You know, looking back at Forest Whitaker’s amazing career, you’d be hard pressed to find an actor with a more versatile list of performances. Sure, he won Best Actor in 2007 for his portrayal of the horrifying Ida Amin in The Last King of Scotland. But, this is a guy who also played an introspective hitman in Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai (which is legitimately one of my favorite movies), a White House servant in Lee Daniel’s The Butler, and even an alien in Battlefield Earth.

However, I think one of his finest roles was actually his first leading one in which he played the troubled saxophonist, Charlie Parker. He portrayed him in Clint Eastwood’s 1988 biographical musical drama, Bird, and I think Whitaker should have won an Academy Award for his performance. Here’s why.

Whitaker Convincingly Transforms Into Charlie “Bird” Parker

You know what’s interesting about Clint Eastwood? You’ll watch some of his westerns like Unforgiven, or The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, and you might get the impression that he’s some country music loving cowboy. However, Eastwood is actually a jazz enthusiast. Yeah! You can definitely tell when you watch 1988’s Bird, as Eastwood gets deep into the jazz culture, and Whitaker is definitely game for the ride.

We see Whitaker portray Charlie “Yardbird” Parker as a true jazz icon throughout his career. For example, we get him early on when Buster Smith (Played by Keith David) laughed him off the stage and a cymbal was thrown at Parker. That said, we also see Whitaker portray Parker as a veteran on the sax, working with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie (Samuel E. Wright) as they try (and fail) to bring bebop to the mainstream in America.

Another major aspect of this movie is Parker’s relationship with his common law wife, Chan Parker (Diane Venora) who was also deep into the jazz scene. In fact, a lot of this movie is Parker trying to reconcile his role as a notable musician, a father, and as a suitable partner (and his struggles as an addict, but I’ll get to that later). And, Whitaker flits through this world seamlessly.

There are a lot of great music movies out there, but Bird is one of the best because it’s so authentic to its particular era, and Whitaker is phenomenal in it.

That Said, Whitaker Also Nails The Troubled, Drug-Abusing Side Of The Man

Charlie Parker was a genius. I think anybody with the proper ear could listen to his explosive improvisation and ascertain that. However, he was also a deeply troubled alcoholic and heroin abuser, and Whitaker probably plays this part of Parker even better than the musical side.

Even though we didn’t include this movie on our list of thoughtful movies about depression, Bird is definitely one of those. As I mentioned earlier, the movie bounces around a lot, and early on, we see Parker attempt suicide by drinking iodine because he’s depressed over the death of his daughter. Chan has him committed in an asylum, and the doctors recommend giving Parker shock treatment, only for Chan to reconsider since she’s worried that it will sap Parker of his creativity.

However, the film then jumps to earlier in his life, and how he’s depressed even before his daughter’s death. He casually abuses heroin, and he even worries about going to other states to perform since it might be difficult for him to score drugs there. Throughout his life, he watches his success falter as producers stop wanting to work with him because his addiction is too much of a risk. He’s also a philanderer, and Whitaker does an excellent job of making Parker charming enough that we see why women considered him a lothario.

The best part though is that a lot of this acting is so subtle. You can see the hurt and pain in his eyes, and so can Chan, but he always has a smile on his face to mask his deep depression. So, while I know Whitaker’s bombastic performance in The Last King of Scotland is the more expressive one, I think his work in Bird is more impressive since I find it to be a more complex, quieter role. It’s the one where he “speaks” the loudest with an instrument at his lips, which I’ll get into next.

Whitaker Also Does A Convincing Job Of Making The Viewer Believe That He Can Play The Sax

People are always amazed when they see prominent actors play musicians, especially when those actors actually sing or play instruments. Jamie Foxx won an Academy Award for his portrayal of Ray Charles, and Joaquin Phoenix received plaudits for his performance as Johnny Cash. Well, while Whitaker is not actually playing the saxophone in the movie (they used Parker’s original recordings), you damn well believe that’s Whitaker really blasting out that sound.

A lot of it is Whitaker’s face when he’s blowing into the sax, as well as his convincing finger work, and the way he moves. At no point do you believe that he’s not playing the sax, and I’m sure many people have done a quick Google search to see whether he’s actually using the instrument, because he’s just so convincing.

Which is another reason why I think Whitaker should have won Best Actor for this performance. Unlike other actors playing famous musicians, like Rami Malek as Freddy Mercury where you’re listening for that familiar voice, with Whitaker, unless you’re familiar with Parker’s recordings, you’re likely hearing him for the first time, and in that way, Whitaker IS Charlie Parker when he’s on that stage.

It’s really magical, too, as Whitaker goes from his soft-spoken self away from the sax, to a madman blasting into orbit when he’s on the sax. The contrast is quite startling, which is another reason why he’s so damn good in this film.

Overall, Bird Is Just A Masterful Movie, And Whitaker Truly Makes It Sing

I love that Whitaker is one of the few Black actors who has won an Academy Award for acting, but I wish he had won two, since I think that this was a worthy performance. Now, Bird actually did very poorly at the box office, and it’s one of Clint Eastwood’s lesser known movies. But, I don’t think that should prohibit people from watching it, because it’s a truly masterful film that has a fantastic performance at the center of it.

And, much like the Brian Wilson movie, Love & Mercy, I think Bird does an excellent job of showing that there are actually people (sometimes struggling people) behind the music that we love.

But, look, I know. You might not even like jazz. In fact, as somebody who only casually enjoys the art form, I, too, felt a little separated from the musical portions since I’m so unfamiliar with the sounds. Be that as it may, Eastwood’s passion for the medium is so strong that you can’t help but get invested in it, too.

It’s for that reason why I think you should check out this movie, even if you don’t like jazz. If anything, at least you’ll still witness a fantastic performance from one of Hollywood’s greats.

Warning: SPOILERS for this week’s Andor episodes are ahead!

After starting out as a Star Wars: The Clone Wars guest character, Saw Gerrera rose to prominence when Forest Whittaker played him in Rogue One. In addition to the character standing out from official members of the Rebellion with his extremist views and tactics, Whitaker’s Saw was also visually distinctive with the pressurized suit he was forced to wear and the oxygen mask he frequently needed to breathe from. Three new episodes of Andor Season 2 have been released onto the 2025 TV schedule, and the first two seem to have finally revealed how Saw’s lungs were damaged, and it makes me feel even more sympathy for him.

One of the stories covered in Season 2’s fourth and fifth episodes follows Wilmon Paak, Cassian Andor and Bix Caleen’s friend from Ferrix, as he was embedded with Saw Gerrera’s Partisans. Wil was there to teach Pluti, one of Saw’s men, how to use a machine that can safely mine rhydonium, a fuel source that can easily burn someone from the outside, as well as the inside, provided enough of it is breathed in. Using the machine requires one to memorize eight variations, and Saw refused to let Wil go back to his regular Rebel cohorts until Pluti had no problem handling this task on his own.

But in a surprising turn of events, Saw killed Pluti after Wil taught him all the variations for the machine, as he was spying for the Empire and was going to lead them into a trap. So Wil was instead forced to go on the rhydonium run to work the machine on an unnamed planet. While he was wearing a breathing mask during the process, Saw was just talking nearby, mouth uncovered, about how he developed his strange taste and obsession for “rhydo.”

When he was younger, Saw Gerrera was enslaved in a work camp in a “hot, wet, blistering jungle” on his homeworld of Onderon. It was so hot that a person’s clothes would burn off if they stayed out in the sun too long, and when old men died where they stood, the next day, there’d be nothing left of them but “a bone or two.” But then one day, everyone started to itch, and all but Saw ran away from the camp. This itching came from a rhydonium leak, but She embraced his exposure to this substance, calling it his “sister.”

That’s where it got especially sad with Saw. The rhydonium clearly messed with his mind and is slowly burning away the inside of his body, to the point that he’ll no longer be able to breathe without assistance by the time Rogue One happens. When combined with all the loss he’s dealt with over his life, including the death of his actual sister, Steela, and how he’s willing to carry out horrible deeds in order to hurt the Empire, there’s an argument to be made for him being one of the most tragic characters in the Star Wars mythology.

But Saw has fully embraced the rhydonium’s effect on him, admitting to Wilmon that he is indeed “crazy” and that “revolution is not for the sane.” His stirring words were persuasive enough for Wil to take off his breathing mask and breathe in the rhydonium too, with Saw exclaiming, “Let it in, boy! That’s freedom calling!” I can only hope we don’t see Wil become as addicted to this stuff as Saw did in upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows, as I don’t want to see him suffer the same kind of physical and mental deterioration Forest Whitaker’s character has.

We’re now halfway through Andor Season 2, with the show reaching its conclusion on May 13. Since I only covered a small portion of what unfolded in these latest three episodes, make sure you head to Disney+ to learn what happened to Cassian Andor, Mon Mothma and the other starring characters this week.

If it feels like a long time since Andor premiered, that’s because by TV standards, it has been. Star Wars fans with a Disney+ subscription took in the first half of Cassian Andor’s prequel story from September-November of 2022, and two and a half years will have passed by the time Season 2 arrives on the 2025 TV schedule. Fortunately, there’s only two months to go until the wait concludes, and following the release of the first Andor Season 2 trailer, I also wonder if the Star Wars series will finally show an important event in Saw Gerrera’s life that I’ve been wondering about since Forest Whitaker first played him in Rogue One.

Before I start discussing my theory, let’s watch the preview for the next batch of Andor episodes on the upcoming Star Wars TV shows slate, which will chronicle the four years between the end of Season 1 and where we find Diego Luna’s character at the start of Rogue One:

From the return of Ben Mendelsohn’s Orson Krennic and Alan Tudyk’s K-2SO, to spending more time with Andor mainstays like Stellan Skarsgård's Luthen Rael and Denise Gough's Dedra Meero, this trailer teases a lot to look forward to in Season 2. However, it was the shot at the top of this article and the scene that concludes the trailer that has me suspecting that Andor is going to show how Saw Gerrera’s lungs were damaged.

You’ll recall that in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Saw’s armored suit had a breath mask attached from which he frequently took in supplementary oxygen. However, we never learn why he has so much trouble breathing, and it ultimately doesn’t really matter since Saw was killed on Jedha shortly after reuniting with Jyn Erso. Furthermore, in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars: The Bad Batch (voiced in those two shows by Andrew Kishino), Star Wars Rebels, the video game Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Andor Season 1, Saw has no issue breathing. So what happened to his lungs?

If you look closely at the end of the Andor Season 2 trailer, Saw Gerrera doesn’t have the breathing mask attached to his clothes, but he saying inspiring words to someone wearing a breathing apparatus. If I had to guess, this episode will see Saw being exposed to some kind airborne substance that eats away at his lungs so much that he’ll never be able to breathe unassisted again. That explains why the other person has that apparatus on: they were able to protect themself in time, Saw wasn’t.

Assuming I’m correct, I’m curious to see when this will occur in Andor Season 2, which premieres April 22. Until then, feel free to keep yourself occupied in a galaxy far, far away by streaming the Star Wars movies in order or any of the other Star Wars TV shows on Disney+.

Every year, I try to honor Black History by writing about something important that has occurred in the entertainment industry. And, I can’t think of any greater honor than winning the Academy Award.

Yes, there have been achievements in many different categories, including directing, writing, producing, scoring, etc, but today, my focus is going to be on Black actors.

Split amongst the Best Lead Actor, Best Lead Actress, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Supporting Actor categories, there have been a total of 23 Oscars doled out to Black performers. So, here are all 23 of them, chronologically ordered.

Hattie McDaniel - Gone With The Wind (1939)

The very first Black winner for an acting Academy Award, Hattie McDaniel won it for Best Supporting Actress with her portrayal of Mammy in Gone With the Wind.

And, even though it's a racial stereotype role, McDaniel's character was often the most sensible and attention-grabbing character on the screen. It's a landmark victory for Black people in cinema.

Sidney Poitier - Lilies Of The Field (1963)

One of Sidney Poitier’s best movies, Lilies of the Field, which is about a handyman who helps a group of nuns build a chapel, was actually Poitier’s second nomination for Best Lead Actor.

His first was for 1958’s The Defiant Ones, which was a movie that he mostly shared with Tony Curtis. Lilies of the Field, however, was a leading role purely for Poitier, and he ended up becoming the first Black Actor to ever win the award. Great stuff!

Louis Gossett Jr. - An Officer And A Gentleman (1982)

In this romantic drama that also stars Richard Gere, Louis Gossett Jr. plays a hard-nosed drill instructor who really challenges his cadets.

Before there was R. Lee Ermey in one of my favorite Kubrick films, Full Metal Jacket, there was Louis Gossett Jr. berating his troops. He was the first Black man to win a Best Supporting Acting trophy, and it was justly awarded. He’s really good in this.

Denzel Washington - Glory (1989)

Denzel Washington’s first Academy Award was a supporting one for his role as a private in the Civil War drama, Glory.

As both a leader to the men in his regiment, but also a soldier who must follow orders, Washington’s character shows the duality of a Black man in uniform. Him deciding to hold up the flag for the charge is one of the most iconic scenes in late ‘80s cinema.

Whoopi Goldberg - Ghost (1990)

An EGOT recipient (though, not the only one on this list), Whoopi Goldberg received a Best Supporting Actress Award for her role as the medium, Oda Mae Brown, in the hit Ghost.

The romance between Swayze and Moore’s character is what defines this film, but it wouldn’t be nearly as enjoyable without Goldberg’s humor, and seriousness when the moment calls for it.

Cuba Gooding Jr. - Jerry Maguire (1996)

For this sports comedy-drama, Cuba Gooding Jr. received a Best Supporting Actor award for his role as a cocky but steadfast wide receiver who wants to be shown the money.

Gooding Jr.’s performance is full of energy, and it makes this romantic comedy feel even sweeter when his and Tom Cruise’s characters share more than just a player and client relationship and actually become good friends.

Halle Berry - Monster's Ball (2001)

The only Black woman who has ever won Best Lead Actress, Halle Berry, took home the trophy for her role as a conflicted woman who takes on a relationship with the man who helped execute her husband.

Berry’s character is highly vulnerable, and the events of the movie are stressful beyond belief. Still, her character, as flawed as she is (everybody’s flawed in this film) weathered the storm, and earned Berry a Best Actress statue for her troubles.

Denzel Washington - Training Day (2001)

Washington’s second trophy came as the Best Lead Actor, for playing a cop in Training Day who definitely didn’t follow the rules.

Washington’s character was both charming and terrifying, often in the same scene. Say it with me, people: King Kong ain't got nothing on him!

Morgan Freeman - Million Dollar Baby (2004)

Morgan Freeman actually had a supporting role in two of Clint Eastwood’s best movies, those being Unforgiven, and Million Dollar Baby. And, both films won Best Picture.

However, it was in the latter film where Freeman picked up the Best Supporting Actor statue, for playing a grizzled former boxer and gym assistant. It’s a mostly quiet role, but a memorable one.

Jamie Foxx - Ray (2004)

In one of the best music movies of all time, Jamie Foxx scored a much deserved Best Lead Actor award for his role as the famous blind musician, Ray Charles.

Foxx even had his eyes glued shut for the sake of authenticity. Anything for the craft, right?

Jennifer Hudson - Dreamgirls (2006)

Another EGOT recipient on this list, Jennifer Hudson, scored a Best Supporting Actress trophy in her VERY FIRST ACTING GIG!

It’s little wonder why though. Hudson’s portrayal of Effie White in Dreamgirls is powerful. Going from lead singer to starting all over again, Hudson did a “Supreme” job (Do you see what I did there?) in her very first role.

Forest Whitaker - The Last King of Scotland (2006)

Forest Whitaker’s best performance is by far his role as Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland.

In a role that netted him a Best Lead Actor award, Whitaker is utterly terrifying, but also somewhat funny, in the way that only Whitaker can be.

Mo'Nique - Precious (2009)

After watching Mo’Nique as the abusive mother in Precious, it’s hard to watch her again in one of the best Black TV shows, The Parkers. It just seems like such a smoke screen.

Anyway, Mo’Nique was awarded a Best Supporting Actress trophy for this performance, and I haven’t looked at her the same way since.

Octavia Spencer - The Help (2011)

Though The Help hasn’t aged well, Octavia Spencer’s role as a maid who was fired for using a guest bathroom is still one of her best performances.

Spencer won Best Supporting Actress for a role where she got to take a dump in somebody’s pie. It’s a feel good film.

Lupita Nyong'o - 12 Years a Slave (2013)

In her career-defining role in 12 Years a Slave, Lupita Nyong'o plays a violently abused slave.

It is one of the most brutal (and likely most realistic) portrayals of slavery ever put to screen, and Nyong'o won a Best Supporting Actress Award for her performance.

Viola Davis - Fences (2016)

In this adaptation of a play in August Wilson’s Pittsburgh Cycle, Viola Davis plays a wronged but loyal wife.

The third EGOT recipient on this list, Davis should have several Oscars, but this is her sole win, and it’s in the Best Supporting Actress category.

Mahershala Ali - Moonlight (2016)

Though only in Moonlight for one act, Mahershala Ali’s performance as a caring drug dealer was so powerful that he won the Best Supporting Actor trophy.

It would be his first of two Academy Awards so far.

Regina King - If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)

In If Beale Street Could Talk, Regina King plays the mother of a young woman whose boyfriend has been convicted of rape, and she tries to convince the victim that it wasn’t him.

King won a Best Supporting Actress Award for her quiet, but searing performance.

Mahershala Ali - Green Book (2018)

In Ali’s second Best Supporting Actor win, the skilled performer played real-life pianist Don Shirley in this Best Picture winner.

Ali’s character in this film is completely different from that in Moonlight, but that sense of vulnerability still persists, which was worthy of the award.

Daniel Kaluuya - Judas And The Black Messiah (2020)

Playing the “Black Messiah,” Daniel Kaluuya portrayed the inspirational Fred Hampton in this riveting biopic.

He won Best Supporting Actor, beating out the “Judas” (Bill O’Neal) in this picture, played excellently by LaKeith Stanfield, who was also nominated.

Ariana DeBose - West Side Story (2021)

In this second adaptation of the famed musical West Side Story, Ariana DeBose won Best Supporting Actress playing Anita, who was portrayed by Rita Moreno in the first theatrical adaptation.

DeBose is absolutely magnetic in the role, firmly earning her win.

Will Smith - King Richard (2021)

Though the unfortunate slap is likely what many people remember most about this ceremony and Will Smith's award, his Best Lead Actor-winning turn really does deserve a second look.

Playing the tenacious father to Venus and Serena Williams, Smith definitely deserved the award for his work in the lauded film.

Da'Vine Joy Randolph - The Holdovers (2023)

And finally, the most recent winner, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, won Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of a quietly grieving mother in The Holdovers.

This film speaks to me as a teacher, yes, but also as a parent. I can thankfully only imagine the pain that her character Is going through.

That’s all of them! We’ll see if Zoe Saldaña, Colman Domingo, or Cynthia Erivo pick up a trophy at the 2025 Academy Awards.

The Academy Award for Best Actor has been handed out every year since 1929 — fun fact, it was awarded to German actor Emil Jannings for not one but two acclaimed roles, in The Last Command and The Way of All Flesh — and in the near-century since, it's been presented 97 times to 86 actors. But while taking home that coveted statuette is definitely a career highlight for any performer, the honor does add a little extra pressure on the actor's next project. Will it be as beloved and acclaimed as the role that won them the gold? Here are 32 films that Oscar-winning actors did after taking home the Academy Award, and how they were received.

Cillian Murphy

After the enormity of portraying famed physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer in Christopher Nolan's billion-dollar blockbuster Oppenheimer, and taking home the 2024 Oscar for Best Actor in the process, Cillian Murphy went small for his next film — literally. In the 2024 adaptation of Claire Keegan's Small Things Like These, Murphy returned to his native Ireland to play Bill, a quiet coal merchant and father of five internally struggling with the harsh realities of the infamous Magdalene Laundries. While Murphy didn't replicate the awards dominance of Oppenheimer with SMTLT, his internal and affecting performance was widely praised by critics.

Joaquin Phoenix

After four nominations throughout his decades-spanning career, Joaquin Phoenix finally took home that Best Actor statue in 2020 for his engrossing portrayal of the nihilistic clown Arthur Fleck in Todd Phillips' Joker. Following that iconic role, Phoenix next appeared in the 2021 Mike Mills dramedy C'mon C'mon, an improv-heavy performance that saw the actor play a middle-aged radio journalist tasked with babysitting his nephew (Woody Norman) while on the road for work. Phoenix was nominated for Outstanding Lead Performance at the Gotham Awards, and the film was chosen by the National Board of Review as one of the Top 10 Independent Films of the year.

Will Smith

Will Smith had quite an, um, eventful evening when he took home the Oscar for Best Actor in 2022 for King Richard after two prior nominations (Ali, The Pursuit of Happyness). Winning an Oscar means that a spotlight is already bright on an actor, but the added publicity from the ceremony means his post-slap comeback would be even more scrutinized than usual. His follow-up was 2022's Emancipation, in which he played a runaway slave in 1860s Louisiana. Though the drama received mixed reviews overall, Smith won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture for his performance.

Anthony Hopkins

Though he's garnered six Oscar nominations across his illustrious acting career — with his most recent win being for 2021's The Father — Anthony Hopkins' first Academy Award was for that scene-stealing villain, psychiatrist turned serial killer Hannibal Lector in 1991's The Silence of the Lambs. Following up such an iconic performance is no small task and unfortunately, Hopkins' next film, 1992's Freejack opposite Emilio Estevez and Mick Jagger, was a sci-fi dud, bombing both with critics and audiences. During an appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman, Hopkins himself called the film "terrible."

Leonardo DiCaprio

Five-time nominee Leonardo DiCaprio had a bit of "always the bridesmaid" syndrome where the Academy Awards were concerned, until he finally took home the Best Actor Oscar for his emotionally raw and physically punishing performance in Alejandro G. Iñárritu's 2019 Western epic The Revenant. His next big-screen role was, graciously, a bit less cold and blustery, trading the frosty American Midwest for starry Los Angeles in Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. The latter received 10 Oscar nominations at the 92nd Academy Awards, including a nod for DiCaprio's individual work.

Denzel Washington

Denzel Washington had already taken home a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for playing a Civil War soldier in the 1989 war drama Glory, but he got his first big Best Actor win for portraying corrupt LAPD officer Alonzo Harris in the 2001 crime thriller Training Day. His next performance was another memorable Denzel role: as the title character in the 2002 Nick Cassavetes-directed drama John Q, which saw Washington play a desperate father who takes a hospital emergency room hostage in order for his son to receive a heart transplant. Alas, despite some praise for Denzel's performance, the film itself boasts only a 26% critics' rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Robert De Niro

Six years after taking home the Best Supporting Actor statue for The Godfather Part II, Robert De Niro got his Best Actor win for his iconic and intense work as boxing champion Jake LaMotta in Martin Scorsese's Raging Bull. A year later, De Niro put away the boxing gloves and picked up the Bible to play a Roman Catholic monsignor in 1981's True Confessions, opposite fellow The Godfather great Robert Duvall. Though reviews for the neo-noir were largely positive, the National Review's William F. Buckley, Jr. panned it: "Robert De Niro is badly miscast. He is never entirely convincing."

Matthew McConaughey

After acclaimed turns in 2011's Lincoln Lawyer and 2012's Magic Mike, the so-called "McConaissance" was officially solidified a year later with Matthew McConaughey's Oscar-winning portrayal of Ron Woodroof, a cowboy diagnosed with AIDS, in the biopic Dallas Buyers Club. Despite not having nearly as much screentime, the actor's next performance was just as memorable: a chest-thumping, meme-inducing extended cameo as Mark Hanna in Martin Scorsese's The Wolf of Wall Street.

Tom Hanks

Beyond being one of the most beloved actors of all time, Tom Hanks also holds a piece of cinema history: he's one of only two actors to win back-to-back Academy Awards for acting. Yes, that means after taking home the Best Actor Oscar for his heart-wrenching performance as HIV-positive lawyer Andrew Beckett in 1994's Philadelphia, Hanks struck Oscar gold yet again with his very next performance, as the titular lead of 1995's Forrest Gump.

Rami Malek

Rami Malek belted his way to an Oscar as legendary Queen frontman Freddie Mercury in the glossy 2019 biopic Bohemian Rhapsody. His first post-award performance also revolved around his voice — voice acting, that is, as Malek portrayed a mountain gorilla named Chee-Chee in the 2020 fantasy-adventure film Dolittle, with his future Oppenheimer co-star Robert Downey Jr. as the titular doc. The family-friendly flick received abysmal reviews from critics, with Courtney Howard of Variety writing: "What should have been an awe-filled adventure quickly curdles into an awful one, thanks to a pedestrian formula and the filmmakers' fixation on fart jokes."

Adrien Brody

In 2003, Adrien Brody made Oscar history when he won the Academy Award for Best Actor at age 29 for his portrayal of Władysław Szpilman in Roman Polanski's war drama The Pianist, becoming the youngest actor ever to win in that category. Later that year, he followed up his historic win with the musical crime comedy The Singing Detective, about a mystery writer (Robert Downey Jr.) who relives his detective stories through his imagination and hallucinations. The film scored a 39% "Rotten" rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Jamie Foxx

Jamie Foxx had one hell of a 2004, serving up not one but two award-worthy performances: He took home the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance as soul great Ray Charles in the 2004 biopic Ray and also received a Best Supporting Actor nod that same year for his work in the crime film Collateral. It would be near-impossible for any performer to hit that kind of stratospheric high again, especially with Foxx's follow-up Stealth — the 2005 military action flick co-starring Josh Lucas and Jessica Biel was dubbed a "stink-bomb" by Roger Ebert.

Daniel Day-Lewis

Acting legend Daniel Day-Lewis deservedly holds the record for the most Best Actor awards ever, with three wins out of six nominations, but his first was for playing Christy Brown, a writer-artist born with cerebral palsy, in the 1989 drama My Left Foot. And though he would later follow that iconic role up by playing famous figures such as Abraham Lincoln and Bill the Butcher, his immediate next performance was as an Irish-American dentist traveling around Argentina in the forgettable 1989 dramedy Eversmile, New Jersey.

Jack Nicholson

The first of three Academy Awards for the legendary movie star, Jack Nicholson's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest performance as Randle McMurphy nabbed him the Oscar in 1976. Later that year, he would star as cattle rustler Tom Logan opposite Marlon Brandon in the Arthur Penn-helmed Western The Missouri Breaks. Coming hot on the heels of not only his own Oscar win but also Brando's for The Godfather, the film was highly anticipated — however, it failed to live up to those expectations and became a notorious critical and commercial flop.

Marlon Brando

One of the most iconic cinema stars of all time, Marlon Brando was nominated for eight Oscars across his decades-spanning career. He won two, the first being for his electrifying role as prizefighter turned longshoreman Terry Malloy in the 1954 crime drama On the Waterfront, widely considered one of the greatest acting performances of all time. His next role as Napoleon Bonaparte in the historical romance Désirée didn't win him any awards, but Variety reportedly called his performance "a masterful exhibition of thesping" at the time.

Philip Seymour Hoffman

The late, great Philip Seymour Hoffman had already solidified himself as a vibrant and vital supporting actor with films like The Talented Mr. Ripley, Almost Famous, Magnolia and 25th Hour, but his Oscar-winning portrayal of author Truman Capote in 2005's Capote officially upped him to leading man status. He would receive another three Oscar nominations in the years to follow, but his very next role was more of a crowd-pleaser than an awards grab: as arms dealer Owen Davian in Mission: Impossible III.

