Keke Palmer is one of the funniest and hardest-working actresses out there right now, delivering great titles over the past couple of years including Nope, One of Them Days and a reimagining of The ‘Burbs, to name just a few. She’s keeping her foot on the gas for the 2026 movie calendar, too, teaming up with Boots Riley for I Love Boosters. Reviews are in as the film hits theaters May 22, and I’m intrigued by critics’ reactions to the “deranged” crime comedy.

In I Love Boosters, Keke Palmer’s Corvette leads a group of shoplifters — aka “boosters” — against fashion maven Christie Smith (Demi Moore) after she steals their designs. The ensemble cast boasts too many big names to list, and in his review of I Love Boosters, Joseph Tomastik of Loud and Clear says Riley brings the same chaos and big twists to this as he did to Sorry to Bother You. The critic gives it a perfect 4 out of 4 stars, writing:

Bill Bria of SlashFilm rates it 8 out of 10 and says I Love Boosters is one of the most visually innovative comedies in some time. It draws colorful inspiration from ‘90s cult movies, music videos, fashion and street culture to drive home its message, even incorporating stop-motion animation and a monstrous creature. Bria continues:

Alyssa Mora of IGN also rates it a “Great” 8 out of 10, calling it a “cheeky takedown of capitalism served up in signature Boots Riley bizarre fashion.” I Love Boosters is equal parts romp and political statement, the critic says in her review:

Ryan Lattanzio of IndieWire gives it a B, writing that even as I Love Boosters “spins wildly out of control,” Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie and Taylour Paige are able to ground the “dizzying, entertaining acid trip.” That’s especially true of Palmer, as Lattanzio says:

Jacob Oller of AV Club also gives I Love Boosters a B in his review for how Boots Riley paints an amusement park ride in the bright colors of his politics. The style is like a “Marxist Pee-wee Herman run wild,” Oller says, that “weaponizes silliness of all flavors.” Some choices are more overbearing than exhilarating, but the critic loves how Riley uses classic animation to inform his vision, writing:

Boots Riley clearly has some things he wants to say, and these reviews suggest he’s using all forms of humor, animation, colorful sets and some highly comedic actors to get those messages across. Critics have rated it 92% on Rotten Tomatoes as of this writing, so if this movie sounds at all interesting or intriguing to you, take Riley’s suggestion and see it opening weekend.

I Love Boosters hits theaters on Friday, May 22.

This time three years ago, Jonathan Majors was arguably one of the most sought-after actors in all of Hollywood, as he was lining up a variety of roles. During that stretch, the actor even landed a comedy flick that was to see him play basketball legend Dennis Rodman. Majors’ legal issues, which began in 2023, led to him being dropped from the project. Said movie is still set to happen, though, and a new actor has now been cast to play Rodman. And the new star has various credits under his belt, including Knives Out and Get Out.

48 Hours in Vegas has officially cast LaKeith Stanfield to play the role of ex Chicago Bull Dennis Rodman. Directed by Rick Famuyiwa and produced by Phil Lord, Chris Miller and Aditya Sood, the film tells an account of the impromptu trip Rodman (an EP on this film) took to “Sin City” amid the 1998 NBA Finals. As the legend goes, the Bulls’ assistant general manager at that time also accompanied Rodman on his excursion. Stanfield also shared a statement with Deadline, through which he spoke out about his casting:

Honestly, I’m not sure LaKeith Stanfield is the first actor I would’ve envisioned to play the hall of famer, though this pick does feel inspired. It also goes without saying that Stanfield has more than proven his prowess as an actor due to the previously mentioned films as well as titles like Judas and the Black Messiah, Sorry to Bother You and Uncut Gems. He’s also no stranger to playing eccentric characters, as he did just that when he portrayed the character of Darius on the acclaimed dramedy series Atlanta for four seasons.

One question I do have is just how much the Book of Clarence alum is going to commit to the physicality of the role. From a physical standpoint, Rodman was quite built during his prime, and Stanfield is more slender. Still, I suppose what matters most is whether Stanfield can embody the personality quirks that “The Worm” did and still does possess. That being said, as a basketball fan, I would love to see at least one scene in which Stanfield – while in character – is in action on the court.

Before he was let go from the project, Jonathan Majors discussed his own reasons for “selfishly” wanting to be a part of 48 Hours in Vegas. Majors, who was also quite jacked at the time, discussed his desire to play someone like Rodman, describing him as an “eclectic” person with an “open mind” and an “open heart.” Majors was cast in 2022 and was ultimately dropped from the project in 2024 after being convicted on counts of assault and harassment.

