erivo hasn’t landed a role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is somewhere between a travesty and a mystery, because the multi-talented actor has everything you want in an actress to play your next comic book star. Just imagine the Harriet and Bad Times at the El Royale actress showing up as Storm whenever the X-Men are eventually introduced to the franchise. That would be electric to say the very least.

Antonio Banderas

Though Ant-tonio Banderas, Scott Lang’s ant in Ant-Man and the Wasp is already a thing in the MCU, the actor on which the flying arthropods was based has not had a chance to appear just yet. This needs to change and we need to see Antonio Banderas show up at some point down the road. He’s got the skills and intangibles to pull off someone as big as Galactus, a character comic book fans have been dying to see for years now.

LaKeith Stanfield

LaKeith Stanfield has been one of the more interesting actors of the past decade thanks to unforgettable roles in movies like Get Out, Judas and the Black Messiah, and The Book of Clarence, and the MCU would be better off if he joined the fray. There was talk in early 2024 of Stanfield replacing Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror, which could work, but he could also bring to life X-Men staples like Cyclopes or even Gambit.

Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise flirted with the idea of playing Tony Stark way before Robert Downey Jr. rejuvenated his career in the MCU-launching Iron Man, but we never got to see the Top Gun: Maverick star play the iconic billionaire playboy philanthropist. Though it never came to fruition, we’d still love to see the Hollywood legend show up in the MCU, even if he only briefly played an alternate version of Iron Man.

Christoph Waltz

Christoph Waltz has played great villains in everything from the James Bond movies to Quentin Tarantino’s Inglorious Basterds, but he’s never played a big bad in the MCU. That should change, sooner rather than later, and he could be a great fit for someone like Norman Osborn or Doc Ock if we get more Spidey movies. He has the charisma, skill, and look for either of those roles.

Jessica Chastain

Jessica Chastain showed up in X-Men: Dark Phoenix, but since that’s outside of the MCU (for now, anyway), she’s fair game. There’s been the Sue Storm talk over the years, but the Interstellar star could also take on someone like Jean Grey and try her luck with the Dark Phoenix character.

Alan Ritchson

Okay, imagine Alan Ritchson in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Doctor Doom. In addition to having a ridiculous physique, the Jack Reacher star can also be cerebral and mysterious, kind of like his character from Fast X. He would be a formidable foe, that’s for sure. And if not, we’d love to see Ritchson take on someone like Rhino or Juggernaut and breathe new life into those characters.

Pedro Pascal

There’s been a lot of talk about Pedro Pascal being the frontrunner for Reed Richards in the Fantastic Four’s eventual MCU debut, and that would be awesome. The star of The Mandalorian and The Last of Us has shown over the years that he has what it takes to lead a successful franchise, and he has enough talent and charisma to pay one of Marvel’s most iconic heroes.

Amber Midthunder

Amber Midthunder became a star-in-the-making after the 2022 release of Prey, and the star of the Predator spinoff prequel could very well make an impact in the MCU if given the opportunity. Lady Hellbender, Lyja, and Silver Fox are just three of the Marvel characters she would be well-suited to play.

Denzel Washington

Denzel Washington has long stayed out of the superhero realm, though he has made a career out of playing characters who are pretty much comic book characters. That being said, we’d love to see the two-time Oscar winner take on a role like Magento or Bahsenga, the warrior shaman who was the first to adopt the Black Panther mantel.

Emily Blunt

Her husband, John Krasinksi, has already appeared in the MCU, albeit briefly, as Reed Richards in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, so it wouldn’t be crazy to see Emily Blunt show up at some point, either for a similar-sized role or in a larger capacity. According to Deadline, the Oppenheimer star turned down a chance to play Black Widow in Iron Man 2 and was reportedly approached to play other famous characters in the years following. 

Gary Oldman

We’ve seen Gary Oldman play Jim Gordon masterfully in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, but the Academy Award-winning actor has yet to show up in the MCU. It would be so cool to see the legendary actor enter the fold as Dr. Xavier in the eventual X-Men movie, and it would be just as awesome to see him play a more villainous role like Mephisto or even Dracula, with the latter being a throwback to his turn in Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

Jesse Plemons

Jesse Plemons has been everywhere for the past few years. Well, everywhere besides the MCU. The Breaking Bad and Killers of the Flower Moon star has shared the screen with Marvel actors like Elizabeth Olsen, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Christian Bale over the years, and it’s only a matter of time before he follows suit and shows up as a comic book character. This guy has Sabretooth written all over him…

Paul Giamatti

Paul Giamatti has already been in Sony’s Marvel movies thanks to his portrayal of Rhino in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, but we’d love to see more of the beloved actor. It doesn’t have to be anything over-the-top like a mech suit, but instead something like a government official who tries to get in the Avengers’ way or is tempted by a big bad.

Glen Powell

Glen Powell has "superhero" written all over him. The Physique, the charm, the million-dollar smile, he has it all. It’s only a matter of time before someone swoops him up and makes him the next great comic book hero, and that someone could be Marvel. Nova, Cyclops, or even a young Magneto would be great fits for the Anyone But You star.

Tati Gabrielle

Since making her acting debut a decade ago, Tati Gabrielle has given commanding performances on shows like You, Kaleidoscope, and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, to name a few. The actress, who also has experience in video game adaptations like Uncharted and the upcoming Mortal Kombat 2, would be perfect for the MCU in the coming years, especially if she could land a role like Storm, Black Cat, or other fan-favorite characters.

Javier Bardem

Javier Bardem is an actor with an incredible skillset and the ability to play both nuanced and over-the-top characters, which would make him perfect for something in the MCU. The No Country For Old Men star would be a great fit for the iconic Galactus whenever the villain is introduced in the future.

Rosamund Pike

Rosamund Pike has played all manner of characters over the years, and that makes her a perfect fit for the MCU moving forward. Her dynamic range and ability to play both good and evil roles masterfully would be perfect for comic book staples like Emma Frost and Liandra Nermani, both of whom are tied to the X-Men franchise.

Lily Gladstone

Lily Gladstone became an overnight sensation upon the release of Killers of the Flower Moon, and rightfully so. We’re not saying it’s going to happen, but the Golden Globe-winning actress would be perfect in the MCU. Imagine Gladstone playing Indigenous characters like Silver Fox or Kushala.  

Iwan Rheon

Iwan Rheon technically appeared on Inhumans back in 2017, but this doesn’t mean we don’t want to see him show up in an MCU movie at some point in the future. The Game of Thrones actor, who didn’t appear in as many episodes as you’d think, played Maximus on the short-lived ABC series, so he could reprise his role or he could take on something new. However, it wouldn’t be nearly as intense as Ramsay Bolton.

Viola Davis

Viola Davis has already made her mark in the comic book world with her portrayal of Amanda Waller over in the DCEU, but this doesn’t mean she can’t jump over to the MCU and play an equally menacing character. The Oscar winner has already led a blockbuster with The Woman King, so she is more than capable of doing the same in a Marvel movie.

Naomie Harris

Naomie Harris has already shown up in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe with her portrayal of Shriek in Venom: Let There Be Carnage where she was crushed by a falling cathedral, but there’s no reason she couldn’t just play another version of the character in the MCU or take on a completely different role entirely.

Brendan Gleeson

Brendan Gleeson is appearing in Joker 2, and it would be really cool if the legendary actor also landed a role in the MCU somewhere down the road. The Harry Potter and The Banshees of Inisherin star would be perfect for a role if the Thor franchise is to continue, even if it meant voicing someone like Beta Ray Bill. 

Iko Uwais

Iko Uwais, star of the phenomenal Raid movies, has the acting ability and fighting skills to be a big hit in the MCU if given the chance. In the event this does happen, we’d hate for Uwais’ talents to be wasted like they were with his extremely small role in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Daniel Day-Lewis

Three-time Oscar winner Daniel Day-Lewis retired after 2017’s Phantom Thread, but we’d love to see him step in front of the camera again in an MCU movie. The There Will Be Blood and Gangs of New York star would be a killer option for a character like Galactus and drink up all the planets like a big milkshake.

Who knows if we’ll see any of these actors show up in any of the upcoming Marvel movies, but with the way the MCU has shown us over the years, don’t count anyone out.

Actor Dev Patel has been in a lot of intense movies where he made his film debut in the Best Picture winner Slumdog Millionaire, Lion, and the most recent jaw-dropping A24 film The Green Knight. While his characters have gone through disturbing situations, the 32-year-old actor was a witness to one recently where he helped break up a real-life knife fight. 

The Slumdog Millionaire actor has been living in Adelaide with his girlfriend, Australian actress Tilda Cobham-Hervey. 7News reported that while he was at Adelaide CBD, he witnessed a knife fight between a man and a woman on Monday after 8:45 pm. This couple was fighting with each other outside of a convenience store where witnesses, including Patel and his friends, tried to break up the fight. Then, the woman allegedly stabbed the man in the chest. The British actor’s representatives spoke more about Patel’s role in this nerve-wracking event.

Emergency services were called to the area after being told reports about a man and a woman fighting. This fight was not considered random as the couple knew each other. A 32-year-old Glengowrie man was treated at the scene when ambulances came before being taken to Royal Adelaide Hospital. Luckily, his injuries are not considered life-threatening. The 34-year-old woman from Park Holme was arrested at the scene and charged with aggravated assault causing harm without bail.

The Green Knight actor’s representatives continued to say that while the young actor was willing to put himself at risk to help out, there were “no heroes” in this situation. That this incident was about “marginalized members of society not being treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.” His representatives believed that it should not take having a famous actor trying to de-escalate a situation like this to bring attention to it and for lawmakers to come up with long-term solutions to help the entire community and not just the people involved.

The Green Knight was the latest film of Dev Patel’s which was critically acclaimed and had fans thirsting hard for him. He’s soon to make his directorial debut, star in, and co-write the upcoming Netflix film Monkey Man as well as be in Wes Anderson’s The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar which will also premiere on Netflix. 

Dev Patel’s representatives may have said there were “no heroes” during this knife fight, but the former Skins actor is a hero in my book for his willingness to keep the peace in a high-intensity situation instead of simply walking away. While you wait for the Academy Award-nominated actor’s upcoming movies, you can check out his best movies and TV shows.

After many years of South Asian characters in movies and TV being largely stereotypical side characters, there’s recently been a shift in Hollywood. In recent years, there are more and more examples of leading characters played by actors who have roots in India and Pakistan, among other locations in South Asia. Plus, they tell stories that don’t put them into a small boxes, and represent a larger experience that is what representation in film and TV is all about. 

We all deserve to be seen on the big and small screen, and characters like these open more doors for this community that makes up 25 percent of the population of the world. From regency romance to a Marvel superhero, we’re celebrating some recent great South Asian characters in movies and television. Check it out: 

Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley) - Bridgerton

Bridgerton became the talk of the ton in 2020 when the Netflix series became the most successful original TV show for the streaming service. For the recent Season 2, Julia Quinn’s The Viscount Who Loved Me was adapted for television with its lead Kate played by British-Indian Sex Education actress, Simone Ashley. For the romance, the character was altered slightly to be Kate Sharma instead of Sheffield, with her and her family’s backstory being from India. The 2022 season seamlessly infused Indian culture into Kate and her sister Edwina’s identity whilst also ushering in an Indian lead of a romance set in the Regency era and for a very mainstream series. 

Ruben Stone (Riz Ahmed) - Sound Of Metal 

When it comes to South Asian actors being considered for award season buzz, oftentimes the storylines have been around starring in a story about and set in their home country such as 1982’s Gandhi and 2008’s Slumdog Millionaire. Riz Ahmed changed this when he received an Oscar nomination for Sound Of Metal, becoming the first Pakistani actor and first Muslim actor to be included in the Best Actor category. In the drama, Ahmed plays a drummer in a metal band and drug addict who loses his hearing and must join a shelter for deaf recovering addicts. Ahmed’s incredible performance included the actor learning American Sign Language and how to drum like a pro. 

Dev Shah (Aziz Ansari) - Master Of None

After Aziz Ansari ascended into popularity on Parks and Recreation as the sarcastic and entrepreneurial Tom Haverford, the comedian created his own series in Netflix’s Master of None. The show, which he also starred in and wrote, really showed the actor’s personal perspective as an actor and Indian-American immigrant through a somewhat fictional lens. One especially memorable episode is called “Indians on TV” where he touches on how Indian actors are often expected to be stereotypes with heavy accents. In the most recent season of the show, Ansari took a step back from starring to highlight Lena Waithe’s character while he showcased his impressive directorial approach. 

Lucy Gulliver (Geraldine Viswanathan) - The Broken Hearts Gallery

The romantic comedy is a beloved genre, but over the years it has been plagued with the same faces and tropes over and over again. In 2020, though, Aussie actress Geraldine Viswanathan got to shine as the lead of The Broken Hearts Gallery alongside Stranger Things’ Dacre Montgomery. In the movie, Viswanathan plays a young woman who recently suffered a breakup and decides to start a gallery devoted to fallen relationships. The movie delivers a quality and unique rom-com that allows its half-Indian (of Tamil ancestry) main character / actress to lead the type of movie that has gone to white actresses over the years, and without her identity having to be her core personality trait, either.

Javed Khan (Viveik Kalra) - Blinded By The Light

Blinded By The Light premiered at the Sundance Film Festival before becoming a beloved (yet underrated) dramedy in 2019. The movie, directed by Gurinder Chadha, who previously made history as the helmer of Bend It Like Beckham, is about the son of Pakistani migrant parents, Javed, who falls in love with Bruce Springsteen’s music and uses it as an inspiration to write his own poetry. The story is inspired by the life of journalist Sarfraz Manzoor, who co-wrote the Blinded By The Light script. The movie and the character of Javed show how music can speak to and connect with anyone, including an immigrant kid who feels otherwise like an outsider in his life. 

Mindy Lahiri (Mindy Kaling) - The Mindy Project 

After Mindy Kaling wrote for and portrayed Kelly Kapoor on The Office, the comedian pitched her own comedy to FOX, The Mindy Project. She created, produced and starred in the series about a gynecologist’s attempts to balance her personal and professional life. The series that aired for six seasons brought Indian representation to television in a big way, with Kaling becoming the first Indian American to have her own TV show on a major network, and in a way that wasn’t solely focused on her ethnicity, but addressing the life of a working career woman, and later, motherhood.  

Sheriff Hassan (Rahul Kohli) - Midnight Mass

Mike Flanagan’s incredible Netflix horror franchise continued in 2021 with an original series called Midnight Mass, which served as an existential discussion about faith alongside its scares. Among the cast was the groundbreaking character of Sheriff Hassan, played by Rahul Kohli (previously in The Haunting of Bly Manor and iZombie). He played the island’s sheriff, who is a Muslim who struggles with his teenage son to fit into the town’s predominantly Catholic population. Within the series, Midnight Mass beautifully represents a South Asian Muslim family and their difficulties in the western world as all the spooky things take place. 

Rhea Kumar (Avantika Vandanapu) - Spin

Disney Channel is known for propelling young stars into mega stardom, such as Zendaya, Miley Cyrus, and Zac Efron, with their original films and TV shows. In 2021, the network made a massive move in representation by releasing the new DCOM, Spin, which is about an Indian-American teen who works at her tight-knit family’s restaurant, but realizes her true passion is to be an EDM DJ. The movie highlights Indian culture in a beautiful way and allows its young star, Avantika Vandanapu, to shine in a breakout performance. 

Alex Parrish (Priyanka Chopra Jonas) - Quantico

Another network television win for a great South Asian character is Priyanka Chopra Jonas’ leading role in the ABC series, Quantico. The Indian A-lister moved to the American market to star in the thrilling drama about an FBI agent who becomes the prime suspect of a terrorist attack. It’s another first, with the actress becoming the first Indian actor to lead a primetime drama on American TV. But, Chopra Jonas also did so by playing a charismatic, badass, and intriguing character during the series’ three seasons. 

Sir Gawain (Dev Patel) - The Green Knight

Medieval epics have always been led by white men, but David Lowery’s 2021 adaptation of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight gave Dev Patel a unique role in that space. The existentialist storyline allowed Patel to deliver a meaty performance that comments on the hero’s journey in a refreshing (yet taxing) trudge to meet the Green Knight. Patel’s performance is one of the best of 2021 and should have really gotten more Oscar recognition. 

Devi Vishwakumar (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) - Never Have I Ever 

Following Mindy Kaling’s The Mindy Project, she moved behind the scenes completely to create Never Have I Ever, a coming of age Netflix series. It stars newcomer Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, who hails from Canada and was born to Tamil parents. It is loosely based on Kaling’s childhood experiences, as it follows an Indian-American Tamil high school student dealing with the sudden death of her father, who decides to change her social status, though it does not come easy. The show is much like a lot of high school series in a lot of ways, but it also adds the layers of her grappling and balancing her Indian-American identity as well. 