Russell Crowe

Audiences and critics alike were very much entertained by Russell Crowe's performance as Maximus Decimus Meridius in the 2000 Rome-set epic Gladiator, which earned the New Zealand-born star the Best Actor Oscar at the 73rd Academy Awards. Crowe would go up for the same award only a year later, for his portrayal of American mathematician John Forbes Nash Jr. in the biographical drama A Beautiful Mind, but he lost to Training Day lead Denzel Washington.

Jean Dujardin

Jean Dujardin rose to international fame with his performance as George Valentin in the 2011 silent movie The Artist — his Oscar win was a historic one, as he was the first French performer to ever take home the Best Actor statue. Despite his newfound Hollywood status, however, the actor-comedian returned to his native France for his next film credit: The Players, a 2012 comedy anthology co-starring Gilles Lellouche, with each man also directing and writing a segment.

Nicolas Cage

Nicolas Cage's filmography is a wild ride, from critically acclaimed fare like Raising Arizona, Moonstruck and Adaptation to straight-to-video shlock. Thankfully, his 1995 drama Leaving Las Vegas falls into the former category, winning Cage the Best Actor Oscar for his role as alcoholic screenwriter Ben Sanderson. (Funnily enough, it's not one of Nic Cage's favorite Nic Cage movies.) His next movie was the 1996 action thriller The Rock, which also won Cage an award: the Best On-Screen Duo statue at the MTV Movie Awards alongside co-star Sean Connery.

Eddie Redmayne

British star Eddie Redmayne won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of famed theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking in the 2014 biographical drama The Theory of Everything. But that career high was immediately followed by a career-low: a Golden Raspberry Award — a parody award honoring cinematic failures — for Worst Supporting Actor for his work in the galactically goofy 2015 space opera Jupiter Ascending. Even he admitted his performance was bad!

Sidney Poitier

A movie icon through and through, Bahamian-American actor Sidney Poitier made history in 1964 as the first Black performer to win the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in Lilies of the Field. A year later, he moved on from that seminal role with the 1965 Cold War thriller The Bedford Incident, as a civilian photojournalist aboard a U.S. Navy ship that gets into some messy business with a Soviet submarine. Though Bosley Crowther of The New York Times wrote that "the whole thing transcends plausibility," other critics clearly disagreed — the movie has an 86% Certified Fresh rating.

Sean Penn

After a trio of Best Actor nominations, Sean Penn's haunting performance as a grieving, vengeful father of a murdered Boston girl in the Clint Eastwood-directed neo-noir Mystic River finally got him the Academy Award in 2004. Later that year, Penn starred in yet another crime thriller, The Assassination of Richard Nixon, based on the story of the POTUS's would-be assassin Samuel Byck in the mid-1970s. The latter film didn't share the award-worthy gravitas of Mystic River, though, per Rotten Tomatoes, critical consensus said: "A fascinating true story and compelling Sean Penn performance are worthy compensations."

Roberto Benigni

Few Oscar wins were as memorable as Roberto Benigni's, what with presenter Sofia Loren's passionate declaration of "Roberto!" to Benigni's literal victory lap up to the stage. The Italian actor-director took the Best Actor trophy in 1998 for the Holocaust tragicomedy Life is Beautiful, making him the first honoree for a non-English language performance. A year later, he would appear in a very different movie: French-Italian-German comedy adventure flick Asterix and Obelix vs. Caesar opposite Gérard Depardieu and Christian Clavier, which was a box office success.

Al Pacino

One of the most influential actors in modern cinema, Al Pacino was nominated for eight Academy Awards — including for The Godfather films, Serpico and the crime drama classic Dog Day Afternoon — before finally taking home the Best Actor statue for playing Frank Slade in 1992's Scent of a Woman. That Oscar win gave viewers an extra critical eye on his next role, as Nuyorican criminal Carlito Brigante in the De Palma crime drama Carlito's Way, however, reviews were largely positive.

Ben Kingsley

It's a daunting thing playing any famous figure in movies based on true stories, especially when the subject is so famous, that they need only one name. Case in point: Gandhi, the 1982 bio epic about the Indian political and spiritual leader Mahatma Gandhi, directed by Richard Attenborough and performed by English actor Sir Ben Kingsley. Luckily for them, the film won Best Picture and Kingsley took home the Best Actor award. Though his next project, the 1983 film adaptation of Harold Pinter's play Betrayal, didn't get Oscar acclaim, it was well-received by critics.

Humphrey Bogart

It seems surprising that Humphrey Bogart didn't win the Oscar for a role as iconic as Rick Blaine in the 1942 classic Casablanca. No, it would actually be another eight years until ol' Bogie won Best Actor for The African Queen, starring as Canadian mechanic Charlie Allnut opposite Katharine Hepburn's Methodist missionary Rose Sayer. His post-Oscar follow-up was the 1952 noir Deadline – U.S.A.: Variety said "Bogart gives a convincing performance all the way" as a big-city newspaper editor who exposes a gangster's crimes.

Forest Whitaker

Forest Whitaker was ferocious and formidable as Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in the 2006 historical drama The Last King of Scotland, one of his best performances that got the performer a Best Actor Oscar in '07. Later that year, the actor appeared in the ensemble crime drama The Air I Breathe alongside Kevin Bacon, Julie Delpy and Brendan Fraser. Though reviews for the film were overwhelmingly negative, several singled out Whitaker's performance. Annabelle Robertson at Crosswalk wrote: "Whitaker, in particular, is extremely sympathetic in his role—a feat that is all the more outstanding after his turn as the evil dictator in The Last King of Scotland."

Dustin Hoffman

After three Best Actor nods, New Hollywood icon Dustin Hoffman received his first Academy Award for playing half of a couple going through a devastating divorce (alongside an equally great Meryl Streep) in Kramer vs. Kramer in 1980. His next movie role is just as much of a classic: as Michael Dorsey-slash-Dorothy Michaels in the beloved 1982 comedy Tootsie, which nabbed the star yet another Best Actor nomination.

Gary Oldman

Gary Oldman was nearly unrecognizable in his prosthetics-heavy performance as British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in the 2017 historical drama Darkest Hour. The Academy Awards honored the quintessential Oldman role with a Best Actor award, his second nomination after Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. His next role was just as transformative, if not nearly as acclaimed: Oldman voiced an artificial intelligence in the 2018 sci-fi thriller Tau, which holds a woeful critical rating of 27% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Laurence Olivier

One of the most celebrated Shakespearean actors in film history, cinema icon Laurence Olivier starred in and directed adaptations of three of the Bard's best-known words, Henry V (1944), Hamlet (1948) and Richard III (1955), and earned a Best Actor Oscar for playing the Prince of Denmark. After portraying one of the most famous characters of all time, Olivier switched it up by cameoing as a no-name policeman in the 1951 drama The Magic Box, a "distinguished" bit of stunt casting that The New York Times praised as a delightful "extravagance."

Casey Affleck

Casey Affleck's devastating performance as a father grieving the loss of his three children in Kenneth Lonergan's gut-wrenching Manchester by the Sea clearly broke the collective hearts of the Academy, which voted to give the Boston-bred performer the Best Actor award in 2017. That year, he would tackle another exploration of love and loss with the supernatural drama A Ghost Story, which was a hit with critics — Richard Brody of The New Yorker included the title on his list of the decade's best films.

Brendan Fraser

Brendan Fraser experienced quite the career comeback when he took the Best Actor Oscar for his acclaimed performance as a morbidly obese, housebound English teacher in the 2022 Darren Aronofsky-directed melodrama The Whale. He kept those high-profile projects going with his next film credit, as attorney W. S. Hamilton in Martin Scorsese's stunning American crime drama Killers of the Flower Moon, which was nominated for 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

Okay, so I've been wanting to write this one for a while now. I love Forest Whitaker. I've written about his best performances, and I will see pretty much anything he's in.

Which I think is important to note, since there are some films of his that just seem like they wouldn't work on paper. Like, say, the film where he plays a samurai hitman who waxes philosophical about Bushido.

If you've already seen the movie, then you know I'm talking about the 1999 cult classic, Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai. It's my favorite Forest Whitaker movie by far, and I have 5 reasons why.

First Off, It Is The Strangest, Most Bizarre "Action" Movie You Will Probably Ever See

In a lot of ways, I’m a little reluctant to call Ghost Dog an “action movie.” It’s often labeled as a “crime drama film,” and okay. I get that. I definitely wouldn’t put it in the same category as a Rambo or a Predator. But, in the same way that I'd consider most samurai movies as action flicks, I’d also include Ghost Dog in that category.

In fact, that’s what makes Ghost Dog so unique. It is both a superb, modern-day samurai movie, but also a magnificent gangster flick. There’s nothing else like it.

The story concerns a mafia hitman who follows the way of the samurai. He chills out on a rooftop and communicates through carrier pigeons. When he gets an assignment, he pulls it off with efficiency, but also badassness. For example, when he goes on a mission to kill a Made Man, he kills all of his men in the dopest way possible, with his movements looking as if he’s in double speed.

When he trains on a rooftop with his sword, it’s pretty much the coolest thing ever, as he moves so quickly, that it almost looks like he’s shadowboxing rather than swinging his blade.

In every way, the action in Ghost Dog is utterly thrilling, and it’s all blended together in this bizarre story with Forest Whitaker portraying a samurai, which sounds absolutely ludicrous, I know. That said…

The Idea Of Forest Whitaker As A Modern Day Samurai Seems Ridiculous At First. Until You Watch The Film

I remember when Ghost Dog first came out in theaters. Since it was 1999, which is often considered one of the greatest years in cinema, I spent most of my time being fascinated by movies like Fight Club, or enthralled by the phenomenon that was The Blair Witch Project. So, I didn’t catch great movies like Ghost Dog, or the fantastic The Talented Mr. Ripley in the cineplex.

No, instead, I picked it up at good old Blockbuster Video, and I’ve been a fan ever since. Even the box art made me laugh. It’s pretty bland, as it just features Forest Whitaker wearing a hood, but there’s also a blue, ethereal glow around him, and the title, Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, with the tagline reading, “Live by the code. Die by the code.”

Now, I was well aware of Forest Whitaker by the early 2000s. I knew him from flicks like Platoon, Species, and Phenomenon, and it had to be around 2006 when I finally watched Ghost Dog, so I had also seen him in Phone Booth, Panic Room, and the turkey that was Battlefield Earth. So, one thing I knew with certainty was that Forest Whitaker was no samurai.

But then, I watched Ghost Dog, and all I could think was, holy crap, he actually pulled it off.

Because Ghost Dog as a character is not your traditional samurai, and Ghost Dog as a movie is not your traditional samurai movie. It definitely feels urban, and Ghost Dog himself feels like both a product of his environment, but also completely detached from it, which makes him super unique as a character. It’s a performance where you totally believe that he believes he’s a samurai, and honestly, that’s enough.

The mafia around him is both perplexed by him, but also strangely accepting of his existence. It’s a movie that wouldn’t work if the tone wasn’t just right, and somehow, it is. That said, I think a lot of that has to do with the soundtrack, which I’ll get into next.

The Soundtrack By The RZA Is A Hidden Gem

I’m a MASSIVE fan of the Wu-Tang Clan, and RZA in particular. By the 2000s, I was deeply entrenched in everything Wu-related, so I wasn’t just buying the Wu albums that featured the Clan, but also Wu side projects, like Killarmy, Sunz of Man, Gravediggaz, and La the Darkman. Just to name a few!

So, when the RZA-produced Ghost Dog soundtrack came out, I just had to have it. In fact, I heard the soundtrack long before I actually watched the movie. And, man, let me tell you. If you’re a Wu-head like myself, then the Ghost Dog soundtrack is essential listening.

There are several bangers on this album, and it’s all interlaced with lines from the film.

I knew the Ghost Dog soundtrack from front to back, but the way it’s integrated in the movie itself is quite interesting. A lot of the beats occur in the film separated from the lyrics, but the action is punctuated where the lyrics would go, which is a unique approach.

Not only that, but rap culture plays a big part in the story, with some of the gangsters even rapping at times, like a cool scene where Ghost Dog shoots a man through his sink.

In every way, RZA’s soundtrack makes this bizarre world seem somewhat credible, which is no small feat.

There Is Genuinely Excellent Wisdom In This Movie

Throughout the film, Ghost Dog often quotes lines from Yamamoto Tsunetomo’s book, Hagakure. Now, at first, I thought this was utterly ridiculous, given the way he delivers the lines. But, throughout the film, you start to really listen to what he’s saying, and it’s actually really deep stuff.

For example, he talks about what it’s like to be one's own man, but to also follow your master to the end (which plays into the climax of the film). There are also quotes on what it means to exist. Like, my favorite line in the entire movie is, “Our bodies are given life from the form of nothingness,” which is quite obvious, but I never really thought of life like that before. It’s quite existential.

However, it’s followed up by this gem: “Existing where there is nothing is the meaning of the phrase, ‘form is emptiness’. That all things are provided for by nothingness is the meaning of the phrase, ‘Emptiness is form.’ One should not think that these are two separate things.”

And, like, wow. I actually had to pause the movie and think upon what he was talking about. For me to actually interrogate my inner world while watching a movie where Forest Whitaker plays a samurai hitman is, well, definitely not what I was expecting when I first popped in this movie, that’s for sure.

Ghost Dog Is Unlike Any Other Movie In Jim Jarmusch Or Whitaker's Entire Careers

Lastly, the reason why Ghost Dog is my favorite Forest Whitaker movie is because it’s unlike anything in his (Or Jim Jarmusch’s) filmography.

And, it’s not like Whitaker just plays any one role. He was a powerhouse in The Last King of Scotland as Idi Amin, and was just as intimidating as Saw Gerrera in my favorite Star Wars movie, Rogue One.

However, while Whitaker has a pretty diverse resume (even though he does seem to play a lot of cops), there is still nothing like Ghost Dog in his list of films. It stands out as a singular work by a legendary performer, and the fact that Jim Jarmusch also doesn’t have anything else like it in his filmography is just icing on the cake.

Jarmusch is one of our most fascinating filmmakers, and this is probably his weirdest (and most wonderful) film, which is really saying something from the man who directed Dead Man.

And, that’s the list. If you haven’t seen Ghost Dog yet, please do so. It’s one of a kind!

From 1978 to 1986, audiences tuned into Diff'rent Strokes, one of the all-time greatest sitcoms, to see what Gary Coleman's Arnold Jackson and his blended family were up to next (and to hear his classic TV catchphrase, "Whatcha talkin' bout, Willis?" Another great reason to watch the comedy was to see what celebrities might be stopping by that week. The following are some of our favorite high-profile guest appearances on Diff'rent Strokes.

Nancy Reagan (Herself)

Diff'rent Strokes had the honor of having a sitting United States First Lady on the show in its fifth season. Nancy Reagan appeared as herself, coming to Arnold's school and speaking to his classmates about issues facing the country before showing up at Phillip Drummond's (Conrad Bain) penthouse for a personal visit.

David Hasselhoff (Himself)

While he was starring on Knight Rider, David Hasselhoff appeared in a two-part episode of Diff'rent Strokes in which Phillip takes the family to Hollywood, where Arnold and his friend Dudley (Shavar Ross) meet the actor. Also appearing in the episode is Hasselhoff's non-human co-star from the classic '80s sci-fi TV show, KITT, who is portrayed as an actual, sentient, AI-equipped car, despite being voiced by Jim Ward and not William Daniels.

Ed "Too Tall" Jones (Himself)

In 1981, Ed Jones (nicknamed "Too Tall" for his 6'9" stature) was playing for the Dallas Cowboys as a defensive end. That same year, he appeared on a Season 3 episode of Diff'rent Strokes in which he visited the Drummond residence, which prompted Arnold to demonstrate his skills as a magician.

Milton Berle (Rabbi Morris)

In the Season 6 episode, "The Bar Mitzvah Boy," Arnold sees the plentiful display of gifts his Jewish friend receives for his Bar Mitzvah, which inspires him to consider joining the faith himself. That is how he crosses paths with Rabbi Morris, who is played by comedy legend Milton Berle, who was best known then for appearing in many hilarious celebrity roasts and delivering some of the best ribbing humor around.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Mr. Wilkes)

Many of basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's most notable TV appearances saw him portray himself but he changed things up when he guest-starred on Diff'rent Strokes. The actor (also known for starring in one of the best spoof movies, 1980's Airplane!) was in two episodes as Mr. Wilkes, a teacher whom Arnold and his classmates always fail to outsmart.

Muhammad Ali (Himself)

In the Season 2 episode, "Arnold's Hero," Arnold gets to meet his most beloved idol, Muhammad Ali, appearing as himself, by a troubling means. He enlists Willis (Todd Bridges) and Kimberly (Dana Plato) to coerce the boxing legend to visit the penthouse by convincing him that their little brother is at death's door.

Lance Parrish (Himself)

In Season 7's "Baseball Blues," Phillip takes over for Sam (Danny Cooksey, who was a major casting shake-up for the show) little league coach after he quits but the team soon begins to suffer from his methods. Luckily, he is able to receive some help from a sponsor for one of his favorite charities, then Detroit Tigers catcher Lance Parrish.

John Astin (C.W.)

Best known as the first actor to play Gomez in the 1964 sitcom adaptation of Charles Addams' iconic comic strip, The Addams Family, John Astin also had a memorable guest appearance on Diff'rent Strokes. The actor, appropriately, appeared in a "creepy and kooky" episode called "A Haunting We Will Go," in which Arnold and Sam suspect that a nearby house is inhabited by spirits and decided to look into the matter themselves.

Clarence Clemons (Mr. Kingsley)

In the Season 8 episode, "So You Want to Be a Rock Star?," Arnold consults his saxophone instructor, Mr Kingsley, for help when he discovers that his skills with the sax could be a lot better. Who better to play the role than one of the most iconic saxophonists in music history, the late Clarence "Big Man" Clemons, who was essentially Bruce Springsteen's right-hand man in E Street Band?

Mr. T (Himself)

Following his success as Clubber Lang in the third Rocky movie and months after The A-Team premiered, Mr. T's larger-than-life presence complemented Gary Coleman's smaller stature quite well in his Diff'rent Strokes guest appearance. After Arnold meets the actor and wrestler, he adopts his distinct style hoping to win the affection of his crush, prompting the real T to, instead of pitying the fool, giving him a much-needed heart-to-heart.

Gordon Jump (Mr. Horton)

One of the most memorable dramatic moments from a classic sitcom occurs in a "very special episode" of Diff'rent Strokes called "The Bicycle Man," in which bike shop owner Mr. Horton becomes uncomfortably close to Arnold and Dudley. The predatory role was portrayed by Gordon Jump, who was previously best known as Arthur Carlson on WKRP In Cincinnati and later played the Maytag Repairman.

Janet Jackson (Charlene)

Beyond being a member of the famous Jackson family and before her own singing career began to heat up, Janet Jackson made a name for himself with sitcom acting, such as joining Good Times as Penny. Her second major acting gig was a guest spot on Diff'rent Strokes as Willis' girlfriend, Charlene, which became a 10-episode recurring stint.

Dorothy Hamill (Herself)

A Season 5 episode called "Family on Ice" follows Kimberly's training to achieve her dream of being a professional figure skater. Along the way, she receives help from a professional; figure skater: Dorothy Hamill, who won an Olympic Gold medal in 1976.

Reggie Jackson (Larry)

In Season 2's "Father and Son Day," Willis fears that Phillip may not be able to compete in father-son athletic competition with him and decides to find someone else to pose as his dad. He enlists the help of a gym member named Larry, played by New York Yankees right fielder Reggie Jackson in an acting gig that predates his hilarious cameo in a great parody movie you may have heard of.

Kim Fields (Tootie)

Diff'rent Strokes spawned a great spin-off TV show called The Facts of Life, in which Charlotte Rae's Edna Garrett (the Drummonds' original housekeeper) served as a housemother and dietitian at the Eastland School. One of the students under her care was Tootie, whom Kim Fields would appear as in a few episodes of Diff'rent Strokes.

Molly Ringwald (Molly Parker)

Before Molly Ringwald took Hollywood by storm, starring in some of the best movies of the 1980s (such as Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club), she made her acting debut on Diff'rent Strokes. She appeared in two episodes, fitting in the role of a girl named Molly, who was friends with Kimberly.

Dabney Coleman (Fred Tanner)

Emmy winner Dabney Coleman (no relation to Gary) appeared on the two-part Season 2 premiere of Diff'rent Strokes as Fred Tanner, whose daughter, Alice (Rachel Jacobs), shares a hospital room with Arnold when he needs an appendectomy. When Tanner requests to put Alice in a separate room because of Arnold's race, the kids decide to flee the hospital on their own.

Soleil Moon Frye (Terry Harris)

Soon after playing the title role of Punky Brewster made her one of the top child stars of her time, Soleil Moon Frye earned a guest spot on Diff'rent Strokes in the sitcom's seventh season. She plays Terry, whom Sam befriends and invites her over for a sleepover.

Shari Belafonte-Harper (Monique)

One of the earliest acting roles of Shari Belafonte-Harper, daughter of Harry Belafonte, was a guest spot on Diff'rent Strokes as Monique, a cocktail server who agrees to go out with Willis, with help from a fake ID, phony mustache, and the alias Ronaldo. However, it all blows up in the teenager's face when his girlfriend, Charlene, catches him trying to keep the older woman a secret.

Hoyt Axton (Wes McKinney)

Some might recognize country music star Hoyt Axton's best as Randall Peltzer in the classic holiday horror movie Gremlins but he also had a memorable appearance on Diff'rent Strokes. He appears as Sam's biological father, Wes, who shows up at Phillip's penthouse announcing that he wants to take the little boy home with him.

Ray Bolger (Clarence Markwell)

Ray Bolger, who is best known for starring in the beloved kid's movie, The Wizard of Oz, as the Scarecrow, gave his final performance on Diff'rent Strokes in the episode, "A Haunting We Will Go" He plays Clarence Markwell, whom Arnold and Sam initially suspect is a ghost who haunts the house from across the street.

Mindy Cohn (Natalie Green)

Some episodes of Diff'rent Strokes served as crossover episodes with its spin-off, The Facts of Life, such as the episodes when Mindy Cohn appeared as Natalie Green. She first showed up in Season 2 (alongside Kim Fields as Tootie) in "The Slumber Party" and the following year (alongside Lisa Whelchel as Blair) in "The Older Man."

Jayne Kennedy (Mrs. Jenkins)

Jayne Kennedy made history as the first Black woman to be crowned Miss Ohio in 1970, which paved the way for a successful acting career that included guest spots on the likes of Wonder Woman, the TV series adaptation of Shaft, and Diff'rent Strokes. She plays a teacher named Mrs. Jenkins, whom Arnold discovers has a second job at a sleazy nightclub where she moonlights as a server.

Joey Lawrence (Joey)

Years before starring in Blossom made him a household name, one of Joey Lawrence's earliest acting roles was on a Season 5 episode of Diff'rent Strokes as a lonely boy also named Joey. Arnold asks Willis to serve as a "big brother" to the kid but he ends up spending so much time with him, that it makes Arnold envious. 

Andrew Dice Clay (Crazy Larry)

One of Comedian Andrew Dice Clay's earliest acting roles was Larry on Diff'rent Strokes. He appeared in two episodes of the sitcom's fifth season as Willis' friend, the first one in which Willis tries to smooth things over between Larry and a rival high school gang and another when he tries to enlist Kimberly to help Larry capture the heart of a crush.

Hervé Villechaize (Himself)

In Season 7's "Arnold the Entrepreneur," Arnold decides to start a business going door-to-door selling bug spray with Sam as his assistant (and mascot) and one of their customers happens to be Hervé Villechaize. The French actor was best known at the time as James Bond villain Nick Nack and as Tattoo on Fantasy Island.

Spice Williams-Crosby (Ellen)

Wrestler, body-builder, stunt performer, and actor Spice Williams-Crosby was one of the most underrated public figures of her time. Her guest spot on Diff'rent Strokes may be largely forgotten (she was credited as Marcelyn Ann Williams then) but fans of the Star Trek movies might recognize her as Vixis in 1989's Star Trek V: The Final Frontier.

Jami Gertz (Lindsey)

Early on in her career, Jami Gertz actually played two different roles in the Diff'rent Strokes/The Facts of Life Universe. In her Diff'rent Strokes episode, she played a character named Lindsey, who was the object of affection for a friend of Willis' named Larry, played by fellow guest star Andrew Dice Clay. Unfortunately, in trying to help Larry spruce up his personality for Lindsey, Kimberly accidentally attracts his attention instead.

Krista Errickson (Diane Alder)

In addition to The Facts of Life, Diff'rent Strokes also existed in the same universe as a short-lived NBC sitcom called Hello, Larry. The connection between the two series would later be explained in a couple of crossover episodes, in which Krista Errickson appeared as Diane Alder alongside her other co-stars.

Robin Givens (Ann)

The eighth and final season of Diff'rent Strokes featured a guest appearance by Robin Givens (right around the time she was cast on Head of the Class as Darlene Merriman) as Ann. Willis attempts to set up Arnold on a date with Ann's younger sister, Phyllis (Tyren Perry), whom he ends up having to bribe with concert tickets.

Forest Whitaker (Herman)

Future Academy Award winner and Black Panther star Forest Whitaker was in his early 20s when he appeared on Diff'rent Strokes in the guest role of Herman. While known as the school bully, he actually comes to Arnold with a favor to look after his girlfriend while he takes time away from school only to discover that the lady has developed a thing for Arnold.

Abb Dickson (Postman)

Abb Dickson was one of the most famous magicians of his time. For his guest appearance on Diff'rent Strokes, he played a postal worker.

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

Ben Kingsley - Gandhi

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

Margot Robbie - Tonya Harding

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

Paul Dano - Brian Wilson

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

Reese Witherspoon - June Carter Cash

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

Robert Downey, Jr - Charlie Chaplin

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

Natalie Portman - Jackie Kennedy

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

Meryl Streep - Margaret Thatcher

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

Rami Malek - Freddy Mercury

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

Val Kilmer - Jim Morrison

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

Denzel Washington - Malcolm X

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

Faye Dunaway - Joan Crawford

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

Jennifer Lopez - Selena

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

David Oyelowo - Dr, Martin Luther King, Jr.

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

Cate Blanchett - Bob Dylan

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

Daniel Day-Lewis - Abraham Lincoln

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

Cillian Murphy - J. Robert Oppenheimer

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

Cynthia Erivo - Harriet Tubman

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

Forest Whitaker - Idi Amin

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

Jessica Chastain - Tammy Faye Bakker

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

Philip Seymour Hoffman - Truman Capote

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

Daniel Kaluuya - Fred Hampton

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

Gary Oldman - Winston Churchill

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

Angela Bassett - Tina Tuner

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

Austin Butler - Elvis Presley

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

Jesse Eisenberg - Mark Zuckerberg

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

Leonardo DiCaprio - Howard Hughes

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

Charlize Theron - Aileen Wuornos

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

Sean Penn - Harvey Milk

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

George C. Scott - George Patton

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

Cate Blanchett - Katharine Hepburn

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

Robert De Niro - Jake LaMotta

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

Helen Mirren - Queen Elizabeth II

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

Forest Whitaker has impressed audiences and Hollywood for decades by delivering multiple incredible performances. As an actor’s actor, Whitaker has hopped from genre to genre on his lengthy and legendary resume, from acclaimed films like Good Morning, Vietnam, and Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai to blockbusters like Panic Room and cult classics like Fast Times at Ridgemont High. 