When it comes to this upcoming Dennis Rodman movie, I still have more than a few questions, especially when it comes to who else might be joining LaKeith Stanfield. Color me intrigued, though, especially given Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s record as directors, writers and producers. Rick Famuyiwa – who also co-wrote the script with Jordan VanDina – also has comedic sensibilities that would be viable for telling this kind of story. So here’s hoping the creative team makes this a slam dunk of a movie.

A release date has not been announced for 48 Hours in Vegas, as of this writing. However, in the meantime, fans can grab a Netflix subscription and check out the docuseries The Last Dance to get a taste of Rodman's trip to Vegas and the context surrounding it.

Roofman – one of the latest releases amid the 2025 movie schedule – is based on the true story of Jeffrey Manchester, a non-commissioned Army Reserve-officer-turned-convicted criminal. As a result, the film features versions of people who the real Manchester (played by Channing Tatum) crossed paths with. Among those individuals is Steve, who’s portrayed by LaKeith Stanfield. Steve’s a very interesting (and elusive) character so, when CinemaBlend spoke to director Derek Cianfrance, we sought details on the real man who inspired him.

In the film, Steve serves as Jeff’s closest friend, not only providing him with falsified documents but also serving as a proverbial shoulder for him to lean on. The real Manchester, who’s currently serving time in prison, served as a consultant on the film (and even forged a connection with Tatum). However, as candid as Manchester was, Cianfrance told CinemaBlend’s own Jeff McCobb that the former military official wasn’t keen on saying much about the actual man who served as the basis for Steve:

LaKeith Stanfield’s character serves as a true asset to Jeff, who earns notoriety as the “Roofman” for breaking into McDonald’s restaurants using the roofs. Also, as mentioned by Derek Cianfrance, Manchester reached out to “Steve” while he was living in the toy store. It’s intriguing to hear that, in real life, Steve’s absence played a big role in how everything transpired. As for whether Steve could possibly still be producing faux documents somewhere even today, Cianfrance shared the following take:

What a wild little mystery we have here. Considering how Steve is characterized on screen, I’d be curious to know more about the actual man and some of his exploits. Of course, Jeffrey Manchester is entitled to his decision not to reveal his friend’s true identity. Still, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a bit curious to at least know what the real Steve thinks about Roofman, which has received mostly positive reviews from critics.

There’s a lot to enjoy about this latest feature from Cianfrance, who’s known for helming other notable films like Blue Valentine and The Place Beyond the Pines. Channing Tatum gives a strong performance as the lead of an also-stellar ensemble cast featuring Kirsten Dunst, Peter Dinklage, Uzo Aduba, Ben Mendelsohn, Juno Temple and of course, the aforementioned Stanfield. There are humorous scenes, including one that sees Tatum getting “butt naked” (and it sounds like it was a wild scene to shoot). However, there’s also plenty of heart on display here.

Following Roofman’s release, I do not expect Steve to suddenly come out of the woodwork to share his take. I honestly do still hope, though, he’s at least somewhat pleased with LaKeith Stanfield’s excellent performance. Check out the actor’s work for yourself by seeing the dramedy film in theaters now.

There are plenty of amazing biopics that have been produced over the years, with each highlighting specific people, usually those who’ve left their marks on the world in a significant way. When it specifically comes to biographical features led by Black talent, Malcolm X, 42 and Selma are among some of the best. Additionally, there’s a superb movie in this category that doesn’t receive its just due — Judas and the Black Messiah. On that note, there are multiple reasons why this particular motion picture is more than worth your time.

Ahead of the 2021 historical drama’s release, late activist and deputy Black Panther Party chairman Fred Hampton was a famous Black figure overdue for a biopic. Director Shaka King highlighted Hampton’s work – and those of his comrades – in a beautiful and heartbreaking way through Judas. So let’s talk out exactly why this film deserves sheer recognition.

Judas And The Black Messiah Doesn’t Follow The Typical Biopic Formula

Many biopics seek to cover the vast sum of someone’s life so, if a person is deceased, they’ll track them from their early life to their death. Shaka King doesn’t do that with Judas and the Black Messiah, as his film covers the last portion of Fred Hampton’s life. That includes his founding of the Rainbow Coalition and surveillance by the FBI. Another key part of this story involves federal informant Bill O’Neal, whose undercover dealings were the catalyst for Hampton’s death.

Keeping the story confined to this specific pocket of time is smart, as it keeps the narrative tight and prevents it from feeling too overwhelming. Think of it as a snapshot of someone’s life as opposed to a massive photo album.

Despite Taking Some Liberties, The Film Effectively Portrays Real-Life Events

It’s no secret that films which dramatize real events sometimes make changes. This typically comes down to what fits into the film from a thematic standpoint. Judas and the Black Messiah is no different. For instance, as noted by PolitiFacts, the film shows FBI director J. Edgar Hoover solely targeting the Black Panthers as a national security threat when, in reality, he was zeroing in on all Black nationalist groups. Per Uproxx, wounded Panther member Jimmy Palmer isn’t actually the name of the man who was hurt at the time.