Kingo (Kumail Nanjiani) - Eternals 

After Kumail Nanjiani made waves as a Pakistani-American comedian, writer, and actor in projects like Silicon Valley and The Big Sick, he was cast as the first South Asian superhero in Marvel’s Eternals. Not only does the movie include a big-screen Bollywood dance sequence, but Nanjiani got super ripped to take on the role because he wanted to make sure the first Pakistani superhero “could hang with Thor and Captain America.” Kingo is an Eternal and flashy actor who continued this breaking of stereotypes and continues to show Hollywood that South Asian actors have range and can fit in all genres far and wide.  

In just the past few years, there’s been an uptick in South Asian representation and a lot of different firsts for its large population in the framework of Hollywood. Here’s to more great South Asian characters in the years ahead. We’ll look out for more examples of them in new TV shows and upcoming movie releases. 

It’s been seven years since the famous #OscarsSoWhite hashtag first went around after the Academy released a nomination list where all 20 acting nominations were given to white actors, which would be repeated in 2016. So where are we now? There is some POC talent being recognized in the performance category ahead of this year’s Oscar telecast, but the 2022 Academy Award nominations, only twenty percent are non-white nominees. This is especially disappointing considering how many incredible performances were left out of the race. 

The only non-white actors in the running for a performance Oscar this year are King Richard’s Will Smith and The Tragedy of Macbeth’s Denzel Washington in the Best Actor category (both of which have been recognized by the Academy before) alongside first-time nominees Ariana DeBose and Aunjanue Ellis in the Best Supporting Actress category. Now let’s take a look at great performances the Oscars overlooked. 

Colman Domingo (Candyman/Zola)

Let’s start with a Best Supporting Actor that was not among those picked by the Academy, but absolutely deserves to be recognized for his performances. Colman Domingo. The more “award season” pick is Zola, but the more I think about it, Domingo also pulled off an incredible performance in Candyman as well that I'd also pick over a couple of this year’s other nominees. In Zola, Domingo gives an affecting performance as a man on a stripper road trip (based off a real Twitter thread) as his character of Abegunde "X" Olawale takes us on a rollercoaster ride of emotion and intensity as the secrets of the plotline are uncovered. 

Additionally, Domingo is an absolute highlight in Candyman as William "Billy" Burke, a Cabrini-Green resident who forwards the Candyman legend through Yayha Abdul-Mateen II’s character. All around, Domingo is proving again and again he’s one of the best actors working today and deserves more recognition for his work. Hopefully when TV nominations come around he’ll get some love for his role on Euphoria as well. 

Hidetoshi Nishijima (Drive My Car) 

The Oscars have clearly been making an attempt to recognize more foriegn films in recent years, especially with the historical 2020 Academy Award moment when Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite won Best Picture. Ahead of this year’s telecast, there’s a key international feature being recognized, Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Drive My Car. But how do you recognize that film without its guiding lead performance, Hidetoshi Nishijima?

The Japanese actor carries a huge weight in the drama about an actor/director as he mourns a profound loss throughout the three-hour film. The performance is very internal and stoic, which is especially difficult for an actor to communicate to audiences. As crowded as this year’s Best Actor category is, Nishijima’s role in Drive My Car is something special. You can check out the movie now with an HBO Max subscription. 

Dev Patel (The Green Knight)

Throughout Oscar history, only a few actors of Indian descent have nabbed an acting nomination. Merle Oberon in 1935, Ben Kingsley four times between 1983 and 2004 (including his win for Gandhi) and Dev Patel in 2017 for Lion. The actor should have earned his second nomination this year (this time in the Best Actor category) for his role in The Green Knight. 

David Lowery’s perilous journey through the legend of Sir Gawain asks a lot of the actor as 90 percent of the film puts the focus on his character. Dev Patel plays a reluctant protagonist who must face the elements as he travels to meet the Green Knight along with driving an emotional narrative that subverts long held tropes about what it means to be a hero. 

Taylour Paige (Zola)

The Best Actress category this year is jam-packed with talent including Jessica Chastain, Olivia Colman, Penélope Cruz, Nicole Kidman and Kristen Stewart’s memorable performances, but it’s clearly skewed toward not only the experiences of white women, but privileged white women (with the exception of Cruz). It’s too bad the Academy overlooked Taylour Paige’s performance as a part-time stripper in Zola. 

Along with the wild based-on-a-true-story road trip movie being entertaining, it also highlights the very real threats that Zola got mixed into. In Zola, the stripper becomes wrapped into the world of sex work and other dangerous activities she did not want to be part of, and it's made more real through Paige's performance. 

Ruth Negga (Passing) 

Rebecca Hall’s Passing adapts a classic ‘20s novel about the topic of “racial passing” in 1920s Harlem through the narrative of two old friends Clare and Irene, played by Ruth Negga and Tessa Thompson. Both actresses deserved more recognition for their work on this film, not only at the Oscars but during award season in general. Ruth Negga plays Clare Bellew, a Black woman who lives as a white passing woman during the era, with a white husband and all. 

Things change for Clare when she spots her childhood friend Irene passing for white at a club and they strike up a conversation. Negga’s performance is very unique in that there’s a restraint about the character, who seems to be very much putting on a mask through her demeanor to fit into being white passing. The audience watches as she lets loose a bit with Irene’s social circles. Overall, Negga represents a huge part of history and continued uncomfortableness to be in one’s skin, especially as a light-skinned Black woman. 

Tessa Thompson (Passing) 

The second performance in Passing that the Oscars overlooked was with Tessa Thompson. Whereas Ruth Negga plays a woman in passing, Thompson’s role as Irene is more reserved and quieter, but just as powerful. Irene sometimes lives in passing, but typically lives out a life as a Black woman. She’s a more passive character than Clare, but both women’s arcs and dynamics drive the powerful story that is Passing.

Jennifer Hudson (Respect)

The final pick here is the most surprising snub because everything about it seems to scream Oscar nomination. Jennifer Hudson has long been attached to playing Aretha Franklin in a biopic. Before the Queen of Soul died in 2018, she picked Hudson to play her and all these years later it came together with Respect. The actress and singer beautifully transforms into Aretha in this film that takes her from being a shy preacher’s daughter to a powerhouse. 

Experts fully predicted Hudson to be nominated for her second Oscar with Respect, and yet she was snubbed this year from the Best Actress category. It’s especially shocking because most performance nominees award actors portraying well-known people. 

Despite these performances not getting a voice in this year’s Academy Awards, you can tune into the Oscars when they air on ABC on Sunday, March 27. 

When it comes to relationships, these celebrity couples met on the sets of some of their most famous movies. From romantic films such as The Notebook to action movies like Daredevil, through the power of film, many of these couples were brought together. Here are 25 couples who met on the set of a movie but ended up dating in real life. 

Ryan Gosling And Rachel McAdams (The Notebook)

While you may know The Notebook as one of the best romance films out there, the two leading stars actually met on the set of the film, Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams. In an interview with GQ in 2007, Gosling confirmed he was thankful for the movie, as he met her through it despite the fact that their relationship ended.

While they did eventually break up in 2007, no one can quite forget this romance, both on and off screen.  

Emma Stone And Andrew Garfield (The Amazing Spider-Man Series)

When Andrew Garfield was Spider-Man in The Amazing Spider-Man series, he and his on-screen Gwen Stacy, played by Emma Stone, ended up dating for four years after meeting on the set of the first movie. While they split back in 2015, Garfield recently said that he’s still her biggest fan during an interview with Vanity Fair’s “Little Gold Men” podcast:

Angelina Jolie And Brad Pitt (Mr. And Mrs. Smith) 

On the set of the spy-movie, Mr. and Mrs. Smith (which is getting a reboot), Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt met. In an interview with Vogue (via People) in 2006, Jolie confirmed that they developed feelings for each other while filming, but didn’t start thinking of getting together instantly. 

Jolie and Pitt married in 2014, but later filed for divorce.  

Robert Pattinson And Kristen Stewart (The Twilight Series)

The Twilight series was a huge hit for Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, who played Edward and Bella in the adaptation of the popular vampire series, and they began dating after the first Twilight film released in 2008, according to an interview Stewart did with The New Yorker. They did eventually break up. 

Freida Pinto And Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire)

The 2011 Academy Award-winning film, Slumdog Millionaire, brought together its two stars, Freida Pinto and Dev Patel, after they starred in the film together. In an interview with The Guardian in 2015, Patel talked about his past relationship with Pinto, and how close they were during their time together. 

The pair split in 2014. 

Michelle Williams And Heath Ledger (Brokeback Mountain)

While filming Brokeback Mountain, co-stars Michelle Williams and Heath Ledger starred as husband and wife, and that love ended up coming off screen when the two began to date. In an interview with GQ in 2012, Williams talked about meeting Ledger for the first time, and how she felt she was always meant to meet him.

The two had a child together, but later separated.

Blake Lively And Ryan Reynolds (The Green Lantern)

These two are couples goals. Ever since Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively met on the set of The Green Lantern in 2010, these two have been inseparable and eventually ended up getting married. In an interview with Harper's Bazaar in 2021, Reynolds admits they were seeing different people at the time, but their friendship slowly turned into a relationship. 

They’ve been married for several years now, and have four children. 

Eva Mendes And Ryan Gosling (The Place Beyond The Pines)

In The Place Beyond the Pines, the stars of the film, Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling ended up getting together. Rumors of them being together popped up originally when they were spotted going on a date to Disneyland (via Us Weekly) in 2011, and now more than a decade later, they’re still together and have two daughters. 

Gosling, in an interview with Harper's Bazaar in 2016, gushed about his family. 

Elizabeth Taylor And Richard Burton (Cleopatra)

Famed legendary actors Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton had a whirlwind romance after filming Cleopatra, which released in 1963. Their love was highly publicized and even turned into a limited series, called Liz & Dick. It spanned thirteen years, eleven films together, as well as two marriages and two divorces, according to Vogue. 

Natalie Portman And Benjamin Millepied (Black Swan)

While filming her Academy Award-winning movie, Black Swan, Natalie Portman met Benjamin Millepied, who is a famous choreographer and co-starred with her. Two began dating and married not that long after in 2012. 

In an interview with People, Natalie gushed about her husband and how much she loved working with him again on a new film, called Vox Lux in 2018.

Matthew Broderick And Jennifer Grey (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off)

While they may have played siblings in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Matthew Broderick and Jennifer Grey were actually entangled in a relationship during their time on set. Jennifer Grey spoke about her relationship with the actor in her memoir, Out of the Corner, and how it was hard to keep it a secret from everyone else. 

Once filming ended, according to the memoir, they separated temporarily before getting back together, and dated in 1988. They were also briefly engaged but called it off not that long after. 

Johnny Depp And Winona Ryder (Edward Scissorhands)

While they originally met in the lobby of a New York theater in 1989, according to Rolling Stone (via Cheat Sheet), Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder’s relationship only grew more after co-starring in Edward Scissorhands in 1990, so much so that Depp proposed to Ryder only five months into dating. 

However, in an interview with the Los Angeles Times in 1993, Depp confirmed they had split up due to the privacy the media wouldn’t let them have. 

Claire Danes And Hugh Dancy (Evening)

Both Claire Danes and Hugh Dancy met on the set of Evening, according to an interview Dancy did with London Evening Standard in 2013, saying that marriage to the star, as well as fatherhood, is treating him “very well.”

Goldie Hawn And Kurt Russell (The One And Only, Genuine, Original Family Band)

This long-lasting partnership started way back when in 1966. Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell originally met on the set of The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band, but it wasn’t until Swing Shift in 1984 that they began dating. In an interview with People, Hawn admits that the two don’t see a point in marriage.  

The pair have been together for 40 years, and recently starred in The Christmas Chronicles 2 together in 2020.  

Taylor Swift And Taylor Lautner (Valentine’s Day)

The ultimate Taylor-ship, actor Taylor Lautner and singer Taylor Swift worked together on the romantic comedy Valentine's Day and were seen out together at sports games (via People). The two reportedly dated for a couple of months before breaking up in December of the same year. 

Channing Tatum And Jenna Dewan (Step Up)

One of Channing Tatum’s best movies led to him meeting Jenna Dewan, his co-star and later wife on the set of Step-Up, as confirmed by an interview Tatum did with Elle in 2013. Tatum admitted that he almost didn’t ask Dewan out because he had just gotten out of a relationship. 

While they share a daughter, the two divorced in 2019.  

Daniel Craig And Rachel Weisz (Dream House)

While the two had actually first met at university together, both Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz were brought back together while filming Dream House. Weisz spoke with The Evening Standard in 2018 on her relationship, and how she never thought she would get married, until she started dating Craig. 

Jennifer Lopez And Ben Affleck (Gigli) 

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are back together, but their first run at a relationship was while filming Gigli, where the two became close friends, and later began to date after Lopez divorced from Chris Judd in 2003.

Vanessa Hudgens And Zac Efron (High School Musical Series)

The High School Musical series was a huge hit for the Disney Channel, and onscreen love interests, Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens, turned that love into a long relationship offscreen, according to Hudgens during an interview on The Hollywood Reporter’s “Awards Chatter” podcast (via People) in 2019.

The two were together for five years before breaking up. 

Jennifer Garner And Ben Affleck (Daredevil)

Both Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck first met while filming Pearl Harbor, but started to date after being co-stars in Daredevil, according to an interview with Playboy Magazine in 2017, saying that this set was where they fell in love.

They later married in 2005 and then divorced in 2018. 

Liam Hemsworth And Miley Cyrus (The Last Song)

While filming The Last Song together, Liam Hemsworth and Miley Cyrus became very close, according to Seventeen (via MTV News) where Cyrus said he was her “best friend.” Their relationship was later confirmed after they walked the red carpet together. They were together for years, marrying, before divorcing in 2020. 

Tom Cruise And Nicole Kidman (Days Of Thunder)

Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman met at her audition for Days of Thunder, according to an interview she did with Harper’s Bazaar in 2021. The two stars co-starred, fell in love, married in 1990, and then divorced in 2001. 

Zendaya And Tom Holland (Spider-Man Series)

Tom Holland and Zendaya met while filming Spider-Man: Homecoming together, but it wasn’t until closer to the release of Spider-Man: No Way Home in 2021 that speculation about a romantic relationship between the two seemed to be confirmed. 

Since then, the two have been very public about their relationship, especially when Tom Holland shared a post on Instagram on her birthday, saying that Zendaya was “his MJ.”

Sarah Michelle Gellar And Freddie Prinze Jr. (I Know What You Did Last Summer)

Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr. met originally on the set of I Know What You Did Last Summer, but didn’t begin to date until 2000, according to an interview Gellar did with People in 2002, saying they weren’t even originally supposed to go on a date - turned into one. 

They have been together for twenty years and have two children. 

Penelope Cruz And Javier Bardem (Jamón Jamón)

The two actually met for the first time as co-stars while filming Jamón Jamón, they wouldn’t get together until they reunited again filming Vicky Cristina Barcelona, a Woody Allen film, according to an interview Javier Bardem did with GQ in 2017, and started dating after filming was done. 

The two have been married since 2010, and have two children. 

There are so many celebrity couples out there - some that have stood the test of time and others that have not. And I’m sure over time, only more and more will start to pop up with even crazier romances. 

In every generation, there is a TV show that authentically defines its youthful inhabitants, and Skins was that series for the later 2000s, early 2010s - especially in the United Kingdom. Created by the father-son duo of Bryan Elsey and Jamie Brittain, the refreshingly honest and witty series following a group of British teens (some played by a few future A-listers, including Kaya Scodelario and Nicholas Hoult) was met with such acclaim that it inspired a remake that aired in the U.S. on MTV in 2011. 

However, fans and critics alike definitely prefer the original Skins cast, many of whom have gone on to some great achievements on the big and small screen. The following is a rundown of what they have been up to since, starting with one of the series’ most iconic leading characters.

Kaya Scodelario (Effy Stonem)

Kaya Scodelario had never acted before playing the troubled Effy Stonem on Skins. The show quickly propelled her to stardom before she appeared in big franchises like the Maze Runner movies or Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales from 2017. 

After her acclaimed return to television on Netflix’s short-lived sports drama Spinning Out in 2020, the Crawl star continued to prove herself as a scream queen by leading the Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City cast the following year. In 2022, Scodelario will share screen with Pierce Brosnan and her real-life husband, Benjamin Walker, in The King’s Daughter, and her upcoming drama Don’t Make Me Go is now in post-production.

Nicholas Hoult (Tony Stonem)

Playing Effy’s selfish and manipulative older brother, Tony, is Nicholas Hoult. He had previously earned attention as the titular boy in 2002’s About a Boy and would also go on to star in some big franchises - most notably the X-Men movies as a young Beast, and 2015’s Mad Max: Fury Road as the scene-stealing War Boy, Nux. 

In 2021, he went bad for Taylor Sheridan’s Those Who Wish Me Dead and reprised his role as 18th-Century Russia’s despicable ruler in The Great cast for its second season on Hulu. Hoult has two horror-comedy movies in the works, called The Menu (also starring Anya Taylor-Joy) and Renfield (also starring Nicolas Cage as Dracula), as well as a sci-fi comedy called Alpha Gang. 