Impressing moviegoers and critics should’ve led to Whitaker securing multiple Academy Awards over his decades-long filmography. However, the Respect cast member only has one Best Actor Oscar, for the biopic The Last King of Scotland. His single win doesn’t mean the Oscar winner hasn’t delivered more Oscar-worthy performances. So, here are just a few Forest Whitaker movies worthy of an Academy Award.

Bird (1988)

After years of notable supporting roles, Forest Whitaker finally got his shot at a lead role in the 1988 biopic Bird. He swung for the fences by playing influential jazz saxophonist and band leader Charlie “Bird” Parker Jr.

As a consummate actor, the Oscar winner mastered mimicry and emotional work in this experimental approach to Parker’s life. Doing so allowed Whitaker to explore the ebbs and flows of Parker’s short-lived music career during his drug addiction. He inhabited the physical and mental stress associated with addiction in his performance.

Despite being the central character, Whitaker shared the movie’s best moments with co-stars like Diane Venora, Michael Zelniker, Samuel E. Wright, and Keith David. The cast and film received critical acclaim despite not being a box-office hit. For his performance, the filmmaker-actor received Best Actor at Cannes and a Golden Globe nomination. Unfortunately, the awards and acclaim didn’t translate into a much-deserved Best Actor Oscar nomination.

You can buy/rent the must-watch musical biopic with an Amazon Prime Video subscription.

The Crying Game (1992)

Taking on lead roles didn’t deter Whitaker from accepting robust supporting roles like in the cult classic The Crying Game. He experimented with his acting skills as captured British soldier Jody.

Whitaker served a small but crucial role in the crime thriller as the story’s catalyst for freeing an IRA prisoner. Viewers watched as Jody interacted with the crew in an antagonistic dynamic which played into tropes of warfare and relationships during Whitaker’s short screen time. He even got to act out a plot twist filled with social taboos.

The talent created outstanding moments onscreen with co-stars Stephen Rea and Miranda Richardson. The cast and film received universal critical and commercial reception. The eventual Oscar winner garnered an NAACP Image Award nom. Unfortunately, the critical acclaim never panned out to a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination.

Stream the Oscar-winning film with Amazon Prime Video.

The Great Debaters (2007)

Despite securing multiple leading roles, Forest Whitaker has always been an ace at supporting roles, such as in the historical drama The Great Debaters. He played real-life minister and author James L. Farmer Sr, the father of future civil rights leader James Farmer Jr. (played by Denzel Whitaker).

While not in every scene, the Hollywood A-lister propelled the movie’s storyline on multiple fronts. It is most clear in the father-son scenes between both Whitakers, especially after a late-night argument. However, his behavior came from an overprotective father trying to keep his son alive in the 1935 American South. This dynamic even causes friction between the elder Farmer and Denzel Washington’s Melvin B. Tolson.

While the father-son dynamic between the Whitakers was moving, his best scenes came when facing off against Washington as both actors brought their A-game. Playing an essential role in The Great Debaters led him to score an NAACP Image Award win. Unfortunately, the film’s acclaim didn’t turn into a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination.

Stream the acclaimed historical drama through an Amazon Prime Video subscription.

Lee Daniel's The Butler (2013)

After his career breakthrough with Bird, Whitaker never shied away from real-life characters. The actor stepped into the shoes of White House butler Cecil Gaines (pseudonym for Eugene Allen) for the drama Lee Daniel’s The Butler.

The Ghost Dog actor drew from Allen’s real-life experience while taking creative liberties with his portrayal. He served as a vehicle for certain historical and political moments throughout the film. Whitaker tapped into the character’s emotion as his personal and professional life evolved through the decades.

He worked exceptionally well with the all-star cast, including Oprah Winfrey, David Oyelowo, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Lenny Kravitz. Critics lauded Whitaker’s performance. This acclaim translated to him receiving an NAACP Image Award win and Satellite and SAG Award nominations. All the Oscar buzz didn’t translate into Whitaker scoring a much-deserved Best Actor Oscar nomination.

You can rent/buy the true-life-inspired story through Amazon Prime Video.

Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (2021)

Forest Whitaker has occasionally jumped into the fantasy genre throughout his career. However, nothing was as monumental as the all-star, feel-good Christmas Netflix musical Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey. Whitaker played genius toymaker-turned-disgruntled curmudgeon Jeronicus Jangle for this holiday classic.

While not a traditional singer, Whitaker took on classic Christmas movie tropes while subverting them through different characterizations. The musical elements showed audiences a different side to the Oscar winner despite him being nervous about doing so. Besides singing, the actor showed off his dramatic and comedy chops in this seasonal redemption story about familial healing and forgiveness among Jangle, his granddaughter, and his daughter.

The Hollywood icon had outstanding scenes with his onscreen granddaughter, Madalen Mills (in her movie debut). The grandfather-granddaughter duo had heartfelt scenes and were relatable, but he even shared special moments with Anika Noni Rose and Lisa Davina Phillip. Jingle Jangle became a hit with critics and audiences, with viewers singling out Whitaker’s impressive performance. He did score an NAACP Image Award nomination. However, he didn’t score a Best Actor Oscar nomination.

Get into this modern-day Christmas classic by streaming it with a Netflix subscription.

These prior performances highlight Forest Whitaker’s chameleon-like ability to deliver Oscar-worthy roles for the Academy’s recognition. Collecting only one Academy Award hasn’t deterred the Black Panther actor from scoring more film projects. He has multiple upcoming films coming down the pipeline, including the crime drama Havoc and the animated Biblical film, The King of Kings. Maybe one of those movies will allow him to hear his name called again on film’s biggest night. While the film director has no works coming to theaters or streaming this year, multiple other projects are on the 2024 movie schedule.

Everything is bigger in Texas, they say, and that certainly includes the star power of its homegrown celebrities. From the biggest stars in music to the biggest on the silver screen, the biggest celebs in the squared circle, and almost everywhere else, Texas has bred them all. 

California may be home to Hollywood, but there might not be a Hollywood without its biggest legends who hail from the Lone Star State, so here is our list of some of the biggest stars from Texas

Matthew McConaughey

Matthew McConaughey was born in Uvalde, Texas, raised mostly in Longview, TX, went to college in Austin, and got his first big break in show business in Dazed & Confused, which was, of course, filmed in Texas. McConaughey still lives in Austin. It makes sense that the proud Texan wants to see more movies made in his home state. McConaughey has also sparked rumors in the past that he might be interested in running for political office in Texas, though he's usually brushed them aside. Politician or not, the man sure loves his home state. 

Renée Zellweger

She may have won accolades for playing an English woman, but Renée Zellweger is Texas through and through. The Bridget Jones' Diary star was born outside Houston in Katy, TX, and grew up there before attending the University of Texas. It was in Austin that she discovered her love for acting and she landed her first on-screen role as an extra in Dazed & Confused. 

Owen Wilson

Dallas-born Owen Wilson has played a lot of fantastic roles over the years, but none better than his many roles in the films of Wes Anderson. Wilson and fellow Texan Anderson have been friends since their college days at the University of Texas. It's also worth noting that both of Owen Wilson's brothers, Luke and Andrew, also hail from Texas, of course. 

Jim Parsons

While some people ooze "Texas," Houston native Jim Parsons doesn't, really. You might guess he'd be from New York or Chicago, but nope, he's a Texan. Born and raised in the suburbs of Houston, he also attended the University of Houston before striking out for Hollywood and making it big. 

Carol Burnett

Comedy legend Carol Burnett grew up in California, attending high school right in Hollywood, but the Annie star was born deep in the heart of Texas, in San Antonio in 1933. Though her vast career has taken her far from Texas, the state can still call her one of its own. 

Beyoncé

If the stars are brighter and everything is bigger in Texas, then it only makes sense that one of the biggest stars would come from Houston. There is no bigger star on the planet than Beyoncé, who was born and raised in Texas along with her sister Solange and her Destiny's Child bandmate, LaTavia Roberson. 

Selena Gomez

Like many other native Texas, Selena Gomez is proud of her Mexican heritage. The Only Murders In The Building star was born in Grand Prairie, Texas, near Dallas, and although her many acting roles and career took her to California early in life, her family's roots are firmly in the Lone Star State. Gomez is named for another Texas native as well, the late Tejano superstar Selena, who was murdered in Corpus Christi in 1995. 

Woody Harrelson

Woody Harrelson first got famous playing a farm boy-turned-bartender from Indiana on Cheers, and while he moved to Ohio as a teenager, Harrelson was born in Midland, Texas. He's also tight with his occasional co-star and fellow Texan, Matthew McConaughey, and, according to McConaughey, the two could even be brothers! 

Tommy Lee Jones

Sure, he was roommates at Harvard with Al Gore, but Tommy Lee Jones is all Texan. The No Country For Old Men star was born in the small town of San Saba, Texas, and raised in Midland. He's never really strayed far either, as he has resided in Terrell Hills, TX, near San Antonio, for years. He's also a member of the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, and the Texas Film Hall of Fame. There really isn't another actor who screams "Texas" like Jones, is there?

Steve Martin

Waco-born Steve Martin is one of the funniest people in film history. While he grew up mostly in Southern California, his roots are originally in central Texas, where he was born in Waco, on August 14th, 1945, the same day that the Japanese surrendered in World War II. 

Jamie Foxx

The multi-talented Jamie Foxx started acquiring his many skills as a kid in Terrell, TX, outside Dallas, where he was born and raised. As a kid, he played piano and excelled at sports at Terrell High School. He moved to Southern California after school and in 1991, scored a role on In Living Color, and the rest is history. 

Jennifer Garner

Jennifer Garner moved to West Virginia when she was just three, so she probably doesn't remember much of anything from her early life in Texas, but the Daredevil star was born in Houston. 

Kelly Clarkson

Kelly Clarkson exploded into show business by winning the first-ever season of American Idol and she's been a star ever since. It's a journey that started when she was born in Forth Worth, TX, and raised in the suburb of Burleson, just outside the city. While her career may have taken her to LA and New York, her heart (and sports allegiance) has stayed in Texas.

Wes Anderson

People love to debate what the best Wes Anderson movie is, but if you are wondering what is his most personal, it's probably Bottle Rocket, which was filmed almost entirely in Anderson's home state of Texas. It stars a couple of fellow Texans as well, Owen and Luke Wilson. While the Wilsons are from Dallas originally, Anderson hails from Houston. 

Megan Thee Stallion

Megan Thee Stallion is a triple threat. She proved herself on the mic, and on the dance floor, first, then she started taking over TV and movies by starring in her first film in 2023. Before all that happened, though, she grew up in and around Houston. The “H-town Hottie” even got her nickname, Stallion, in the city. 

Michelle Rodriguez

Michelle Rodriguez has been in some huge film franchises, like Fast & Furious and Avatar. She kind of grew up all over, including in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, but she was born and lived for a few years of her life in San Antonio, TX. 

Ethan Hawke

Ethan Hawke's parents were high school sweethearts who had Ethan shortly after they were married. Born in 1970 in Austin, TX, Hawke moved to the Northeast with his mother but spent his summers in Fort Worth with his dad. His grandfather even served in the Texas House of Representatives for 10 years. He has deep Texas roots that he is proud of. 

Hilary Duff

Lizzie McGuire star Hilary Duff is another Texas girl. Born in Houston, her family also spent time in San Antonio before moving to California when Duff was still young to pursue her acting career. Boy did that pay off quickly! 

Jennifer Love Hewitt

From a young age, Jennifer Love Hewitt was showing off her talents, singing and dancing across Texas, where she was born in 1979. Eventually, even the Lone Star State could not contain her and she moved to LA with her family, where she soon landed her first starring role on the legendary Party Of Five, after having roles on the Disney Channel and elsewhere as a kid. 

Eva Longoria

Born in Corpus Christi, TX in 1975, Eva Longoria has always been proud of her Tejano roots. In fact, her ancestry and culture are so important to her that she returned to college to earn a Master's degree in Chicano studies from Cal State-Northridge.

Forest Whitaker

Though he went to high school in Los Angeles, Forest Whitaker's life began in Longview, Texas. Every summer of his youth, he spent time with his grandparents in Longview and still has family all over Texas. 

Taylor Sheridan

It's no surprise that Taylor Sheridan is from Texas. While he was actually born in North Carolina, the Yellowstone creator is the definition of a true Texan. Not only did he grow up in Fort Worth, but he owns a working ranch in the Lone Star state called 6666 Ranch. He and his family live in Weatherford, Texas.

Farrah Fawcett

She might have had the reputation of being the all-American blonde from California, but Farrah Fawcett was born and raised in Texas. After high school in Corpus Christi, she attended the University of Texas before heading to Hollywood where she immediately started landing acting and modeling jobs. Once she scored her role on Charlie's Angels, the rest is history. 

Isaiah Washington

Controversial actor Isaiah Washington's most prominent role was in the first three seasons of Grey's Anatomy. Since then, he's worked on numerous films and TV shows, before announcing his retirement in 2023. He was born and raised in Houston. 

William Jackson Harper

Star of The Good Place William Jackson Harper is a native Texan, born in Dallas and raised in Garland, TX, where he first started acting in high school. His Texas-sized determination kept him going when he struggled early in his career, before finding a starring role on the Kristen Bell-led sitcom. 

Dakota Johnson

It might be surprising to learn that despite being the daughter of Hollywood royalty, Dakota Johnson was born in Texas. She was born to Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson in Austin while her father shot a movie in the Lone Star State. The star was then raised in Los Angeles, of course, but Austin will always be where she came into this world. Since then, she's built a great career. 

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin

Steven James Anderson loves his home state so much, that he took a name based on its capital, Austin. Better known as "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, the WWE superstar was, in fact, born in Austin, though he was raised mostly in Edna, TX. The wrestler still owns property in the state, Broken Skull Ranch, near Tilden, TX. It's not like he hides his love for the state either, as one of his many nicknames is "The Texas Rattlesnake."

Gary Busey

People sometimes forget that Gary Busey was once nominated for an Oscar for playing Texan Buddy Holly in The Buddy Holly Story, and the actor also hails from Holly's home state. Busey was born in the Houston area; Baytown, Texas, to be exact. He moved to Oklahoma in elementary school and it was in Tulsa that the enigmatic actor began his show biz career. One of his first big breaks in Hollywood was a TV show that was set in Texas called, appropriately, The Texas Wheelers.

Gina Carano

Gina Carano was controversially dismissed from The Mandalorian and whether you agree with the decision or not, it's hard to argue that the MMA star brought a little bit of that strong individualism Texas is known for to the role and her career. Something that might be inherent in her, as she was born in Dallas County Texas.

Shaquille O'Neal

Texas is a huge state, with a lot of personality, so it only makes sense that a celebrity who's physically large and has a personality to match would hail from the state. Shaquille O’Neal is an Army brat, so he moved around a lot as a kid, including being born in New Jersey. It's in Texas, however, where the world started to pay attention to O'Neal as he became a standout basketball star, eventually becoming a top college recruit and going to LSU for school. He was drafted into the NBA as the #1 overall pick in 1992, and the rest is history.  

Robin Wright

Robin Wright might be best known for playing a Washington insider on House Of Cards and a Buttercup in The Princess Bride, but before all that, she was born in Dallas in 1966. Her parents divorced when she was young and her family moved to Southern California, but for those two years, she was a Texan. 

Michael Strahan

He first made a name for himself playing football in New York, and now he's known for hosting Good Morning America in New York, but Michael Strahan is a born and bred Texan. He was born in Houston, and went to high school there, though for a little while he lived with his family in Germany where his father was stationed in the Army. 

There you have it, a list that proves everything is, indeed, bigger in Texas. The toast, the steer, the plains, and the stars. Not just the stars in the sky, but the stars in Hollywood and beyond. Few states can compete with the Lone Star state when it comes to star power. 

When it comes to Apple TV+, they’ve been coming out with hit after hit, whether it be the famous Ted Lasso, or the award-winning Severance, there’s plenty on the streaming service to love. And now, they’re back with the latest ensemble series, Extrapolations. 

The TV show is an anthology drama series that shows the effects of climate change across the world, from different characters that are somehow all connected. In any show like this, there are many stars that you have probably seen somewhere before. Here is where you might have spotted the Extrapolations cast. 

Kit Harington (Nicholas Bilton)

First up on the list is Kit Harington, who plays Nicholas Bilton in Extrapolations. Harington is primarily known for his role as Jon Snow in the Game of Thrones cast, but he’s also had roles in shows such as Gunpowder, and was in movies like Pompeii as well as Eternals. 

Daveed Diggs (Rabbi Marshall Zucker)

Daveed Diggs portrays Rabbi Marshall Zucker in Extrapolations, and the actor has been on a grind recently with his shows and movies. While Diggs is primarily known for his role in the Hamilton cast, he’s the star of Snowpiercer, and was also in big movies such as Soul and Blindspotting. 

Sienna Miller (Rebecca) 

Next up is Sienna Miller, who plays Rebecca. Miller has been in films such as The Lost City of Z, Foxcatcher, American Woman, and G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. She was also in the TV film, The Girl. 

Meryl Streep (Eve)

Portraying Eve in Extrapolations is Meryl Streep, a name that I’m sure we are all very familiar with. Streep has been in so many movies that it’s hard to even keep track sometimes. I’m sure that somehow, someway, you have heard of her, so let’s go over some of her best roles and where you’ve seen her before.  

Streep got started back in the 1970s on the stage, but later on moved into movies and TV with films such as Julia, Kramer vs. Kramer, Sophie’s Choice, Out of Africa, Death Becomes Her, The Bridges of Madison Country, The Post, Little Women, The Devil Wears Prada, Into the Woods, The Hours, and more. If you want to hear something crazy, she holds the record for the most nominations by an actress for the Academy Awards – 21. 

Besides movies, Streep has done a lot in television, as well. She had a lead role in the miniseries, Holocaust, as well as a starring part in the second season of Big Little Lies. She was also a part of the miniseries, Angels in America, which won her a Primetime Emmy award. 

Michael Gandolfini (Rowan)

The son of James Gandolfini, Michael Gandolfini portrays Rowan in the series. He’s been in films such as Ocean’s 8, and portrayed the younger version of Tony Soprano in The Many Saints of Newark on HBO Max. He is also going to be in Beau is Afraid, coming out later in 2023.

Heather Graham (Hannah)

Moving on, we take a look at Heather Graham, who plays Hannah. She’s been in many films that you might recognize her from, such as Six Degrees of Separation, Boogie Nights, Bowfinger, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Horns and more. She also had a supporting role in Twin Peaks, and was in the shows Scrubs and Californication. 

Tahar Rahim (Omar) 

Tahar Rahim portrays Omar in Extrapolations, and this actor has already been all over in movies and television. Rahim is mainly known for his role as Judas in the film Mary Magdalene, as well as his big part in The Looming Tower, but he’s also been in movies such as The French Prophet, and the miniseries, The Serpent.

Matthew Rhys (Junior) 

Moving on, we take a look at Matthew Rhys, who plays Junior. Rhys is primarily known for his starring role in the famed drama, The Americans, but he’s also been in films such as The Edge of Love, The Post, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, and more. He’s also the titular character in Perry Mason, and has done voice work in the underrated animated show, The Owl House. 

David Schwimmer (Harris Goldblatt) 

Harris Goldblatt is played by David Schwimmer, and I’m pretty sure most of us are aware of Schwimmer from his time as part of the Friends cast. However, he has plenty of movie work under his belt, including the Madagascar series, Nothing But the Truth, The Pallbearer and more. He was also a part of Band of Brothers, and was one of the stars of The People vs. O.J. Simpson. 

Diane Lane (Martha)

Next up is Diane Lane, who plays Martha and has been in many, many movies. Some of her biggest hits have been Man of Steel, The Cotton Club, Streets of Fire, The Lady Beware, and Hollywoodland. 

Edward Norton (Jonathan) 

Edward Norton plays Jonathan, and he has been around in the film industry for some time. Recently, he was a part of the Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery cast, and was also the lead in The Incredible Hulk, but has starred in many other movies, like Fight Club, Bourne Legacy, and The Grand Budapest Hotel, among others. 

Mia Maestro (Mariama)

Moving on, we have Mia Maestro, who plays Mariama in Extrapolations. Maestro is primarily known for her role in shows such as The Strain and Alias, as well as her parts in The Twilight Saga, and her role in Frida.

Indira Varma (Gita) 

Indira Varma plays Gita and was also a part of the Game of Thrones cast, but has been in other television roles such as on Obi-Wan Kenobi, the Amazon original, Carnival Row, Luther, Human Target and more. She was also in movies like Silent Hours and the Disney+ original movie, The One and Only Ivan. 

Adarsh Gourav (Guarav)

Next up on the list is Adarsh Gourav, who plays Guarav in Extrapolations. The actor is primarily known for his work in Bollywood, as he’s appeared in many Hindi films, but he was also in the American film, The White Tiger in 2020. He was also a part of the online web series, Hostel Daze. 

Keri Russell (Olivia Drew)

Another big name here is Keri Russell, who plays Olivia Drew. Russell is also known from her starring role in The Americans (alongside her real-life partner, Matthew Rhys), as well as her breakout starring role on the college show, Felicity, but has since appeared in many other shows and movies. Most recently, she starred in Cocaine Bear, but has also appeared in films such as Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, We Were Soldiers, and more. 

Gemma Chan (Natasha)

Moving on, we take a look at Gemma Chan, who plays Natasha. Chan was also a part of the Eternals cast, but has appeared in many other movies, such as Don’t Worry Darling, Crazy Rich Asians, Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit and more. She was also a part of the Humans television series. 

Marion Cotillard (Sylvie)

Marion Cotillard is a French actress who plays Sylvie on Extrapolations. Cotillard is primarily known for her Academy Award-winning role in La Vie en Rose, but has been in many other movies such as Taxi, Inception, The Immigrant, Midnight in Paris, The Dark Knight Rises and others. 

Eiza Gonzalez (Elodie)

Next up on the list is Eiza Gonzalez, who plays Elodie in Extrapolations. The young actress was primarily known for her role in Spanish telenovelas for many years, but has since started to break into Hollywood with many roles in movies such as Baby Driver, I Care A Lot, Godzilla vs. Kong, and 2022’s Ambulance. 

Tobey Maguire (Nicolas) 

You’d really have to be living under a rock to not know who Tobey Maguire is, and thankfully, he’s back in action in Extrapolations, where he plays Nicolas. Maguire is primarily known for his years as Spider-Man, where he played Peter Parker for three films and reprised the role in Spider-Man: No Way Home, but he’s done plenty in the acting industry besides that. 

His biggest roles besides Spider-Man include those in The Great Gatsby, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Pleasantville, The Cider House Rules, Brothers, and many more. He was also recently in 2022’s Babylon, which was nominated for an Academy Award. 

Forest Whitaker (Augustin)

Last but not least, we take a look at Forest Whitaker, who has been in the industry for some time and appeared in many, many big-time movies. He plays Augustin in Extrapolations. Some of Whitaker’s biggest roles thus far have included parts in movies like Platoon, The Great Debaters, The Butler, Respect, The Crying Game, Good Morning Vietnam, and The Last King of Scotland. 

Whitaker has also appeared in such big films like Rogue One: A Star Wars Series, and was also in Black Panther. Currently, he stars in the series, Godfather of Harlem. 

Keep in mind that this isn’t even the complete cast, so if you’re at all interested in seeing anyone else that might not be on this list, be sure to check it out at Apple TV+. Either way, Extrapolations is looking to be an intense show – and with an even more intense cast list. It’ll still be fun, that’s for sure.  

Tragedy fell recently when actor Paul Sorvino passed away at the age of 83. He was a man of many talents known for playing authority figures on both sides of the law in Goodfellas and Law & Order, sang operas in productions like The Most Happy Fella, and even made a sculptor of the late playwright Jason Miller located in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Now Mira Sorvino, Forest Whitaker, and many other celebrities made sure to post heartwarming tributes to the accomplished actor.

American actress Mira Sorvino, known for being an alumnus of Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion, tweeted about the passing of her father. She described him as being “the most wonderful father” and made sure to send her love to him “in the stars.”

Actor Forest Whitaker, who is best known for performances in films like The Last King of Scotland, paid tribute to Sorvino by posting a photo of when they both appeared in the Epix series Godfather of Harlem. He sent comfort and love to his family as well as many blessings.

Actress Marlee Matlin, whose latest film CODA garnered Oscar attention when it won Best Picture, also posted a tribute to the late actor as they both appeared in 2013’s Foreclosed. She felt fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with the great New Yorker and remembered his talent and giving nature. 

The Karate Kid’s Ralph Macchio, who is known today for revising his role as Daniel LaRusso in Cobra Kai, shared on Twitter a photo of him and the Goodfellas actor on the set of their movie Lost Cat Corona. He called him one of the “truest” and “honest” actors that he had the pleasure to get to know.

Songwriter Diane Warren also took to Twitter to post about Paul Sorvino. The following tweet made sure to mention about the recent passing of beloved actors like Misery star James Caan and Field of Dreams star Ray Liotta. With these three late actors known for their iconic roles in crime dramas, the “Rhythm of the Night” songwriter predicts there’s a Goodfellas/Godfather remake happening up above right now.

Other than acting, the Bloodbrothers lead was a loving husband to political pundit Dee Dee Benkie who he married in 2014. Sorvino also had three children- Mira, Michael, and Amanda Sorvino from his first marriage to Lorraine Davis. He and Amanda also helped pass the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act in Washington D.C. which prevents horses from being slaughtered for human consumption. This man also launched Paul Sorvino Foods to market a range of pasta sauces as well as being part owner of Janson-Beckett Cosmeceuticals. 

Paul Sorvino made a touching impact not only to the entertainment world, but to the people around him. You can watch his performance in Goodfellas on your Netflix subscription. 

R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Find out what it means to Aretha Franklin in Respect, a biopic based on the life, legacy, and career of the late powerhouse singer. Starring Jennifer Hudson as the Queen of Soul, the first film from Tony-nominated director Liesl Tommy received mixed reviews, but many viewers agree that the Oscar winner gives an outstanding performance as the departed gospel singer. Additionally, critics are quick to praise the rest of this cast, which includes Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Audra McDonald, Marc Maron, and more. If you're wondering where you've seen (or heard) this famous ensemble before, we're here to help! Here's where you recognize the Respect cast.

Jennifer Hudson (Aretha Franklin)

As Aretha Franklin, one of the most influential female vocalists of the 1960s, Jennifer Hudson plays the Queen of Soul in Respect. Most notably, Hudson is an Oscar-winning actress for her supporting turn in Dreamgirls, her acting debut. Before that, Hudson found her first brushes with fame when she competed in American Idol's third season, where she placed seventh. She would later star in Winnie Mandela, Black Nativity, and The Secret Life of Bees. Furthermore, Hudson can be seen in Sex and the City, Winged Creatures, The Three Stooges, The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete, Chi-Raq, Sandy Wexler, Cats, Winged Creatures, and this year's Monster. She can also be heard in Sing.

Additionally, on television, Jennifer Hudson appeared in Smash, Empire, Inside Amy Schumer, NBC's Hairspray Live!, and HBO's Confirmation. She was also a coach on The Voice and The Voice U.K. Moreover, Hudson made her Broadway debut in The Color Purple. As a musician, furthermore, the actress won a Grammy for her self-titled 2008 album and another for The Color Purple. Next, Hudson will star in Tell It Like a Woman.

Forest Whitaker (C.L. Franklin)

In the role of C.L. Franklin, Aretha's father, Forest Whitaker plays the man with "the Million-Dollar Voice" in Liesel Tommy's Respect. Most notably, Whitaker won an Oscar for portraying Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland. He's also the star of Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, Lee Daniels' The Butler, Bird, Vantage Point, Black Nativity, and, most recently, last year's Burden, City of Lies, and Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey.