While changes are made here and there, plenty of the events in the film did indeed happen. One such development is the arrest of Fred Hampton, who served months in prison after being accused of assaulting an ice cream truck driver and stealing $71 worth of ice cream to feed to children. Hampton's collaboration with poor Whites and ethnic groups are also said to have been mostly accurate.

Judas And The Black Messiah Presents A Nuanced Look At The Black Panthers

It’s not uncommon for people to have preconceived notions about the Black Panther Party. At first glance, some may view them as an overtly militant activist group that wasn’t above resorting to violence to get what they wanted. Certain fictionalized depictions of the group don’t always help with that, either. (Just check out Forest Gump’s brief Black Panther scene.)

The Panthers did indeed seek to handle their problems in bombastic ways when necessary, but there’s more to the group than that. As part of their mission, they advocated for wide-spread education, launched the Free Breakfast for School Children Program (which is highlighted in the film) and established health clinics. The film’s writers told CinemaBlend that they wanted to change the general perception of the Panthers. And, because of that, they don’t merely come off as a band of militants but as a group of community organizers.

Daniel Kaluuya, Lakeith Stanfield And More Give Incredible Performances

King’s direction is impeccable, but Judas and the Black Messiah’s cast also deserves a sizable amount of praise. During an interview with CinemaBlend, King himself lauded his “dream” ensemble of actors. Among them are Dominique Fishback, who compellingly plays Deborah Johnson (now Akua Njeri), the girlfriend of “Chairman Fred” who ultimately becomes pregnant with his child. Dominique Thorne also deftly plays BP member Judy Harmon. Jesse Plemons also delivers as stoic FBI agent Roy Mitchell, subtly adding layers to him. Other notable performances are from Ashton Sanders, Algee Smith, Khris Davis and Martin Sheen.

Of course, the two standout performances come from Daniel Kaluuya, who plays Fred Hampton, and Lakeith Stanfield, who portrays Bill O’Neil. Kaluuya is a force, as he embodies the passion, intensity and warmth of Hampton. Meanwhile, Stanfield skillfully portrays O’Neil as a man who’s in over his head and driven by a hunger to survive in a society where the system establishes the rules. It wasn’t surprising to me at all that both were nominated for the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor – and even less surprising that Kaluuya won.

The Movie’s Music Is Impeccable And Used To Great Effect

Good music can certainly elevate a film, and that’s the case when it comes to this Fred Hampton-centered film. Mark Isham and Craig Harris composed the score, which is appropriately understated in certain places and more intense in others. One of my personal favorite scenes in which the score kicks happens to involve Hampton’s address to his comrades following his release from prison.

In addition to the score, there's also an excellent original song that’s part of the movie – “Fight for You,” which is performed and co-written by acclaimed singer H.E.R. The song’s lyrics highlight certain societal issues, including racism and police brutality. All in all, those sharp verses (which Tiara Thomas co-penned) and H.E.R.’s sultry vocals make it a track worth playing over and over again. Considering the strength of the tune, it was wonderful when it won Best Original Song at the Oscars and Best Traditional R&B Performance at the Grammy Awards.

There’s certainly a lot to appreciate about Shaka King’s historical drama. In short, it's a well-directed, powerfully acted, lovingly crafted biopic that provides viewers with plenty to chew on. Judas and the Black Messiah’s ending may be a tough pill to swallow, but believe me when I say this is absolutely necessary viewing for anyone who appreciates history or simply a good biopic. As Black History Month continues, be sure to check this one out, as it’s available to rent or buy on multiple digital platforms.

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

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

Alan Ritchson

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

Zoë Kravitz

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

Zac Efron

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

Maika Monroe

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

Austin Butler

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

Zendaya

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

LaKeith Stanfield

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

Jamie Chung

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

Aldis Hodge

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

Katy O'Brian

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

Bill Hader

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

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

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

Ryan Gosling

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

John David Washington

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

Margot Robbie

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

Dev Patel

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

Keanu Reeves

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

Cillian Murphy

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

Vanessa Kirby

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

Cynthia Erivo

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

Antonio Banderas

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

LaKeith Stanfield

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

Tom Cruise

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

Christoph Waltz

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

Jessica Chastain

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

Alan Ritchson

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

Pedro Pascal

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

Amber Midthunder

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

Denzel Washington

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

Emily Blunt

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

Gary Oldman

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

Jesse Plemons

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

Paul Giamatti

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

Glen Powell

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

Tati Gabrielle

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

Javier Bardem

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

Rosamund Pike

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

Lily Gladstone

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

Iwan Rheon

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

Viola Davis

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

Naomie Harris

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

Brendan Gleeson

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

Iko Uwais

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

Daniel Day-Lewis

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

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

What’s Jay-Z up to these days? As fans of the legendary rapper know all too well, it’s been quite a few years since he’s put out a new album, but he has more recently been doing a lot more work in the world of Hollywood as a producer. Jay-Z’s latest producing effort is Jeymes Samuel’s The Book of Clarence, and CinemaBlend spoke to the film’s lead, LaKeith Stanfield, about working with the “Run This Town” icon. 