April Pearson (Michelle Richardson)

Playing Tony’s girlfriend, Michelle, is April Pearson, who made her feature film debut in 2009’s Tormented. The film was actually described as a slasher for Skins fans by a few outlets (including Total Film) and even starred a fellow Skins cast member we will mention soon. 

Horror movies would actually become a recurrence in Pearson’s career, such as the somewhat more comedic thriller, Sideshow, most recently. After the January 2022 release of her next film, The Kindred, she will appear in the latest of her several collaborations with versatile British filmmaker Jamie Patterson with the crime drama God’s Petting You, which is now in post-production.

Mike Bailey (Sid Jenkins)

Playing Sid (Tony’s hapless best friend who also has a crush on Michelle), we have Mike Bailey, who made his debut in the Skins cast. This actually led to a relatively short-lived acting career. 

After starring on the medieval miniseries 1066: The Battle for Middle Earth and the 2013 teen dramedy, We Are the Freaks, he would return to acting four years later for the more mature, romantic, and unique TV dramedy, Hers and History, opposite Lindsay Shaw of Nickelodeon’s Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide fame. As of 2020, Bailey works as a school teacher, which The Sun discovered through a TikTok posted by one of his students.

Hannah Murray (Cassie Ainsworth)

Sid would eventually discover his true feelings for Michelle’s best friend, Cassie. The emotionally vulnerable character was played on Skins by Hannah Murray in her acting debut, years before she joined the Game of Thrones cast as Gilly. 

She is also well-known on the big screen for her award-winning performance in Kathryn Bigelow’s riveting historical drama, Detroit, from 2017 and as the lead of the 2018 Manson Family drama Charlie Says. In 2020, Murray appeared on the Quibi original horror series The Expecting and lent her voice to the multi-platform video game, Shady Part of Me.

Joe Dempsie (Chris Miles)

Chris, a party animal with a crush on his college psychology teacher, is played on Skins by Joe Dempsie. The actor would also find fame on Game of Thrones as Gendry Baratheon, and he starred on Fox’s short-lived espionage series, Deep State, from 2018 to 2019. 

Also in 2019, he reprised his role as the voice of Arbert in the Final Fantasy games, and starred on the miniseries Adult Material (which American audiences can stream on HBO Max) the next year. Following his role on Season 2 of the animated sci-fi anthology series Love, Death & Robots in 2021, Dempsie will star on another Netflix TV show called Pieces of Her, opposite Toni Collette, in 2022.

Larissa Wilson (Jal Fazer)

Chris would later start a relationship with Jal - played by Larissa Wilson. The actress would make her feature film debut alongside her onscreen best friend on Skins, April Pearson, in Tormented in 2009. 

She later had a recurring role on the British fantasy series The Sparticle Mystery in 2011, played a shopper at the supermarket setting of the UK comedy Trollied for three episodes the following year, and appeared on Season 2 of the crime procedural Suspects in 2014. In 2020, she released her directorial debut - a short film called Shift.

Dev Patel (Anwar Kharral)

Anwar, a teen with a “pick-and-choose” approach to his Islamic faith, is played by Dev Patel. He would follow his acting debut on Skins in a big way as the lead of Slumdog Millionaire, which won Best Picture at the 2009 Academy Awards. 

After receiving his own first Oscar nomination for 2017’s Lion, the actor continued to score lead roles in more acclaimed dramas, such as 2020’s The Personal History of David Copperfield as the title character, and the hero of the fantasy epic The Green Knight the following year. Also in 2021, Patel launched his own production company, Minor Realm, which will produce his upcoming feature-length directorial debut, Monkey Man, which is slated to premiere on Netflix in 2022.

Mitch Hewer (Maxxie Oliver)

As Anwar’s openly gay best friend, Maxxie, we have Mitch Hewer. He would follow his acting debut on Skins with another teen drama called Britannia High - which sounds kind of the British pre-cursor to Nickelodeon’s Victorious, considering its titular performing arts school setting. 

After appearing in the 2014 rom-com Behaving Badly opposite Only Murders in the Building cast member Selena Gomez, and the found footage thriller Nightlight in 2015, he landed a recurring role on he long-running UK medical drama Casualty in 2017. In April 2019, Hewer explained in an Instagram post that his absence from the spotlight in more recent years was due to his own struggles with anxiety and depression.

Daniel Kaluuya (Posh Kenneth)

As secondary Skins character Posh Kenneth, we have Daniel Kaluuya. The actor actually wrote a few episodes of the series, as well, before gaining further notoriety in the UK as the lead of one of the best Black Mirror episodes in Season 1, among things. 

These days, he is one of world’s most celebrated actors, thanks to films like 2015’s Sicario, the powerful romantic tragedy Queen & Slim from 2019, and the riveting historical drama Judas and the Black Messiah, for which he won a Best Actor Oscar. Next, Kaluuya will reunite with his Get Out director, Jordan Peele, for 2022’s Nope, is currently reprising his role as W’Kabi in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and is set to star in the sci-fi adventure The Upper World, which he is also producing.

Jack O’Connell (James Cook)

Another party animal in the Skins cast is Cook - played by Jack O’Connell. He was previously known in the UK for his award-winning debut feature This is England in 2006, and the 2008 thriller Eden Lake, which also stars Michael Fassbender and Yellowstone cast member Kelly Reilly. 

A year after Skins ended in 2013, he starred in 300: Rise of an Empire and led Angelina Jolie’s Unbroken before appearing opposite George Clooney and Julia Roberts in the 2016 thriller Money Monster. Following his role alongside Colin Farrell in the historical miniseries The North Water, O’Connell will appear in another World War II-era project (the Stephen Knight-penned miniseries SAS: Rogue Heroes), and is currently filming the 2022 romance Lady Chatterley’s Lover.

Lily Loveless (Naomi Campbell)

Cook’s good friend Naomi is played by Lily Loveless, who has a few credits in common with fellow Skins cast veterans. She starred opposite Kathryn Prescott in the British horror series Bedlam, and Daniel Kaluuya on another British horror series, The Fades. 

Since Skins ended, she would appear on the UK cop drama DCI Banks, star in the 2014 teen lesbian romance Fear of Water, and land a recurring role on the hit drama The Royals. In 2020, she starred in the Netflix miniseries The Stranger (based on the book by Harlan Coben), and her most recent acting credit as of late is the 2021 short fantasy film, The Cost of Living.

It is truly inspirational to see what the young cast of one of the most inspirational teen dramas on television has grown up to become. I actually would not mind seeing a reunion with the full cast now.  

In the summer of 2021, David Lowery took audiences into the wild, fantastical, and downright weird world of The Green Knight, the director’s unique spin on the Arthurian legend, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, and what an experience it was. 

The movie, which stars Dev Patel as the young and unproven Gawain, who becomes trapped in a deadly game with the mysterious knight, is one of the most fascinating releases of the year, and stories behind the making of the transfixing A24 cinematic spectacle are just as, if not more, interesting. Below, we will break down some of the more impressive behind the scenes facts about The Green Knight and how its biggest moments came to be.

David Lowery Decided To Adapt The Green Knight, Wrote The Script, And Started Shooting All Within A Span Of 11 Months

With the scope of the story and level of detail seen throughout The Green Knight, you would assume that it was a project long in the works, and one that went through an extensive pre-production period, but that couldn’t be any farther from the truth. 

In a July 2021 interview with IndieWire, director David Lowery revealed that while he had read Sir Gawain and the Green Knight earlier in life, he didn’t become obsessed with the idea of making an adaptation of his own until 11 months before cameras started rolling. At one point in this process, Lowery considered shooting in Texas instead of across the pond, but as he re-read the poem once more, he knew he had to get as close to original location as possible.

When Planning Out The Green Knight Character, David Lowery Wanted Him To Sound Like A Weed Being Uprooted With Each Movement

One thing David Lowery knew he and his crew had to get right with The Green Knight was the sound design of the titular knight, especially since the character is supposed to be of the earth and not mankind. When sitting down with CinemaBlend’s ReelBlend podcast, Lowery explained that he wanted Ralph Ineson’s character to sound like he was uprooting himself from the ground with each step, and so he went to sound designer Johnny Marshall and asked him to make the Green Knight sound like roots being pulled from the ground.

Ralph Ineson Wore Wooden Contacts To Give The Green Knight An Earthy Look

When he was first planning out The Green Knight, David Lowery considered using puppets or CGI to bring the mysterious knight to life, but eventually decided to cast Ralph Ineson to take on the role. 

In the Boldest of Blood and Wildest of Heart: Making of The Green Knight featurette that accompanied the movie’s home release, it was revealed that Ineson would undergo hours of makeup and prosthetic applications each day during shooting, but that’s not even the craziest part. To make the character look as if he was made from the Earth, Ineson wore wooden contact lenses. And, somehow, Ineson was able to have a spark in his eye when he toys with Gawain during their second and final confrontation.

David Lowery Changed A Core Character From The Original Poem So He Could Contribute To The Talking Fox Lexicon

Even though The Green Knight is a fairly faithful adaptation of the source material, there were several changes made to the story during the planning process. One of those is the inclusion of the talking fox that accompanies Gawain on his journey to the Green Chapel. 

In the Boldest of Blood and Wildest of Heart: Making of The Green Knight featurette, David Lowery revealed that the fox was partially added in as a replacement for the servant character that accompanied the hero in the final leg of his quest, because he thought Gawain should complete the journey alone. Another reason was the fact that Lowery wanted to contribute to the talking fox lexicon, taking inspiration from Wes Anderson’s The Fantastic Mr. Fox and Lars Von Trier’s Antichrist.

Dev Patel Convinced David Lowery To Have Gawain Behead The Green Knight With King Arthur’s Excalibur

In the original story, Sir Gawain decapitates the Green Knight with the knight’s own axe, but David Lowery changed it in the script so that the hero would use King Arthur’s legendary sword Excalibur to do the deed. During a conversation with Variety, Lowery admitted that he went back and forth with the decision, and at one point was close to going back to using the axe. However, Dev Patel stepped in:

David Lowery went on to say he was instantly sold and made note of Dev Patel’s investment and conviction in the role.

David Lowery And His Production Team Used Matte Paintings To Fill In Certain Shots

Not only was David Lowery inspired by the original text when working on The Green Knight, he also drew inspiration from classic movie making techniques, specifically matte painting. In a Vanity Fair scene breakdown, Lowery revealed that during the Green Knight’s arrival at the Christmas feast, he and his production team used matte paintings to extend the shot beyond what they are able to construct on set. This also included painting in extras, as they didn’t have a lot of actors on set at any given time, and this technique allowed the team to stretch them out.

The Camera Obscura Scene With Gawain Was Pulled Off By Projecting An Image Of Dev Patel Onto A Wall

One of the more fascinating scenes in The Green Knight is the one where the Lady (Alicia Vikander) uses a camera obscura to make a ghostly portrait of Gawain. This scene is even more remarkable when you learn that the production team didn’t use CGI to make the upside down image of Dev Patel’s character appear on the screen, but instead a rather practical technique. 

In the Boldest of Blood and Wildest of Heart: Making of The Green Knight featurette, it is revealed that someone took a portrait of Patel and then projected the image through a hole in the door so that it would shine on the wall and produce the desired effect.

The Christmas Feast Scene Was Filmed Last Because It Took The Entirety Of The Production To Construct The Set

The scenes in King Arthur’s grand hall in the beginning of The Green Knight were actually the last to be filmed, as it took nearly the entire length of production for the set to be built. In the making of featurette, David Lowery and set designer Jade Healy revealed that the full set, which featured the Round Table, high ceilings, stone floors, and faux stone walls, wasn’t actually completed until the day they began shooting the Christmas feast.

Joel Edgerton Watched Clips Of Famous British Actors Drunk On Talk Shows To Prepare For His Role In The Green Knight

Joel Edgerton’s mysterious and strangely affectionate The Lord is one of the most peculiar characters in all of The Green Knight, and the actor’s inspiration for his portrayal makes his performance all the more captivating. When speaking with CinemaBlend ahead of the film’s release, Edgerton admitted he had quite a way of coming up with his preparations:

So, maybe that explains The Lord and why you can never really tell where he stands on things through his brief time in The Green Knight.

The Green Knight Was A Vegan Production And Included Leather Made From Fungus And Tree Bark

There are some impressive costumes featured throughout The Green Knight from the titular knight himself to Gawain’s various robes. These become even more impressive when you learn that every article of clothing seen in the movie was vegan. In the featurette, it is revealed that not only was faux leather used throughout the production, but the costume designers also used leathers made from fungus, and barkcloth, which, as the name suggests, is made from tree bark. 

The Green Chapel At The End Of The Green Knight Was Shot As-Is And Didn’t Need To Be Dressed Up For Shooting

The final confrontation between Gawain and the Green Knight at the end of the movie takes place in the Green Chapel, a building that is slowly being destroyed and consumed by the natural world around it. In the Practitioners of Magic: Visual Effects featurette accompanying the home release of The Green Knight, it is revealed that the scene was filmed in an old church on the side of the road in rural Ireland and that the production team didn’t have to have to make any changes before shooting it as-is. It is also revealed that the location scout initially didn’t want to film the scene there.

David Lowery Made The Green Knight Slower And ‘Weirder’ During The Year-Long COVID-19 Delay

Before the COVID-19 pandemic came and changed practically everything about the world, David Lowery was preparing to release The Green Knight at SXSW in Austin, Texas, in March 2020. When the festival (and countless others like it) was cancelled, so was the premiere, and Lowery was left with more than a year to tinker with what was at one time a finished product. 

When sitting down with CinemaBlend’s ReelBlend podcast, Lowery admitted that the one-year delay actually helped make the movie better, as it gave him an opportunity to make a slower and weirder cut. And, while he admitted that the movie was never going to be a fast-paced action adventure, Lowery was able to extend shots and allow the movie to breathe more.

Well, hopefully this all makes you want to go back and watch The Green Knight for the second, third, or even tenth time. But, before you do that, check out what's left of CinemaBlend's schedule of the 2021 new movie releases.

SPOILERS are ahead for The Green Knight. Meet us back here to crack open the details once you’ve seen A24’s latest.

You too may have thought The Green Knight might defy A24’s wild-ending reputation for a more straightforward adaptation of an Arthurian legend this time, yet here we are. Now that we’ve witnessed the long and treacherous journey with Dev Patel’s Sir Gawain, it’s time to pick ourselves up, screw our heads back on top of our shoulders and ponder The Green Knight ending.

David Lowery’s unique take on the 14th century poem has Dev Patel’s Sir Gawain going on a dark journey to meet The Green Knight one year after accepting a challenge in front of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, that becomes deadly by Gawain’s swift head-slicing. Let’s talk through what goes down and what that ambiguous ending could mean.

What Happens At The End Of The Green Knight

The Green Knight follows Sir Gawain (Dev Patel) on a quest to return the challenge set by The Green Knight one year prior. As the challenge states, the blow that a knight lands on the tree-like knight will need to be returned in his Green Chapel and will earn its challenger his magical green axe. However, since Sir Gawain decides to decapitate the Green Knight, the returned blow means his own beheading.

After an exhausting journey, Gawain comes across a Lord (Joel Edgerton), who offers to house him until his day comes on Christmas morning. It’s there where he rests, also in the company of his Lady (Alicia Vikander) and a blindfolded old woman. In his quarters, the Lady presents Gawain with a green girdle between some seduction. She claims she made it, yet it’s the same girdle made by his mother he lost earlier in the film. Apparently, as long as he wears the girdle no harm can come of him. And he wears it around his waist as he enters the Green Knight’s chapel, not before receiving a random kiss goodbye by the Lord.

When he enters the chapel, the Green Knight wants to complete the challenge by beheading Sir Gawain, but he flinches before the axe and does not want to die. Gawain decides to flee the challenge and return home to Camelot. Gawain becomes king, and his lover back home Essel (also Alicia Vikander) has his child but he abandons her to marry a noblewoman. The ending goes forward in time, seeing Gawain’s adult son dying in his arms during battle before his own family and kingdom against him, Gawain is beheaded as an old man alone in his castle.

But wait… then we learn this future was only a dream. We return to Gawain’s place below The Green Knight at the Green Chapel. Instead of running, Gawain takes off the green girdle and accepts his fate and The Green Knight then chops his head off.

What Was The Green Knight’s Game?

So, Sir Gawain travels to the ends of the Earth and it leads to his death? That’s it? The pointlessness of his hero's errand kind of is the point though isn’t it? Dev Patel’s character wanted to prove he had a story to tell on the Knight’s round table, but he let his sword lead his actions instead of his brain when he decapitates The Green Knight at the beginning of the film. The challenge was not to offer the toughest blow, it was to land a single blow (anywhere!!) on the Green Knight to which he’d need to return a year later. Sir Gawain made the challenge tougher on himself and it ends in his own death.