Additionally, Forest Whitaker's other notable film credits include The Crying Game, Arrival, Bloodsport, Good Morning, Vietnam, The Color of Money, Street Kings, Where the Wild Things Are, Taken 3, Southpaw, The Last Stand, Phone Booth, Panic Room, Battlefield Earth, Black Panther, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, The Great Debaters, Platoon, and Out of the Furnace. He also directed First Daughter, Waiting to Exhale, and Hope Floats. Outside of film, Whitaker stars in Epix's Godfather of Harlem. He can also be seen in Empire, The Shield, ER, Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior, and Roots. Next, the award-winning actor will star in A Fall from Grace and Havoc, which is filming now.

Marlon Wayans (Ted White)

Playing the part of Ted White, the manager and first husband of Aretha Franklin, Marlon Wayans is a complicated figure in Respect. Through his time in In Living Color, Wayans continued to elevate his star status through his lead role in The WB's The Wayans Bros. From there, he starred in Senseless, Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood, Scary Movie 1 and 2, White Chicks, and Little Man. — most of which he also co-wrote. Later, Wayans would co-write, produce and star in Dance Flick, A Haunted House 1 and 2, Fifty Shades of Black, and Netflix's Naked and Sextuplets.

Additionally, Marlon Wayans' other film credits include Dungeons & Dragons, The 6th Man, Mo' Money, I'm Gonna Git You Sucka, Above the Rim, The Ladykillers, Norbit, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, and The Heat. Also, he was praised for his dramatic turns in Requiem for a Dream and last year's On the Rocks. Additionally, on television, Wayans was also the creator and star of NBC's Marlon. Next, he'll be heard in Back Home Again.

Audra McDonald (Barbara Siggers Franklin)

As Barbara Siggers Franklin, Aretha's mother, Audra McDonald plays a maternal character in Liesel Tommy's Respect. Most notably, McDonald is a six-time Tony-winning actress and the only person to win in all four acting categories. Her award-winning performances were found in acclaimed productions of Carousel, Master Class, Ragtime, A Raisin in the Sun, Porgy and Bess, and Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill.

Additionally, on television, Audra McDonald won an Emmy for her hosting duties on Live from Lincoln Center. She also received Emmy nominations for her work in Wit, A Raisin in the Sun, and Lady Day at Merson's Bar and Grill. Furthermore, McDonald played Dr. Naomi Bennett in Private Practice and Liz Lawrence-Reddick in The Good Fight. Most recently, the award-winning actress starred in Spectrum Originals' The Bite.

Moreover, in film, Audra McDonald appeared in Ricki and the Flash, It Runs in the Family, Cradle Will Rock, The Object of My Affection, Seven Servants, Rampart, Hello Again, The Best Thief in the World, and Beauty and the Beast. Next, she will star in The Gilded Age.

Marc Maron (Jerry Wexler)

In the role of Jerry Wexler, an integral producer in Aretha Franklin's career, Marc Maron is a big-time mover and shaker in Respect. A veteran comedian and radio personality, Maron came into fame with his immensely popular podcast, WTF with Marc Maron, which forged an active acting career. Most notably, he's the creator and star of IFC's Maron and he played Sam Slyvia in Netflix's GLOW. His other TV credits include Easy, Louie, Girls, and Roadies. Additionally, Maron lent his voice to Harvey Beaks, Animals, The Simpsons, Adventure Time, Metalocalypse, The Life and Times of Tim, and Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist. Briefly, he was the host of VH1's Never Mind the Buzzcocks. Moreover, the comic has several specials, including 2020's Marc Maron: End Times Fun.

Additionally, Marc Maron's other film credits include Joker, Almost Famous, Sleepwalk with Me, Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, Spenser Confidential, Flock of Dudes, Get a Job, Los Enchiladas!, and Stardust. He also starred in Sword of Trust. Next, Maron will be seen in To Leslie and heard in The Bad Guys.

Mary J. Blige (Dinah Washington)

Playing the part of Dinah Washington, one of the most popular black female recording artists of the 1950s, Mary J. Blige is the Queen of the Blues in Liesl Tommy's Respect. Most notably, Blige was Oscar-nominated for her supporting turn in Netflix's Mudbound. Her other film credits include Black Nativity, Rock of Ages, and Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All By Myself. Additionally, Blige starred in last year's Body Cam and The Violet Heart. Moreover, she appeared in MTV's Pink Skies Ahead earlier this year. Furthermore, as a voice actress, Blige was heard in Sherlock Gnomes and 2020's Trolls World Tour.

Additionally, on television, Mary J. Blige has a main role in Starz's Power Book II: Ghost. She also had a recurring role in VH1's Scream: Resurrection. Moreover, Blige can be seen in How to Get Away with Murder, The Umbrella Academy, Empire, 30 Rock, The Jamie Foxx Show, and Entourage. Next, she'll star in Netflix's Lost Ollie. Also, as a musician, Blige is a six-time Grammy winner who has sold over 100 million albums.

Tituss Burgess (James Cleveland)

As James Cleveland, the King of Gospel, Tituss Burgess plays a driving force in the musical genre as it sounds today in Respect. Most notably, Burgess is known for his multi-Emmy-nominated role as Titus Andromedon in Netflix's Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. He's also a series regular on Apple TV+'s Central Park, for which he was also Emmy-nominated, and hosts Netflix's Sing On! The actor's other TV credits include Miracle Workers, The Good Fight, Royal Pains, Blue Bloods, 30 Rock, and A Gifted Man.

Away from TV, Tituss Burgess was seen in Dolemite Is My Name, Set It Up, Then Came You, Catfight, and I Hate Kids and heard in The Angry Birds Movie, Smurfs: The Lost Village, and The Addams Family (2019). Furthermore, on the stage, the actor performed in several Broadway productions, including Jersey Boys, Good Vibrations, The Little Mermaid, and Guys and Dolls. His other theater credits include The Wiz, A Wind in the Willows Christmas, and Into the Woods. Burgess was also heard in Grand Theft Auto V.

Skye Dakota Turner (Young Aretha Franklin)

In the role of a younger version of Aretha Franklin, Skye Dakota Turner has made her screen debut as the child lead in Liesel Tommy's Respect. Away from this film, the child actress was seen in The 93rd Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and appeared on Steve, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Tamron Hall, and Good Morning America.

Saycon Sengbloh (Erma Franklin)

Playing the part of Erma Franklin, Aretha's eldest sister, Saycon Sengbloh has a notable supporting role in Respect. On the stage, Sengbloh is a Tony-nominated actress for her performance in Danai Gurira's Eclipsed. Additionally, the actress is soon set to star in ABC's The Wonder Years. Her other television credits include The Night Of, In the Dark, Scandal, Dawson's Creek, Law & Order, The Good Wife, Ten Days in the Valley, The Passage, Songbyrd, and Deliah. Furthermore, Sengbloh's other film credits include Across the Universe, American Gangster, Funny Valentines, Ask for Jane, Double Play, and last year's A Shot Through the Wall. Also, the film and TV actress appeared in a handful of short films, including 1998's Kismet, 2008's 44, and 2012's Love & Squalor.

Hailey Kilgore (Carolyn Franklin)

As Carolyn Franklin, Aretha's younger sibling, Hailey Kilgore plays a sisterly character in Liesel Tommy's Respect. Most notably, the actress received a Tony nomination for her performance in Broadway's Once On This Island. Her other theater credits include Our Town, Ain't Misbehavin', and Into the Woods. Additionally, on television, Kilgore can be seen in episodes of The Village and Amazing Stories. Currently, the award-nominated actress appears in Starz's Power Book III: Raising Kanan. Respect is her first film credit.

Respect is in theaters now. Check out our 2021 movie premiere date schedule.

No critic worth his or her salt would dare make an Oscar prediction in mid-August. The annual awards season doesn’t really kick into its second gear until the September film festivals of Venice, Telluride and Toronto begin, and there are far too many films and performances to absorb before you’d even consider writing a name in pen on an Academy Awards ballot.

So let me just say that Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson (Dreamgirls) delivers yet another Oscar-worthy performance, this time as iconic soul singer and songwriter Aretha Franklin in director Leisl Tommy’s Respect. Hudson is a force, demonstrating the same gravitational pull as the legend she portrays. And while Respect, as a whole, plays as a sturdy, no-frills musician biopic (of which the industry has produced countless examples), Hudson really is the reason to see this, and she is reason enough to go.

Jennifer Hudson channels Aretha Franklin in Respect, and it’s mesmerizing.

I’m not saying that a musician needs to played by another musician to make a biopic work, but the examples we have lends enough credence to the theory that you can’t be faulted for believing it. Watching Jennifer Hudson disappear into the role of Aretha Franklin in Respect reminded me of classically-trained pianist Jamie Foxx slipping on the sunglasses of Ray Charles. The two individuals almost become inseparable, so that when Hudson stands on a stage meant to represent New York City’s Madison Square Garden and belts out the titular song, you assume you have been transported to a live Aretha Franklin performance. The sound mix on Respect is just that good.

It helps that Hudson can sing anything. And I do mean anything. Respect covers a significant and tumultuous early period in Franklin’s professional career, showing the 18-year-old singer signing with Columbia Records and staying with her until she records her Grammy Award-winning 1972 album Amazing Grace, still the best-selling record in Franklin’s entire catalogue. Over the course of that time, Franklin experimented with everything as she sought to establish her identity, switching from jazz and standards to pop music, soul and, finally, gospel. Hudson convincingly sings every note, and you marvel at her spiritual performance but then stop to realize, “Wait, Franklin did all of this first!” Respect, at the very least, conveys Franklin’s versatility as a songwriter and performer, as well as her passion for perfection when it came to her music.

Aretha Franklin lived an incredibly full life, and Respect captures… some of it.

You’d need hours to properly convey all that Aretha Franklin achieved, not just in the field of music, but also in her activism and political affiliations. As mentioned, the movie begins with Franklin’s childhood years (with Skye Dakota Turner providing a shining light as young Aretha), but it stops in 1972, then tries to highlight the rest of Franklin’s accomplishments in that cliched montage of title cards over the credits. This includes -- but is not limited to -- Franklin being the youngest female performer to be admitted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; her performance of “My Country, Tis of Thee” and the inauguration of President Barack Obama, and her receipt of the National Medal of Arts and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Respect skims over these moments because there’s more than enough to juggle in the chosen time period. Too much, almost. There are multiple subplots that unfurl in this meaty movie that still made me wish we could have stopped and explored them a little deeper. Franklin’s dysfunctional relationship with her first husband, Ted White (an unrecognizable Marlon Wayans), serves the purpose of proving Franklin could find the strength to escape an abusive situation. Complicated history with Franklin’s father (Forest Whitaker), grandmother (Kimbery Scott) and sisters is dabbled with, then dropped. Even an early rape that cast a heavy shadow over the rest of Franklin’s existence -- she referred to it only as “The Demon” and it seemed to consume her -- begged for more explanation. Respect plays the hits. You’ll just wish the liner notes provided more descriptive details.

Music is in the fiber of Respect, just as it was in the fiber of Aretha Franklin.

Still, Respect deserves to be seen -- and seen in a movie theater with the best sound system available -- because Franklin’s songs and Hudson’s renditions help the film to soar. Respect relies so heavily on music, you could argue it traded its script for a songbook. In its most compelling moments, Respect gives us insight into Franklin’s extraordinary song-writing process. The scenes between Franklin and her Muscle Shoals supporting band are all-timers in the musician biopic genre. And the journey of the song “Respect” from the piano keys in Franklin’s apartment to the stage at Madison Square Garden is exhilarating.

Sometimes, I wish Respect injected a little more flair into its storytelling. At the same time, if Liesl Tommy decided her movie didn’t need more pizzazz because it already had Hudson, it’s hard to argue against that point.

After over 40 years, Star Wars continues to thrive but, these days, it’s not dazzling audiences through its big-screen ventures quite as often. Right now, the storied franchise is holding our attention through its small-screen, live-action content. While The Mandalorian is holding down the fort at the moment, it’ll soon be joined by a host of other shows, including the Andor TV show on Disney+. The series will see the return of Diego Luna’s Cassian Andor, who was first introduced in Star Wars: Rogue One. The rebel spy is more than deserving of his own series, but one could argue that there are other characters from the 2016 film that deserve the same treatment.

Andor is a prequel series that will focus on the title character’s adventures before the events of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, in which he bravely sacrificed himself alongside his comrades. One of the best things about Gareth Edwards’ film is that it included an eclectic cast of characters, with many possessing their own unique backstories. With this, Lucasfilm and Disney+ may want to consider reviving a few for their own TV spinoffs. So let’s take a look at some of the familiar faces that could follow in Cassian Andor’s footsteps and headline their own shows:

Jyn Erso

This is a pretty obvious one, but most would probably agree that Jyn Erso is a prime character to lead her own spinoff series. Played by the wonderful Felicity Jones, Jyn was orphaned at a young age and eventually became a child soldier and later a criminal. It was that latter life that would unintentionally get her on the radar of the Rebel Alliance, who she would ultimately aid in stealing the plans for the Death Star. Although Erso was the film’s main protagonist, there’s still much more to explore within her history.

Jyn’s checkered past is what makes her a strong candidate for a TV series, and seeing her years as an outlaw would be particularly interesting. Given her history, there’s no telling what kind things she saw or what kind of people she came into contact with in her time. Of course, there’s also the fact that Felicity Jones is great in the role, and it would be nice to have her back. And it just so happens that the Oscar-nominated actress would love to revive the character and wants to try some daring new things with Jyn as well. I, for one, am hoping she gets the chance to jump back into the galaxy far, far away.

Saw Gerrera

The Star Wars movies and TV shows have introduced an assortment of interesting characters over the years, but few have had as complex a journey as Saw Gerrera. Fans first met Saw in the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars, in which he’s introduced as a young freedom fighter from Onderon. But by the time Forest Whitaker played the live-action iteration in Rogue One, he’d become an aged man leading a radicalized rebel group, which even includes child soldiers. Since then, the character has popped up in a number of places and is even set to appear on Andor.

Saw Gerrera is a Star Wars character that operates in a gray area, not unlike a Boba Fett. We can’t completely classify him as a villain, but he’s certainly not a total hero. In terms of a Disney+ show, it would be great to see Forest Whitaker return in a prequel that chronicles Gerrera’s evolution from noble revolutionary to callous radical. As a fan of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, I’d absolutely love to see this kind of series in the Star Wars universe, and Whitaker definitely has the acting chops to pull it off.

Orson Krennic

Now, to some, this may seem like an unexpected choice, but I would absolutely watch a series centered on Rogue One’s main antagonist. Sure, he’s another Imperial suit, albeit with a nice cape. Yes, he is smug and incredibly ruthless. We also can’t forget the fact that he was totally owned by Darth Vader when going to meet with the dark lord. Still, the idea of seeing more of the delightful Ben Mendelsohn being smug and ruthless and wearing a cape honestly sounds like fun.

In the grand scheme of things, Krennic plays an important role in the history of Star Wars, seeing as how he spearheaded the Death Star project. An ongoing series with the character may honestly be a bit much, but a limited series or even a special showing key aspects of his Death Star efforts leading up to Rogue One could be intriguing. The series could even dive deeper into his relationship with Mads Mikkelsen’s Galen Erso. Of course, this would all depend on whether Ben Mendelson would be willing to return and, if so, the actor would likely make the most his time in the spotlight.

Baze Malbus

Baze Malbus was another one of the characters introduced to the Star Wars universe through Rogue One. Jiang Wen’s gruff soldier was established as a former member of the Guardian of the Whills, a religious Force-based group, before he set off on his own as a freelance assassin. The character ultimately proved to be entertaining, but he unfortunately didn’t get too much time to shine. Luckily though, his intriguing backstory serves as prime fodder for a spinoff series.

While Baze Malbus was definitely the skeptic of the Rogue One group, his keen skills with a blaster and his intense loyalty to his allies endeared him to audiences. A prequel series could go one or two ways with Baze. On the one hand, you could focus on his time as a guardian though, in his case, it might be a bit more interesting to see him working as an assassin. Regardless, Jiang Wen deserves an opportunity to do more with Baze. Plus, his spinoff could even be a two-hander with his longtime ally, another character who could absolutely lead his own show.

Chirrut Îmwe

If a spinoff centered on the Guardians of the Whills were to be produced, then it would absolutely need to feature Donnie Yen’s Chirrut Îmwe. The blind spiritual leader, who was based on Jedha City, proved to be a keen warrior, but it was his calm demeanor and fierce commitment to the Force (despite not having abilities) that made him a compelling figure. Like longtime companion Baze Malbus and other Rogue One characters, Chirrut didn’t get enough screen time, so why not give him his own prequel?

The Guardians of the Whills have yet to truly be explored in the live-action realm of Star Wars, and a spinoff that explores Chirrut’s time with the order would be interesting. And as mentioned, such a project could also see Baze Malbus as co-lead. It’s a solid concept and one that’s especially exciting when you consider that it would bring the great Donnie Yen back into the franchise. Because let’s be honest, the veteran actor and martial artist is downright mesmerizing whenever he’s on screen.

There’s no telling whether Star Wars will bring back any of these characters for their own projects though, considering the number of spinoffs currently being produced, it’s certainly not impossible. But while we wait for any potential developments, we can take comfort in knowing that Andor will definitely arrive on Disney+ in 2022. And for more on what’s coming up in the immediate future, check out our 2021 fall TV schedule.

From a galaxy far away to the most successful cinematic universe of all time, and the other way around, there have been multiple actors who have appeared in Star Wars movies and Marvel movies throughout their career. It doesn’t take long to come up with names like Samuel L. Jackson, Natalie Portman, Lupita Nyong’o, and Mads Mikkelsen, but there have been actors whose performances in either the MCU or Star Wars that have been lost to time. But no more as we have put together an extensive list of the actors who have shown up at time or another in both franchises.

Now, before we get started we should lay out some rules about who is being included and why. The list only includes actors who have appeared in the MCU in addition to Star Wars at some point. This doesn’t include any of the films in the Sony Pictures Universe of Marvel Characters or any other Marvel film franchise like X-Men or Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy.

Samuel L. Jackson - Mace Windu/Nick Fury

When thinking of actors who have shown up in Star Wars and the MCU over the years, the first person to come to mind is more times than not none other than Samuel L. Jackson. I mean how could you forget Mace Windu and his awesome purple lightsaber in the Prequel Trilogy starting with the family friendly Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace and his badass scenes throughout his other two appearances in the trilogy.

And then there is Samuel L. Jackson’s work in the MCU, which started with the iconic Iron Man post-credits scene when his version of Nick Fury introduced himself to Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) about starting the Avengers Initiative. The rest, well, it’s history, and Fury has become one of the franchise’s most beloved and mysterious characters to date.

Natalie Portman - Padmé Amidala/Jane Foster

Natalie Portman is another massive star to appear in both Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe with plenty more Marvel on the way including her return for Thor: Love and Thunder. First introduced to the MCU in 2011’s Thor as Jane Foster, one the world’s premier astrophysicists and eventual love interest to Chris Hemsworth’s God of Thunder, Portman appeared in the franchise’s second installment Thor: The Dark World in 2013 before stepping away from Marvel for what will be nearly a decade before she takes up the mantel of Lady Thor in the upcoming sequel.

Natalie Portman was also instrumental throughout the three Star Wars prequels as the queen-turned-senator from Naboo and eventual mother of Luke and Leia before dying of a broken heart in Star Wars: Episode 3 - Revenge of the Sith.

Paul Bettany - Dryden Vos/Vision/Jarvis

Even though Solo: A Star Wars Story is considered a failure by many, one of the 2018 film’s stars, Paul Bettany is actually quite fond of the standalone movie. And honestly, he has every right to feel that way considering he was one of the best things about the movie (along with another actor who appeared in both Star Wars and the MCU) with his portrayal of Dryden Vos, the figurehead leader of the Crimson Dawn crime syndicate.

Paul Bettany’s stellar Solo performance is par for the course for the talented and versatile actor who has been in the Marvel Cinematic Universe longer than just about everyone else. After voicing Tony Stark’s AI Jarvis going back to 2008’s Iron Man, Bettany portrayed the character as well as Vision in a number of MCU movies before getting his very own Disney+ series with WandaVision in 2021 where he trolled the hell out of the show’s fans.

Andy Serkis - Supreme Leader Snoke/Ulysses Klaue

More times than not, when we see Andy Serkis in a movie, it’s either under a ton of makeup or a CGI character brought to life by the actor’s masterful motion-capture work. That can’t be said for his two appearances in the MCU where he portrayed crime lord Ulysses Klaue in Avengers: Age of Ultron and again in Black Panther (with that deadly cybernetic arm) before getting killed off by Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan) before the villain made his return to Wakanda.

Over on the Star Wars side of things, Andy Serkis did what he does best when he performed all the motion-capture work for Supreme Leader Snoke starting in The Force Awakens before being cut in half in the much-maligned sequel The Last Jedi. And while everyone thought the character (and Serkis) would have a much longer shelf life in the franchise, his early departure shouldn’t take away from his performance.

Benicio Del Toro - DJ/The Collector

Benicio del Toro has appeared in three different MCU movies over the years, portraying Taneleer Tivan, aka The Collector, in Thor: The Dark World, Guardians of the Galaxy, and finally Avengers: Infinity War. A crucial character in the Infinity Saga, The Collector played a prominent role in helping audiences better grasp the concept of the Infinity Stones and Thanos’ quest to secure all six.

Long before he appeared as DJ, the untrustworthy codebreaker in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Benicio del Toro was originally up for the role of Darth Maul in The Phantom Menace but later dropped out and delayed his debut in the galaxy far, far away for nearly 20 years.

Donald Glover - Lando Calrissian/Aaron Davis/Prowler

Donald Glover was already a big name when he was cast as Lando Calrissian in Solo: A Star Wars Story with his popular Atlanta series and work on Community making a strong case, but he reached another level of stardom when he took on the role first made popular by Billy Dee Williams nearly 40 years earlier. And while Solo wasn’t anyone’s favorite Star Wars movie, Glover’s Lando was worth the price of admission alone.

A year before making his Star Wars debut, however, Donald Glover appeared in Spider-Man: Homecoming in a seemingly small capacity, but as a character with an extensive history in Marvel Comics. His one-scene performance as Aaron Davis, aka Prowler was a fun little easter egg and one that CinemaBlend predicted back in June 2016. Let’s just hope this wasn’t a one-and-done role for the Hollywood renaissance man.

Mads Mikkelsen - Galen Erso/Kaecilius

Mads Mikkelsen, who has made a career out of playing villains, served as one of the main antagonists in 2016’s Doctor Strange when he took on the role of Kaecilius, a former member of the Masters of the Mystics Arts who brought Dormammu to Earth before becoming forever trapped in the Dark Dimension.

Over in Star Wars, however, Mads Mikkelsen played a less evil character (considering the circumstances) with his portrayal of Galen Erso, the father of Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Although he was responsible for the creation of the Death Star, Erson did put in a crucial flaw in the battle station’s defenses.

Lupita Nyong’o - Maz Kanata/Nakia

Andy Serkis isn’t the only future Marvel actor to pull of some impressive motion-capture work in a Star Wars movie as Lupita Nyong’o helped bring the CGI character Maz Kanata to life in 2015’s The Force Awakens. With the help of talented artists, Nyong’o’s animated Force-sensitive character who proved to be a key ally for Rey (Daisy Ridley) and company throughout the sequel trilogy.

Not long after appearing in Star Wars, Lupita Nyong’o moved over to the Marvel Cinematic Universe where she took on the role of Nakia, one of T’Challa’s (Chadwick Boseman) biggest allies and love interest in Black Panther.

Forest Whitaker - Saw Gerrera/Zuri

Forest Whitaker’s Zuri was at the center of the complicated history of Wakanda that came back to nearly overthrow reclusive nation in Black Panther, but even though the elder was responsible for one of T’Chaka’s (John Kani) worst moments, he tried to prevent history from repeating itself, putting his life on the line in the process.

Over on the Star Wars side of thing, Forest Whitaker portrayed the paranoid revolutionary figure Saw Gerrera in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story that walked a fine line between ally of the rebellion and overzealous terrorist. That moral ambiguity was one of the reasons why Whitaker enjoyed taking on the memorable character.

Jon Favreau - Rio Durant/Happy Hogan

In addition to creating the hit Disney+ series The Mandalorian, actor/director/producer/writer Jon Favreau has appeared in the Star Wars galaxy in an acting role, voicing Rio Durant in Solo: A Story Wars Story. The good-natured, four-armed pilot was at the center of the film’s big heist, dying in the process.

Over on the Marvel side of things, there are few people who have been more instrumental in launching the MCU and keeping it going over the years than Jon Favreau. In addition to directing two of the first three movies in the franchise with his Iron Man movies, Favreau has appeared in numerous movies as Happy Hogan, including giving us one of the most emotional scenes in Avengers: Endgame.

Ben Mendelsohn - Orson Krennic/Talos

History would tell you that Ben Mendelsohn would have been the one playing the villain when he appeared as Talos, one of the main Skrulls at the center of Captain Marvel, but the veteran Australian actor proved that he was capable of playing an unassuming hero who doesn’t look like he’s going anywhere anytime soon.

The same can’t be said for his portrayal of the Imperial Orson Krennic in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Even though he never really got a fair shake and was constantly knocked down a few pegs by Grand Moff Tarkin (Guy Henry) who even took Krennic’s Death Star from him, when the director of the Imperial’s military research division was about as evil as evil can be.

Hannah John-Kamen - First Order Bridge Officer/Ghost

Hannah John-Kamen appeared as Ant-Man and the Wasp antagonist Ava Starr, aka Ghost, a character who needed a special suit to provide relief for her unstable quantum state following an accident as a young child. And while not much has been said about a possible return to the MCU, John-Kamen has teased fans about that for a couple years now.

A couple years before she joined the MCU, Hannah John-Kamen appeared briefly in Star Wars: The Force Awakens as the First Order bridge officer who told General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson) that Starkiller Base’s powerful weapon would soon be operational.

Richard Armitage - Naboo Fighter Pilot/Heinz Kruger

Richard Armitage, who would go on to portray Thorin Oakenshield in Peter Jackson’s Hobbit trilogy, appeared in his first movie back in 1999 when he had a very small part as a Naboo fighter pilot in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace.

A little more than a decade later, Richard Armitage would make a lot of out of a short amount of time in Captain America: The First Avenger, appearing as Hydra spy Heinz Kruger who attempts to steal the super soldier serum and kills Abraham Erskine (Stanley Tucci) before being chased down by Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) and his new superhuman powers.

Peter Serafinowicz - Darth Maul (Voice)/Garthan Saal

And then there is Peter Serafinowicz, who played Nova Corps officer Garthan Saal in Guardians of the Galaxy. Featured in several key scenes throughout the 2014 surprise hit, Saal was one of the Nova Corps pilots to sacrifice themselves in an attempt to prevent Ronan the Accuser (Lee Pace) from decimating Xandar.

Fifteen years before joining the MCU, Peter Serafinowicz provided the voice of Darth Maul in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace after he was brought in to overdub Ray Park’s original dialogue during post-production. He would later have harsh words for the movie.

These are just a few of the actors who have appeared in Star Wars and the MCU over the years, as dozens have appeared in smaller roles in each property. This also doesn’t even begin to touch on the names who have appeared in Star Wars or Marvel shows like The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’s Erin Kellyman, Luke Cage’s Jessica Henwick, or The Mandalorian’s Rosario Dawson and Ming-N Wen. We will just have to wait and see if this list continues to grow with all the upcoming Star Wars movies and Marvel Phase 4 and beyond.