Jay-Z finds himself behind the production of The Book of Clarence following the rapper previously working on 2021’s The Harder They Fall alongside Jeymes Samuel and LaKeith Stanfield. Here’s what Stanfield had to say about his collaboration with Jay-Z on one of the upcoming 2024 movies set to hit theaters this weekend: 

After LaKeith Stanfield was part of The Harder They Fall cast as American outlaw/cowboy Cherokee Bill, the actor has continued work with both Samuel and Jay-Z on the biblical epic that is The Book of Clarence. The comedy has Stanfield playing the titular Clarence, who is an outlaw in his own right in terms of owing a lot of money and deciding to con a community into believing he’s a new Messiah as Jesus Christ’s popularity blooms in Jerusalem in 33 A.D. 

Stanfield recalls his run-ins with Jay-Z as being in a “regal” and “mystical” presence, and he shares a lot of respect and gratitude for what the rapper provided the production with behind the scenes. On the other hand, Jay-Z is very much still a mystery to Stanfield’s co-star RJ Cyler, who plays his best friend Elijah in the new release. In Cyler’s words: 

Between The Book of Clarence’s booming soundtrack and bold swings, it certainly feels like the movie is right up Jay-Z’s alley, even if what he specifically brought to the production remains rather underwraps. As the movie hits theaters this weekend, critics are saying positive things about the movie overall, including CinemaBlend’s own The Book of Clarence review, where Mike Reyes gave the movie 3.5 out of 5 stars. He said “All the viewer needs is an open mind and a taste for the cinematic flare that mixes old fashioned with contemporary.” 

While Jay-Z’s own life may be shrouded in mystery, you can enjoy his latest producing effort only in theaters starting January 12. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

In The Book of Clarence, LaKeith Stanfield teams up with writer director Jeymes Samuel for a biblical comedy about a struggling man in the year 33 AD who attempts to capitalize on Jesus Christ’s popularity by claiming that he is the new messiah. The film garnered positive reactions after its premiere at the London Film Festival, and with Samuel’s sophomore effort (following 2021’s The Harder They Fall) hitting theaters on January 12, critics are weighing in on the flick.

Academy Award nominee LaKeith Stanfield is in good company with a cast that includes David Oyelowo, Alfre Woodard, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Benedict Cumberbatch, James McAvoy, RJ Cyler and Teyana Taylor, amongst many others. In CinemaBlend’s review of The Book of Clarence, Mike Reyes says action, comedy and emotion come together in a film that may include Jesus but tells a story that people of every belief system can benefit from hearing. He gives the movie 3.5 out of 5 stars, writing: 

Neil Smith of GamesRadar rates the movie 3 stars out of 5, noting that LaKeith Stanfield is charismatic in a dual role, and it’s obvious Jeymes Samuel is having fun with the subject material. However, the movie overall gets a bit muddled in tonal confusion. In Smith’s words: 

Guy Lodge of Variety enjoys the ensemble of mostly Black actors putting a twist on a white-dominated genre, though this critic also noted the movie’s bifurcated tone, and wonders if it will be able to attract the open-minded audience required of such a venture. Lodge continues: 

Leila Latif of IGN gives The Book of Clarence an “Okay” 6 out of 10, also questioning the audience who will receive this movie as intended. It has plenty of style and riotous comic moments, Latif says, but the piety and shifts in tone are “occasionally too heavy a cross for it to bear.” More from the critic: 

While comparisons to Life of Brian are inevitably made by many critics, Josh Slater-Williams of IndieWire argues that The Book of Clarence is less Monty Python and more gospel fan fiction. He grades the “lively but erratic” film a B-, writing: 

The critics seem to have plenty of good things to say about the movie, specifically LaKeith Stanfield and the rest of the cast, even if there is some question about the movie’s tone and what kind of audience it hopes to attract. 

If you think you are that audience, you’ll be able to see The Book of Clarence for yourself starting Friday, January 12. Be sure to also check out our 2024 movie calendar to see what else is hitting the big screen soon. 