The other layer to The Green Knight’s game is it seems to have been all orchestrated by his mother Morgan le Faye (played by Sarita Choudhury). As the Knight approaches the Round Table she can be seen crafting the spell with her associates in another location. Truthfully, the entire “game” seems to be one Morgan le Fay testing her son to become a man of honor or one of disgrace.

What Did The Original Arthurian Legend Mean?

To take Morgan le Fay's fool's errand for her son a step further, we can turn to the original Arthurian legend from the 14th century the movie is based on. In the text, Morgan le Faye straight up explains that it was her the whole time behind Sir Gawain’s journey at the very end of the story. In The Green Knight, it is presented in a more ambiguous manner.

In Arthurian tales, King Arthur and Morgan le Fay are always in opposition and creating The Green Knight gives the enchantress a way to commentate on the issues with the King’s men seen as “honorable”. The original story is one of tension between the Christian organization of the knighthood and the majestic world Morgan le Faye belongs to. And I believe each of the mystical figures Sir Gawain comes in contact with is Morgan le Faye further testing her son. The headless woman, the fox, the Lady and the Lord, they are all pawns that belong to the mysticism side of the world that are warning Sir Gawain against accepting the fate of an “honorable” knight.

The Green Knight Deromanticizes The Hero’s Journey

Outside of what The Green Knight means in the context of Arthurian Legend is its broader meaning to us as an audience as we see the narrative unfold. The Green Knight reads as quite an existentialist story about the inevitability of death and it being up to each of us to decide how we’d like to be when the axe metaphorically comes for us. We see when Sir Gawain goes after honor he ends up with a longer life full of material happiness in terms of having a wife, a crown on his head and an empire to call his own. But, it’s not a good life for him. Gawain decides the better way to go is to truly complete the challenge and fulfill the honor within himself.

At the same time, writer/director David Lowery is taking the idea of the hero’s journey and subverting it in a way that echoes the themes of The Green Knight. When we see often Arthurian legends and Knights going on epic quests depicted on film, it’s typically seen as exciting and fun. Sir Gawain’s is not. The whole movie is exhausting! The Green Knight is deromanticizing the idea of the hero’s journey because chasing after honor for others leads to the unhappy life we see in his dream.

How The Writer/Director Explains The Green Knight Ending

To wrap things up, let’s turn to David Lowery’s own reading of The Green Knight ending. When speaking to USA Today, the writer/director shared his intentions with the conclusion:

So the truly aspiring hero’s journey is a man after his own self worth all along. What did you think about The Green Knight ending? Vote in our poll below.

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A24's The Green Knight has been one of the biggest surprise hits of the summer. The medieval fantasy starring Dev Patel has captured audiences with its dark and beautiful Arturian tale that will blow your mind, as well as boasts a great lead performance from the lead actor. After the film’s first screening, fans were immediately drawn to Patel and couldn’t stop thirsting for the actor. Now that the film is finally available to see, it’s only intensified. Even one of Patel’s The Green Knight co-stars gets the fans thirsting over the actor.

The Green Knight is a showcase for Dev Patel, who plays Gawain, the young man who goes on a journey of self-discovery to find the movie's title character. Ralph Ineson, who plays The Green Knight, understands why fans of the film can’t get enough of Patel, and he has high praise for his co-star. Ineson discussed his experience working with Patel and how he feels about his performance, telling Polygon:

Ralph Ineson praised Dev Patel for one of the best performances he has witnessed while working with someone. Patel’s Gawain is a complex character; a feckless young man who isn’t a knight and has something to prove, but is also very vulnerable and afraid of the consequences of his actions and his mortality. He plays someone who matures through this journey and learns hard lessons about himself in the process. Ineson got to see Patel work up close and personal and was clearly struck by his performance.

Ralph Ineson went on to say Dev Patel is also helped by the fact that he’s so handsome. Ineson is definitely a member of the Patel hive and understands fans' thirst towards Gawain. The Green Knight is an excellent showcase for Dev Patel and has fans excited for what’s next for the actor.

The Green Knight is based on a 14th-century poem and Arthurian legend, and David Lowery recently revealed the five films that inspired his medieval fantasy. The film also stars Alicia Vikander (Tomb Raider), Sean Harris (Mission: Impossible - Fallout), and Erin Kellyman ( The Falcon and the Winter Soldier). Joel Edgerton gives an inspired performance in The Green Knight and says clips of drunk actors inspired his performance.

The Green Knight has everyone wanting more Dev Patel, so look through our list of the best Dev Patel movies and TV shows and where to stream them to quench your thirst. Patel delivered a great performance in one of the summer's most critically acclaimed movies, and I cant wait to see more of him.

In a summer of blockbuster films based on comic book properties like Black Widow and The Suicide Squad, or horror stories like The Forever Purge and A Quiet Place: Part II, A24 is doing what it does best and subverting what we’ve come to expect at the movie theaters. Following hits like Uncut Gems and Midsommar, the studio’s latest offering is David Lowery’s The Green Knight, adapted from 14th-century Arthurian legend. So how did moviegoers like the epic starring Dev Patel?

The Green Knight really impressed most critics, including CinemaBlend’s own Eric Eisenberg, who gave the movie 4.5 out of 5 in his review and named it one of the “best of 2021.” It also opened No. 2 at last weekend’s box office behind Disney’s Jungle Cruise. Now let’s get to what fans are saying about the A24 release.

The Green Knight Is A 2021 Fan Favorite

Overall, it seems the public is mixed on The Green Knight. It’s the kind of movie you either really vibe with or don’t like at all. On social media, a ton of fans represented the positive end of what the Arthurian legend has to offer, with this Twitter use sharing this:

For context, Little Women came out in late 2019, so this is high praise for the David Lowery film! The fan also shared he is “levitating with joy” about his viewing of The Green Knight. To echo the high praise, another viewer of the film shared his love for the summer release with more rounds of applause:

The Green Knight was also delayed a year by A24 after its initial 2020 release was moved due to the pandemic. But because it debuted in theaters only, those who went out to see it were really keen on the theatrical experience as well. As another fan pointed out, it was their first trip out to a movie since lockdown, and it was worth the price of admission for them.

The A24 movie clearly has a lot of happy fans, but there’s a variety of experiences that were told via social media reactions as well.

So Many People We Confused And Conflicted About It

Then there were the fans who were just trying to figure out what they were watching. The Green Knight is quite the cerebral experience, and everything you see on screen doesn’t matter as much as the themes they represent. It’s not for someone who just wants to sit back and relax without thinking deeply. One Twitter user especially encapsulated the experience watching the A24 film:

One viewer shared an unhinged meme featuring one of the characters from Madagascar to bring across her thoughts on The Green Knight, and the movie apparently had her “losing her mind,” later also adding that the movie made her “feral.”

It’s definitely an interesting movie to check out with a crowd of people because of the many reactions it spawns from viewers. Another fan shared her eavesdropping on other moviegoers, who had a completely different opinion from her seat-mates:

Not unlike the recent horror release Old, The Green Knight isn’t necessarily a movie you can trust another person to assure you that you’ll have the same experience. It’s a wild card. Some people love that kind of moviegoing affair, but it certainly will turn off others too.

The Dev Patel Of It All Was A Hot Sell

The Green Knight is a deep movie, but going out to see it was all about the eye candy for a lot of moviegoers in its first week in terms of its lead actor. As one viewer shared, they are incredibly content to stare at Dev Patel for the entirety of the film:

A lot of people are into Dev Patel. Before the movie even hit theaters, early viewers raved over Dev Patel in particular, with one early viewer sharing that “Dev Patel can cut off my head any time he likes.” A sect of fans have named the season “Dev Patel Summer” in honor of the actor looking absolutely beautiful in his flowing black hair and knight armor:

Even people who didn’t like the movie could enjoy the Dev Patel of it all. The 31-year-old British actor made famous by his 2008 performance in Slumdog Millionaire has become a bit of an icon thanks to The Green Knight.

And there’s a lot of scenes with Dev Patel in The Green Knight. Just about all of them actually. So if you’re a fellow Patel fan, this is the medieval movie for you.

There Are A Lot Of Thoughts About The Green Knight Ending

To wrap up (without spoilers I promise), let’s talk about some of the reactions to the ending, because it’s a huge talking point when it comes to The Green Knight. The A24 movie's conclusion was a make-it-or-break-it scene for viewers of the film, as one Twitter user shared:

For some people, the ending just messed up the experience for them. It’s not your typical ending and it’s definitely controversial. Another person went on to criticize the ending, and A24 as a studio, for going out of its way to “confuse” people:

How you react to The Green Knight’s ending will have a lot to do with if the movie overall worked for you. It’s the point that had a lot of moviegoers giving up on it. At the same time, it’s the kind of ending that’s really fun to dissect with friends after watching it together or go down a Arthurian legend rabbit hole too. To each their own:

As a whole, there are a lot of opinions on The Green Knight. It’s definitely not universally loved or understood, but from a filmmaking standpoint, many can appreciate David Lowery’s vision, even if it seemed too ambitious for some. The Green Knight is playing in theaters now. It’s your turn: have you seen it and what did you think of the movie? Vote in our poll and keep track of what movies are coming next with CinemaBlend’s 2021 movie release guide.

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Since the early days of the 21st century, Dev Patel has become and remained one of the best living actors and one who is more than capable of handling himself in everything from comedies to thrillers to emotional dramas based on true stories. From television to film, Patel has dazzled audiences around the world with his charm, charisma, and outstanding acting chops.

Below is a rundown of the best Dev Patel movies and TV shows from throughout his career as well as everywhere you can rent and buy them digitally or physically and streaming. With a list that includes some great Wes Anderson movies and one of the best films of the 2000s, there’s a lot to unpack here.  

The Green Knight (2021)

David Lowery’s The Green Knight, an adaptation of the epic poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, was one of the most fascinating movies of 2021, as well as one that featured a tremendous performance by Dev Patel. The actor’s take on Gawain, the less-than-noble nephew of King Arthur who tests his courage in a journey to face the Green Knight, is impressive, to say the least.

From Gawain’s first interaction with Ralph Ineson’s legendary figure to his final confrontation at the Green Knight’s forest chapel for the ultimate test of bravery, Patel plays the role masterfully and provides one of the best retellings of an Arthurian legend to date. 

Stream The Green Knight on Prime Video.
Rent/Buy The Green Knight on Amazon.

The Wonderful World Of Henry Sugar (2023)

Why it took so long for Dev Patel to be featured in a Wes Anderson movie is anyone’s guess, but the actor and director made up for lost time with their 2023 Netflix movie, The Wonderful World of Henry Sugar. This 39-minute short film, which features a handful of Anderson’s frequent collaborators, as well as new additions to his roster, takes one of Roald Dahl’s more peculiar stories and transforms it into an experience like no other.

Though the short centers on Benedict Cumberbatch’s titular character and his quest to learn how to see without using his eyes to get an upper hand at gambling, it’s Patel’s portrayal of Dr. Chatterjee and John Winsont, particularly his cadence during various monologues, that steals the show. The confidence and speed of Patel’s delivery is something to behold and almost intoxicating. 

Stream The Wonderful World of Henry Sugar on Netflix.

Poison (2023)

In addition to appearing in The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, Dav Patel also had a meaningful role in Wes Anderson’s 2023 short film, Poison, again an adaptation of a Roald Dahl story. In this quirky and incredibly detailed short, Patel takes on the role of a man named Woods who attempts to save a companion named Harry (Benedict Cumberbatch), who claims to have been bitten by a poisonous snake.

Patel’s narration, and the way he works within the construct of a Wes Anderson production, carries the short film and again brings up the question as to why it took so long for these two to work together. It’s short, sweet, and brilliant.

Stream Poison on Netflix.

I Lost My Body (2019)

Jérémy Clapin’s 2019 animated film, I Lost My Body, follows a severed hand as it embarks upon a perilous journey to find and reunite with the rest of its body. That body, which belongs to a man named Naoufel, is voiced by Dev Patel in the English dub of this French production, another riveting and transfixing performance by the talented actor.

Though the film lost to Toy Story 4 in the Best Animated Feature category at the 92nd Academy Awards, it’s very much an imaginative and ambitious experience that is more than deserving of any praise it received. The voice performances, combined with the exceptional animation and moving story, make this a must-watch.

Stream I Lost My Body on Netflix.

Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

Danny Boyle’s 2008 Best Picture winner, Slumdog Millionaire tells the story of Jamal Malik (Dev Patel), a Mumbai teenager who finds himself on his country’s version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire. When accused of cheating on national television, Jamal begins to reflect on the decisions and life events that led up to this moment.

Winner of eight (out of ten) Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Slumdog Millionaire is anchored by Dev Patel’s star-making performance of a young man who finds himself in a position that defies explanation. And while Patel wasn’t nominated for an Oscar, he did receive a great deal of other accolades and praise for his performance.

Rent/Buy Slumdog Millionaire on Amazon.
Buy Slumdog Millionaire on Blu-ray on Amazon. 

Lion (2016)

Garth Davis’ 2016 biographical drama Lion sees Dev Patel take on the role of Saroo Brierley, who at 5 years old, got separated from his brother on a train that ended up taking him thousands of miles across India. Years after being adopted by John (David Wenham) and Sue Brierley (Nicole Kidman in one of her best movies), a fully-grown Saroo traces his steps through Google Earth and sets out to find his family after all this time.

At times heartbreaking and others inspirational, Lion is a movie that will have you on the edge of your seat with one hand on a box of tissues. In a movie that is filled with great actors like Nicole Kidman and Rooney Mara, Dev Patel is in a league of his own as a man determined to reconnect with his mother and brother. It’s easy to see why Patel was nominated for so many awards, including an Oscar, for his emotional performance.

Stream Lion on Pluto.
Stream Lion on Tubi.
Rent/Buy Lion on Amazon.
Buy Lion on Blu-ray on Amazon.

The Newsroom (2012-2014)

As the title implies, Aaron Sorkin’s HBO drama The Newsroom spends three seasons with the anchors, producers, and researchers of the fictional ACN 24-hour news channel and how its major players deal with some of the bigger moments of the early 21st Century.

Possibly one of the best collections of actors ever assembled for a show about a media outlet, The Newsroom cast is full of great actors from top to bottom. And while Jeff Daniels and Emily Mortimer receive the lion’s share of the praise, it’s Dev Patel’s Neal Sampat who steals the show. Often the moral center of the show’s major storylines, Neal consistently challenged the status quo and helped his employees open their eyes and hearts to new ideas and beliefs.

Stream The Newsroom on Max.
Buy The Newsroom on Amazon.
Buy The Newsroom on Blu-ray on Amazon.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011)

Directed by John Madden, the 2012 British comedy The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel follows a group of retirees played by Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, and Bill Nighy who find themselves questioning their decision to spend their golden years in India after their luxurious retirement facility is anything but luxurious or peaceful. Looking to make the most of the situation, the group enlists the services of Sonny Kapoor (Dev Patel) who finds himself in over his head like the rest of them.

If anything, Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is an unofficial test for Dev Patel as it sees him stand toe-to-toe with some of the most talented and prolific actors of all time, especially his scenes with Maggie Smith. While it touches on some serious issues, the movie has a joyful and vibrant tone that makes it the perfect movie to revisit time and time again.

Rent/Buy Best Marigold Hotel on Amazon.
Buy Best Marigold Hotel on Blu-ray on Amazon.

The Personal History Of David Copperfield (2020)

Based on one of Charles Dickens’ most beloved books and characters, Armando Iannucci’s The Personal History of David Copperfield follows the iconic literary figure on a series of exciting and fun adventures set in Victorian Era England.

Nominated for multiple awards, including Golden Globe consideration for Dev Patel’s portrayal of David Copperfield, the movie has a remarkably upbeat and optimistic tone, one that is honestly a breath of fresh air. It would be easy for an actor to get lost in the shuffle considering who’s on screen with them — Hugh Laurie, Tilda Swinton, Ben Whishaw — but here comes Patel with his youthful demeanor and scene-stealing charisma at every turn.

Stream The Personal History Of David Copperfield on Hulu.
Buy The Personal History Of David Copperfield on Amazon.
Buy The Personal History Of David Copperfield on Blu-ray on Amazon. 

Modern Love (2019)

Based on the New York Times column of the same name, the 2019 Amazon anthology series Modern Love features a collection of different stories of love, heartbreak, new beginnings, and the next chapter for various residents living and loving in New York City.

The episode titled “When Cupid Is a Prying Journalist” tells the story of Joshua (Dev Patel, who was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award), the founder of a dating app whose interview with a reporter by the name of Julie (Catherine Keener) quickly turns to his personal history with finding love. Modern Love is a must-watch for anyone looking for something to watch after going through the best movies on Amazon Prime.

Stream Modern Love on Amazon.

Hotel Mumbai (2018)

Anthony Maras’ 2018 action thriller Hotel Mumbai, which is based on the 2008 terrorist attacks that claimed the lives of 175 people and injured hundreds more, tells the story of the staff and guests at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel as the building is under siege by a group of armed combatants. What follows is a deadly, intense, and emotional fight for survival even in the face of certain death.