Gareth Evans, the Welsh filmmaker and action choreographer best known for creating The Raid movies (aka, two of the most badass action movies of the 21st Century), and Tom Hardy (who is also no stranger to the action genre) are getting together for what sounds like a badass project, and excited isn’t strong enough of a word to describe how I am feeling right now. Havoc on Netflix will see two of the best at what they do team up for the first time, to tell the story of a detective who finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time when a drug deal goes south.

There is a seemingly endless list of reasons why I’m so giddy about this movie right now, a movie that I know next to nothing about save for its basic premise. Everything from the cast, which includes Forest Whitaker in addition to Tom Hardy, Gareth Evans’ track record, and what this could mean for the director and Netflix’s relationship moving forward, have me stoked to see how this plays out for all involved parties.

Havoc Has A Simple, Yet Effective Premise That Has Served Gareth Evans Well In The Past

When reporting on the announcement of Havoc, and Gareth Evans’ overall deal with Netflix, Deadline described the film as a story that centers on a bruised detective who must fight his way through the criminal underworld to rescue a politician’s estranged son while also trying to get to the bottom of a conspiracy and survive a drug deal gone wrong.

On the surface, this sounds like a very cut-and-dry plot with elements we’ve seen before: physically (and presumably emotionally) beaten down detective must survive the night, save someone, and stop the bad guys from putting a mysterious plan into motion. But, don’t forget, this is coming from the same guy who took a story about cops swarming an apartment building to take down a drug lord and pretty much changed the way we see action movies with The Raid.

Gareth Evans Is One Of The Best When It Comes Planning Action, And Havoc Won’t Be The Exception

There is no doubting it, Gareth Evans is one of the best at what he does, in fight choreography as well as filmmaking. The Welsh director, in addition to writing and directing The Raid, The Raid 2, and Apostle, also either worked as a fight choreographer or action designer, planning out every single detail of all those fights and bits of torturous gore, as was the case of his 2018 Netflix horror thriller.

In 2017, Evans sat down with Vulture to go over some of those action sequences, including the brutal and heartbreaking fight between Jaka (Mortal Kombat’s Joe Taslim) and Mad Dog (Yayan Ruhian), which involved dozens of takes to get it perfect. And he did. That fight, and so many others like it, were built from the ground up by Evans (who fell in love with the silat martial arts style while filming a documentary) and his team of experts, creating the most visceral yet realistic fights in recent memory. Add the physicality of Tom Hardy and Havoc could be insane.

There Are Few Actors Better Suited For This Role Than Tom Hardy

When it was revealed that Tom Hardy had signed on to lead Havoc, I struggled to think of anyone who was better suited for that role than the Mad Max: Fury Road and The Dark Knight Rises star. Seriously, Hardy has everything you would want from an actor hired to take on the role of a bruised cop trying to survive what’s pretty much an unwinnable fight. He has the physicality needed for this type of role (as seen in the underrated MMA movie Warrior), the charisma (Inception), and that wild card factor (go watch Bronson and get back to me), and I’m not the only one who thinks this.

Shortly after the big February 2021 announcement, Gareth Evans took to Instagram (you should follow him if you’re looking for all things soccer, classic movies, and random thoughts) to post a screenshot of the aforementioned Deadline article with the caption: “Hardy. Heroic. Bloodshed. Havoc.” Upon seeing that, I was somehow even more excited to see Tom Hardy knock a few dudes around like he’s Bane taking over Gotham City all over again.

Havoc Will Also Feature Forest Whitaker, Who Has Been On An Absolute Roll Lately

In March 2021, Variety reported on the casting of Forest Whitaker to star alongside Tom Hardy in Havoc. And while Whitaker’s character or what kind of role he’ll play has yet to be revealed, this is something I can get behind. Whitaker, who won every award under the sun for The Last King of Scotland in 2006, has been on one hell of a run in recent years with a few of the best performances of his career.

Let’s start with Rogue One, in which he played Saw Gerrera, the paranoid and unhinged extremist rebel leader who didn’t take well to strangers. The combination of Forest Whitaker’s size and demeanor make for an imposing force that you both fear and sympathize with even if you don’t agree to his methods. Then came Black Panther, which saw Whitaker play the conflicted Zuri, the Wakandan leader whose past transgressions come back in a big way, setting the stage for the movie’s biggest reveals.

In both of those roles, and dozens of others, Forest Whitaker possesses a command of the screen (and our attention) better than just about everyone, and it’s hard to not feel for him, no matter what side you’re on.

This Is Just The Beginning For Gareth Evans And Netflix

As great as Havoc sounds, this is just the beginning for the partnership shared by Gareth Evans and Netflix, as both sides agreed to a multi-year deal that will have him developing titles for the streaming giant for quite some time. None of the other projects have been revealed or even teased at this point (I know it won’t happen but what if Evans’ Deathstroke movie somehow finds a way to fall into Netflix’s hands), but this is a deal that could lead to some pretty remarkable things.

And, it should be noted that Havoc will technically be Gareth Evans’ second Netflix movie, as the streamer released his horror thriller Apostle. Maybe this deal leads to more from that world or maybe we see Gangs of London, Evans’ gritty UK crime drama, end up on Netflix at some point. We can only hope.

Maybe This Means The Raid Movies Finally Become Available On Netflix

I know, I know, we’ll probably never see The Raid 3 at this point, but I would at least settle for the first two movies in the franchise, as well as Gareth Evans’ 2009 martial arts film Merantau, finding their way to Netflix as part of his new deal with the streamer. I doubt Evans has any say in these types of decisions, but by putting those movies on Netflix, it would further drive up more interest for Havoc and whatever may come next from Evans.

Those are just a few of the reason I am excited for Havoc and whatever else may come from Gareth Evans’ deal with Netflix. We are still in the early stages of the film’s development and there are a lot of things we don’t know, so I’m sure it’s only going to get crazier from here. While that is still a far way off, there are a ton of 2021 movies to get excited about in the meantime.

Johnny Depp has never been an avid poster on social media and only joined Instagram in 2020, in fact. The actor known for roles like Pirates of the Caribbean and Alice in Wonderland has not had any projects out in a few months either, contributing to even less from the star popping up on his Instagram. However, he does have a new movie coming out this April and recently shared a post that could also apply to his own life.

Depp’s new film with Forest Whittaker City of Lies is being released on PVOD next week and to share news of the release, Depp took to Instagram where he noted the following, “Truth is a rare bird. All the more reason to search for it...”

The movie itself follows a journalist (Forest Whittaker) and a retired LAPD Detective (Johnny Depp) as they reexamine the deaths of Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G. -- cases he had initially been on earlier in his career. Two decades later they reexamine the police corruption in a movie based on the real-life search of author Randall Sullivan to connect the dots in the case, largely focusing on retired LAPD detective Russell Poole. That search was published in a book LAbyrinth, which came out in 2002.

Depp’s clearly alluding to the subject matter in City of Lies with his post, but his comment comes at a time when it has interesting parallels to the actor’s personal life. Johnny Depp has been embroiled in multiple court cases that he filed after being alleged to be a “wife beater” during the time he was married to Aquaman actress Amber Heard. He went to court for libel over the allegations, though a judge found Heard’s take on the matter to be “substantially true” and an appeal was not granted.

Through this, Depp’s team has maintained that Amber Heard’s claims are a “hoax” and that they will be moving forward with a defamation case against the DCEU actress. Meanwhile, a couple of projects Depp had already filmed had been paused in regards to release, including Minamata, a movie that was mistakenly called a flop by some outlets when it hadn't actually been released.

City of Lies had been another Johnny Depp vehicle that had been on hold for quite some time, even before the last Fantastic Beasts movie came out. The film had been expected to premiere on September 7, 2018 -- the anniversary of Tupac Shakur’s murder. That didn’t come to pass, as Depp was embroiled in another lawsuit with the location manager of the movie who had claimed assault. The two reportedly had an altercation while working on the movie, though their version of events differed wildly.

Meanwhile, the movie lived in limbo as other movies of Depp’s, including Fantastic Beasts 2, came and went, though there has been a downtick in Depp projects recently. Since the Amber Heard-related lawsuits went super public, Johnny Depp has also been asked to step down from his role as Grindelwald in Warner Bros.' popular magical world, which is currently filming the third installation. His last movie Waiting for the Barbarians came out in August.

When you think Forest Whitaker, the first thing that comes to mind is probably not upbeat musicals. The Academy-award winning actor is known for taking on more dramatic and nuanced roles throughout his career. So, with Netflix’s Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey, he’s made a big shift into singing for the part and apparently that made him “nervous.”

To be clear, Forest Whitaker knows how to sing. And, he’s been in musicals in the past, but he put that behind him and primarily focused on acting and working on that craft. So when asked by Collider what the difference was going from being a professionally trained singer to musicals, Forest Whitaker had some thoughts:

Hearing Forest Whitaker admit to being nervous definitely says something about the challenge he decided to take on with Jingle Jangle. It can’t be easy trying to go outside your comfort zone and break into new territory, but it sounds like the risk paid off. Jingle Jangle was trending on Netflix and has received warm reviews from critics.

On top of singing, Jingle Jangle includes dancing and has set pieces similar to something you might see on a live stage. Plus, the movie's warmth, whimsy, and a general sense of wonder is far different from some of Forest Whitaker’s previous projects and roles, like his character, Saw Gerrera in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

In Jingle Jangle, Forest Whitaker plays Jeronicus Jangle, a brilliant, but eccentric toymaker that has one of his creations stolen by a trusted apprentice, played by Keegan-Michael Key. Jeronicus’ granddaughter, Journey Jangle, discovers an old, forgotten invention from her grandfather and sets out to heal wounds and find the magic within.

Still, with all that said, it sounds like Forest Whitaker was able to overcome his nerves and deliver in his performance. If you’re wanting a joyful and warm Christmas movie to watch this season, consider putting Jingle Jangle on your nice list.

We're about halfway through November, so you know what that means. It's time to get the holiday festivities rolling. Christmas music is playing on the radio, seasonal decorations are being hung with care, and we're going to get a steady stream of holiday-themed movies and shows in the days and weeks ahead. For Netflix, that includes the debut of this latest streaming exclusive, Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey, which is a brand-new Christmas fantasy musical starring Forest Whitaker, Keegan-Michael Key, Anika Noni Rose, and Ricky Martin, to name only a few stars involved.

If you find yourself wondering where you've seen these familiar faces or fresh newcomers, we're here to help. Here's where you've seen Netflix's Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey's cast before.

Madalen Mills (Journey Jangle)

As our young protagonist, Journey Jangle, the granddaughter of Jeronicus who has spent little time with her very elusive inventor grandfather, Madalen Mills plays the lead role in Netflix's new Christmas musical. Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey isn't merely Madalen Mills' first starring role but it's also her professional acting debut. It's the first acting credit, and she was only seen in reality TV series Reality Cupcakes prior to this performance. Thus, it's more-likely-than-not that Jingle Jangle might be the first thing you see this child actress in — though she has already filmed her second role, The Tiger Rising, a family film which also co-stars Katharine McPhee, Dennis Quaid, and Queen Latifah.

Forest Whitaker (Jeronicus Jangle)

Playing the part of Jeronicus Jangle, a genius-but-troubled toymaker who's no longer the inventor he once was, Forest Whitaker plays the lead adult role in Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey.

An Oscar-winning actor for portraying Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland, Forest Whitaker is also the star of Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, Lee Daniels' The Butler, Bird, Vantage Point, and Black Nativity, and he has prominent supporting roles in The Crying Game, Arrival, Bloodsport, Good Morning, Vietnam, The Color of Money, Street Kings, Where the Wild Things Are, Taken 3, Southpaw, The Last Stand, Phone Booth, Panic Room, Battlefield Earth, Black Panther, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, The Great Debaters, Platoon, Out of the Furnance, and Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

Additionally, on television, Forest Whitaker can be seen in episodes of Empire, The Shield, and ER, and he appears in Godfather of Harlem, Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior, and the mini-series, Roots. He recently starred in Burden and Finding Steve McQueen and next, he'll be seen in Respect and City of Lies.

Outside of all of his various acting credits, Forest Whitaker is also an established director. He helmed Waiting to Exhale, Hope Floats, and First Daughter. He also directed music videos for Jagged Edge, Cheryl Pepsii Riley, and Whitney Houston, the latter of whom starred in his first film.

Keegan-Michael Key (Gustafson)

In the villainous role of Gustafson, a former apprentice of Jeronicus who ventures down a dark path, Keegan-Michael Key is the central antagonist in Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey. Best known as one-half of the sketch comedy duo, Key & Peele, alongside Jordan Peele, the comedian frontlined the Emmy-winning Comedy Central series of the same name and later co-starred in Keanu, which he also produced. The comedic pairing was also seen together in the first season of FX's Fargo. Additionally, Key was also a cast member on MADtv for six seasons.

His other television credits include starring roles in USA's Playing House and Netflix's Friends From College. He was also the host of The Planet's Funniest Animals from 2005 through 2008, and he currently hosts National Geographic's Brain Games and CBS's Game On!, both as of this year. Additionally, Key played a recurring role in Parks and Recreation and makes frequent appearances on The CW's Whose Line Is It Anyway? revival. Recently, Key narrates Netflix's series adaptation of Green Eggs and Ham and lends his voice to SuperMansion.

Keegan-Michael Key had starring roles in films like Don't Think Twice and Teacher of the Year. His other movie credits include Mr. 3000, The Predator, Tomorrowland, Wanderlust, Dolemite Is My Name, Playing with Fire, Horrible Bosses 2, Pitch Perfect 2, Vacation, Why Him?, Win It All, Let's Be Cops, Due Date, Just Go With It, Role Models, and Hell Baby.

Keegan-Michael Key did voice work for The Angry Birds Movie, The LEGO Movie, The Lion King (2019), The Star, the Hotel Transylvania sequels, Storks, and Toy Story 4 — the latter two reuniting the actor with Jordan Peele. Most recently, Key starred in Netflix's All the Bright Places. He'll next be seen in The Prom later this year and heard in Wendell and Wild alongside Peele in 2021. Additionally, he's attached to an upcoming, still-untitled AppleTV+ musical-comedy series. with SNL's Cecily Strong. Also, Key made his Broadway debut in 2017 with Steve Martin's Meteor Shower.

Hugh Bonneville (Mr. Delacroix)

Playing the part of Mr. Delacroix, a banker who'll shut down Jeronicus' business if he can't come up with a profit quick, Hugh Bonneville plays a prominent supporting role in Netflix's Jingle Jangle. The English film and television actor is most recognizable for his Emmy-nominated performance as Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham, in Downton Abbey, a role he reprised in the film continuation of the same name last year. Additionally, Bonneville is well-known for playing Mr. Henry Brown in the Paddington movies. His other notable television credits include Married for Life, The Cazalets, Courting Alex, The Robinsons, Bonekickers, Country House Rescue, Freezing, Twenty Twelve, and W1A. Bonneville is also the narrator for The Cruise and Sofia the First.

Hugh Bonneville's other film credits include Iris, Tomorrow Never Dies, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Notting Hill, Muppets Most Wanted, Breathe, The Monuments Men, Bucke & Hare, and Mansfield Park. Next, the actor will play author Roald Dahl in An Unquiet Life. He'll also narrate the upcoming Silent Night - A Song for the World, which comes out next month.

Anika Noni Rose (Jessica Jangle)

In the role of Jessica Jangle, the mother of Journey and the daughter of Jeronicus, Anika Noni Rose provides a dramatic maternal performance in this seasonal musical. As an accomplished actress with demonstrated talents on the stage and screen, Rose has proven herself in a variety of projects over the course of a celebrated career. Particularly on the stage, Rose became a Tony-winning actress through her performance as Emmie Thibodeaux in Caroline, Or Change in 2004. She was later nominated again for playing Beneatha Younger in Broadway's 2014 revival of A Raisin in the Sun.

Furthermore, in the film world, Rose voiced Princess Tiana in Disney's The Princess and the Frog, and she reprised this animated role in 2018's Ralph Breaks the Internet. The actress also played Lorrell Robinson in Dreamgirls. Her other movie credits include Assassination Nation, Everything, Everything, For Colored Girls, Surviving Christmas, From Justin to Kelly, Imperial Dreams, Half of a Yellow Sun, and, most recently, Body Cam.

Meanwhile, on television, Anika Noni Rose played main characters in HBO's The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency and Starz's The Quad. She also had recurring roles in The Good Wife, Private Practice, Power, and Bates Motel. Additionally, Rose lends her voice to the animated series, Magical Girl Friendship Squad: Origins. And the actress appeared in episodes of Hulu's Little Fires Everywhere and Amazon Prime's Them: Covenant earlier this year. Next, Rose is set to star in Maid and voice a role in Pantheon. She also launched a web series called Bedtime Stories for the Littles earlier this year.

Phylicia Rashad (Mrs. Jangle)

As Mrs. Jangle, an elderly parental figure who reads this festive story to the children on Christmas Eve, Phylicia Rashad serves as a watchful narrator figure throughout the course of Jingle Jangle. Most notably, Phylicia Rashad is a Tony-winning actress for her lead performance as Lena Younger in Broadway's 2004 revival of A Raisin in the Sun, and she became the first Black actress to receive this honorary distinction. Later, she reprised this role for the play's 2008 television adaptation and she won the NAACP Image Award for her performance. Her other stage credits include Broadway productions of Into the Woods, Jelly's Last Jam, Gem in the Ocean, August: Orange County, and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.

Additionally, Phylicia Rashad is known for her two-time Emmy-nominated role as Clair Huxtable in The Cosby Show. Rashad also played Ruth Lucas in Cosby. And she played recurring roles in Empire, Jean-Claude Van Johnson, This is Us, 13 Reasons Why, Do No Harm, and One Life to Live. The actress currently plays a role in OWN's David Makes Man.

On the silver screen, Phylicia Rashad is also known for her film roles in the Creed movies, Good Deeds, For Colored Girls, Just Wright, and Frankie and Alice. Earlier this year, the film and TV actress starred in Netflix's A Fall From Grace and Amazon Prime's Black Box, the latter of which was part of their Welcome to the Blumhouse streaming series. Next, she lends her voice to Pixar's upcoming Soul. Rashad is expected to return for Creed III.

Ricky Martin (Don Juan Diego)

In the role of Don Juan Diego, a sentient toy once created by Jeronicus who becomes a selfish egomaniac and works alongside Gustafson, Ricky Martin plays a splashy animated supporting role in Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey. The chart-topping Puerto Rican musician has been called the "King of Latin Pop," as he's quite easily one of the best-selling Latin music artists of all-time. His most well-known single is "Livin' La Vida Loca" though he also gained notice before this high-standing success through his performance of "The Cup of Life" at the 41st Annual Grammy Awards in 1999. He has sold over 70 million records worldwide.

While he's certainly well-known for his musical accomplishments, Ricky Martin has branched out into various acting roles. Most notably, he played Antonio D'Amico in FX's The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, which earned him an Emmy nomination. Martin also starred in the soap opera, Por Siempre Amigos, the telenovela, Alcanzar una Estrella II, and appeared in several episodes of General Hospital. He also guest-starred in Getting By and Glee.

Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey is now streaming on Netflix.

Forest Whitaker has been around for a long time. And whether we’re talking Forest Whitaker movies he’s starred in or Forest Whitaker movies he’s directed (like, did you know he directed Hope Floats starring Sandra Bullock?), the man has always been a mainstay in the business who’s brought both style and substance to anything he touches.

But let’s focus on his acting, since he’s really gone the full range (I mean, come on now. His next project is supposed to be a holiday musical on Netflix called Jingle Jangle). From sci-fi, to drama, from good guy to bad, if there’s one thing I can say about Forest Whitaker, it’s that I have no idea what he’s going to do next, which is what makes him so exciting. So here are the actor’s best roles. How many of these have you seen?

10. Ker – Battlefield Earth (2000)

Battlefield Earth is the 2000s version of Troll 2. What I mean is, it’s a movie that’s so hilariously bad, it’s legendary. What’s it about? Jeez, I don’t know. Something about slave labor (involving “man-animals”), a rebellion, and some aliens called “Psychlos” that love gold. That’s pretty much it in a nutshell.

But let’s talk about Forest Whitaker’s performance in it, because honestly, he does a pretty great job as Deputy Ker despite this being such a ridiculous movie. He emotes anger, hostility, amusement, and often all in the same scene. He really does give it his all. And get this. Of the seven Golden Raspberry nominations that Battlefield Earth received back in 2000, Forest Whitaker wasn’t one of them. And that’s really saying something for a movie as bad as Battlefield Earth.

9. Big Harold – Platoon (1986)

Forest Whitaker doesn’t play a huge role in the Oliver Stone movie, Platoon, but it is a memorable one. Playing Big Harold, we get the full range of his character’s emotions from beginning to end. And while I’m not going to spoil what happens to his character, I will say that it’s important to know that he’s hurting real bad inside.

Forest Whitaker is amazing in this role since there are so many great standout performances, but Whitaker still manages to stand out from the crowd. It’s his calm demeanor. When juxtaposed by the horrific events taking place in Vietnam, we get a sense that Big Harold would be a very different person in a different setting, which is what makes him such a tragic figure in the end.

8. Nate Pope – Phenomenon (1996)

This romantic drama stars John Travolta as a man who suddenly becomes a genius and gets telekinetic powers. He plays the brain of the film, but Forest Whitaker, who plays Travolta’s best friend, Nate, is the heart.

Nate is an unassuming man who thinks the air force might be listening in on his shortwave radio. He also gets tricked into a relationship with a Portuguese woman. But what makes Nate such a great character is that he’s just living out his life and being there for his best buddy, who’s going through a lot of changes. And when the film finally reaches its conclusion, you feel like you’ve been on the journey along with Nate and his suddenly brilliant friend. Phenomenon actually made my father cry (though he refuses to admit it), and Forest Whitaker’s performance, humble as it was, was definitely part of the reason for why it brought my dad to tears.

7. Burnham – Panic Room (2002)

In this David Fincher thriller, Panic Room, Forest Whitaker plays Burnham, a smart thief who is just trying to make the best of a bad situation. He might be a “bad guy”, but he’s the kind of bad guy who gives insulin shots to his diabetic victim when she needs it the most. So yeah, he plays a complex character.

What makes Forest Whitaker such a strong actor can often be seen in his eyes. He’s usually very-soft spoken when he’s talking, but his eyes tell a different story. And that works to his favor in this movie where he plays a reluctant, yet compliant, thief. This movie definitely has Jodie Foster and Kristen Stewart in the spotlight for their performances, but it would be a mistake not to consider how great Forest Whitaker is in it as well.

6. Captain Ed. Ramey – Phone Booth (2003)

It’s kind of crazy, but Forest Whitaker has played a lot of cops. But his best role as a police officer was probably as Captain Ed. Ramey in Joel Schumacher’s Phone Booth, which is about a man (Colin Farrell) trapped in a phone booth by a sniper (played by Kiefer Sutherland).

What makes Forest Whitaker’s performance so good is his calm demeanor. Phone Booth is a really frenetic movie, but in comes Forest Whitaker to slow it down and make it manageable and even more enjoyable as a negotiator. Rest in peace, Joel Schumacher.

5. Saw Gerrera - Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

A resistance fighter with a cool beard and even cooler armor (as well as some weird mind-reading creature named Bor Gullet), Saw Gerrera is torn apart and battle weary, which is the perfect role for Forest Whitaker. Throughout his career, you always got a sense that Mr. Whitaker plays characters who have already seen some stuff and are now just tired, which is pretty much Saw Gerrera to a T.

In a lot of ways, I feel like Saw Gerrera is Forest Whitaker’s way of apologizing to all the sci-fi fans out there for Battlefield Earth, and he succeeded. Saw is both tough and introspective and makes for a really compelling character. And hey, Forest Whitaker himself loves the role, so that’s something.

4. Zuri – Black Panther (2018)

Like most Forest Whitaker performances, Zuri from Black Panther is lowkey one of the most important and memorable characters in the whole story. Playing the King’s trusted advisor, Zuri is well aware of T’Challa’s connection to Killmonger because he was there when he witnessed what happened to Killmonger’s father. And you can read it on his face that he’s been carrying that burden with him his entire life.

Forest Whitaker was perfectly cast for this role since it required somebody who could speak more in silence than in words. It’s like when listening to jazz. Are you listening to the notes that are being played, or the notes that are not being played? And in a lot of ways, Forest Whitaker has built a whole career on those kinds of performances.

3. Charlie Parker – Bird (1988)

Speaking of jazz, Forest Whitaker can sweat, man! You might not think that’s any real feat for an actor. But when you watch Bird, which was directed by Clint Eastwood and about the true life of the saxophonist, Charlie “Yardbird” Parker, you really get a sense that it’s Parker blowing away on that sax rather than Whitaker. And it’s not just the scenes when he’s blowing the sax, either, as Whitaker also plays a convincing addict, as Parker was a notorious heroin abuser.

The film jumps around in Parker’s life, but Whitaker is what keeps the story grounded and digestible. I’ll tell you. Whitaker seems to be really great in imbuing actual people, and Bird is just another example of that. When I listen to Charlie Parker, I always envision Forest Whitaker.

2. Ghost Dog – Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999)

You know what? If Tom Cruise can play “the last” samurai, then I don’t see why Forest Whitaker can’t play a samurai, too. But in my opinion, Whitaker plays a much better samurai in this crime film directed by Jim Jarmusch. The story centers around a hit man for the mafia who believes in the ways of the samurai. Weird stuff!

But great stuff, too. Honestly, I can’t see anybody else pulling off this role without it dovetailing into comedy, but Forest Whitaker plays it straight the entire time. And by the end of it, you really do feel like his character had embraced the way of the samurai. I personally think this is Forest Whitaker’s best performance given how committed he is to such a bonkers story, but I can’t put it above his number one role, since he won an Oscar for that one, for crying out loud.

1. Idi Amin – The Last King of Scotland (2006)

You would think that Forest Whitaker is the main character in this semi-biographical story (I mean, he did win Best Actor for this role, after all), but he’s not. It’s James McAvoy, who plays a fictional doctor to Forest Whitaker’s portrayal of the very real Idi Amin. But don’t tell that to the Ugandan dictator, since he would likely have you killed on the spot. The film, at its best, shows how brutal and terrifying Uganda’s President really was, and all throughout the film, you fear for McAvoy’s character’s life. And he wasn’t even a real person!

But that’s how damn good Forest Whitaker is in the role. He’s electric throughout the entire thing, but also funny, and even charming at times, which I’m sure all dictators must be at some point, since they are people, even if they’re outwardly monsters to everyone around them. The Last King of Scotland is a great film with a phenomenal performance, and it will most likely always be seen as Forest Whitaker’s best role.

Forest Whitaker has been in several films, but these are his best roles. But out of the ones listed here, which one is your favorite and why? Sound off in the comments.

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In three films released in the last six years, the John Wick franchise has done a brilliant job hiring real badasses to star opposite Keanu Reeves in key supporting roles. The likes of Adrienne Palicki and Willem Dafoe were in on the ground floor starring in the first movie, but since then we've seen actors like Ruby Rose, Common, Franco Nero, Laurence Fishburne, Cecep Arif Rahman, Yayan Ruhian, and Halle Berry tear up the screen in the sequels. As fans, we can’t help but wonder how the movies will continue that trend in future titles, and who they will cast next… so we decided to craft what one might call a wish list.