Biblical epics are a genre of films that have always been cinematic in scope, and writer/director Jeymes Samuel’s The Book of Clarence is no exception. Slated to debut on the 2024 movie release schedule, this film is a story of what happens when LaKeith Stanfield’s Clarence goes from biblical fraud to true hero. It’s as colorful and spectacular as you’d think based on the first trailer released for the director’s follow-up to The Harder They Fall. 

Sony Pictures dropped the first footage of this all-star adventure, which introduces us to Clarence. As he hears of Jesus’ feats of wonder, our protagonist wants in on that fortune and glory himself. So he enlists some friends to help him perform “miracles,” and it’s not too long before the Romans find out about this. However, instead of punishing him, the imposing Pontius Pilate (James McAvoy) give Clarence an offer: either give up Jesus or suffer for his own sins. 

In concept alone, The Book of Clarence sounds like a tale adjacent to a more faith-based blockbuster’s tone. But as it’s presented in the first reel we’ve seen above, Jeymes Samuel is telling a story that’s definitely reverent of its source material, while also presenting a modern spin on what we’re seeing. 

Also, from what we know about The Book of Clarence, there’s a killer cast that includes Alfre Woodard, Anna Diop, David Oyelowo and Marianne Jean-Baptiste. With a roster such as that, it only further supports Jeymes Samuel’s intentions to give us a big screen blockbuster with this new project.

He even further spells that message out in a special introduction to the film, which Sony also provided when releasing The Book of Clarence’s trailer. Here’s part of what Jeymes had to say to that point: 

When Jeymes Samuels’ The Harder They Fall released onto the Netflix platform in 2021, star Idris Elba’s “optimistic” remarks about how the movie showed that while there has been movement in putting more black leads on the screen, there’s still a lot of work to be done. The Book of Clarence appears to be a pretty impressive step on the path to pushing for more stories from people of color on the grand stage, and with audiences being able to read from the book themselves in theaters!

If you’re looking forward to The Book of Clarence, make sure to pencil it into your movie calendar for January 12, 2024. Though while we’re waiting, don’t forget to double check the 2023 movie release schedule in case there’s something you may have missed for the more immediate future.

There have been countless movies released over the years that have either adapted Biblical stories or are set in the era, and in the near future we’ll get another addition to that collection. However, The Book of Clarence, which stars LaKeith Stanfield as a man wanting to take advantage of the popularity of Jesus Christ for his own gain, sounds like something we’ve never seen before.

If this is the first you’re hearing about Jeymes Samuel’s follow-up to his 2021 directorial debut, The Harder They Fall, stick around because we’re about to break down everything we know about this highly-anticipated 2024 movie – including its release date, who is set to appear in it, and a handful of other details that might pique your interest. Let’s get Biblical with this soon-to-be-released comedy…

What Is The Book Of Clarence Release Date?

We still have a few months to wait before we get to see The Book of Clarence, as the movie won’t be released in theaters until January 12, 2024. According to a June 2023 Variety report, Jeymes Samuel’s movie was given the release date originally held by the El Muerto movie, which has since been taken off the schedule entirely.

Those who plan on attending the 67th London Film Festival in October 2023 will get a chance to see The Book of Clarence, as it is one of several films slated to hold their world premieres at the fest, according to Deadline.

The Book Of Clarence Cast Includes LaKeith Stanfield, David Oyelowo, And James McAvoy

As of the time of this writing, LaKeith Stanfield’s Clarence is the only character whose identity has been officially revealed, but Sony has announced a long list of talented actors who will make up The Book of Clarence cast. Set to appear alongside Stanfield in the film are Academy Award nominees David Oyelowo, Alfre Woodard, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Benedict Cumberbatch, Golden Globe nominated actors James McAvoy and Omar Sy, and numerous others including RJ Cyler, Anna Diop, Teyana Taylor, Micheal Ward, and Caleb McLaughlin.

This will mark Stanfield and Cyler’s second time working with director Jeymes Samuel, as both actors were featured prominently in The Harder They Fall cast. 

The Book Of Clarence Trailer Teases An Epic Con Job, False Miracles, And James McAvoy’s Ruthlessness

In August 2023, Sony Pictures released the first trailer for The Book of Clarence: a two-minute teaser that highlights what audiences can expect when the movie rolls out in early 2024. This includes the teasing of an epic con job in which LaKeith Stanfield’s titular character attempts to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, just not as a noble disciple, instead something a little more self-serving.

There’s also the business of those false miracles performed along the way, including one where it appears Clarence supposedly restores RJ Cyler’s vision as a way to gain followers. And how could we forget those short bursts of brutality by James McAvoy’s mysterious character, who seems to take pleasure in proving Clarence is a false messiah among other things.