Dev Patel’s portrayal of a man who can remain calm in a situation as dire as a terrorist attack is truly something to behold and should be talked about more. Although not as noteworthy as some of his other performances, Patel’s ability to pull off a range of emotions all while being resilient at every turn is something else.

Rent/Buy Hotel Mumbai on Amazon.
Buy Hotel Mumbai on Blu-ray on Amazon.

The Man Who Knew Infinity (2016)

Directed by Matthew Brown, The Man Who Knew Infinity follows self-taught mathematics genius Srinivasa Ramanujan (Dev Patel) as he battles higher education, racism, and a devastating illness to become one of the most well-respected mathematicians of all time.

It’s hard to not like Dev Patel in any performance and that’s especially the case in The Man Who Knew Infinity. With a balance of brains, charisma, and determination, Patel’s portrayal of one of the giants of the math world is enough to turn this into one of the best biopics of our time.

Stream The Man Who Knew Infinity on AMC+.
Stream The Man Who Knew Infinity on Tubi.
Rent/Buy The Man Who Knew Infinity on Amazon.
Buy The Man Who Knew Infinity on DVD on Amazon.

Skins (2007-2008)

And then there is Skins (the original British version, not the American remake) which featured Dev Patel in his first on-screen role. During the teen drama’s first two seasons, Patel appeared in the Skins cast as Anwar Kharral, a Pakistani Muslim who does everything his religion forbids including engaging in premarital sex, recreational drug use, and eating pork.

Anyone who wants to see where Dev Patel came from in terms of acting should definitely check out Skins as it shows off the actor’s charm and acting abilities at such a young age.

Stream Skins on Hulu.

The list of the best Dev Patel movies and TV shows will certainly only get longer and longer as the years go by, especially with the actor having several projects in the works. And while we don’t yet know exactly when we’ll see Patel on the big screen (or on our TV sets), there are some promising 2024 TV shows and exciting upcoming movie releases that are worth checking out.

Epic medieval fantasy films have always been some of my favorites, and honestly, it was about time that one finally came out in the theaters after so long without any releases. The Green Knight fulfills that need for me, with plenty of stars lined up in its cast.

But who exactly are the stars of The Green Knight? From Dev Patel to Alicia Vikander, to Joel Edgerton, it seems that The Green Knight is packed with familiar faces. Here is where you might have seen the cast before.

Dev Patel (Sir Gawain)

Dev Patel, who portrays Sir Gawain, is someone you for sure have seen somewhere in Hollywood at one point or the other. Back in 2008, his breakthrough was playing Jamal Malik in the Academy-Award-winning film, Slumdog Millionaire. Afterward, he went on to star in several different types of films, of all genres, including the romantic comedy, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel as well as its sequel, the sci-fi film, Chappie, the biopic film, The Man Who Knew Infinity and portrayed the famous David Copperfield in The Personal History of David Copperfield.

Dev Patel also had a leading role in Aaron Sorkin’s HBO drama series, The Newsroom, back in 2012 until 2014. The Green Knight epic was the perfect way to bring him into the world of fantasy.

Alicia Vikander (Lady/Esel)

Alicia Vikander portrayed Lady/Esel, and has appeared in plenty of things you may have seen. From 2008-2010, she portrayed Josefin Bjorn-Tegebrandt in the drama series, Andra Avenyn, and then went on to make her film debut later on in Pure. From there, she went on to have roles in Anna Karenina in 2012 and portrayed Queen Caroline Mathilde in A Royal Affair.

In 2014, she starred in both Testament of Youth and Ex Machina, both of which helped her achieve more recognition. A year later, she starred in The Danish Girl, a role that would win her an Academy Award. Alicia Vikander has also dipped her toes into the action realm as well, having a supporting role in Jason Bourne, as well as the lead role of Lara Croft in Tomb Raider, with a sequel potentially on the way. I can’t wait to see what this actress has coming up next after The Green Knight.

Joel Edgerton (Lord)

I’ve always felt like I’ve seen Joel Edgerton in so many films, and I can assure you, you have as well. Joel Edgerton, who portrays Lord, has been in plenty of popular movies. One of his earlier ones was portraying young Owen Lars in both Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. Afterward, he went on to have roles in King Arthur, the Academy-Award winning film, Zero Dark Thirty, the period piece The Great Gatsby, the Netflix original film, Bright, and the action film, Red Sparrow. Most recently, he appeared in the Netflix original film, The King, alongside several of his The Green Knight co-stars.

Joel Edgerton has also been on the small screen for some time as well. Way back in 2001 until 2002, he portrayed Will McGill on The Secret Life of Us. Most recently, he had a role in the limited series, The Underground Railroad, on Amazon Prime.

Edgerton is actually going to be reprising his role as Owen Lars in the upcoming Obi-Wan Kenobi Disney+ original Star Wars show, so keep an eye out for that if you’re a Star Wars fan.

Sarita Choudhury (Mother/Morgan Le Fay)

Portraying Mother/Mother Le Fay, Sarita Choudhury has been all over the map in terms of films and television. With a career that dates back as early as the 1990s, Choudhury has been in several movies. She made her debut in Mississippi Masala, and then would appear years later in A Perfect Murder, and 3 A.M.

In 2004, she would star in Spike Lee’s She Hate Me and portrayed Anna Ran in Lady in the Water, a thriller film by M. Night Shyamalan. From 2014 to 2015, she also appeared in The Hunger Games franchise, portraying Egeria in both The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 and Part 2. And she appeared alongside Tom Hanks in A Hologram for the King, and the British drama, The Last Photograph.

Choudhury also has had several recurring roles on television, including spots on Blindspot, Homeland, Little Fires Everywhere, and more. She had a main role as Kith Lyonne on the Netflix series, Jessica Jones. I can only imagine where else she will take her talents after The Green Knight.

Sean Harris (King Arthur)

Sean Harris is the perfect actor to play King Arthur in The Green Knight. Sean Harris has been around for some time, but you’ve most likely seen him in several action movies, namely The Mission Impossible series. He had appearances in both Mission Impossible – Rogue and Mission Impossible – Fallout. Harris also starred in Prometheus as Fifield, and Phillip in Possum. He, as well, had a main role in the Netflix original film, The King.

Harris has also had some time on television as well. From 2011 – 2013, he portrayed Micheletto Corella on The Borgias and had a role in the miniseries Southcliffe. After The Green Knight, I can’t wait to see what Sean Harris does next.

Kate Dickie (Queen Guinevere)

Another character from the King Arthur legend, Queen Guinevere, Kate Dickie portrays her in The Green Knight. One of Dickie’s most famous roles prior to The Green Knight was portraying Lysa Arryn in the HBO fantasy series, Game of Thrones, and portraying Lex in the BBC series, Tinsel Town.

However, Dickie has also done plenty in film as well, including roles in Prometheus alongside Sean Harris, Filth, the horror film, The Witch, and a part in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. After The Green Knight, Kate Dickie will be bringing her acting skills to the historical drama, The Northman, so keep an eye out for her to pop up soon in theaters once again.

Barry Keoghan (Scavenger)

Known as the Scavenger in The Green Knight, Barry Keoghan has been in some big hits prior to his portrayal. He’s most known for his role in Dunkirk, and The Killing of a Sacred Deer. He also had a role in Calm with Horses, and in the RTE drama, Love/Hate, where he portrayed Wayne.

Keoghan also had a recurring role in the HBO miniseries, Chernobyl, and historical drama serial, Rebellion. Keoghan will have a role in the upcoming The Batman in 2022 and will portray Druig in Marvel’s The Eternals– the best of both superhero worlds. You’ll certainly be seeing more of him soon.

Ralph Ineson (Green Knight)

Ralph Ineson portrays the Green Knight in the titular movie, The Green Knight, and this actor has been around the block for some time. He portrayed William in The Witch alongside Kate Dickie, Dagmer Cleftjaw in Game of Thrones, and had a role in the last three Harry Potter films, where he played Amycus Carrow. He also had a minor role in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy as a Ravager Pilot.

Ineson had a role in the BBC drama series, Goodnight Sweetheart, a part in drama series, Playing the Field, and had a role as Chris Finch in the original, The Office, which is what the American show was based on. Alongside Barry Keoghan, Ralph Ineson had a role in the HBO miniseries, Chernobyl, where he played Nikolai Tarakanov. Ralph Ineson has plenty coming up after The Green Knight, including The Northman mentioned earlier, so it won’t be long before he most likely pops up on your movie screens once more.

Erin Kellyman (Winfred)

While her role isn’t as big in The Green Knight, Erin Kellyman portrayed Winfred, and this young actress honestly has a bright future ahead of her, in my opinion. While she hasn’t done as much as some of her co-stars yet, her resume is still impressive. She had a role as Enfys Nest in Solo: A Star Wars Story and had a recurring role in the British sitcom, Raised by Wolves.

Later on, she went on to portray Eponine Thenardier in the BBC adaptation of Les Miserables. In 2021, Kellyman portrayed Karli Morganthau in the Disney+ Marvel series, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. After her role in The Green Knight, in 2022, she is going to be in another Disney+ fantasy series, Willow.

This whole cast makes me want to see if they’re going to pop up in any of the movies on the 2021 movie premieres. Which cast member did you enjoy the most in The Green Knight?

As audiences will discover this weekend, it will be a sincere challenge for any new release coming out in the rest of 2021 to match the visual richness of The Green Knight – but it won’t just be the awesome aesthetics that impress. Writer/director David Lowery is a filmmaker who understands the power and potential impact of subtle detail across all aspects of the art form, and it’s what allows his work to shine in many vibrant ways. This very much includes the way in which he works with his actors, and this is perfectly illustrated by the surprising reference material that he gave to Joel Edgerton in the making of the movie.

I had the chance to interview Edgerton and Dev Patel earlier this month during the virtual press day for The Green Knight (as featured in the video atop this article), and my question for the actors at the outset was about the character-centric conversations that they had with David Lowery prior to production. Edgerton, who plays the nameless The Lord in the film, surprised me with his response, and his revelation of where he got inspiration for his performance. Said the actor,

You might not necessarily consider that 20th century talk shows with slurring, venerable guest stars would be specific reference material for a beloved Arthurian legend brought to life on the big screen, but it’s David Lowery’s impressive creative thinking that makes him such an excellent filmmaker, and the choices Joel Edgerton makes in his performance are fantastic.

In the movie, Dev Patel stars as Sir Gawain, the nephew of King Arthur (Sean Harris) and a Knight of the Roundtable desperate to prove his mettle. When a fantastical Green Knight (Ralph Ineson) interrupts a Christmas banquet and offers the room a challenge, Gawain eagerly volunteers and accepts the specific terms: if he is able to land a single blow, he will win the Green Knight’s glorious axe – but in one year’s time he must seek out the man/tree hybrid and receive the same blow in return.

Sir Gawain has multiple encounters on his way to the Green Chapel, the location where he is meant to meet the Green Knight, and this includes a multi-night stay on a palatial estate owned by the aforementioned unnamed The Lord (Joel Edgerton) and The Lady (Alicia Vikander). The Lord is ultimately one of the kinder individuals who Gawain meets on his quest, albeit a bit… silly, and knowing what Edgerton was aiming for as reference only makes his wonderful turn easier to love.

After a long wait caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, audiences will finally be able to experience The Green Knight for themselves this weekend, as the movie is opening in theaters nationwide (and you really should see it, because it’s excellent). Stay tuned for more from my interview with Dev Patel and Joel Edgerton here on CinemaBlend, and check out our 2021 Movie Schedule to learn about all of the films coming out between now and the end of the year.

If the world hadn’t been thrown into disarray last year by the COVID-19 pandemic, the A24 film The Green Knight, starring Slumdog Millionaire and Lion’s Dev Patel, would have been released in theaters on May 29, 2020. Instead, like so many other movies, The Green Knight was pulled from the schedule, but after over a year of waiting, it’s finally set to come out this Friday, July 30 in the United States. But bad news, people in the United Kingdom: the plan for The Green Knight to come out on August 6 has been scrapped.

As reported by Deadline, The Green Knight has been removed from its UK theatrical slot by Entertainment Film Distributors in response to the country’s current coronavirus problems. Although the UK lifted most of its COVID-related restrictions on July 19, this coincided with a surge of delta variant cases, promoting worries of the country going into another lockdown. That being said, movie theaters in the UK remain open, according to the BBC, the number of new coronavirus infections has been declining over the last week. Still, evidently the EFD felt it was best to play things safe given how precarious are right now, as it doesn’t want The Green Knight’s theatrical performance to be majorly disrupted.

As of this writing, it hasn’t been announced yet what The Green Knight’s new UK release date will be, so it’s hard to say whether it will be delayed simply by a few weeks or if UK moviegoers might have to wait until towards the end of the year to see it. But at least The Green Knight is a long-completed product, whereas there have been many UK movies and TV shows in the midst of production that have been forced stop rolling cameras due to coronavirus concerns. These include the Game of Thrones prequel House of Dragons, Bridgerton Season 2 and Netflix’s Matilda musical.

Based on the poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, The Green Knight sees Dev Patel playing Sir Gawain, King Arthur’s nephew and a Knight of the Round Table. Gawain embarks on a quest to confront the movie’s eponymous, monstrous character, played by Game of Thrones’ Ralph Ineson. The cast also includes Alicia Vikander, Joel Edgerton, Sarita Choudhury, Sean Harris, Kate Dickie, Barry Keoghan and Erin Kellyman. Behind the scenes, David Lowery of Pete’s Dragon and The Old Man & the Gun fame directed the movie, wrote the script and edited it.

Given how much critical praise has been directed at The Green Knight over the last week (not to mention the thirsting over Dev Patel in his latest role), I can imagine there are plenty of UK moviegoers who are disappointed that they’ll have to wait even longer for its release. But as noted earlier, for now, UK theaters haven’t shut down, and the next major motion picture to arrive over there is James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad. It comes out in the UK this Friday, whereas US audiences have to wait until August 5 for its arrival on both the big screen and HBO Max. So in this instance, people stateside are the ones feeling left out, albeit temporarily.

Don’t forget to read CinemaBlend’s review of The Green Knight and keep checking back here for more coverage about the movie. You can also learn what the latter half of year has in store cinematically with our 2021 release schedule.

The Green Knight’s Dev Patel and Joel Edgerton discuss their upcoming A24 film with CinemaBlend’s Eric Eisenberg. Uncover the stars' inspiration behind their portrayals, and why they love filmmaker David Lowery’s incredibly authentic set pieces - even more than a Star Wars set for one of them!

Video Chapters

00:00 - Intro

00:07 - Dev Patel and Joel Edgerton’s Inspirations For Sir Gawain and The Lord

01:30 - Dev Patel On What It Was Like Shooting With Such Authentic Arthurian Set Pieces

02:26 - Joel Edgerton’s Concerns About Filming Obi-Wan Kenobi After Working On The Green Knight

You can see The Green Knight in movie theaters on July 30.

From the company that brought us Midsommar, Uncut Gems, Hereditary, and so much more comes The Green Knight, a medieval fantasy film directed by David Lowery. A24’s latest blockbuster is a bold spin of the Arthurian legend Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, which follows the story of Sir Gawain, King Arthur’s nephew, who journeys to confront the Green Knight, a gigantic tree-like creature and tester of men. The epic features Dev Patel as Sir Gawain, along with Alicia Vikander, Joel Edgerton, Sarita Choudhury, and Sean Harris.

We saw reactions of the film from critics on social media last week, and they were overwhelmingly positive. Now critics have started to share their official reviews of the fantasy epic before it arrives in theaters this Friday, July 30, so let’s check out what they’re saying.

Let’s start with the CinemaBlend side, as usual. Eric Eisenberg thought The Green Knight was absolutely stunning, rating it 4.5 out of 5 stars. He was impressed with so many different aspects of the film, from Patel’s “amazing” performance that showcases his incredible talent, to the outstanding ensemble cast, to the spectacular CGI work. Eisenberg gave special recognition to Lowery’s direction and the gorgeous cinematography that transports the viewer into the story, saying:

Hoai-Train Bui from SlashFilm is absolutely singing the fantasy flick’s praises. She, like Eric Eisenberg, also commended Lowery’s “mesmerizing” direction, but she gave more attention to Patel’s performance in her review. She noted that the camera practically “worships” Patel, saying that the movie “knows that Patel is a heartthrob, and if you didn’t believe it before, you would now.” (And people are certainly thirsting over Patel in this film) Bui said:

Dev Patel is certainly gaining a lot of praise for his performance in The Green Knight. Robert Daniels of Polygon considers Patel’s role as Gawain his “career-defining performance.” Daniels also commended Lowery’s grasp on the source material and “dazzling” direction, as well as the cinematography by Andrew Droz Palermo. While he did note that the pacing was a little overwhelming at times, Daniels’ review was positive overall, and said:

Matt Donato of WhatToWatch also applauded Lowery’s direction in the epic, noting that he emphasized showing (via imagery) over telling. Donato enjoyed the film overall, but his main critique was that it was simply “too much movie” at times, with too many “directionless” elements that caused the fantasy flick to run too long. Donato said:

Simon Abrams of TheWrap had several things to say about The Green Knight, and not many of them positive. While he did enjoy bits of Palermo’s cinematography and the costume designs from Malgosia Turzanska, he argued that Lowery’s storytelling was too confined. Abrams thought that the side characters were too vague and, contrary to the previous critics, thought Patel’s performance was just “fine enough.” He said:

Overall, reviews for The Green Knight seem to be mostly positive. You'll soon be able to form your own opinion of the A24 epic, as it releases in theaters this Friday, July 30.