As of now it’s unclear how long the John Wick franchise will last, but assuming that it will continue ad infinitum, we definitely have some ideas about who director Chad Stahelski should bring on-board – with a particular focus on actors who have the capacity to realistically participate in the ridiculous trademark action sequences.

Uma Thurman

Can anyone explain why Uma Thurman hasn’t done a lot more action movies? Her role as Beatrix Kiddo a.k.a. The Bride in Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill is iconic because of the amount of ass she kicks, and yet she has not played the lead in a serious action feature since then (and that was 16 years ago). Having her take on a significant role in the future of the John Wick franchise would make for a dream pairing, and would be a great opportunity to put a sword back in her hands. Plus, the series could go a step further and also cast Thurman’s Kill Bill stunt double, Zoe Bell, alongside her – perhaps even as a sister.

Gina Carano

From Haywire, to Fast & Furious 6, to Deadpool, to The Mandalorian, Gina Carano has consistently demonstrated herself as a consummate badass on-screen, with her background as a professional MMA fighter lending a special authenticity to all of her roles. This is the same authenticity that is deeply embedded in the atmosphere of the John Wick movies, and thus the actor makes for an excellent match for the content. When given proper material she can deliver a great performance, and it’s consistently fun to see her just tear through opponents. She could be a powerful ally, or the titular hero’s worst nightmare, but either way Carano should be a part of this series.

Iko Uwais

I would give you full permission to dismiss this list as invalid if it didn’t include Iko Uwais, so consider this me saving you the need to leave a negative post in the comments section. For those who don’t immediate recognize the name, Uwais is the star of the two movies in The Raid duology (which is one of the most bone-crunchingly incredible pieces of modern action cinema), and has seen his profile grow recently with roles in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Stuber, and the upcoming Snake Eyes. Frankly, the only reason I can fathom that the Indonesian star isn’t already a part of the franchise is because Chad Stahelski has been saving him for some kind of grand finale. And, of course, if the series were to bring Uwais on board, it would also be amazing to see…

Joe Taslim

Those who have seen The Raid will recognize Joe Taslim as one of the main villains in the film opposite Iko Uwais – but their awesome on screen chemistry has continued in the years since then as well with their protagonist/antagonist roles changed in the blistering The Night Comes For Us. Taslim has also been gaining a lot of exposure in Hollywood movies, like Star Trek Beyond, Fast & Furious 6, and the upcoming Mortal Kombat, and it feels like it’s only a matter of time before he is brought into the John Wick universe. It’s insanely fun to watch him do his thing, and we want to see it opposite Keanu Reeves.

Naomi Watts

Known for making dramas like Mulholland Drive, The Impossible, and Birdman, Naomi Watts may not be the first actor you think of when contemplating potential additions to an action franchise like the John Wick movies, but that simply demonstrates a gap in your knowledge about her. While she hasn’t had many opportunities to show off her skills on film, Watts has trained in martial arts for years, participating in Judo contests in the late 1980s/early 1990s, and more recently learning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. To see that background translated on screen with her acting opposite Keanu Reeves sounds like a recipe for surprise and awesomeness.

Tony Jaa

With the exception of small roles in Furious 7 and xXx: Return Of Xander Cage, Tony Jaa doesn't have a great deal of experience working in English-language films, but from a physical perspective he most definitely has what it takes to function well in a John Wick movie. In his native Thailand he has been working in film since the early 1990s, and is best known for whipping all kinds of ass playing the hero in the Ong Bak trilogy. He’ll soon be getting more exposure in America via the release of the upcoming Monster Hunter, and perhaps that will wind up being his springboard into the Keanu Reeves-led series.

Michael Jai White

From Spawn, to Black Dynamite, to Arrow, Michael Jai White’s physical prowess has long been a key part of what he brings to the table as an actor, and his background explains why. While he has a particular focus in Kyrokushin Karate, he practices eight different styles of martial arts. He is exactly the kind of performer you expect to see in a John Wick movie if not simply because action fans actively talk about showdowns like Michael Jai White vs. Keanu Reeves. He’d be an excellent fit for the future of the series.

Forest Whitaker

There probably isn’t a ton of crossover on the Venn diagram of “Best Actor Oscar Winners” and “Black Belts,” but Forest Whitaker actually exists in both categories. He's never been a big action guy on the silver screen, but he is expertly trained in Kenpo Karate (a form originating in America), and is also experienced in Escrima (a weapons-based martial art created in the Philippines). Whitaker has had significant dramatic roles in recent blockbusters like Black Panther and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, but it would be great to see him exercise his fighting talents in future John Wick chapters.

What actors would you like to see join the John Wick franchise at some point in the future? Hit the comments section with your thoughts, feelings, and opinions, and stay tuned here on CinemaBlend for updates about future movies in the series.

Not all "Based on a true story" films are created equal, as it takes a steady hand to tell a story based in reality in a manner that looks good on the big screen. While there’s always a danger of going overboard with dramatic tension with a movie like writer/director Andrew Heckler’s Burden, there’s also a certain expectation for such notes to be included in the name of the cinematic experience.

Unfortunately, while Heckler’s telling of the true story of Mike Burden and his departure from the Ku Klux Klan is a good-hearted film that doesn’t go too hard on the more unsavory aspects we’ve seen oft repeated in stories of this ilk, there’s no sense of urgency that drives this story. What remains is an inspirational story of redemption that just kind of plays out merely for the sake of doing so.

In 1996, Mike Burden (Garrett Hedlund) goes from being a loyal member of the KKK to abandoning their cause practically overnight. Leaving what was once like a family to him, he finds himself, his girlfriend (Andrea Riseborough), and her son ostracized from their rural community in the deep South.

With his former father figure (Tom Wilkinson) firmly turned against him, Mike and those he loves find solace in the most unexpected of figures: black Baptist Reverend David Kennedy (Forest Whitaker). Taken in by Kennedy and his reluctant family, the former Klansman learns how to move on from hate, and into a new way of living.

The story behind Burden could have made for compelling drama.

Even in the most routine of circumstances, Burden feels like a story that was primed to become a drama that could have contended during an awards season push. It has all the hallmarks of a redemption arc that sees a formerly hateful person slowly growing into more tolerant.

The performances at the heart of Burden only further cement that promise, as Garrett Hedlund and Andrea Riseborough’s tender love story contrasts Mike’s battle with his abusive and hateful past. While the drama doesn’t always work in Andrew Heckler’s narrative, the cast of the film helps to move the story to a certain extent.

Tom Wilkinson’s portrayal of KKK leader Tom Griffin also lands particularly well, as he walks the line between the hateful nature of his character and the paternalistic nurturing he provided Mike in the absence of the younger man's own father. What could easily be a stock snarling bigot role is played with a blend of nuance and menace.

Burden’s pacing and focus rob the narrative of any dramatic urgency.

Possessing the sort of inspirational true story that Burden does would normally give anyone adapting such a story a leg up in building the structure of tension and redemption that this story requires. Even with those advantages built in, though, there’s a lack of pacing and focus that slows Burden down to an absolute crawl.

While we see plenty of Mike Burden’s routine, and how it’s eventually broken by Reverend Kennedy, the two halves of the story don’t organically meet. Most of the focus is trained on Garrett Hedlund’s Mike, as he adjusts to his new life, but there are moments where the protests and eventual rehabilitation on the part of Reverend Kennedy intersect with the events of Burden.

By time the story of Mike’s time with Reverend Kennedy really becomes significant, we’ve already been focused on his life for so long that it feels like a rushed resolution. Another plotline with a former childhood friend, played by Usher Raymond, only further confuses the focus of Burden, as that part of the story doesn’t really go anywhere, acting as more of an accent rather than an attribute.

Its heart is in the right place, but Burden is a turgid true story.

Without a proper sense of pacing or dramatic urgency, the true story of Burden drags. While it is refreshing that the usual narrative shorthand is replaced by a more artistic approach, and shepherded by performances that help enrich the material at hand, the movie still loses something in translation.

Rather than operating with too little story, there are too many threads present that don’t connect into one singular message by time things wrap up. It’s rather unfortunate, as the cast assembled in Burden show their unique talents to the best of their abilities, in hopes of raising the story to a higher lefel.

It’ll take a bit of patience to make your way through Burden, even if you’re a loyal fan of true stories that could have the power to inspire change in the world. It’s important to keep telling such stories as the one on display in this particular movie, as they maintain relevance in the modern era. Sadly, this isn’t one of the genre’s better examples, as the factors that break in Burden’s favor are overridden by the trappings of its execution.

Major spoilers below, so be sure to watch the Empire Season 5 premiere in its entirety before reading on.

Of all the premieres kicking off on TV this week, few could possibly pack as much into their runtimes as Fox's Empire, which answered lingering finale questions, set up wild new storylines, introduced a mysterious flash-forward and also killed off a major character that was set to be a Season 5 co-antagonist. By the episode's end, though, Forest Whitaker's Eddie Barker was dead, and his ashes were disposed of in a rather unkind manner. Showrunner Brett Mahoney explained why Whitaker's devious villain left the game so early.

Because this is Empire, almost every character outside the Lyon family is technically in danger of dying at any moment. But still, we've all come to expect that those giving Lucious and Cookie hell will survive a little longer than the average no-gooder. And after the imprisoned Andre dug up all that financial dirt on Eddie, I'd have expected the latter to raise the stakes even higher by pulling some new skeleton out of Lucious' closet to hang over the mogul's head. But no, he was instead going to legitimately retire from Empire in order to keep himself out of prison, at least until he and the offended Giselle got into a shoving match. One that only one of them walked away from.

It does make sense, then, that Eddie's death was partially influenced by events outside the show's narrative. Forest Whitaker is obviously a very busy actor, cranking out both small dramas and big blockbusters, and wasn't able to devote a large enough chunk of time to fleshing Eddie out further during Season 5. And so, rather than setting up a mid-length arc that presumably would have focused more on his imploding relationship with Giselle, showrunner Brett Mahoney and the writers decided it would be best to drop a giant shock on viewers' laps right from the outset. And it's not like this show hasn't employed healthy doses of flashbacks when needed, so Eddie could very well return in some fashion later on, if the timing worked out.

Speaking with EW, Brett Mahoney talked about what fans can expect to see now from Giselle, and how her story might go in an unexpected direction.

One thing is for sure, though. Giselle better hope she's not the one inside that coffin that Lucious was standing at for the beginning of the episode. After dismissively tossing Eddie's ashes down a sewer drain, she hasn't exactly worked up much good karma in her favor.

With that flash-forward mystery set to be teased out across the entire season, Empire airs Wednesday nights on Fox at 8:00 p.m. ET. To see what other new and returning shows are on the way, head to our fall TV premiere schedule.

The Star Wars franchise is in a fascinating place right now. With Disney now in charge of the beloved property, there's a ton of new and exciting content being produced by Lucasfilm. In addition to the main installments, the space opera has expanded to standalone movies. This trend started with Gareth Edwards' Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, which bridged the gap between the prequel trilogy and A New Hope. A fantastic cast was assembled to play the doomed rebels, including the great Forest Whitaker as Saw Gerrera. Despite not having much screen time, Saw made a lasting impact on the franchise. He also affected Whitaker himself, who recently expressed why he loves his Star Wars character so much.

While the Star Wars franchise is largely about the conflict between good and evil, things have become a bit more nuanced in recent additions. This includes the characterization of Saw Gererra, a Clone Wars veteran who is willing to stop at nothing to stop The Empire. He functions in the margins of the franchise's moral battle, which is why Forest Whitaker loved playing the newcomer.

Forest Whitaker's comments to EW show how much the actor has really thought out his character's motivations. Saw wasn't in a ton of Rogue One, but there's a cognitive dissonance that the actor internalized in order to inform his performance. Because while Saw Gerrera is trying to rebel against a murderous and totalitarian Empire, he's forced to use extreme methods in order to make a difference.

While the main Star Wars franchise mostly focuses on heroes like Luke, Leia, and Han, the standalone movies have helped to flesh out Geoge Lucas' iconic world. Both Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Solo were void of lightsaber duels and Jedi nights, therefore allowing the audience to get a broader scope of the galaxy under Empire rule. And while they might not have been present during the iconic battles on Hoth and Endor, there are countless unnamed soldiers who were involved in the titular wars. Each have their own story and internal battle, and Saw Gerrera is a great example of that.

The next installment in the Star Wars franchise will be J.J. Abrams' untitled Episode IX on December 20th, 2019. In the meantime, check out our 2018 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

Black Panther introduced several great new characters to us for the MCU, but then it took some of them away. Could we possibly see Forest Whitaker again in the inevitable Black Panther 2? It seems like such a thing isn't entirely outside the realm of possibility, While his character of Zuri was killed by Killmonger, the actor points out that the movie does set up a way for the dead to communicate with the living, so perhaps we could see Zuri again on the ancestral plane. According to Whitaker...

The fact that there will be a Black Panther 2 is a foregone conclusion. The first movie has made a billion dollars around the world and you don't let franchises like that simply sit around. Although, one wonders if the first movie would have said goodbye to the characters that it did if it had been thinking about the future. Zuri, was a sort of surrogate father figure to T'Challa in Black Panther, with the hero having lost his own father during Captain America: Civil War. Unfortunately, T'Challa lost his second father in Black Panther when Zuri tried to get involved in the ritual combat, and was killed by Killmonger.

Exactly what the rules are of the ancestral plane are never clearly defined, but that would give Black Panther 2 some freedom to use it to bring back other deceased characters if it wanted to, as Forest Whitaker implies to ET. The name "ancestral plane" would seem to indicate that you can only speak with your ancestors here, and T'Challa and Zuri were not actually related as far as we know, but if we broaden the concept of an ancestor, then perhaps anybody who had a significant impact on somebody's life can be visited there.

Of course, the other issue with this idea is that we only ever see people visiting the ancestral plane after ingesting the nectar of the flower that gives the strength of the Black Panther, and we saw all of them get burned in the first movie. T'Challa would have to lose, and then regain his powers to find himself on the ancestral plane and not only does that seem unlikely, but we've already seen that play out once. Seeing it in the sequel would probably feel less than creative.

Still, if there's another way for Zuri to show in a Black Panther sequel, I'm all for it. Forest Whitaker is a great actor and any excuse necessary to get him back on the screen is acceptable.

In Ryan Coogler's Black Panther, Forest Whitaker plays Zuri -- a close friend and confidant of the deceased King T'Chaka -- but if you watch his performance, something may catch your eye. Despite the fact that shortly before the start of the movie he lost one of his best friends, Zuri doesn't exactly mourn or grieve in typical fashion, which may strike some audience members as strange. The truth, however, is that there is a very good reason why we see the man shed a tear for T'Chaka, and it's all tied into the character's faith. To hear Whitaker explain it:

I had the great pleasure of sitting down with Forest Whitaker a couple weeks ago during the Los Angeles press junket for Black Panther, and in addition to discussing his thoughts on Wakanda border policy and who he'd like to see join the cast in a future installment, I also asked the Academy Award-winner about Zuri's grief. I was curious how he approached Zuri's emotional state when it came to mourning T'Chaka, and he fully explained why it's reasonable that we never see the character shed a tear.

In Wakanda, Zuri is the man in charge of the application of the Heart-Shaped Herb, which many Marvel fans are familiar with as the flower that gives Black Panther his incredible strength, speed and agility. One of its incredibly important other uses, however, is to allow a newly-coroneted ruler to access the ancestral plane and reconnect with past generations. T'Challa, played by Chadwick Boseman, uses it and has the chance to reconnect with his father, T'Chaka, and it seems that knowledge of this link is what allows Zuri to know that T'Chaka isn't gone, but instead just on another level of existence.

But is the astral plane the afterlife? I took the opportunity to ask Forest Whitaker how he felt about this part of the Black Panther canon, and he explained it this way:

You can watch Forest Whitaker discuss Zuri's grief for the loss of T'Chaka and his views on the astral plane by clicking play on the video below!

Marvel fans will have the opportunity to dive deep into this beautiful and complex mythology this weekend, as Black Panther is arriving in theaters everywhere on Friday. Be sure to book your tickets -- there's going to be a hell of a lot of sold out shows -- and stay tuned here on CinemaBlend for more from my interviews with the cast and filmmakers behind the film!

Ryan Coogler's Black Panther is a beautiful, action-filled comic book blockbuster, but not to be ignored is the surprising depth of its socio-political themes. The central nation of Wakanda is unlike any nation on Earth -- incredibly advanced thanks to its unique Vibranium mines -- but the fact that it's shut off from the rest of the world creates a fascinating conflict: do the immense resources manifest a responsibility for the country to help people beyond their borders, or does the horrible history of colonization and slavery in Africa justify their choice to stay hidden? It's the issue that ultimately drives the entire film -- so it may not surprise you to learn that the actors playing it out on screen have some strong opinions on the subject.

Last week I had the pleasure of sitting down with the cast of Black Panther during the film's Los Angeles press day, and my first question in every interview was exactly the same: if you were a Wakandan citizen knowing what you do about the rest of the world, how would you feel about the country's border policy? The responses I got were impressively diverse, and it was Lupita Nyong'o -- who plays Nakia in the Marvel film -- who pointed out the reason why: because I was hardly the first person to bring up the topic. Said the Oscar-winning actress,

One very important advocate for keeping the borders of Wakanda secure in Black Panther is T'Challa himself -- and as it turns out, Chadwick Boseman shares the perspective. While most of the actors I talked to weighed both sides of the challenging argument in their responses, the star of the film made a straight argument for why the African nation is better off in isolation. According to Boseman, history and the incredible dangers of the outside world both contribute to the argument for staying hidden, but also worthy of consideration is the geography of Wakanda:

The nation of Wakanda was founded on top of the aforementioned mine full of Vibranium, which found its way to Earth courtesy of a meteorite crashing down from space. Because of this, the country is naturally concealed within a crater -- which Chadwick Boseman seems to interpret as a kind of sign. If Wakanda were meant to interact with the rest of the world, it wouldn't be surrounded by natural walls.

Danai Gurira, however, disagrees. While her character in the film, Okoye, is extremely loyal to the classic traditions of Wakanda, she personally recognizes that Wakanda's relationship with the rest of the world doesn't entirely coalesce with where we are in modernity, and sees the border policy as archaic. Said Gurira,

You can watch all of the stars of Black Panther -- including Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Danai Gurira, Lupita Nyong'o, Forest Whitaker, Martin Freeman, Andy Serkis, Winston Duke and Daniel Kaluuya discuss the controversial Wakanda border debate in the special video we've cut together below!

I loved talking with the Black Panther cast about their thoughts on Wakandan border policy -- but it was only one of many things we talked about during the interviews. Stay tuned here on CinemaBlend for more stories, and check out the film in theaters on February 16th!

In bringing the world of Wakanda to the big screen for the first time, writer/director Ryan Coogler united a remarkable ensemble of incredibly talented actors. Sure, he may have inherited Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa, Andy Serkis as Ulysses Klaue, Martin Freeman as Everett Ross, and John Kani as T'Chaka, but the rest of the Black Panther cast is made up of name after jaw-dropping name. It makes you wonder who else could possibly join the special corner of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in a future film... and it turns out that the stars of the movie have some awesome suggestions.

I had the immense pleasure of sitting down with many members of the Black Panther cast last week during the film's Los Angeles press day, and during those individual and paired conversations I took the opportunity to ask them about actors they would want to see join the franchise someday. They not only had some great ideas, but even some interesting reasons for their choices, as you'll discover below and across the next few pages!

Michael B. Jordan Suggests: Yara Shahidi

In the last few years, Yara Shahidi has made some big moves in her career. She broke out in a big way back in 2014 with her role as Zoey Johnson on the hit ABC comedy Black-ish, and in just the last few weeks saw the launch of her very own spin-off series, Grown-ish, on Freeform. Only time will tell where her career goes from here, but if it were up to Michael B. Jordan, her future will involve a role as part of the Black Panther family.

The actor who plays Erik Killmonger in Black Panther not only suggested Yara Shahidi as someone he'd like to see in the world of Wakanda, but even offered up the role that he would love to see her play. He clearly thinks that she would be fantastic paired up with actress Letitia Wright, offering that she could play a best friend of Shuri, T'Challa's genius younger sister. There would be an annoying question lingering asking where she was during the events of Ryan Coogler's movie, but that would be something easily paved over with a single line of dialogue. And while Shahidi doesn't exactly have a long blockbuster resume (she played "Salt's Young Neighbor" in Salt), you have to start somewhere, right?

Daniel Kaluuya & Winston Duke Suggest: Ludacris

In case you can't tell simply by the actors I interviewed for this feature, Black Panther has one of the most amazing casts ever put together for a Marvel Studios film -- and this fact isn't lost on stars Daniel Kaluuya and Winston Duke. During my interview with them, they expressed amazement at not only the collection of talent, but how well-suited everyone is for their particular parts. This very much influenced their response to my actor question, because while they namedropped Ludacris specifically, the larger message was that the filmmakers could realistically bring in anybody to a future story and make it work.

Ludacris a.k.a. Chris Bridges is certainly no slouch when it comes to starring in blockbuster movies -- as he has long been a staple of the Fast and Furious franchise -- but he has yet to dip his toe into the superhero world. If he were to become a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, however, as Daniel Kaluuya and Winston Duke noted, one can guess that the franchise would find the perfect part for him.

Danai Gurira & Lupita Nyong'o Suggest: Snoop Dogg

When I asked Danai Gurira and Lupita Nyong'o my question about the actor they'd like to see join the Black Panther family, their answer was definitely different than everyone else. Specifically, they found inspiration from a special moment on set. Between takes during the shooting of the Warrior Falls sequence -- where T'Challa battles for the right to be king of Wakanda -- the drummers on set started to play the beat to Snoop Dogg's "Drop It Like It's Hot." It created such a special moment that the actresses want to see it honored in a future Marvel movie.

But who would Snoop Dogg potentially play? Apparently Danai Gurira and Lupita Nyong'o would be cool with keeping it a small part -- an Easter egg for anybody who knows the story of what happened behind the scenes of the first Black Panther. Gurira suggested some kind of small cameo for the rapper/actor, and Nyong'o suggested him playing a police chief. The ball is definitely in Marvel's court now.

Forest Whitaker Suggests: Wesley Snipes

Comic book fans think of Blade when they think of Wesley Snipes, but for a long time he had a very different Marvel character in his sights: Black Panther. When the actor was at the height of his fame during the 1990s, he made strides to try and bring the first ever black superhero to the big screen, though obviously he walked away from those efforts empty handed. Now Chadwick Boseman, a very different actor, is playing the big screen version of T'Challa, but Boseman's co-star Forest Whitaker told me that he would love to see Snipes become a part of the Black Panther family.

Forest Whitaker actually worked with Wesley Snipes as a director when he made Waiting To Exhale back in 1995, and was very clearly aware of the actor's Black Panther movie efforts when I asked him the question during the press junket. Obviously nobody expects the Marvel Cinematic Universe to replace Chadwick Boseman with Snipes as the King of Wakanda at this point, but it's also hard not to agree with Whitaker that the Blade star should be recognized for his past efforts trying to bring exposure to the important character. There are many, many roles within the Black Panther sphere that he would be appropriate for (Brother Voodoo, Achebe and Kiber The Cruel to name a few), so now it just needs to happen.

Although T'Challa and his allies will be traveling for a bit in Black Panther, the majority of the movie will take place in Wakanda, a nation with such advanced technology and a unique culture that it doesn't remotely feel like any other Earth-set location previously shown in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Nevertheless, like many of the other movies in this franchise, Black Panther has been expected to be an Earthbound story, but according to Forest Whitaker, who plays elder statesman Zuri, apparently some moments will take place in space. Here's what the actor recently said while talking about his experience working on Black Panther:

There's no denying that Wakanda's impressive technology looks like it came from an alien planet, but until now, there's been no indication that Black Panther would show any scenes set away from Earth. But Forest Whitaker's comment to Variety seemingly indicates that at least a portion of the movie will be heading out to the stars. However, even with this reveal, I wouldn't start placing bets on T'Challa battling Erik Killmonger aboard a Wakandan spaceship. We'll still be hanging out in Wakanda for the majority of this MCU outing, and this "outer space" element that Whitaker mentioned presumably won't take up a lot of time.

One possibility for how Black Panther goes into "outer space" is by showing the origin of vibranium, the rare metal native to Wakanda. In the comics, vibranium was deposited on Earth via a meteorite that crashed 10,000 years ago, so perhaps there will be a flashback showing a similar moment in Black Panther and the Wakandan natives soon stumbling upon vibranium for the first time. We also can't discount the theory floating around that the final Infinity Stone, a.k.a. the Soul Stone, will be officially introduced in Black Panther. With Black Panther being the final Marvel movie before Avengers: Infinity War, perhaps showing how the Soul Stone ended up in Wakanda will be how T'Challa's standalone movie fits in that cosmic vibe, subsequently setting that final piece into place for Thanos and The Black Order invasion of Earth just three months later (for us).

Taking place shortly after Captain America: Civil War, Black Panther will see T'Challa embracing his new duties as Wakanda's king. However, the monarch will soon find himself challenged by Erik Killmonger and Ulysses Klaue, two of his great enemies from the comics who are conspiring to overthrow his kingdom. With the help of the Dora Milaje, Everett Ross and other allies, T'Challa will need to work fast to prevent these villains from starting a world war.

Black Panther hits theaters on February 16, and we'll reunite with T'Challa and Wakanda's inhabitants when Avengers: Infinity War arrives on May 4.

Forest Whitaker just landed an exciting TV role, and it's also kind of surprising. After a short return to television in Star Wars: Rebels, Whitaker will pop back up again in a guest role on a popular Fox series. This fall, be on the lookout as Whitaker joins Empire in the role of Uncle Eddie.

Forest Whitaker joins Empire, which begins Season 4 this September on Fox. His character, Uncle Eddie, is described as a charismatic music icon and hit maker who took a chance on an unproven Lucious Lyon back in the day and gave him his first radio play. Eddie will come back into Lucious' life during his rehabilitation, and a grateful Cookie will offer Eddie the chance to produce a song for the 20th anniversary of Empire Entertainment. Whitaker's appearance is said to be a multi-episodic arc, so expect to see him around for a bit.

While it's certainly great enough to hear Forest Whitaker is jumping into Empire we gotta ask, can Uncle Eddie sing? Let's hope he can, as it may surprise some to know that Whitaker himself has a pretty soothing voice, as his background in university was opera before switching to drama. Those looking for an example can check out the film Black Nativity where he sings with co-star and former Empire guest star Jennifer Hudson, or this video below:

That sounds good enough for the cast of Empire to work in somewhere. His smooth tenor would fit in well on a track for just about anyone on the show, so hopefully Fox is working out a way for him to use those pipes. Forest Whitaker joins the list of celebrities to appear on the Fox program which has also featured the likes of Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, and Snoop Dogg. Will Whitaker's performance rank among the best the show has seen? We can only hope, but given the actor's pedigree and the long list of hits he's had in the past, it seems more than likely.

Empire returns for Season 4 September 27th at 8 p.m. ET on Fox. The premiere will see Lucious Lyon back in the limelight for the first time following the explosion in Las Vegas. Get excited about the premiere by checking out a picture of Taraji P. Henson in her latest film Proud Mary, or why Terrence Howard backed out of the Iron Man franchise. For more information on the hottest shows of the summer and when they're premiering, visit our summer premiere guide.