The Book Of Clarence Follows A Down-On-His Luck Man As He Attempts To Capitalize On The Popularity Of Jesus Christ

As mentioned above, The Book of Clarence follows LaKeith Stanfield’s down-on-his-luck character as attempts to capitalize on the popularity of Jesus Christ by claiming to be a messiah in his own right. Sony Pictures has announced that Clarence, who will do anything he can to make a better life for his family and himself, risks everything in order to carve out a little something along the way. But along the way, Clarence will learn more than he ever thought he could know…

Director Jeymes Samuel Has Said He Wanted To Explore Stories From The Bible But From A Different Angle

Though The Book of Clarence will feature some well-known Biblical characters, writer and director Jeymes Saumel explained during a Vanity Fair interview that he really wanted to focus his story on the everyman archetype with the upcoming movie and explore the story from a different perspective. Said the filmmaker,

It will definitely be interesting to revisit some of these famous stories and well-known characters from a much different point of view, especially when it comes to how Jesus Christ is presented. We have yet to find out who will be playing the Son of God or if we’ll see more than just the shrouded man shown in the film’s trailer.

The Book Of Clarence Was Filmed On Location In One Of The World’s Oldest Still-Inhabited Cities

With The Book of Clarence taking place around 33 A.D., Jeymes Samuel and his team needed to find a location that looked like the characters were living 2,000 years ago instead of the 21st century. When speaking with Ebony Magazine about the movie, Samuel explained that the movie was shot on location in Matera, Italy, one of the oldest inhabited cities on the planet.

This means that all of those action sequences teased in the trailer, especially the chariot chase that looks like something out of the Academy Award-winning Ben-Hur, as well as the wide aerial shots were pulled off on location opposed to having to rely on CGI for the desired looks. 

The Book Of Clarence Will Feature New Music From Jay-Z, Who Is Also One Of The FIlm’s Producers

Who knows if we’ll ever get a biopic based on Jay-Z’s life, but the prolific rapper, entrepreneur, and New York icon will be releasing some new music for The Book of Clarence. Sony Pictures has announced that the new film will include some new tracks from the hip hop artist also known as Shawn Carter, though how much will be included has not yet been announced. 

Jay-Z, who also serves as one of the movie’s producers, isn’t the only one making new music for The Book of Clarence, as Jeymes Samuel, who also goes by the stage name The Bullitts composed the score in addition to writing its script and sitting in the director’s chair. Throughout his career, Samuel has composed scores for movies like The Great Gatsby, Arctic Dogs, and The Harder They Fall, among others.

Expect to hear more about The Book of Clarence as we get closer to its January 12, 2024 release, but in the meantime, make sure to check out the remaining titles on the 2023 movie schedule.

People say they would be willing to go to the ends of the Earth to keep their family safe, but LaKeith Stanfield’s character is forced to go even farther than that in the Apple TV+ original series, The Changeling. Not to be confused with George C. Scott's 1980 haunted house film of the same name, this bizarre horror-fantasy series is an adaptation of the award-winning 2017 novel from author Victor LaVelle, with Terra Nova creator Kelly Marcel handling the adaptation.

The twisted, heart-wrenching, and visually arresting odyssey will be told across eight episodes from the point of view of the desperate husband and father played by the aforementioned Atlanta vet. Stanfield's role, and the actor's previous career achievements, will be the base camp for the following breakdown of who's playing who among The Changeling's cast, and where else you may recognize them from.

LaKeith Stanfield (Apollo)

Leading Apple TV+’s The Changeling cast as Apollo — an ordinary man forced to take extraordinary measures after his wife and son go missing — is executive producer LaKeith Stanfield. The actor is already no stranger to the horror genre, from his small appearance in one of the Purge movies (Anarchy) to his memorable supporting role in Get Out to arguably, the best episode of Atlanta (and undeniably the scariest), “Teddy Perkins.” Not to mention his most recent big-screen starring role as part of Disney’s Haunted Mansion cast. 

Since debuting in 2013’s Short Term 12, Stanfield would go on to be recognized as an exciting and versatile talent for roles in movies like 2018’s surreal satire Sorry to Bother You, the great A24 drama Uncut Gems, and his Oscar-nominated performance as a real-life Black Panther Party infiltrator in Judas and the Black Messiah. He is reuniting with his The Harder They Fall director, Jeymes Samuel, to play the title role of the upcoming 2024 movie, The Book of Clarence.

Clark Backo (Emma)

Playing Apollo’s wife, Emma, is Montreal-born actor Clark Backo, who also has a few notable horror credits under her belt. She had a guest spot on the early Netflix horror series Hemlock Grove, a recurring role alongside the Supernatural cast, and she also starred in the Shudder original horror movie Random Acts of Violence, opposite star, director, and fellow Canadian Jay Baruchel.