In the meantime, check out our summer release guide to plan your next movie-going experience.

Last year countless movies were delayed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Aside from massive Marvel blockbusters, David Lowery's The Green Knight is another, and fans are eager to see how the Pete's Dragon filmmaker put his spin on the medieval blockbuster. The movie will follow Dev Patel as King Arthur's nephew Sir Gawain as he sets off on an epic adventure. The Green Knight recently screened for the first time, and fans can't stop thirsting over Patel.

Dev Patel first became known for his acclaimed performance in Slumdog Millionaire, before going on to other projects like The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Chappie. But it seems that The Green Knight will see the 31 year-old actor become a bonafide R-rated sex symbol, as those lucky enough to see an early screening can't stop talking about how handsome he is. As one journalist posted on Twitter,

While The Green Knight seemingly has a ton going for it, but it seems that much of the conversation is surrounding just how attractive Dev Patel looks in his latest role. And since Game of Thrones has been gone for a few years, the audiences are thirsty for some new medieval heart throbs. Luckily, Patel seems prepared to do just that.

Indeed, there is something dreamy about long-haired Medieval characters that are both deadly and attractive. We've seen this trope play out countless times over the years, although Dev Patel is helping to break ground as an actor of Indian descent. Although when it comes to Patel's physical appearance, the discourse is primarily about what a stone cold fox the actor is. As another journalist who attended a Green Knight screening shared,

While many other early reactions got more specific about the contents of The Green Knight, Dev Patel's attractiveness seems to be an ongoing theme. One person who saw an early screening for the delayed blockbuster touched on various aspects of David Lowery's upcoming flick, while also expressing love for Patel in a...colorful way. Check it out below.

Of course, Dev Patel isn't the only familiar face that makes up the cast of The Green Knight. Joining him are other established actors, including Alicia Vikander, Joel Edgerton, and Barry Keoghan. Another journalist pointed out the pedigree of the cast, as well as the fact that they all get to give a smooch to the extremely handsome Dev Patel throughout the course of the movie's 125-minute runtime. Check it out below.

Since the internet is the way it is, there were also a ton of memes that came out as a result of Dev Patel being a total smoke show in The Green Knight. One fan took the time to poke fun at another big screen heartthrob: Dune actor Timothée Chalamet. Because with Patel finally getting the attention he deserves, some feel that Patel should be getting as much love, or more, than Chalamet. As they put it,

Luckily for moviegoers, it won't be long before they can see The Green Knight, and fall in love Dev Patel's medieval looks. The delayed blockbuster will arrive in theaters on July 30th, more than a year after its original plan. In the meantime, check out the 2021 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.

Everyone loves a good medieval fantasy film, right? The upcoming blockbuster The Green Knight from A24 is just that. From director David Lowery comes a bold spin of the Arthurian legend Sir Gawain and the Green Knight that follows the story of Sir Gawain (played by Dev Patel), King Arthur’s nephew, who journeys to confront the Green Knight, a gigantic tree-like creature and tester of men. Along with Patel, the movie features Alicia Vikander, Joel Edgerton, Sarita Choudhury, and Sean Harris.

The newest trailer for The Green Knight made our jaws drop, so now we're even more excited to see this movie. We don’t have much longer to wait, as the fantasy epic is heading to theaters on July 30. The social embargo has been lifted and critics are starting to share their thoughts on social media, so let’s check them out.

Hoai-Tran Bui from Slashfilm definitely enjoyed The Green Knight, and specifically applauded Lowery's direction. She called the fantasy epic a "mesmerizing, transporting, magnificently bizarre journey that is one of the rare movies to really appreciate how sexy Dev Patel is." I mean, sign me up! Bui said:

People really seem to be enjoying Dev Patel's performance in this epic. Shannon McGrew, member of the Hollywood Critics Association, thought his performance in this fantasy flick will be career-defining. She called The Green Knight "magnificent," and specifically commended the stunning visuals, saying:

Barry Hertz from The Globe and Mail thought that the long wait for this movie was worth it (it was originally supposed to premier at South by Southwest last year). He also commented on Patel's performance, saying:

Joanna Robinson from Vanity Fair is just outright obsessed with The Green Knight. She called it a nostalgic throwback, a classic A24 horror movie (that we have all come to expect from A24, let's be honest), and a "classically challenging David Lowery story." Here's what Robinson tweeted:

That classic A24 creepiness was noted in Nerdist's Kyle D. Anderson's tweet, as well. He called the medieval fantasy film a "haunting" adaptation of the Arthurian legend that really shows the creepiness in those stories. He also commended some aspects of the movie that we haven't read from other critics, such as the costumes and Daniel Hart's music. Anderson said:

People really seem to be enjoying The Green Knight! We'll soon have official reviews, and then we'll be able to see the fantasy film for ourselves when it releases in theaters on July 30.

In the meantime, plan your next movie-going experience with our summer movie release guide.

It was well over a year ago that we got the tantalizing first trailer for David Lowery's The Green Knight. At the time the movie was set to be released in May of 2020... but of course then the whole pandemic thing happened. As such, it's been one of the many films that fans have been forced to wait patiently for the world gets closer and closer to some semblance of normalcy, but thankfully the wait is now almost over. The film is now poised to be one of the most exciting features in the middle of the upcoming summer season, and to get you even more pumped for this Arthurian adventure we have this brand new trailer – which will drop your jaw and break your brain.

Based on the tale of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the classic story begins when a Green Knight arrives in King Arthur's court with a challenge for anybody to try and strike him, the catch being that the person would have the blow returned to them in a year and a day. The young and brash Sir Gawain (Dev Patel) accepts the terms and believes for the briefest of moments that he won't face any future issues when he successfully slices the emerald being's head off, but the mood changes when the Green Knight picks up his own head, reminds Gawain of the deal, laughs, and leaves. A year later, the hero sets off to face his destiny at a place called the Green Chapel, but through his journey faces many perils and hardships.

There is legitimately nothing to not love about this trailer for The Green Knight, including its simple set up of the famous plot, the brilliant job showcasing the epic scale, and the stunning imagery. At this point David Lowery has spent nearly a full decade demonstrating that he is one of the best visual storytellers in the game – from Ain't Them Bodies Saints, to A Ghost Story, to Pete's Dragon – and here it practically looks like he is just showing off. All at the same time it looks both beautiful and weird (the talking fox is a bizarre but wonderful moment), and watching it unfold you gain an understanding of why A24 decided not to let this title simply go to VOD. This preview suggests that the film is going to be a true blue cinematic experience, and that demands the big screen.

After watching this, if you're now starving to ingest the whole movie, the bad news is that you still have to wait, but the good news is that you don't have to wait that long. Featuring a cast including Alicia Vikander, Joel Edgerton, Sarita Choudhury, Sean Harris, Kate Dickie, Barry Keoghan and Ralph Ineson in addition to the aforementioned Dev Patel, The Green Knight will be heading to theaters on July 30. To see everything else that is set to come out between now and the end of December, be sure to check out our 2021 Release Calendar.

Warner Bros., in 2023, will bring us back to a world of pure imagination with Wonka, a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory prequel exploring the origins of its reclusive chocolate-maker and how he built his vast fortune with his extravagant factory. Directed by Paul King (Paddington 1 and 2) and written by Simon Rich (An American Pickle), the studio is on the lookout for who can play the titular part, made iconic by the late, great Gene Wilder. Any young actor who adopts this role has mighty big shoes to fill, as Johnny Depp will attest, but there are several actors who could shine here.

Currently, Tom Holland and Timothee Chalamet are reportedly being sought. While both are fine picks, there are some other performers who strike my fancy more. Admittedly, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is my favorite film, so I have a lot invested here. With that said, here are some strong contenders for this proposed prequel.

Donald Glover

When this prequel was initially announced, there were three big-name actors reportedly considered: Ryan Gosling, Ezra Miller, and Donald Glover. In my view, all of them were promising prospects, but the one choice that seemed the most exciting was the latter. The Community actor-comedian is one of the most dynamic talents working today, particularly as he continues to thrive as a musician, and a producer-writer-director on Atlanta, to boot. He's capable of being buoyant, but introspective and reserved. His acting depths only continue to grow, and Wonka would prove the vastness of his well-versed talents.

While he keeps a lower profile nowadays, Donald Glover's star power is undeniable, and he can capture Willy Wonka's spunky heart, while also channeling his child-like giddiness and mysterious aura. He'd be my ideal choice.

Adam Driver

While Adam Driver is known for his brooding, turmoil-driven performances in Girls, Marriage Story, The Report, and the new Star Wars trilogy, the high-rising Oscar-nominated actor is capable of delivering a wealth of distinctive, engaging characters — if he's given the chance to cut loose and have fun. Whether it's his scene-stealing supporting turn in What If?, his soulful leading role in Paterson, his kooky character work in Logan Lucky, or even his surprisingly wacky performances on SNL, Driver has proven himself to be a dependably, well, driven performer with a variety of characters in him. If he had the chance to shine inside the lead role of Wonka, we could get a better look at how silly he can be.

Certainly, there's more to Willy Wonka than his dry sense of humor or his sporadic sensibilities. Adam Driver has demonstrated a great flair for playing oddballs who constantly surprise and delight. Certainly, Wonka could be a marvelous showcase for his comedic skills.

Ryan Gosling

Of all the actors originally proposed to play Willy Wonka, Ryan Gosling interests me the least, if only because I prefer his smaller, more intimate performances compared to his studio fare. But, there's something to be admired in how Gosling could bring in the gentle sensitivity of Gene Wilder's original performance, in a way that isn't forced or overbearing. Gosling's facial features can capture a demurred inquisitiveness and casual wonder that would play well into Wonka's wondrous spirit. Ultimately, as one of the oldest actors here, he might not be the right fit anymore. But he could easily capture Wonka's dry wit and unsuspecting heart.

Ezra Miller

Certainly the most intriguing option of the three actors initially listed, Ezra Miller could definitely channel the eccentric wit and rambunctious spirit of Wonka's public persona. Their talent for playing characters both outlandish and introspective would also be vital in capturing the inner life of this hard-to-read factory-owning personality. Miller can play both broad and calculating, which would create the dynamism of this off-beat title character, though their commitments to other WB properties like the DCEU, where they play The Flash, and the Fantastic Beasts franchise may prevent them from committing. Not to mention difficulties in their personal life.

Daniel Radcliffe

As Harry Potter himself, Daniel Radcliffe has major clout at Warner Bros. While there are reportedly concentrated efforts to return to the wizarding world of Hogwarts (and possibly reboot the series), it's hard for audiences to see anyone other than Radcliffe in the role. He literally grew up before our eyes with that performance, and nearly all of his recent efforts (many of which are quite good) are deliberate attempts to shake off this image. Perhaps the best way to move past Harry Potter is to let Radcliffe play another iconic character altogether with Wonka.

While Daniel Radcliffe's talents weren't always natural, he has progressed into a very fine young actor, particularly with outstanding performances in Imperium, Miracle Workers (also written by Simon Rich), and, most especially, his transformative turn in Swiss Army Man. Radcliffe has developed a knack for cheeky performances with a wily sense of humor, while also showcasing dependable dramatic chops. This role could suit him well, and allow him to progress beyond his past performances.

Logan Lerman

Logan Lerman is due for his big break. First coming to fame with Percy Jackson, those movies never reached the Harry Potter-level heights they sought. He won a lot of hearts with his sensitive performance in The Perks of Being a Wallflower, but since then, he hasn't had a chance to branch out as far as he should. He did good work in Fury, Noah, Indignation, and, most recently, Shirley, but it'd be nice to see him capture that radiant spark in his earlier work. While he might not be considered for Wonka, his underdog spirit makes him a good fit.

The heartful sincerity he brings to his best performances is a great asset, and his understated talent for dry humor and reflective charm makes him an endearing pick. Aided by his boyish features and good-natured grin, Wonka would be a good way for Logan Lerman to finally make it big.

Dylan O’Brien

Following Teen Wolf, Dylan O'Brien has tried discovering his next step. His lead performances in the underseen The First Time and 2020's Love and Monsters were praised, while he did solid work in wobbly projects like The Maze Runner trilogy, American Assassin, and The Internship. Clearly, the actor has a pleasant, appealing screen presence that shines on screens big and small, but O'Brien hasn't progressed into superstardom. It's clearly within reach, though, and Wonka could showcase his star power.

With his affable charm, flexible talents, and capable screen presence, as well as his unsuspecting ability to surprise, Dylan O'Brien has what it takes to make a good Willy Wonka. His boyish grin and happy-go-lucky on-screen personality would work wonders if it's done right. Also, O'Brien always brings a great deal of heart and sincerity to his performances, which could make the title character's vibrant inner life shine.

Alden Ehrenreich

Admittedly, the last time Alden Ehrenreich starred in a high-profile prequel, it didn't work out — financially, at least. Yes, for many moviegoers, Ehrenreich is best known for Disney's troubled and underperforming Solo: A Star Wars Story, though the movie's faults don't belong to the young talent. The actor had the tough task of honoring Harrison Ford's beloved space-based scoundrel while also finding his own rhythm with the character. Alas, while the balance wasn't perfect, Ehrenreich brought lots of warmth and charisma, and his other performances outside of this notable leading role vividly demonstrate the wealth of his acting prowess.

Notably, Alden Ehrenreich is a standout in Beautiful Creatures, Blue Jasmine, and even the underwhelming Rules Don't Apply, but it's his Oscar-worthy supporting role in the Coen brothers' underrated Hail Caesar! that solidified his up-and-coming talents. Alas, Hollywood hasn't served him well, but this prequel could be the iconic role he needs to excel.

Janelle Monae

When Wonka was first proposed, one name that was thrown around wildly was Janelle Monae. And I admire that choice immensely. Monae's dynamic charisma and strong acting talents make her a performer with a continuously-impressive career. While she focuses primarily on music, Monae's scene-stealing supporting turns in Hidden Figures and Moonlight were promising starts to a thriving acting career.

Alas, while Antebellum didn't showcase her talents, Wonka would be an incredible opportunity for the exceptional musician/rising actress to shine in this star-worthy leading role. She's capable of playing up Wonka's heart, humor, and extravagance, and having a performer as incredible as Janelle Monae involved would really justify this movie's seemingly-needless existence. Will it happen? I dunno, but she should absolutely be considered.

Dev Patel

Over the years, Dev Patel has showcased a flair for playing passionate, good-hearted men going against the odds to make a name for themselves. Whether it's Slumdog Millionaire, Lion, or 2020's The Personal History of David Copperfield, the British actor excels in leading roles that let him play underdogs who discover their passion, dreams, or enthusiasm for life. Certainly, if this prequel studied Willy Wonka's rags-to-riches adversities in the midst of greatness, Patel has proven his capability in that type of role. Additionally, Patel could really sell Wonka's warmth, too.

Notably, Dev Patel's work in David Copperfield is some of his finest yet, nailing the whimsical and lyrical comedic-dramatic tone. While the movie itself isn't without faults, Patel's vibrant, bewitching performance hits with gusto. If he brought that same winning spirit, he could play Wonka's tenacity well.

Who's your pick? Tell us below!

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In 2017, director Craig Gillespie did an impressive job bringing one of the most ridiculous pop culture affairs in recent memory to the silver screen with I, Tonya. Since then been working with Emma Stone and Disney on the upcoming Cruella, but now he's getting set to tackle yet another adaptation of a wild true story, as he has been tapped to make a cinematic take on the notorious Chippendales murder in the early 1990s.

Deadline has the news on this recent development, adding that Dev Patel has signed on to headline the film portraying Somen "Steve" Banerjee – the man at the center of the whole controversy. The project has actually been in development for about 20 years now, but these steps being taken could mean that production could soon begin.

In the same way that I, Tonya chronicled the life of Margot Robbie's Tonya Harding, the developing film is expected to unfold the rise and fall of Steve Banerjee, who arrived in the United States as an immigrant from India with big aspirations. Living in Los Angeles he made an investment purchasing the struggling night club Destiny II, and he revitalized the business by first starting female-only mud wrestling, and then employed the country's first male stripper troupe. This proved to be the birth of Chippendales – a multi-million dollar business.