Mild spoilers below for anyone who hasn't yet seen Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

This past weekend marked the first time the Star Wars cinematic universe diverted from its trilogy format to give audiences a new adventure with Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. The franchise's TV efforts, however, have always told side-narratives, and Star Wars Rebels is currently crafting many interesting and logical connections between the various films. It was recently leaked that Rogue One's Saw Gerrera would soon show up in Season 3, and it has now been confirmed actor Forest Whitaker is indeed reprising the role for the animated series, and he'll be quite different in his nearly-here debut. Here's how executive producer Dave Filoni put it.

That sounds righteous. By the time we get to meet up with Saw Gerrera in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, he's on in years and it's obvious his prime is well behind him. And it's perhaps during Star Wars Rebels' timeframe that we'll get to see him in that prime state again; let's not forget that Saw's origins came during the animated run of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, where he soldiered on as an ally of the future Darth Vader. He definitely looks like he's in the mood to kick some ass in Rebels, and without the worry of wheezing all Vader-like afterward.

Dave Feloni told EW that Forest Whitaker was really into the part and took the time to assimilate himself to Saw's backstory, which was put together in collaboration with Rogue One's director Gareth Edwards and Lucasfilm's story group chief Kiri Hart. Feloni says that the aim here is to convey the evolution of the character's rebellious philosophy, and not so much dealing out point-by-point explanations of how Saw's various bodily injuries were sustained. That was more Rogue One's angle on storytelling, while Star Wars Rebels has its own thing going.

Saw isn't the only character whose Rebels story fills in some Star Wars franchise blanks, either. Now that we've seen Rogue One, we have a much better grasp on how the previously teased connections to Star Wars Rebels might work. Darth Vader's presence on Disney XD's series has been handled splendidly, and even his story has been expanded through Rebels's animated narrative. (Particularly when it comes to Rogue One, apparently.) We can't wait to see if Saw's story deepens even further as news hits about Star Wars Rebels' future.

Our first adventure with this grittier and more agile version of Saw Gerrera will happen on Star Wars Rebels on Saturday, January 7, on Disney XD. You won't want to miss this. And to make sure you don't miss out on everything else hitting the small screen in the near future, head to our midseason premiere schedule.

Black Panther impressed audiences earlier this year when he made his MCU debut in Captain America: Civil War, and in less than two years, fans will get to see him snag the spotlight in his own movie. Besides Chadwick Boseman reprising T'Challa, the Black Panther movie has been accumulating some talented actors, and today, that cast grew even more impressive with the addition of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story star Forest Whitaker.

Marvel confirmed today that Forest Whitaker will appear in Black Panther as Zuri, an elder statesman of Wakanda. He is the fifth primary actor to join the upcoming Marvel movie, following behind Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan as Erik Killmonger, Lupita Nyong'o as Nakia and Danai Gurira as Okoye. Whitaker has proven himself as one of Hollywood's best actors for many years, so needless to say, his involvement that has us even more excited for Black Panther.

While Marvel's announcement didn't provide any details about Forest Whitaker's Zuri in Black Panther, as is typically the case with comic book movies, we can turn to the source material for clues. Introduced in 1998, Zuri was a loyal ally to T'Chaka, T'Challa's father and the previous king of Wakanda. When T'Challa inherited the throne, Zuri stayed by his side as an adviser, but his words weren't the only thing that helped the kingdom. Even in his older years, he was still an excellent warrior and tracker, making him a tremendous military asset. Unfortunately, Zuri was later killed when he while he was protecting Shuri, T'Challa's sister who was attempting to become the next Black Panther at the time. Whether this means a grisly fate awaits Whitaker's Zuri in Black Panther remains to be seen, but with T'Challa slowly learning the ropes of leading Wakanda, he'll need all the help he can get from the wise statesman.

With over three decades of acting under his belt, Forest Whitaker has built an impressive resume. His notable credits include Bird, Phenomenon, The Last King of Scotland, Lee Daniels' The Butler, Southpaw and the recent Roots remake. He can next be seen in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story playing Saw Gerrera, a Clone Wars veteran and member of the Rebel Alliance. Joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe will be another way for him to snag additional blockbuster cred.

As an added bonus, today's Black Panther casting news didn't stop with Forest Whitaker, as it was also announced that Sicario's Daniel Kaluuya and Emerald City's Florence Kasumba have joined the cast. Karumba will reprise her role as Ayo, the member of the Dora Milage who was briefly seen in Captain America: Civil War, while Kaluuya will play W'Kabi, T'Challa's confidant. Person of Interest's Winston Duke was also confirmed to be playing M'Baku, better known in the comics as Man-Ape, whose cinematic counterpart is described as the "leader of a rival tribe in Wakanda," which we're guessing will remain the White Gorilla Cult.

Black Panther claws its way into theaters on February 16, 2018.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is going to reveal some more secrets after tonight's big trailer reveal, and you can bet we'll be all over it once it drops. Thankfully, we don't have to wait that long for some new details to mull over, as an interview with Forest Whitaker revealed that his character, Saw Gerrera, shares a common affliction with Darth Vader himself. As it turns out, both men require a mechanized apparatus to survive some traumatic injuries.

Entertainment Weekly managed to capture the details during their talk with the Academy Award winner, as he revealed that the bounty hunter's bulky looking armor is not only a protective measure, it's also a vital component for him to live. Whitaker explained as follows:

It's no surprise that Saw Gerrera is in such bad shape, as he's been involved with all sorts of rebellion since his introduction in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. According to the official bio for his character, Gerrera has been on the Jedi holy homeworld of Jedha, "coordinating a prolonged insurgency against the Imperial occupation." Something tells us that Saw Gerrera's forces are the direct opposition to those of Ben Mendelsohn's Director Orson Krennic, a man who will stop at nothing to impress The Empire and even Emperor Palpatine himself. So, obviously, a man who's ready to go toe to toe with any Imperial stooge who crosses his path is going to be a little worse for the wear.

Frankly, all of this talk about Rogue One: A Star Wars Story has us anxious to watch the teaser to the new trailer again. You can do the same with the clip embedded below.

With the main conflict of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story involving a scrappy group of rebellious scoundrels and the Imperial government itself, what was once a mere spin-off story has become a more exciting prospect with each new puzzle piece we've been given. Though considering the frail condition of Forest Whitaker's character, and some other news that was accidentally released earlier this year, we have a feeling that Gareth Edwards' entry into the Star Wars galaxy will have a fair share of tears mixed in with the thrills. To be honest, we wouldn't have it any other way.

We don't have long to wait, as Rogue One: A Star Wars Story wages war on your wallet and box office records on December 16th. However, you'll want to stick around for that new trailer, as we'll be covering it as soon as it drops!

It's an awesome time to be a Star Wars fan. When Disney bought out Lucasfilm back in October of 2012, they laid out a plan to expand the world George Lucas created to a degree we've never seen before. They may have scrapped all of the Expanded Universe material that accumulated over the years (or at least decreed that it's not official canon), but they're working their tails off to fill in that void with projects like the upcoming Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

At this point, we already have new novels, an animated television series in Star Wars Rebels, a handful of comic book titles from Marvel, and, of course, J.J. Abrams' Star Wars: The Force Awakens. All of the expanded universe stuff is great, but the movies are what fans really want to see, and in addition to a new trilogy of interconnected saga movies, we're getting a series of standalone, so-called, "anthology" films that examine unexplored areas of the Star Wars saga, illuminating various corners of that far, far away galaxy.

Within these anthology movies, which have also been called "Star Wars Stories," we'll get to peer into the hidden crevices of this universe we love so much, explore different times and places, and possibly learn about events we've only ever heard about. The first of these is Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and we have a lot of questions. Who is going to star? What will it be about? Will we see familiar characters? Will this impact/be impacted by the other films? Let's take a look at what we know about Rogue One so far.

First, let's take a look at the newest trailer!

And now let's break down what we know about the latest Star Wars feature, starting with:

What Is The Star Wars: Rogue One Release Date?

As mentioned earlier, it's a good time to be a Star Wars fan. In addition to the surplus of other officially canon material, which includes everything from TV shows to comics and video games like Star Wars: Battlefront, we're getting at least one movie a year for the foreseeable future - alternating between Episode titles like Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and Anthology chapters, like Star Wars: Rogue One. Star Wars movies have, up to this point, traditionally arrived in theaters in May of their respective years of release. The Force Awakens changed that trend, however, and was a huge winter blockbuster in December 2015. For now, the franchise will stick to this schedule, as Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is scheduled to be released almost exactly one year after, with a December 16, 2016 release date on the calendar.

From the look of things, there won't necessarily be a ton of consistency release date-wise with the upcoming films. Rian Johnson's Star Wars: Episode VIII, which doesn't currently have a title, will also be a pre-Christmas release, coming out on December 15, 2017. Less than six months later, specifically on May 25, 2018, audiences will be treated to Phil Lord and Chris Miller's Han Solo film - and then Colin Trevorrow's Star Wars: Episode IX will come out a year after that (on May 24, 2019).

What Is The Star Wars: Rogue One Rating?

Films don't typically get their official rating until just a few weeks before they open, so, since we still have some months to wait before Star Wars: Rogue One hits theaters, we aren't completely sure of the rating just yet. But, the Star Wars movies have a long history of PG or PG-13 ratings, so you can bet that this film will be in line with that track record. Star Wars: The Force Awakens had a PG-13 rating, and it's even more likely that Rogue One will carry the same rating when it opens this December.

The Director

Pretty much the first thing we learned about Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, even well before the title was revealed, was that Gareth Edwards was going to direct. Edwards only has two feature directorial efforts under his belt, but they certainly made an impact. His first film, 2010's micro-budget Monsters, is a tense, unique take on the creature feature - one where the filmmaker handled all the visual effects himself. While that movie wasn't exactly a blockbuster hit, Edwards' talent caught the eye of Hollywood, and he was given the reins of 2014's Godzilla revamp. His attempt to bring the King of the Monsters back to the metroplex was a rousing success.

These two very different films showcase a varied skill set that should serve Edwards well on Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. He's shown he can tell a character-driven story, as well as one that relies on action, large-scale special effects, and spectacle - and both of those elements will come in handy in deep space. In Monsters, the titular beasts are relegated to the background, adding an extra layer of mood and tone to the story that is really about two people wandering the wilderness. This shows that he has the ability to get you emotionally invested in the people onscreen, without relying solely on flash to keep your attention. While Star Wars has always been full of eye candy, it's the characters that stick with you.

What Is The Star Wars: Rogue One Story?

We've been hearing rumors about the plot of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story since the earliest stages of development, with whispers of rebels, a daring heist, and an Ocean's Eleven-style ensemble of characters coming together to pull off a job. At Star Wars Celebration 2014, we got confirmation that some of that is correct. The story follows a band of rebel fighters who steal the plans for the first Death Star. That definitely covers the heist element, not to mention it sets the action in the time between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, as resistance to the Galactic Empire begins to build momentum.

While this links the story to the main narrative thrust of the Star Wars saga, it also looks like it might do something no movie in the franchise has ever done: focus on normal people in the universe. The Jedi mythos has figured prominently into every extant Star Wars film, and while we've seen and encountered non-powered people, with the exception of Han Solo, they've never really taken center stage. If nothing else, this is going to be a drastically different view of this universe in which we've spent so much time, and it's been promised that, while most of the Saga has been rather black and white, Rogue One is one big shade of gray in terms of who is right and who is wrong in the rebellion against the Galactic Empire.

Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones)

When the cast for J.J. Abrams' Star Wars: The Force Awakens was first announced, one of the immediate reactions was that there were only a few female characters. Obviously the release of the blockbuster revealed that Daisy Ridley's Rey will be the central hero of the new saga trilogy, but those won't be the only new movies featuring strong female leads. The first actor confirmed to be in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story was Felicity Jones, and it will be through her eyes that we see the movie's story unfold. In addition to popping up in 2014's The Amazing Spider-Man 2, the 31-year-old British actress received an Academy Award nomination for her role as Jane Hawking in the biopic The Theory of Everything.

As for the character that Felicity Jones will be playing, the first teaser trailer for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story does a pretty fantastic job giving us a bit of backstory for Jyn Erso. On her own since she was a teenager, she is a fighter with very little appreciation for authority - which leads her to find a home for herself in the rebellion. The footage we've seen seems to suggest that she'll be undergoing a bit of training in the movie, but it also sounds like she will have a key role in the heist of the Death Star plans.

The Leading Men

Felicity Jones is the central protagonist of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, but the nature of the film's story demands a fairly large ensemble of actors - and that's exactly what the production has collected. During Walt Disney's D23 Expo in August of 2015, the studio confirmed a number of the main members of the cast. This is a list that includes:

Diego Luna

Ben Mendelsohn

Donnie Yen

Jiang Wen

Forest Whitaker

Mads Mikkelsen

Alan Tudyk

Riz Ahmed

Very little is known about most of the characters that the actors are playing in the movie, but some information has leaked out and been revealed in footage. For example, it's been reported that Alan Tudyk won't be featured in the movie in person, but instead will be providing a motion capture performance (playing a droid called K-2SO). Additionally, Mads Mikkelsen will not be playing a villain in the movie (a nice break for him), and will reportedly be Galen - who may be Jyn Erso's father.

Instead of Mikkelsen, it instead seems as though the central villain of the film will be Director Orson Krennic, played by actor Ben Mendelsohn. Almost nothing has been revealed about this character yet, though we do know that he is a high-ranking member of the Galactic Empire, and that he looks damn good in a space cape.

It's also been revealed that the character being played by Forest Whitaker has an interesting bit of history. In Rogue One: A Star Wars Story he will be playing Saw Gerrera - which is a name that fans of the animated Clone Wars television show should recognize. Gerrera, paired with his sister Steela, were featured in four episodes of the series' fifth season, and they were rebels who fought alongside the central heroes, Anakin Skywalker, Obi-wan Kenobi, and the young Ahsoka Tano. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is set 20 years after those events, so it will be interesting to learn exactly what he's been up to since then.

What 'Anthology' Means

You have probably noticed by now that Rogue One is being called an "anthology" film. When you think of what normally constitutes an anthology film, you generally call to mind films made up of multiple chapters - essentially a series of connected short films (with the V/H/S and ABCs of Death series, there has been a glut of such projects in horror lately). The Star Wars franchise is tweaking that definition slightly, and basically using the word "Anthology" to mean "Stories Told Outside Of The Central Saga."

This classification sets Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and the films that will follow it apart from the "Episodes," and while the events will impact the continuity of the Star Wars universe (obviously stealing the Death Star plans plays a big role) they're markedly different from what has come before. We've so far seen the journey of the Skywalker family in the films, and the Anthology films will tell stories just outside of that realm. It also appears these movies will explore side stories that appear to have less focus on the Force and the Jedi.

In addition to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, LucasFilm and Disney are developing two other Anthology projects, set to come out in 2018 and 2020, respectively. The first, which is set to be directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller, is the untitled Han Solo movie, starring Alden Ehrenreich as the younger version of Harrison Ford's legendary smuggler character. The third project, which has yet to reveal its central subject, was going to be directed by Josh Trank, but has been in stasis ever since the film and the filmmaker parted ways in 2015.

Familiar Characters

As mentioned earlier, a significant part of the raison d'etre for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is to tell the stories of characters not necessarily directly related to the Skywalker clan and the central Star Wars saga. Of course, that doesn't mean that the film won't have a handful of recognizable faces from previous chapters in the franchise. We've already talked about Forest Whitaker's role as Saw Gerrera from Clone Wars, and the first trailer showed that Genevieve O'Reilly will be reprising her role as Rebel leader Mon Mothma from Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (the character first played by Caroline Blakiston in Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. But they won't be the only familiar faces that we see in Gareth Edwards' blockbuster.

It was first confirmed in the trailer shown at Star Wars Celebration 2016 that Rogue One: A Star Wars Story will feature the big screen return of one of the most iconic villains in cinema history: Darth Vader. Unfortunately, because the footage only featured the Sith Lord's breathing and a reflection of his image, it wasn't exactly informative in terms of what role the great antagonist will play. As shown in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, he is definitely in the mix once the Death Star plans get stolen, intercepting Princess Leia on the Tantive IV, but we don't really now how he will be involved while the mission is actually happening.

Another character who fans will very likely be excited to see return for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is a key figure from George Lucas' prequel movies: Senator Bail Organa. Played by Jimmy Smits, Organa was first introduced in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, and while he obviously sits in an important political position within the fictional universe, fans mostly recognize him for something else: he is Princess Leia's adopted father. Smits has gone on record about his role in Rogue One, calling it both a "cameo" and a "small part," so obviously we're still very much in the dark about his larger role in the film.

John Williams

For many of us, John Williams and his rousing scores are practically synonymous with Star Wars. If you need a reminder of just how important his work is to these movies, just check out this scene from A New Hope without his signature sound. While the 83-year-old composer was back to contribute to The Force Awakens, he will not work on any of the Anthology movies. Consequently, we won't hear his soaring themes in Star Wars: Rogue One, making it the first Star Wars movie to hit theaters without a Williams score.

While he may be no John Williams, Gareth Edwards and company have found a strong replacement in Academy Award-winning composer Alexandre Desplat. He and Edwards worked together on Godzilla, and there are few composers out there as celebrated. He walked away with an Oscar in 2015 for his work on Wes Anderson's The Grand Budapest Hotel - and he was actually competing against himself in that race, as he was also nominated for his contribution to The Imitation Game. It will be interesting to see if he puts his own unique stamp on Star Wars with Rogue One, or if he attempts to channel John Williams.

Now that Star Wars: The Force Awakens has been dissected, examined, and mulled over in just about every conceivable manner, we can begin to move our attention to something else. But fortunately we live in a world where Star Wars movies are coming down the pipe like, well, comic book movies, and don’t even have to leave that far, far away galaxy. Details and information regarding the next installment, the standalone Story film Rogue One, are surfacing and that picture is starting to come into focus.

There are potential SPOILERS for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story below. You’ve been warned. That said, these are also rumors, so you should treat them as such and take them with a grain of salt.

The folks over at Making Star Wars have been all over this beat from the very early going, and through their sources they’ve learned a number of production codenames for various factions of the Star Wars: Rogue One cast, for both heroes and villains. And they’re all weirdly aquatic in nature, but may tells us some things about the characters.

Felicity Jones’ character, who we’ve previously heard may be named Lyra Erso, is codenamed Green Seal Leader, Jiang Wen is referred to as Seal Communicator Blue, Forest Whitaker’s possibly one-legged character is called Eel Commander, and Alan Tudyk, who plays a droid, is being called Seal Droid. As we understand it, these are all good, or at least good-ish guys, but on the villain side, the characters all have codenames relating to sharks, which seems like the appropriate choice.

More than anything what this gives us is a better idea of various teams that may be involved and the hierarchy we’ll see amongst the players. Seals appear to be the good guys, probably the ones who are tasked with stealing the plans for the first Death Star, which we know is the big plot point in Rogue One. But it also looks like, within this, there will be multiple teams, much like how the Rebel Armada is split into various squadrons—Red, Blue, Green, and the rest. Since we expect to spend most of our time here with Felicity Jones’ character, it stands to reason that her team will be the main focus of Rogue One and that she’s the one in charge.

The Eel faction is a bit different. MSW’s post speculates that this means Forest Whitaker’s character is connected to the bounty hunters we’ve heard fit into the story somehow, though they don’t go into specifics at to why. They also speculate that Jiang Wen may also play a bounty hunter, though one with Rebel sympathies. It’s possible that, to obtain the Death Star plans, the Rebels turn to these less than savory characters, which would make sense because they are likely more skilled in things like heists than your average Rebel soldier.

This doesn’t offer much focus, but with each new nugget of information the bigger picture of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story becomes clearer. We’ll find out for sure how all of the pieces fit together when it opens on December 16.

The MCU’s upcoming Spider-Man reboot already has a good creative team in place with director Jon Watts and writers John Francis Daley and Jonathan M. Goldstein. As far as casting goes, though, there hasn’t been a lot of revelations. Only Tom Holland as Peter Parker has been confirmed by Marvel, and Marisa Tomei is reportedly playing Aunt May. Now there’s a list making its way around the internet that may hint at actors being looked at, or who are close to signing on for the Web-Slinger’s latest big screen adventure.

Latino Review posted a list of actors that they say are either confirmed, in final negotiations, or in talks to appear in the 2017 Spider-Man film. While many of the names are younger actors that will play Peter’s high school classmates, there are several big names also listed as villains and supporting characters. Keep in mind that this list is not confirmed and should be taken with a major grain of salt.

First up, Titanic star Billy Zane is listed as being in final negotiations to play Adrian Toomes, a.k.a. The Vulture, a villain that has yet to be adapted for live-action. Vulture was planned to be the main villain in Sam Raimi’s scrapped Spider-Man 4, where he would have been played by John Malkovich, and the only hint of the character in the movies have been his trademark wings appearing in The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Zane typically avoids major blockbusters, although he will be seen next year in Zoolander 2. Honestly though, whether this list is legit or not, they should cast Billy Zane. Aside from knowing he can pull off Vulture’s distinct bald head, he already has experience in the world of superheroes playing the eponymous protagonist in 1996’s The Phantom. Oh, and he’s a cool dude.

Also in final negotiations is Orange is the New Black star Jason Biggs, who could play Mac Gargan, a.k.a. The Scorpion. Like Vulture, Scorpion is another classic Spidey foe that hasn’t been seen on the big screen yet. Unlike Zane, it’s hard to picture Biggs as Spider-Man’s intimidating foe with the robotic stinger tail. Biggs does have some experience playing a superhero from his voice work as Leonardo in the current Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series. 

As far as the supporting cast goes, other big names include Hugh Laurie close to being cast as J. Jonah Jameson, Forest Whittaker is talks to play Robbie Robertson, Miranda Cosgrove is being looked at for Betty Brant, and Teen Wolf star Tyler Posey is being considered for Ned Leeds. Robert Downey Jr. is also listed as reprising his Tony Stark/Iron Man role, which was rumored earlier in the year. Here’s the thing with this list: you could certainly imagine some of these famous actors appearing in the film, but to have all of them is a stretch of the imagination, especially since some of them already being committed to other big projects, like Whitaker in Star Wars Anthology: Rogue One.

Marvel and Sony’s joint Spider-Man hits theaters on July 28, 2017, and presumably in the coming months we’ll get more concrete casting info that will either vet or debunk the above names.

Forest Whitaker remains one of the busiest character actors in all of Hollywood. Now he’s looking to take his talents to a galaxy far, far away.

Variety reports that Forest Whitaker is in negotiations to join the first Star Wars anthology picture, Rogue One, directed by Gareth Edwards (Godzilla). The trade has no details on who Whitaker would play in the ensemble action-adventurer, and they note that Disney and Lucasfilm had no comment on the casting.

So what do we know about Rogue One so far? Quite a lot, actually. Set during the years between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, this is being described as a darker and grittier take on the Star Wars universe. It’s also being described as a heist movie, with a rebellious group of fighters and X-Wing pilots banding together to steal the plans to the Death Star, which will lead to the Rebel Alliance being able to infiltrate and destroy it during A New Hope. So it’s a prequel, and a sequel, and also it’s own standalone movie.

Rogue One has drawn comparisons to The Dirty Dozen, which is why it’s casting a wide net in terms of its actors. Felicity Jones has been cast as the female lead in the movie, and she is being joined (so far) by Diego Luna, Ben Mendelsohn, and Riz Ahmed. So far, we are hearing that these actors will place a mix of rebel soldiers and pilots. No confirmation on where Whitaker would fit in.

Remember when I mentioned how busy Whitaker can be? Prior to filming on Rogue One, Variety reports that he’s looking to snag a role in the reboot of The Crow before heading to Star Wars. At the moment, Whitaker is filming The Story of Your Life with Amy Adams for director Denis Villeneuve. If negotiations work out, he’d move from that to The Crow, then shuffle on to Star Wars: Rogue One.

Whitaker remains in demand. He’s a producer on the hit Sundance coming-of-age comedy Dope, which hits theaters on June 19. And he’ll next been seen in Antoine Fuqua’s boxing drama Southpaw, opposite Jake Gyllenhaal. Obviously, adding Whitaker to almost any project helps make it more interesting (unless it’s a sequel to Taken), and the idea of him lending gravitas to a Star Wars sequel has us intrigued. I wish I knew who he might be playing, but there will be time enough for that before the movie opens in theaters on December 16, 2016.

Who could have guessed that, when 21 Jump Street hit theaters a couple of years ago, the comic highlight would be Channing Tatum? The leading man was, at the time, Hollywood's next big thing, but no one knew exactly what kind of performer we had on our hands. Now, with a couple of years to look back, and with 22 Jump Street reaching theaters, we realize we've had an ace comedic performer in our midst.

Hollywood is filled with actors who definitely have a funny bone, but just no opportunity to show it. Sometimes it's typecasting. Sometimes it's the very fact that comedy is very hard. Sometimes it's the overwhelming, deadly-serious genre pictures coming out of the industry every week. Whatever the case, here are a dozen actors that we thought could benefit from a lead comedic role, something silly and lightweight to diversify their careers and show their fans that sometimes, being a movie star means just having a good time.

Hugh Jackman

Has there ever been such a divide between who an actor is onscreen and off? In movies, Jackman is the tortured loner Wolverine, the morally-conflicted Jean Valjean in Les Miserables and the haunted suburban dad Keller Dover in Prisoners. And offscreen, Jackman is a singing, dancing master of ceremonies, a jovial spirit who seems to always be having a good time. Jackman was actually a fine Woody Allen leading man in Scoop eight years ago, and brought a slight daring streak to the first sketch of the execrable Movie 43, right before that movie headed over a cliff. Surely there's something out there for the most likable guy in Hollywood.

Forest Whitaker

Whitaker is a Hollywood lifer who nonetheless seems like the saddest and most serious guy in every movie. Sometimes you want to reach out and give him a hug. And sometimes you want to just cower in fear. The common thread in those performances is Whitaker's intensity, which audiences usually experience in a wide range of films four or five times a year. Why not change it up a little bit, do something weird? Whitaker isn't always a leading man, but it's hard to say he wouldn't generate laughs popping up in a supporting role in some spoof comedy. One look at Whitaker just proves that the guy loves to work, so a little bit of diversity wouldn't kill him.

Lupita Nyong'o

Nyong'o stole Hollywood's heart during the Oscars when she not only took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, but when she gave the best speech of the night. Fortunately, her screen persona is undefined as of yet, though she'll pop up in Star Wars Episode VII. Now is the time to see her and her immaculate smile in something lightweight and charming. If Hollywood can give Paula Patton a Baggage Claim, SOMEONE can get Lupita a fun, jokey script. Buddy comedy with Jennifer Lawrence? Anyone?

Tom Cruise

To us, Les Grossman in Tropic Thunder was a breakthrough for Tom Cruise, a late-career comedic powerhouse from a man previously known as the world's most humorless star. Since then, plans for a Grossman movie and a Ben Stiller teamup called The Hardy Men have both stalled, leading to Cruise continuing to play the usual unstoppable alpha male action hero to diminishing returns. Now with Edge Of Tomorrow underwhelming at the box office, it's the perfect time for Cruise to play a genuine loser, one without a force of personality. What if Cruise channeled that intensity into a beta male role? In movies like Knight And Day, he has shown that he's more than willing to send up his image. He just needs the material.

Russell Crowe

Oh Russ, why the stern face? Audiences this year caught Crowe as a scowling villain in Winter's Tale and as the world's scariest fundamentalist in Noah. For OUR sake, maybe he should do something funny. Crowe's self-seriousness has become something of a parody, but one look at his Twitter account shows an acerbic deadpan personality. Crowe's going to start aging soon, and now's the time to poke fun at himself as a respectable macho leading man before he moves into his grandpa years.