The latter slasher was not the first time she shared a credit with one of her fellow Letterkenny cast members, either, having also landed a recurring role opposite Mrs. McMurray actor Melanie Scrofano on Wynonna Earp; she also guested alongside the Handmaid’s Tale cast, just like Lisa Codrington (Gail) did. Backo also recently appeared on one of the best Max original TV shows, Station Eleven, and in the Amazon Prime original rom-com, I Want You Back.

Adina Porter (Lillian)

Adina Porter’s experience with horror dates back to when she played Lettie Mae Thornton in HBO’s True Blood cast. Of course, her most notable contribution as of late is her multiple seasons on FX's American Horror Story — she earned an Emmy nomination for her role in the seventh season, subtitled Cult.

In her 30-plus-year career, Porter has definitely explored a variety of other genres, from sci-fi as part of The CW’s The 100 cast, to crime with recurring roles on Ray Donovan and Netflix’s Outer Banks, and fantasy with Amazon Prime originals, Paper Girls and The Power. Some of her more grounded dramatic work includes HBO’s The Newsroom, WGN’s historical drama Underground, Apple TV+'s critical darling The Morning Show. 

Jared Abrahamson (Brian West)

Another Letterkenny veteran in the Changeling cast is Jared Abrahamson, who has appeared on the Canadian-based Hulu TV comedy on several occasions as the hyper-patriotic American Jake, one of many characters who could lead their own spin-offs. A Canadian in real-life, the actor also has plenty of experience with horror, including a couple of episodes of Fear the Walking Dead, the Bella Thorne-led home invasion thriller Keep Watching, and most recently, the 2023 Shudder original Bad Things.

Abrahamson is also known for 2012’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, the MTV dramedy Awkward., and leading the dark 2016 sports drama Hello Destroyer. He also played one of lead roles of the 2018 docu-drama, American Animals, had a starring role in the Netflix sci-fi series, Travelers, and had a recurring role on another Hulu comedy, Ramy.

Alexis Louder (Young Lillian)

Playing a younger version of Adina Porter’s character Lillian is Alexis Louder, who has led a very impressive career since landing a small, nameless role in 2018’s Oscar-winning superhero flick, Black Panther. She appeared in the 2019 biopic, Harriet, had an important role in HBO’s small-screen iteration of Watchmen, and led the intense Netflix original short, Weathering.

Louder has also starred in two hit Amazon originals opposite Chris Pratt — namely the futuristic sci-fi epic The Tomorrow War, in 2021, and the action-packed hit TV drama, The Terminal List, which released the following year. She is also known for two widely acclaimed action thrillers of late, having appeared opposite Gerard Butler in Copshop and in the Violent Night cast with David Harbour.

Malcolm Barrett (Patrice)

Yet another The Changeling cast member with plenty of previous experience acting in horror is Malcolm Barrett. He has appeared in two creepy anthology TV shows (Dimension 404 and Disney+’s Just Beyond), a segment of the Shudder original anthology movie Horror Noire, an installment of Hulu’s Into the Dark (Pooka Lives!), and let's not forget his recurring role on AMC’s Preacher, which technically isn't a horror but still featured some truly horrific moments.

While also dabbling in sci-fi with his starring role on the short-lived time-travel drama, Timeless, and his recurring role alongside Amazon Prime’s The Boys cast, Barrett is best known for comedy. Most notably, he had a main role on ABC’s Better Off Ted, starred in one of the funniest Key & Peele sketches (“Prepare for Terries”), and was one of dozens of talented actors in Hulu’s History of the World: Part II cast.

Jane Kaczmarek (Cal)

Former Malcolm in the Middle cast member Jane Kaczmarek is used to making audiences laugh, though that presumably won't be the talent she's leaning hardest on in Changeling. She previously starred in the short-lived, romantic legal drama, Equal Justice, had recurring roles on hit series like Party of Five and Felicity, and appeared in 1998 fantasy dramedy, Pleasantville.

After her tenure as a now iconic sitcom mom ended, Kaczmarek starred as a judge in  another short-lived legal drama called Raising the Bar — and she portrayed that profession again for the animated series Animals. and The Simpsons. She also played a police captain in the 2017 feature-length adaptation of CHiPs and, a year earlier, starred in a horror movie inspired by the Manson Family murders called Wolves at the Door.

Victor LaVelle (Narrator)

Fittingly serving as the narrator of The Changeling is Victor LaVelle, the man responsible for the novel the series is based on. The show marks the author’s first “acting” credit, though he previously appeared as a talking head in the docuseries Eli Roth’s History of Horror — a TV show available on Shudder — and in the 2022 documentary about the creator of Hellboy, Mike Mignola: Drawing Monsters.