This story doesn't exactly have a happy ending, however. Banerjee ended up with a habit of trying to hire hitmen to take out potential competition/threats, and that created one or two issues in the development of the company. He ended up pleading guilty to arson, racketeering, and murder for hire, and while he was sentenced to prison for 26 years, he committed suicide in 1994.

The material should make for a the basis for a fascinating performance from Dev Patel, who is no stranger to critical acclaim. He's only a few years removed from his first Oscar nomination, and can now be seen giving an absolutely delightful turn as the titular lead in Armando Iannucci's The Personal History Of David Copperfield. His upcoming slate also includes the completed David Lowery fantasy feature The Green Knight, which was initially supposed to be released this past spring but was delayed because of the pandemic.

As for Craig Gillespie, his Cruella de Vil film, which follows Maleficent as a remake of a Walt Disney Animation classic that features the villain as a protagonist, has been in post-production since late last year, and it is expected to be released on May 28, 2021.

The untitled Chippendales film doesn't presently have a distributor attached, but with Craig Gillespie and Dev Patel attached there is hope that situation will change soon. In the meantime, stay tuned for more details on the development of the project here on CinemaBlend.

Medieval fantasy films are a tried and true genre in filmmaking, entertaining moviegoers for decades. Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings franchise was a massive sweeping adventure that dominated pop culture, while Game of Thrones was the most popular show on TV during its tenure on HBO. Now Pete's Dragon director Pete Lowery will put his own spin on the genre with the upcoming blockbuster The Green Knight.

The Green Knight is set in the days of King Arthur, but will follow a different set of characters. Slumdog Millionaire's Dev Patel stars as protagonist Sir Gawain, Arthur's nephew. He sets off on a mission to find the Green Knight, who is supposed to be a giant green-skinned monster. The movie's first trailer just arrived, check it out.

The tale of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is an ancient story from the 14th century, that's been adapted into film a couple of times before. This new version, The Green Knight certainly shows us a handful of moments that those of us that studied medieval literature in college will certainly remember. At the same time, we also see a lot her that shows this new adaptation will include some fresh elements not present in the original story.

The trailer is really well put together. It's spooky and dark and certainly will have people wondering what's in store for Dev Patel's character.

For those of us that didn't study the story in school Sir Gawain and the Green Knight tells the story of the titular Green Knight, who arrives at King Arthur's court at Camelot with a challenge. He dares any member of King Arthur's court to strike him with an axe. The catch is that a year and a day later, the Green Knight will have the chance to return the blow. King Arthur's nephew, Sir Gawain takes up the challenge, and actually beads the Green Knight, but the Green Knight then stands up laughs, picks up his head, and reminds Gawain they have a date for a year and a day from now.

The majority of the story follows Gawain as he travels to the appointed location for what he assumes will be his death. Without spoiling the ending, one gets the impression from this trailer that things won't quite end up in the movie the way the original story ended. Sir Gawain works best as one piece in the larger canon of Arthurian Legend. As a stand alone story, it will likely need a few changes.

We see the beheading of the Green Knight in the trailer told as part of a puppet show. It's a safe bet that we'll still see the actual event in the film. The movie looks to focus much more on the year and a day period between the two events, which will give us an opportunity to get to know Sir Gawain a bit better in order to establish a strong character arc.

The Green Knight will be in theaters in May.

In the wake of tragedies like the one that took place at the Taj Hotel in 2008, people start to ask questions surrounding the aftermath of such an event. The same is true for when people see those incidents depicted on film, much as Hotel Mumbai takes that very terrorist attack and commits it to the silver screen. The one question that tends to unite the two subjects is, of course, what can be learned through such atrocities, be it through their direct examination or their cinematic dissection. In that same spirit, I asked co-writer/director Anthony Maras what he wanted audiences to take away from his film, and he explained to CinemaBlend:

This question was among others CinemaBlend had asked him during the recent press day for Hotel Mumbai's theatrical release. In the case of Maras, the film's ultimate purpose is to show that even in the darkest of times, the recurring theme of common humanity mustn't be forgotten. While there were those who perpetrated such heinous acts on that fateful day in November 2008, there was also a heroic compliment of staff members at the Taj Hotel, as well as a number of guests, who banded together and worked to survive the unthinkable together.

Naturally, no matter how much a person can understand the survival instinct of the victims depicted in Hotel Mumbai, there's also another key component of the equation to understand: The actions of those who committed said acts. This is what one of the film's stars, Dev Patel, discussed with us. When asked to provide what he felt the film's big takeaway, he offered this:

What Patel describes above is certainly one of the reasons why Hotel Mumbai works as well as it does. Rather than just focusing on one particular side or facet of participants, the film takes a more robust look at both sides of the action. While we obviously see the hostages trying to survive throughout various parts of the hotel, we do also see those who carry out the acts of terrorism coming into Mumbai.

The film shows their ultimate motivation, as these young men take their actions as holy charges set upon them by their overseer; a man who encourages them to keep him on the phone so he can hear the screams and carnage take place. Digging into that portion of the subject a little deeper, Dev Patel, who also serves as an executive producer on Hotel Mumbai, had the following remarks to offer:

At its best, films can help educate the world and instill a sense of empathy for victims of historical events such as the attack on the Taj Hotel. It was with that intent that Anthony Maras and Dev Patel set off to make Hotel Mumbai the admirable film that it is, and it testifies to the power of understanding both sides of history when discussing such events. By feeling and processing this infamous series of events, people can begin to truly work through their recurrence, in hopes that one day it won't ever have to happen again. You can hear such a message resonate in the tones of both Maras and Patel's voices, as they speak through the video provided from our interviews below:

Hotel Mumbai opens in theaters on Friday.

Real life tragedies are often mined for films that can educate the public at large on incidents that aren't always commonly discussed. In the case of the Taj Hotel attack in 2008, Hotel Mumbai is the film to take on the task of depicting the terrorist incident in a cinematic, but reverent manner. The film succeeds on both fronts, acting as an intense examination of both the victims who suffered through the event, and the perpetrators who carried it out in the name of their supposed holy quest.

Taking place during the attack that started on November 26, 2008, Hotel Mumbai shows the struggles of the staff (Dev Patel, Anupam Kher) and guests (Armie Hammer, Nazanin Boniadi, Jason Issacs) occupying the building as it was laid siege to by teenage soldiers. That day would see a coordinated attack on 12 locations throughout Mumbai, with the Taj representing the centerpiece of this film's examination. As time ticks by, and the situation grows more dire, those trapped in the hotel have to rely on their cunning, as well as their humanity, to survive.

Co-writer/director Anthony Maras has crafted a stunning, if not standard portrait of a terrorist disaster in Hotel Mumbai. In execution, this feels like a film we've seen before, with both sides laid out clearly before letting the jarring attacks take place to set the tone for the rest of the film. It's not a sin for a film such as this to follow a pattern, but it would have been nice to have a little more of a unique spin on things to be present.

In light of that criticism, what Hotel Mumbai lacks in originality it more than makes up for with its even handed portrayal of the struggles that both the guests and the staff endured in the Taj Hotel. Rather than shifting the focus of the narrative to the guests or the staff for the majority of the film's running time, both groups are shown pretty equally and fairly in the story being told. This allows for the entire cast to show off their impressive performances as an effective ensemble, as well as individual performers of distinction. In particular, the heroics of the hotel's staff are shown through Dev Patel and Anupam Kher's members of the kitchen staff, who stay behind to help aid the guests in their survival. Meanwhile, Armie Hammer, Nazanin Boniadi, and Jason Issacs do exemplary jobs of portraying the non-local civilians pinned in the conflict. All involved aren't action heroes or saints, they're just people trying to survive for those they care for. So their heroics are more true to life rather than sensationalized.

While Hotel Mumbai is reverent to the event it depicts, there are still some notes that are a little on the nose. In particular, there's a mini-arc throughout the film that sees Nazanin Boniadi and Jason Issacs' characters go from polar opposites to partners in crisis that feels just a little too pat. But again, Boniadi and Issacs' portrayals of their composite characters keep the proceedings from turning too saccharine, balancing those notes with the intensity of the carnage that is also on display during Hotel Mumbai.

As a biopic, Hotel Mumbai doesn't distance itself too far from the norm, and that's alright. What's more important to the film, and what plays to its strengths, is the fact that it focuses on an event that isn't talked about as often as other noteworthy global events. It also does so in a fashion that doesn't bog itself down too much in the attack itself, but rather focuses on the people that lived through it, and their heroic actions in the name of communal survival. This does come at a cost, though, as a little more background into the conflict at large would have been a good move, so as to inform audiences not as familiar with this subject matter the chance to better access the film's story.

If you're interested in seeing Hotel Mumbai, just keep in mind that the film works best as a meditation on the resilience of the human spirit during a time of crisis. Those seeking a history lesson will have to look elsewhere - with the best option probably being the documentary that inspired the movie. Audience members who are looking for an affirmation of humanity's better angels, while depicting some of their worst, will definitely be satisfied with Hotel Mumbai.

In November of 2008, ten terrorists armed with automatic weapons and grenades, laid siege to Mumbai, India, attacking a railway station, a café, a Jewish center, a hospital and two hotels. Over the course of four days 164 people were killed, including 31 at the storied Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. The upcoming movie Hotel Mumbai tells the story of the attack on the Taj and as you might expect, the trailer teases a tense and terrifying film. Check it out:

If you were to just watch this trailer (minus the mini-trailer in the first 5 seconds) with no knowledge of these events or what Hotel Mumbai is about, you might think that this was a light, uplifting story about experiencing other cultures, in the vein of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel or something from a Wes Anderson movie. The music and images play into that for the first 30 seconds or so until the title card pops up letting you know that this is based on true events.

That's when the music changes and the tension ratchets up to the nth degree. The scene where terrorists are knocking on the door is heart-poundingly intense, and the trailer really conveys a sense of panic that these people are in a constant state of flight, doing everything they can to find somewhere that is safe. And even worse, clear they'll be unable to do so.

Seeing the stories of people thrust into this situation and the sacrifices they will have to make to survive adds a thick layer of emotion to the tense horrors present in this trailer. Hotel Mumbai boasts a fantastic cast and it looks like it will see Armie Hammer and Dev Patel's characters teaming up to survive the real-life tragedy.

There is something about films like this, based on horrific true events, that achieve a kind of terror that fictional films cannot match-- be it United 93 or the recent Netflix movie 22 July (both from Paul Greengrass.) Given the ending of the horrifying real-life events, moviegoers know that things are going to go bad, and no last minute save (the kind so prevalent in fiction) is going to change that. This make the telling of these stories simultaneously difficult to watch and necessary to remember the past.

Personally, there's a sickening feeling in the pit of my stomach that interrupts my breathing with these types of viewings, because I know that what I'm seeing is not born out of someone's imagination, but is based on harrowing experiences that actually happened to real people. Based on this trailer, Hotel Mumbai imparts that same sense of dread.

Sadly, there are enough events like this in recent history that there is practically a whole sub-genre of films dedicated to telling these stories. We may wish that these things only existed in the realm of fiction, but that is reality of the world. Arguably, putting tragedies to film helps remind people of something that they may have forgotten due to the commonplace of these events, and the endless churn of the 24-hour news cycle.

Hotel Mumbai is the feature directorial debut of Anthony Maras and it hits theaters on March 22. For all of the films you can look forward to in 2019, check out our release schedule.

Romance is coming! Amazon's upcoming anthology series, Modern Love, is going to be a love affair that features some very high-profile stars. Among them are Tina Fey, Ocean 8' and A Star is Born enthusiast, Anne Hathaway, as well as Shameless' Emmy Rossum.

The list of those signing on includes a stunning assortment of movie and television regulars. Those mentioned are just a few of the ones who have signed on for Amazon's upcoming series. Emmy Rossum will not be seen in front of the camera though.

The departing Shameless star will be taking part in Modern Love behind-the-scenes. The actress has signed on to direct an episode of the series. It will not be her first time calling the shots. Rossum has directed episodes of Shameless as well as an installment of TNT's Animal Kingdom.

Also taking on directing duties is Catastrophe's Sharon Horgan. As for Tina Fey, she will be ready for her close-up.

Tina Fey has signed on to star in an installment of the anthology. Nothing was shared about her character or storyline. We do know who she will be sharing the screen with, though. That would be John Slattery, which sounds interesting. Slattery's participation keeps him active on Amazon. He can already be seen in the streamer's anthology, The Romanoffs.

Ozark's Julie Garner, who can currently be seen in Bravo's Dirty John, has also joined the cast of Modern Love. Romance is something that has not been part of Ruth's life for two seasons on Ozark, but, maybe, Season 3 can change that. Julie Garner's fellow Netflix alum, Cristin Milioti will also be looking for Modern Love. The Black Mirror breakout will also star in the series.

Also signing on for the anthology series is Oscar-nominee Dev Patel, who starred on the HBO series The Newsroom from 2012-2014. Joining Modern Love will mark his latest television credit. Much like installments for the other actors listed here, Amazon did not reveal anything regarding the storyline of Patel's episode, but Dev Patel has proven throughout his career what a strong romantic lead he is. So, this is a hugely exciting accomplishment for the Amazon series.

Another exciting get for Modern Love is Kidding's Catherine Keener, who has also joined the cast in an unspecified role. The two-time Oscar nominee, who's also known for her work in Get Out, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Being John Malkovich and Forever, has over 80 credits across film and TV, so we have no doubt she'll bring a lot to the series.

Power's Brandon Victor Dixon and Bates Motel's Olivia Cooke have boarded the anthology series. Dixon plays Terry Silver on the Starz drama, while Cooke starred as Emma on the Psycho prequel series.

Andrew Scott, familiar to Sherlock fans for his portrayal of Sherlock's nemesis, Professor Moriarty, has boarded the TV show. Shea Whigham will also star in Modern Love, and he can currently be seen on Amazon's new series, Homecoming.

The Deuce's Gary Carr and Andy Garcia have also joined Modern Love. Carr stars as C.C. on the HBO porn drama, and has also been on Downton Abbey and Death in Paradise. Garcia, who's been working steadily in film and television since 1978, also has a history with HBO. He guest starred on the Dwayne Johnson-led series, Ballers, in 2016.

Kingsman: The Secret Service's Sofia Boutella and The Newsroom's John Gallagher, Jr. round out the cast. This, of course, means that two of the stars who have joined Modern Love also starred on The Newsroom -- Dev Patel and John Gallagher Jr.

So, what is this series that is drawing all of these stars? Modern Love is based on the New York Times column and weekly podcast of the same name, that tells "true stories of love, loss and redemption," which are often read by today's biggest stars. The first season will be comprised of eight, half-hour episodes, so, do not expect any feature-length installments like what you'd see on John Slattery's new show. Production on Modern Love is currently underway in New York.

A premiere date for Modern Love has not been set yet, so stay tuned. When it premieres, it will do so on Amazon Prime. While you wait to be swept off your feet by Modern Love, a lot of new content is arriving this fall and in the midseason.

Over the course of the last three decades, Ben Stiller has stood out as one of Hollywood's most consistent and eclectic performers. From full-blown comedies like Tropic Thunder to quieter dramas like The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, he has increasingly diversified his resume and shown an incredible range of talents. Now it looks like he will soon put all of those abilities on full display, as his next major project -- described as a combination of Magic Mike and Scarface -- sounds like one of his most bizarre films yet.

More information about Ben Stiller's upcoming film Chippendales (a.k.a I Am Chippendales) has officially started to roll in, and it makes the movie sound absolutely bonkers. The story will chronicle the creation of the now iconic male stripper franchise in 1980s Los Angeles, and feature Ben Stiller as Nick DeNoia -- a children's TV show producer who (among other things) played a pivotal role in the recruitment of strippers and choreographing the shows.

While the Magic Mike comparison seems fairly obvious, it appears that Chippendales will draw heavily from Scarface in the way that it chronicles a rise to power, the bastardization of the American Dream, and (eventually) cold-blooded murder. With the long awaited Scarface remake still in development hell (after losing director David Ayer), Chippendales' take on the story feels like a solid consolation prize.

In addition to Ben Stiller, Deadline confirms that the film has also enlisted the acting chops of Dev Patel to pad its ensemble as Chippendales founder Steve Banerjee. The 27-year-old is currently riding high on the heels of his recent Oscar nomination for his work in Lion, so his inclusion among the cast of Chippendales should go a long way towards instilling further confidence in the admittedly weird premise.

Beyond the comparisons to Magic Mike and Scarface, Chippendales also seems to bear a striking similarity to the new Netflix hit GLOW. Both take place in a gritty, sun-soaked version of Los Angeles, and both properties deal in the creation of bizarre entertainment organizations that have developed cult fanbases. If nothing else, it seems to signify a growing trend of off-kilter and offbeat true stories that take a closer look at some of the weirder aspects of entertainment history.