Chris Hemsworth

Out of all the Avengers, Chris Hemsworth is the one who just hasn't gotten a single chance to be really funny outside of superheroes. And yet, Thor is the most clearly comic out of all of them: a Norse god in a red cape walking amongst mortals, totally oblivious to his absolute power. Hemsworth plays the lighthearted fish-out-of-water stuff pretty well, with a slight wink and a nod to the absolute ridiculousness of the premise. While Daniel Bruhl earned awards attention for Rush, Hemsworth was just as good, playing another handsome golden god with swagger that almost feels three dimensional coming off the screen. That sort of charisma is sure to make Hemsworth a huge star outside of Marvel, but it should also help him translate to sillier, more humorous fare: Hemsworth as a stud in a romantic comedy who learns from his hubris is the sort of script that writes itself.

Patrick Stewart

Stewart isn't onscreen much, mostly doing stage work and chipping in with random voice work on Seth MacFarlane shows. But the general public still only thinks of Patrick Stewart as Professor Xavier or Captain Jean-Luc Picard. Of course, they're missing out. Did you see him on Extras? It's priceless. Stewart knows full well how his own voice gives the impression of ultimate authority, and how that sort of thing can be mocked and ridiculed. Stewart's in an upcoming indie, Match, a drama where he gets to reveal a soft comedic side as well. But the guy's clearly got a funny bone, so why not let him be overly silly? And can he invite Sir Ian McKellen?

Tilda Swinton

Tilda Swinton is TERRIFYING. And, more importantly, she's heard all your jokes about her possible immortality, her resemblance to David Bowie, her ethereal beauty. It almost feels like her performance in Jim Jarmusch's Only Lovers Left Alive is a snarky play on that persona. But she's more than just a personality, as evidenced by her Oscar win for Michael Clayton. Swinton has a do-it-all sense of daring that would make her boldly leap into any situation with a prankish glee. Adding a sense of mischief to characters in films like Burn After Reading and Snowpiercer is one thing. But allowing yourself to be the butt of a joke is another, and Swinton is totally up for it.

Denzel Washington

Denzel has got that legendary smile and that GREAT laugh, and yet, we only see him use it in pitch-black dramas. He's funny as an unwitting cop in Inside Man, and humorously shady in 2 Guns, but he hasn't made any out-and-out comedies since the eighties. Maybe Washington should re-team with Spike Lee for one of his shambling late-career comedies, where he's the comic tough dad on the block. Or maybe Hollywood can finally get him in a sweet romantic comedy where he plays a stubborn widower who meets someone new. Denzel's one of the industry's best actors, there's got to be a way to use that skill set.

Sean Penn

It's nice to see, as Sean Penn has evolved into the most self-serious screen persona one could imagine, that he's stretching himself by playing an action hero in The Gunman. It's good that Penn hit the gym and is going to try the type of movies he mocked Nicolas Cage for doing, once upon a time. But what about Spicoli? Why are we acting like Jeff Spicoli, the stoner icon from Fast Times At Ridgemont High, never happened? Penn's got the comic timing that could pull off something silly, maybe with the Farrelly Brothers, and nobody's desire to mock their own image should be stronger than Penn's, slowly cultivating a silly Most Interesting Man persona without really realizing how dorky it looks on him. He's got a ton of funny friends in the industry, and a horrible public image problem. Those buddies should hook him up.

Benicio Del Toro

He's got the Oscar, he's considered one of the best actors in the industry... why not let loose a little and show the world your hilarious side? Del Toro is always the best thing about every movie he's in, and he can be very funny, as parts in stuff like The Way Of The Gun and Snatch can attest to. He'll show up next in Guardians Of The Galaxy, playing the wacko supervillain The Collector, a role that may allow him the chance to indulge his inner comic ham (possibly with a slight Flash Gordon influence) so the desire to deflate his intense screen persona is certainly there. We wouldn't complain if Del Toro just played cops, killers and maniacs for the rest of his life, but he's shown he can be a real funny dude. Let's see it.

Cobie Smulders

The one member of the How I Met Your Mother crew that seemingly has been completely handcuffed by her career outside the show. Despite being the comic equal to the rest of the cast, Smulders instead is locked in as stern taskmaster Maria Hill in Marvel's superhero universe, while playing the "straight guy" in lame comedies like Delivery Man and The Slammin' Salmon. She's absolutely gorgeous, with a fanbase and timing derived from an extremely long-running sitcom: couldn't there be some silly role Hollywood can find for her? She shows up in David Wain's They Came Together this summer (with Michael Shannon, who also needs a lighter role), but she's deserving of a comic lead, something that shows her she's not doomed to play Generic Girlfriend roles in between Maria Hill appearances.

After years of development, Southpaw is finally coming out to play. The boxing drama once courted Eminem before landing Jake Gyllenhaal in the lead, and now director Antoine Fuqua is going about filling out the cast. And would you believe he's enlisting People Magazine's Most Beautiful Person In The World, queen bee Regina George, and Ghost Dog?

Deadline reports that Southpaw is in talks with representatives to add Oscar winners Lupita Nyong'o and Forest Whitaker as well as Rachel McAdams to the project. Gyllenhaal is playing a welterweight boxer who has fallen on hard times and succumbs to substance abuse as his career spills down the drain. In true Hollywood fashion, he finally finds the strength to return to the ring and compete. Spoiler? Eh.

Whitaker, soon to be seen in Taken 3: Tooken To The Limit, looks to be playing Totus "Tick" Willis, a former champion who attempts to become a trainer but opts out after the tragic death of his child. Juicy stuff for Whitaker to bite into, which isn't unexpected: Southpaw screenwriter Kurt Sutter was on the writing staff for The Shield during Whitaker's run as Lieutenant Jon Kavanaugh.

McAdams will be playing the lead female role, who I'll guess has a romance, and will possibly be marred to the screwed-up boxer played by Gyllenhaal. Nyong'o will be playing a social worker who cares for Gyllenhaal's daughter, who presumably he keeps putting in harm's way with his reckless behavior. Love triangle? How about a love triangle, guys? Nyong'o might have the Oscar, but Hollywood insists on refusing to break from tradition here, ignoring the fact that Nyong'o is way too gorgeous to just be a social worker. Hopefully there's something good for Nyong'o to do, but she's been fairly picky since taking home the little gold man.

Director Fuqua looks to be spending a bit of his goodwill to get this project made. His last movie was the hit Olympus Has Fallen, which is soon to receive a sequel, London Has Fallen, though Fuqua has Fuqua'd off that follow-up. His next film is The Equalizer, a reunion with Denzel Washington that is very much expected to be a hit. Fuqua and Sutter have been trying to get Southpaw off the ground with a number of lead acting candidates, and it took Fuqua's hit-making to make it possible.

Whitaker has got a number of smaller films coming up, though it's expected he'll direct himself in the upcoming faith-based The Shack. McAdams has a busy slate as well: she'll appear in this summer's A Most Wanted Man as well as new movies from Wim Wenders and Cameron Crowe. Nyong'o, meanwhile, may show up in crime thriller Who Shot The Sheriff and is set to record voicework for the upcoming The Jungle Book.

In theaters this Friday, Lee Daniels' The Butler covers a whole lot of history, from the plight of poor black sharecroppers working on plantations in the Deep South in the 1930s to the Civil Rights movement to the election of Barack Obama. But somehow, in the course of a 15 minute interview with the film's star, Forest Whitaker, we managed to cover even more history than that.

Whitaker plays Cecil Gaines, the character at the center of The Butler, based on a real man who worked in the White House for every President between Dwight D. Eisenhower and Ronald Reagan. Cecil is a father and husband who's happy to have a good job and unwilling to rock the boat politically, but his son (played by David Oyelowo) is the opposite, joining the Freedom Riders as a college student and eventually the Black Panthers. Telling the parallel story of Cecil and his son allows The Butler to touch on many elements of the Civil Rights era, but as Whitaker revealed, his own childhood in South Central Los Angeles put him directly in the middle of stories even more fascinating than those in the film.

Soft-spoken and speaking passionately, Whitaker at one point apologized for talking so much about history and social justice movements, but a conversation about something so big is remarkable in a world where most actors are happy to just promote their movie and move on. Check out my conversation with Whitaker below, and see him and an all-star cast in Lee Daniels' The Butler in theaters this weekend.

Since you’re born in 1961, you were kind of alive in the ‘60s, but you weren’t really old enough to participate in the stuff we see here. Did you ever get the romanticism of that era and feel like you’d missed out on the experience of like the Freedom Riders or the Freedom March or any of that stuff that was going on?

Yeah, but there’s a few things that I did kind of experience anyway, but in a different way. Because I grew up and I was raised in South Central LA, so the Black Panther Party’s office was around the corner from my house. So, every day I saw them as kids, they picked me up, they knew my name.

Were you one of the kids getting their free breakfast?

They asked me to, but my mom wouldn’t let me, you know.

Did she think they were too radical?

I guess so. Yeah, and I guess she maybe was right because it was like later that when I walked by their office, it was blown up. They blew up the office, you know. Then later in life, when I was supposed to go to Compton High after Watts riots which was near my neighborhood but later I was supposed to go to Compton High, and my mom would bus me. I went over to my cousin’s house, across from Adams to be bussed to the beach, so it would at least take me two hours a day to get to school and two hours, a little longer on the way back after football practice. So, I would leave in the morning and wouldn’t come home until 10:00 at night.

And could you even process why that stuff was going on? Because when you’re younger, things just happen and you don’t really think about it.

No, I don’t think so. I knew the Panthers were cool. I remember looking at the poster of Huey. It was right there on the corner, and I remembered that they were really nice to me and I knew that they stood for strength and I remember what happened in school when the deaths happened, with King, and things like that. I remember the hush, know what I mean. The pain, but I don’t think I understood it, know what I mean? There’s a difference. The SLA...my grandma lived in this apartment and the SLA were killed in the apartment, this little building behind it, so as a little kid, a young kid, I would walk through the charred remains of that building and in a weird way, I was always kind of walking around these pieces of history.

Like it’s always been part of you, but only later could you put the pieces together.

Yeah, I don’t think I could have possibly understood it then, but then it did formulate some of my thinking later, you know, about what could happen, the potentiality of when you try to protest, what could happen from it, but also like about people fighting, you know, always aware. I don’t think I’d understand the principles of the party, because originally, like the Black Panther Party, a lot of organizations started off as neighborhood help organizations, like the Crip was a neighborhood, the gang was a neighborhood help organization. They started in Los Angeles, to help the community, you know what I mean, and then it grew into something else and turned into something else, basically because of pressure and disfunction of what society does when it doesn’t offer the economic opportunities as well as opportunities to be able to be treated as a human being.

Well so few films deal with the Panthers at all, and when they do, they’re often villainized. This one, obviously, in it, the son leaves them, but it shows the good work they were doing from the beginning, which is brave.

Yeah, it works a little bit on the borderline.

Yeah, the messages of what they really stood for.

Which I don’t think people really know, if they ever read the credos of it, they’d be really surprised. The idealists, not the ones who were unfortunately infiltrated, spied upon and tricked, but like the Fred Hamptons, in Chicago, and stuff like that. Those guys were trying so hard to help, know what I mean, in the means that they had. I think what’s great about the way Lee tells this story is that he lets you feel that in an emotional way. I mean, it continues to tell the story of our family, that way you get to see those historical moments and make them mean something to you in your body. That’s the only way you’ll understand something.

I feel like this summer has been really bizarre for race and people talking about race, because there’s been Trayvon Martin and there’s been the whole Paula Deen thing getting blown up, and the voting rights act striked down, and with Fruitvale Station and this

And also the march in Washington, this is the 50th anniversary of the I Have a Dream speech.

With this and you being involved in Fruitvale Station, it seems like you’re in the middle of this conversation. Has it been hard for you to kind of figure out where you are in that conversation? Has it been a tough summer for you in that way?

Not really, I mean I know that I believe we all are endowed with the right to be treated well and to have freedom. So, I was attracted to that. I met Ryan and Ryan had these ideas and this one appealed to me and I just said, let’s do it. I wanted to support him because I believe he is a voice of today and tomorrow, you know. I think he’s an important filmmaker and the story is important to be told, to start a dialogue and to make us think, you know fully, make us question, you know, and look for answers in ourselves. It doesn’t mean that we can always find the answer for yourself, but the pursuit of trying to do the right thing, you know, is important. And to not stand idly by, is important..

Well, what’s interesting about The Butler is in the way that Cecil is deliberately trying to not participate in everything that’s happening all around, really against his son being an activist. Then by the end, you see him kind of get into it by the end. I was trying to figure out if the movie thought he did the wrong thing by not participating in so much, the social activism of the ‘60s and it doesn’t seem like it really judges him, but I wonder if you felt that way.

I don’t think it does. I think there’s many different ways to shift perspective in reality, you know. There’s an attrition that occurs from someone just being in someone’s presence and new understanding.

Well, that’s what, like King says about the domestic workers and how it’s secretly subversive, I think he says.

It is subversive. I think that my character learns that for him, there are many different ways to protest, many different ways to move things forward. I think that he realizes that, cause he was protesting a lot when he walked in and asked for raises for the staff, he was protesting. When he tries to send his son, when he says, “I’m going to make you have another life you deserve, to have another life,” even though he wants him to stand out. He doesn’t want to go to fists, because he’s scared. He loves him, he doesn’t want to be hurt, but he does these things. Now, my son, he’s actively, aggressively trying to change the equation of caring, because both of us are about love, both of us are about caring, because I care so much about my family and want them to do better and to have a better life. My son cares so much about himself and his race that he wants, he’s forcing it to be a better life, you know what I mean. So, they’re different, coming from different perspectives, you know, just as like Martin and Malcolm came from different perspectives.

There’s this great triumphant moment at the end of the film where he’s going up to meet Barack Obama, but again, with all of the nasty stuff that’s been happening this summer in the news, it feels like there’s this sense of there’s so much left undone.

There is.

Do you feel that bittersweetness, when you get to the end of this movie?

I do. This movie is dealing with the civil rights movement, and everybody is looking at it like it’s history, but it’s not. This movie is dealing with the movement of reaching towards this goal of everybody being free and having all these rights that everybody has been talking about, to be equal. So, this is pushing it to here and it’s continuing the conversation. It’s a spring that’s moving. It’s a bike that’s moving down and it’s riding across and still hasn’t gotten to the other side of what this country supposedly, theoretically stands for, which may stand for that in ways more than any other country in the world, but it’s not gotten to the ideal that you and me want it to have.

So, this movie is just bringing us along the way. Now, should we be allowed to celebrate it at times? Should we be allowed to still have hope? We must have hope, you know what I mean. The whole campaign was built on hope. Every time we live and breathe, there’s hope, you know what I mean? Some people would say that even after we die, there’s still hope, but at least we know that while we’re breathing, there’s still hope that something can change and become better. [Note: I pointed out to Whitaker that the state motto of South Carolina is "While I breathe, I hope," which he says he didn't know before. He's just that quotable a guy.]

You might think that a historical drama that focuses on the evolution of race relations in the United States might not be a platform for a media megastar to get a sexy makeover. But apparently you’d be wrong. The newly renamed Lee Daniels' The Butler has Oprah Winfrey playing Gloria Gaines, the loving wife of White House butler Cecil Gaines (Forest Whitaker). She also happens to own (get it, OWN?) tons of sex-soaked swagger. In the above clip, Gloria and Cecil are celebrating their empty nest and the latter’s birthday with all kinds of ‘70s style. Oprah is getting funky with some big gold hoop earrings, a big and beautiful Afro, and a black and white jumpsuit. And bonus good times: Whitaker has got one to match!

But this isn’t the first sultry image of Oprah from the film. Just after production wrapped on The Butler, she shared this downright confounding image of her and co-star Terrence Howard:

Having not yet seen the film, I’m at a loss as to how either the snapshot above or the clip up top fit into its larger story. Lee Daniel’s The Butler is based on the incredible life of Eugene Allen, who worked in service at the White House from 1952 to 1989, meaning he saw the administrations of the likes of John F. Kennedy, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, and Ronald Reagan from a rare vantage point. The trailer for the film reveals Daniel and his screenwriter Danny Strong aimed to balance what Allen’s onscreen doppelganger Cecil sees within the White House with what he experiences in the gates beyond. And the latest poster suggests that this man was more than a servant to the president, but additionally an inspiration for change.

It’s difficult to know what to expect from Lee Daniels' The Butler as its director has a checkered filmography at best. His directorial debut was the Cuba Gooding Jr. vehicle Shadowboxer, which earned the kind of critical scorn that would urge some filmmakers to find a new vocation. But in 2009, Daniels returned with Precious, and his became the kind of underdog story Hollywood loves. The drama based on the novel Push by Sapphire was met with resounding critical praise, launched the career of Gabourey Sidibe, and won two Academy Awards for Best Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress (Mo’Nique).

All eyes were on Daniels when he unveiled his Florida-set follow-up The Paperboy. But while he managed a promising cast that included Nicole Kidman, Matthew McConaughey and Zac Efron, the thriller about two brothers who get caught up with a dangerous convict was met with critical jeers. Spanning decades and boasting a cast that includes Liev Schreiber, Robin Williams, Alan Rickman, John Cusack, Jane Fonda, Lenny Kravitz, James Marsden, Minka Kelly, and Mariah Carey (many of whom can be spotted in these newly released stills), The Butler is Daniels' most ambitious effort yet. But will it be a big hit or another spectacular miss? We’ll find out when Lee Daniel’s The Butler hits theaters on August 16th.

An arty poster for your small movie is a great way to get attention, and Lee Daniels knows that as well as anyone. The striking, beautifully designed poster images for Precious: Based On The Novel 'Push' By Sapphire helped keep that movie's buzz going from festival to festival, all the way to a Best Picture nomination. Daniels repeated the arty trick for The Paperboy, though that movie's fate in regard to critics and awards was a little tougher. Now it's time for The Butler-- excuse us, Lee Daniels' The Butler-- and the striking poster art is back. This new one you see above debuted over at Fandango.

It's hard to say what's more on the nose, this American flag-draped figure or the one from the film's first poster, a butler in a similarly subservient pose raising a Black Power fist. Oh wait you missed that one? It's very real; check it out below:

So the image of the man wrapped in the flag is striking, and you can't argue with that list of names off the side-- it's got to be the most diverse cast this side of, uh, Lincoln maybe? But there's a lot going on in this poster that I can't figure out at all. The tagline, "One Quiet Voice Can Ignite A Revolution," really has nothing to do with the central character of Cecil Gaines (Forest Whitaker), who served as a butler in the White House from the late 1950s through the mid-80s. As you can see in the film's trailers, Cecil is happy to be employed in a steady, well-paying job and is deliberately apolitical so he can hang on to his job; when his son, played by David Oyelowo, becomes involved with the Freedom Riders and eventually the Black Panthers, Cecil is furious. So how is Cecil being credited with sparking a revolution here?

Then there's the hand-scrawled font for the names and the title, which, again, is striking, but doesn't have a whole lot to do with the story at hand. It's a story about grown-ups, set largely in the White House-- handwritten signs, seemingly with Crayons, don't really have anything to do with it. It's like a design decision made based on what looked cool, but someone who quite possibly hasn't even seen the movie.

It's not easy to make a visually gripping poster for a movie that takes place across decades and will largely be sold based on its ensemble cast-- you run into dangerous "random floating heads" territory really fast. But this shot at making something dynamic for Lee Daniels' The Butler grabs your attention, then completely falls apart after a second glance. Will the movie itself be similarly weak? Find out for yourself when it opens August 16.

Warner Bros. and the Weinstein Company have come to a peace accord over Lee Daniel’s The Butler, so the latter is beginning what’s sure to be a long-game marketing campaign aimed squarely at the Academy Awards. EW unveils a string of new images from the film that spans decades and presidential administrations, telling the true story of one African-American butler who saw how our country changed from his seat of service within the White House. You can see a selection of these newly released stills above and below.

Up top is English actor Alan Rickman as 40th President Ronald Reagan with outspoken political activist/American leading lady Jane Fonda as Nancy Reagan. Below, you can check out the film’s lead Forest Whitaker as the titular butler Cecil Gaines as he greets the newly appointed the 35th President of the United States played here by James Marsden. Just behind him is Minka Kelly as First Lady and fashion icon Jackie Kennedy.

Sharing the role of Gaines with the Oscar-winning Whitaker is English performer Aml Ameen, who plays the man when he was younger, and protégé to an old hand at the vocation of butler, played here by Clarence Williams III.

While the trailer has teased scenes of Robin Williams as Dwight Eisenhower and John Cusack as Richard Nixon (these are among the EW pics too), the shot below shows a barely recognizable Live Schreiber as Lyndon B. Johnson, who by early reports gets an unfavorable portrayal here that includes him using the n-word.

Lastly, a surprising shot of Mariah Carey and David Banner. The pair play Gaines’ mother and father, who worked with him on a cotton plantation in Virginia before he broke out to become a butler. While her involvement in the film hasn’t been as widely promoted as that of Oprah Winfrey—who plays wife to Whitaker—Carey memorably won critical praise with a small but crucial role in Lee’s breakthrough drama Precious back in 2009. It’ll be interesting to see what she does with what’s sure to be a small but likely juicy role in The Butler.

Lee Daniel’s The Butler opens August 16th.

Forest Whitaker recently got a taste of American history by playing longtime White House butler Cecil Gaines in Lee Daniels’ The Butler, which audiences will be able to see later this year. But did it give him enough of a taste to compel him to continue on in the Deep South to play a legendary U.S. figure for a prestigious biopic?

It’s possible, as The Wrap is reporting that Whitaker is discussing the possibility of playing Martin Luther King Jr. in Memphis, a movie directed by Paul Greengrass. The trade says that Greengrass finally secured financing for his dream project, and likely plans to make it his next directorial effort. He intends to shoot it in his trademark docu-drama style, which ramped up the action in the Bourne series but also brought a disturbing sense of realism to his harrowing and brilliant United 93.

Greengrass has shopped Memphis to assorted studios, setting up and losing deals at Universal and Sony before deciding to go the indie route. It seems crazy that a studio wouldn’t want to gamble on a proven talent like Greengrass tackling an historical story that’s sure to appeal to a broad audience. But historical biopics don’t tend to break the bank – even with Oscar’s blessing backing them, when that happens – so perhaps that explains why Greengrass has struggled to get Memphis on screen.

The Wrap says that the screenplay will focus on King’s internal struggles regarding his life’s work, and the toll it takes on his family. Whitaker won an Oscar for playing Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland. Greengrass, meanwhile, has the Somali pirate drama Captain Phillips with Tom Hanks on the horizon. If he and Whitaker end up on this year’s Oscar trail, it will be fun to see them prep Memphis right before our very eyes.

As we coast into the start of the summer blockbuster season and start to see the release of huge films like Iron Man 3, Star Trek Into Darkness, Fast & Furious 6 and The Hangover Part III hit theaters, we must also remember that the season will also open with one of the biggest, most prestigious independent film events in the world. The Cannes Film Festival, held annually since 1946, is getting ready to start up on May 15th and will run until May 26 with Steven Spielberg serving as President of the Jury. It was previously revealed that Baz Luhrmann's anticipated adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby will be opening this year's events, but today we've learned which film will be closing them.

The Los Angeles Times reports that Zulu, the South African movie based on the novel by Caryl Ferey and directed and co-adapted by Jerome Salle, will be the title that will end the 66th Cannes Film Festival. Described by the newspaper as being "part crime noir and part social study," the story follows two police officers (Forest Whitaker and Orlando Bloom) who work together to solve a crime that involves the murder of two young woman and a devastating drug that is quickly becoming popular in the city of Cape Town. Salle last directed the 2011 thriller The Burma Conspiracy with Sharon Stone.

The film doesn't currently have a release date in the United States, but that very well could change following its festival premiere next month in the south of France.

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: A big-screen biopic of late comedian Richard Pryor is moving forward, only this time with an Oscar-winning talent leading the charge to push this project up the hill of production and into theaters.

Yes, we know that you’ve heard similar news, from the time Eddie Murphy expressed interest in stepping into the legendary stand-up’s shoes to the moment Mike Epps said he’d play Pryor in a Nina Simone project (with Zoe Saldana cast as the singer).

This time, however, it’s Forest Whitaker confirming his role as a producer on a long-gestating Pryor biopic, which Deadline says will receive valuable input from Pryor’s widow, Jennifer Pryor. Whitaker will produce through his Significant Productions label, settling down to fine-tune a new script and kickstarting the search for a new director and actor to play Pryor in his prime. (Don’t worry: The 51-year-old Whitaker, while immensely talented, seems to realize that he’s now too old to play Pryor in a biopic, and will work behind the scenes to make this biopic work.)

Now, the speculation begins. At one point, Marlon Wayans was discussed as a possible actor ready to play the larger-than-life comedian, but Deadline takes the next obvious step and connects The Wire actor Michael B. Jordan to the part. Jordan stars in the Sundance hit Fruitvale, which Whitaker helped produce, so they have history. He has a following from his work on The Wire and Friday Night Lights. If Fruitvale turns him into a star, that could raise the expectations for a Pryor film even higher.

I’m not sure I’d want to be the actor who attempts to play Pryor on screen. But we’ll see whom Whitaker lands for both the director and the star, as it seems like this project is moving forward once again.

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

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

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

What happens when you cross a bunch of big-name stars, some illicit activity and some weapons? As movies have taught us for decades, nothing good, that's for sure. In Catch .44, the new thriller opening theatrically in New York and Charlotte on December 9 and on DVD and Blu-Ray December 20, it's Bruce WIllis, Forest Whitaker, Malin Akerman and more who are getting caught up in the dirty business, and as you can see in the clip we're premiering here exclusively, it starts with a traffic stop that quickly turns a little sinister thanks to a cop who's asking questions that are just a little too pointed. Find out if Akerman, Deborah Ann Woll and Nikki Reed can fib their way out of this one by watching the clip below.

To find out what happens next, you'll have to seek out Catch .44 for yourself either in theaters December 9 or on Blu-ray and DVD December 20-- you know, just the kind of dark crime thriller you want to sit down and watch with the whole family during the holidays. For more information you can read the film's official synopsis below.

Cinema Blend has been following Last Stand for a while now, and for good reason: it will be the first film project for Arnold Schwarzenegger after leaving office as the governor of California. The action flick from Korean director Kim Jee-Woon (The Good, The Bad, The Weird) has gained a cast including Peter Stormare and Thor's Jaimie Alexander. Today Lionsgate announced that Last Stand has begun filming in New Mexico and Nevada, featuring two noteworthy new cast additions: Oscar-winner Forest Whitaker and frequent Jackass Johnny Knoxville.

Last Stand stars Schwarzenegger as Sheriff Owens, a former LAPD cop turned small-town sheriff in the border-town community of Sommerton Junction. Still carrying the guilt of an operation gone wrong that left his former partner crippled, Owens finds himself forced once again into a high-stakes situation after a drug kingpin stages a daring escape from an FBI prisoner convoy and makes a run for the border along a route that will take him and his cohorts straight through Owens' town.

Last Stand originated as a spec script by screenwriter Andrew Knauer, his only credited script so far. Unsurprisingly for a first produced script, Last Stand was later rewritten by another writer, in this case Jeffrey Nachmanoff (The Tourist).

While the press release notes the inclusion of Whitaker and Knoxville, it doesn't provide any hints as to who they'll be playing. We'll keep you posted on further details as we get closer to Last Stand's January 18th, 2013 release date. You can check out the text of the press release below.