While a blending of Magic Mike and Scarface may sound ridiculous at first, the concept seems like a solid choice for a guy like Ben Stiller. The comedian/filmmaker has ample experience melding seemingly oppositional ideas and styles into one cohesive property, such as his classic work on Zoolander -- which similarly blended the world of male modeling with a humorous take on The Manchurian Candidate. If any contemporary comedy actor can sell a story as crazy as this, then it has to be Stiller.

We will bring you more information related to the development of Chippendales as new details related to the project become available to us. If you're on the lookout for more updates regarding all of 2017's major theatrical release dates, then make sure to take a look at our handy movie premiere guide and get your movie going calendars filled out accordingly!

There are some significant changes taking place over at DC right now, and the latest development is arguably one of the most interesting ones that we have seen in months. Decades after his initial introduction into DC Comics, Dick Grayson's older alter ego of Nightwing will finally make his way to the silver screen for a solo movie of his very own under the direction of The LEGO Batman Movie's Chris McKay. It's a phenomenal development for the superhero genre as a whole, and for longtime fans of the greater Batman mythos, it's the culmination of years of anticipation.

On that note, we have taken it upon ourselves to put together a list of well-known actors that could easily step into the role of Dick Grayson. Some of these actors are primarily known for their work on television, while others have experienced long careers in film, but all of them have proven that they have what it takes to take on Bruce Wayne's first son. Now let's kick this off with an actor who is no stranger to the DC Universe.

Robbie Amell

While Robbie Amell's cousin Stephen has seen great success portraying the dark and brooding Oliver Queen on The CW's Arrow, his take on Firestorm (and Deathstorm) has been somewhat hit or miss. However, I think The Flash actor may be able to find redemption taking on an entirely new DC hero as Dick Grayson. Robbie Amell certainly has the look to portray Nightwing, and (at least compared to his cousin) he plays whimsical and charming better than he does dark and somber. If DC wants a lighthearted Dick to counterbalance Bruce's overwhelming darkness, then Mr. Amell seems like a perfect candidate for the job; all they need to do is swap out the Firestorm Matrix for a set of Escrima sticks and a domino mask.

Dev Patel

Look, there are characters out there whose race plays a prominent role in the stories that they inhabit. Luke Cage is a perfect example of that idea. However, Dick Grayson is simply not one of those characters. Dev Patel is currently riding high off of an Oscar nomination for his work on Lion, and you would be hard-pressed to find a more inherently versatile and talented young actor working in Hollywood today. Beyond that, puberty was very kind to Mr. Patel since the days of Slumdog Millionaire, and he has clearly developed the physically imposing stature necessary to portray a badass vigilante like Dick Grayson. Nightwing may not necessarily look like Dev Patel in the comics, but that's no reason to reject him out of hand

Steven Yeun

If you're a fan of The Walking Dead, then you already know that Steven Yeun's ill-fated Glenn was the Dick Grayson of Rick Grimes' group of survivors. He was strong, loyal and eternally optimistic up until the moment his brains were bashed in with a baseball bat. Those qualities could easily carry over into a silver screen portrayal of Nightwing, and Steve Yeun's possible version of this comic book icon could easily become a perfect counterpoint to the darker and more brooding Batman that Ben Affleck plays in this world. Oh, and for those of you who are about to make comments about an Asian-American Nightwing, please refer to the previous post about Dev Patel representing a good choice as well.

Garrett Hedlund

Garrett Hedlund is definitely one of the older entries on this list, but his work in films like Tron: Legacy, Pan and Eragon prove that he's entirely comfortable performing in effects-driven genre films. Despite his blonde hair, we could easily see him stepping into the black suit of an older and more seasoned Nightwing alongside the aging Batman of the DCEU. Beyond that, his advanced age would make him absolutely perfect to take over the cape and cowl if DC and Warner Bros. Ever decide to go the extra mile and kill the silver screen version of Bruce Wayne. The odds of that happening are slim, but then again, we never thought we would see a Nightwing movie in the first place.

Keith Stanfield

Out of all the actors present on this list, 25-year-old Keith Stanfield probably has the most diverse resume. He has proven himself as an insanely capable dramatic actor with his work on films like Selma and Short Term 12, but his work as Darius in Donald Glover's Atlanta has shown how comfortable he can be in a bizarre comedy. That type of range is essential when adapting someone like Dick Grayson because the eldest Robin is one of the most emotionally rich characters in the entire DC mythos. He doesn't just brood like his mentor, he airs his grievances and emotes like a real human being. Stanfield is an exciting up-and-comer, and Nightwing feels like a perfect fit for his particular set of talents.

Dylan O'Brien

Young adult franchises are a dime a dozen these days, and they're usually pretty bad. However, what genuinely sets The Maze Runner (as well as the sequel, The Scorch Trials) apart from the competition is the sheer amount of commitment Dylan O'Brien brings to the role of Thomas. The 25-year-old up-and-comer throws himself into all of his stunt work, and he is one of the on-screen runners this side of Tom Cruise. Throw in the fact that he's a legitimately talented actor who can handle raw and gritty dramas (look no further than Deepwater Horizon for an example of that) and he seems like the perfect candidate to take over this role and add a much-needed youthful edge to the DCEU.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson

Aaron Taylor-Johnson often feels like the next Chris Evans when it comes to superhero movies. He's an insanely skilled actor with plenty of comic book movie experience, but none of his superhero performances seem like the one he's going to be remembered for yet. That could easily change if he signs on to play Nightwing in the DCEU. Johnson's work as Kick-Ass and Quicksilver feel like a perfect recipe for a dark, yet charming version of Nightwing, and at 26-years-old he's the perfect age to take on the role for a long tenure. Aside from that, with his recent Golden Globe win for his work on Nocturnal Animals, he could bring the appropriate amount of prestige to this universe.

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On paper, Lion shouldn't work. The premise, when said aloud, seems so laughable that there should be no way that a dramatic feature can sustain the improbability of the situation, despite the fact that it's based on a true story -- one in which a grown man uses Google Maps to locate his remote home village after being away for decades. And yet, the movie hits its marks, thanks primarily to an open-hearted performance by Dev Patel, and an engrossing opening act that establishes the reality of one man's unusual predicament, so that we believe the story every step of the way.

But why is it called Lion? The answer comes at the very end of the film, and by that point, you will be sobbing into soaking wet tissues because Patel and director Garth Davis will have successfully navigated you through an emotional journey of familial support and discovery. And it's worth every step taken on that path, starting with the introduction of 5-year-old Indian boy Saroo (Sunny Pawar), who lives with his mother and older brother in the Ganesh Tilai neighborhood of Khandwa, India. One evening, while following his brother to a job site, Saroo is separated from his older sibling, and ends up on a train that takes him miles from home. It takes him 25 years to return.

Lion explains how Saroo gets back home, and man, is it an impossible journey. It's not all terrible. Working off of Saroo Brierley's autobiographical book A Long Way Home, Garth Davis spends the proper amount of time following a lost, confused and terrified Saroo as the child tries to make sense of his situation. He passes through the hands of several strangers over the course of weeks and months until, finally, he is adopted by John (David Wenham) and Sue Brierley (Nicole Kidman), Aussies who raise the young boy as their own.

At this point, Lion fast forwards two decades, and we're still in the basic mechanics of the plot. Saroo, now played by Patel, is a well-balanced college student with supportive parents, a mentally-disabled step-brother (Divian Ladwa), and a progressive girlfriend (Rooney Mara, the only actor in this cast who seems out of place). During a discussion with classmates, Saroo begins to question his heritage, and with the help of modern technologies -- specifically Google Earth -- he wonders if he could ever deduce which Indian village he once called home.

And do you know what? Even without me telling you how Saroo's adventure concludes, it's miraculous how his story -- and this movie -- makes the world feel smaller, and makes our global community feel more connected. Lion takes Saroo's quest and turns it into a technological mystery, with an emotional goal on the other side of the finish line. And instead of being hokey, the use of Google Maps to piece together the scraps of Saroo's childhood memories have a sense of urgency (credit to Davis for figuring out how to make the act of Patel perched in front of a computer screen compelling).

There isn't quite enough for Lion to sustain tension over the course of its complete run time. The conflicts Patel has with Rooney Mara are forced and empty, though Patel connects with Ladwa as "brothers" paired by parents they really can't call their own. But the underlying maternal disconnect felt between Kidman and Patel comes home to roost when Lion arrives at its overwhelmingly satisfying conclusion. In a season of cinematic tearjerkers, from the devastating (A Monster Calls) to the cynical (Collateral Beauty), Lion literally earns every heartstring tug with its impossible story of rediscovering ones childhood with the help of cutting-edge technology and good, old-fashioned resolve.

Writer/director Neill Blomkamp is still very much at the start of his career, his second effort, Elysium, not due out until August, but already he's shown that he works at a fairly deliberate pace. It's been nearly a full four years since the release of District 9 in 2009, and Blomkamp has spent that time tending to the details of Elysium and getting it through production and ready for theaters. It's entirely possible that we won't be able to see his third feature, Chappie, until 2017, matching the time gap, but at the very least Blomkamp is starting to put the pieces for it together now.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, actor Dev Patel, best known for his starring roles in movies like Slumdog Millionaire and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, is now in early talks to join the cast of Chappie, which has been described as a sci-fi comedy. Set to be both directed and co-written (with Terri Tatchell) by Blomkamp, the movie is based on a short film that the filmmaker made called Tetra Vaal. While it's unclear at this point how the idea will be stretched into a feature length story, the short was a fake commercial for a highly-advanced robot that could be used during police exercises in the slums of South Africa. You can watch the short below.

As we previously reported, the movie will once again unite Blomkamp with actor Sharlto Copley, who is set to play a police robot in the movie. THR says that should Patel sign on the dotted line he will be playing the film's "human lead, a young man in the impoverished town."

In addition to Patel's film work - which also includes M. Night Shyamalan's The Last Airbender - the young actor has actually had a great deal of success on the small screen. His career began playing Anwar in the UK series Skins, and can now be seen starring alongside the likes of Jeff Daniels and Emily Mortimer in Aaron Sorkin's HBO series The Newsroom. He recently starred in the porn drama About Cherry.

Elysium, which stars Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, and William Fichtner in addition to Copley, will be in theaters on August 9th. You can watch the most recent trailer for the film right here:

This summer kicked off with the unrepentantly steamy stripper drama Magic Mike, and IFC Midnight is looking to finish the season off with a hot new title of their own. About Cherry stars Chronicle's Ashley Hinshaw as a troubled—but legal—teen who runs away to San Francisco with her best friend (The Newsroom's Dev Patel). There a job as a cocktail waitress at a strip club proves to be the gateway to a wealthy but cocaine-fueled boyfriend (James Franco) and an introduction into the porn industry where she's mentored by an old pro (Heather Graham).

Rather than a cheap excuse to see a young starlet bare all, About Cherry aims to challenge American society's assumptions about sexuality and pornography through Cherry's struggle to find herself. This daring drama marks the directorial debut of writer-director Stephen Elliot. A former sex worker himself, he's penned seven books including the true-crime memoir The Adderall Diaries. Elliot co-wrote About Cherry with porn performer and NYU lecturer Lorelei Lee, who herself got into the industry at 19. But enough about its porn pedigree, check out the trailer for About Cherry below, courtesy of Yahoo:

The basic premise of girl goes porn generally seems an easy excuse for titillation, but as Steven Soderbergh showed with Magic Mike and Paul Thomas Anderson revealed with Boogie Nights, a sex work setting can be mined for something more profound. Though Elliot and Lee are green in the world of mainstream filmmaking, their own experiences could make About Cherry uniquely impactful.

About Cherry will be available on VOD starting August 9th. A theatrical release will follow on September 21st.

From what we've seen of the promos for Aaron Sorkin's upcoming HBO drama The Newsroom, the series seems set up to tackle the subject of the inner workings of a cable news network from various angles. The latest video promoting this Sunday's series premiere takes a closer look at one particular character and his role on the series and at the news channel where the show takes place.

Dev Patel hasn't done a whole lot since the 2008 Academy Award winning Slumdog Millionaire, but he's been around, playing roles in The Last Airbender and more recently, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. And come this Sunday night, we'll see him in The Newsroom playing Neal Sampat, a man mistaken by Jeff Daniels' character to be an IT guy at the cable network, but who is actually Will McAvoy's blogger…

I like Patel, so I'll be interested to see how he handles this role, especially considering it looks like he's kind of looked down upon by his peers. Though his connection with the online community could prove to be vital to the channel and McEvoy's ACN news program News Night.

For a better look at The Newsroom's season premiere and creator Aaron Sorkin's segment on tomorrow night's Rock Center With Brian Williams, check out this preview.

The Newsroom premieres Sunday June 24 on HBO.

The upcoming series that I'm most excited for is the HBO/Aaron Sorkin show-within-a-show, More as the Story Develops. Aaron Sorkin -- now Academy Award Winner Aaron Sorkin -- is already a TV legend, and his work tends to be set in the behind-the-scenes world of productions, whether TV shows or political campaigns.

His Sports Night is one of my personal favorites and offers the best look at the other side of the television-production curtain (since or save The Larry Sanders Show, another HBO comedy). The cast Sorkin and uber-producer Scott Rudin have pulled together is very impressive, and Variety reports that they're adding a little international flavor to the otherwise very, um, Caucasian cast. Slumdog Millionaire's Dev Patel will join the show, but details of his character are still under wraps.

Lastly, this news isn't breaking but I just found out that Greg Mottola will direct the pilot, and that, well, only makes me even more excited. Mottola's film work is very good (Superbad, Adventureland, and Paul), but what is really promising about this hire is his extensive work on some of the best series of the last decade, including Arrested Development and Undeclared.

More as the Story Develops features Jeff Daniels in the lead role as a cable news co-anchor dealing with the aftermath of a complete cast and crew exodus. Also already on board are Alison Pill, Olivia Munn, Sam Waterston, Josh Pence, John Gallagher Jr., Thomas Sadoski, and possibly/probably Emily Mortimer.

Now that they’re out of the ground, it was only a matter of time before Hollywood snatched up the story of the trapped Chilean miners and turned it into a feature film. In fact they’re so eager to get this movie done, that they’ve already created the first trailer for the movie version of their story, a film called Los 33.

Los 33 is an unprecedented Hollywood production which will tell the story of those 33 trapped men using 33 of Hollywood’s most illustrious actors, with Bruce Willis as the health minister and Leslie Nielson as the president of Chile. Los 33 will without a doubt, be the most star-studded movie of all time and it’s coming to you from the director of Daddy Day Care.

Check out the first trailer for the Hollywood retelling of the trapped Chilean miner crisis right here, right now:

It’s a truly incredible group of actors. In case you missed it, here’s the complete cast list for Los 33: Tom Hanks, Leonardo DiCaprio, Nicolas Cage, Tom Cruise, Colin Farrell, Will Ferrell, Jack Black, Ralph Fiennes, Daniel Radcliffe, Russell Brand, Russell Crowe, Will Smith, Peter O'Toole, Michael Caine, Daniel Day-Lewis, Rowan Atkinson, Jackie Chan, Dev Patel, Steve Buscemi, Steve Martin, Cheech Marin, Jerry Seinfeld, Jack Nicholson, Al Pacino, Kelsey Grammer, Ray Winstone, Stephen Fry, Jeff Goldblum, Christopher Walken, Christopher Biggins, Justin Bieber, Meryl Streep, and Woody Allen with Bruce Willis and Leslie Nielsen.

The countdown until someone complains that there aren't enough women in this movie based on the real life story of 33 men trapped underground, starts now.

American audiences have had their fair share of laughs at the expense of M Night Shyamalan and his latest dud, The Last Airbender. Be it the badly rendered 3D, the horrible acting or poorly written dialogue, there was plenty for the crowds to laugh mockingly at. The British, as it turns out, have yet another.

British audiences have been getting a kick from the film and its over use of the word "bender." Why? Because "bender" is British slang for "homosexual." From The Guardian's review:

Making the situation even funnier is that one of the film's principal actors, Dev Patel, is British, but didn't tell Shyamalan about the double meaning because the word was "too integral to the movie" (Digital Spy)

Perhaps I am taking a bit too much joy in this, but one also has to realize that egomaniac Shyamalan recently made a big deal about his "European sensibility." The real question is why anybody is still taking him seriously.

After the world got wrapped up in Slumdog Millionaire fever last fall, I guess we all felt like Dev Patel and Freida Pinto owed it to us to fall in love for real. Turns out, that probably actually happened. Pinto broke up with her fiancee not long after the movie became a hit, and the rumors immediately started circulating that she and Patel had become involved.

Now British tabloid The Telegraph is quoting Pinto as calling Patel "a lovely boy" and adding, "The friendship blossommed after the film, it got even stronger. This is all new to us."

Is it the same as going on a game show to find the girl of your dreams? Not really. But the two are ridiculously adorable together, and their relationship-- however short-lived it may turn out to be-- offers a nice extra dollop of the Jamal and Latika romance. And unlike their poverty-stricken characters, Pinto and Patel are much more likely to really and truly live happily ever after.