Also serving as an executive producer on this new series, LaVelle previously wrote the segment "Daddy" from the aforementioned horror anthology movie, Horror Noire. According to Bloody-Disgusting, an adaptation of his Lovecraftian novella, The Ballad of Black Tom, has been in development since 2017.

Log into your Apple TV+ subscription to see the Changeling cast making things spooky and fantastical just in time for the Halloween season.

The following contains significant spoilers for Disney’s new Haunted Mansion movie.

The new Haunted Mansion movie is here. From the very first trailer, it was clear the film was going to contain plenty of references to the classic Disneyland and Walt Disney World attraction, and it certainly does. A list of scenes that did not include any specific reference to the attraction would, honestly, be shorter. While critics' views of Haunted Mansion vary, any fan of the attraction is going to find a lot to love. 

This list is almost certainly not inclusive; noticing every single reference to the ride would likely take multiple viewings. However, here is a list of the key references that are of the most importance to the film. And, rather than list them chronologically, we're listing them based on how you'd come across them on the ride. 

Master Gracey 

One of the most important references in the Haunted Mansion movie is one of the easiest to miss in the attraction. The movie introduces us to Master Gracey, a previous owner of the mansion. That’s not part of the attraction’s actual story at Disneyland, as Gracey doesn’t actually appear there, but his tombstone can be found while standing in the queue for the Magic Kingdom version of the ride. His name is an easter egg as well, as it’s a reference to Walt Disney Imagineer Yale Gracey, who helped design the original attractions. 

Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion Facade 

While the interior of the Haunted Mansion at both Disneyland and Magic Kingdom is largely the same, though not identical, the exterior is quite different. Magic Kingdom’s mansion exists in Liberty Square, and so it uses a Dutch Gothic architecture style, as it’s located somewhere in New England. It’s the Disneyland version we see in the movie, which is located in New Orleans Square and uses an antebellum plantation house style. 

The Ghost Host

One classic character from the Haunted Mansion is heard, but never seen in the ride so it's fitting that we hear a reference to him, without ever seeing him. The Ghost Host, voiced by Paul Frees, is your narrator for your tour of the Haunted Mansion. He's with you throughout the experience, but you hear him first in the entryway of the mansion with the words..."When hinges creak in doorless chambers." This is spoken by Tiffany Haddish near the end of the film as part of the incantation to send the Hatbox Ghost back to the world beyond.

Stretching Room

The Stretching Room is perhaps the most iconic part of the Haunted Mansion. It appears in the middle of the movie, when all the doors and windows vanish and Lakeith Stanfield’s character is trapped inside as the room begins to stretch. All of the classic portraits are on display, and some of them actually speak in the film. Technically, the movie is referencing the Magic Kingdom version of this effect, because it appears the ceiling is rising while the floor remains motionless. At Disneyland, the effect is actually an elevator that lowers you down while the ceiling remains in place.

Changing Portraits 

As you exit the stretching room at Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion you’ll walk past a series of portraits that might appear normal at first, but after a moment, they each transform into something a bit more terrifying. There are several portraits that change when the characters aren’t looking in the movie. Some are taken directly from the ride, others are original creations for the film. 

The Mariner 

One of the Haunted Mansion portraits deserves specific recognition. Those who have only visited the Disneyland version won’t be familiar with The Mariner, as he only appears at Magic Kingdom and Tokyo Disneyland. Called the Sea Captain in the movie, he’s a significant character, though we rarely see him. The character was very nearly a much bigger part of the attraction, as an early version of the Haunted Mansion story saw the property as the home to a former pirate who murdered his wife inside its walls. 

The Moving Busts 

There are many busts located throughout the Haunted Mansion at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. The first ones you’ll come across on the attraction are the ones that, at first, appear motionless, but as you move, they appear to follow you with their eyes. In the movie, it's clear that they actually do. 

Doom Buggy Chair 

I will freely admit that this particular reference may be reading more into the movie than was intended, but it has to be said that the chair that Tiffany Haddish's character sits in at one point, and the one that she gets thrown out of the mansion in, are shaped a lot like the Doom Buggies, the Mansion’s ride vehicles.

999 Happy Haunts

The Haunted Mansion rides aren’t simply haunted by one or two spirits, but a lot. It’s specifically stated by the Ghost Host on the ride that there are 999 happy haunts inside the mansion. That’s exactly how many people have apparently died inside the mansion in the movie, “but there’s room for 1,000,” which is exactly the number that Jared Leto’s character is aiming for.

The Suit Of Armor 

One of the first ghosts we’re introduced to in the movie is a suit of armor that seems to move when nobody is looking. The same suit of armor can be seen in the Haunted Mansion attraction. At Disneyland and at Magic Kingdom, you’ll find it standing near the endless hallway, and remaining (mostly) still. 

Endless Hallway 

Next to the suit of armor you’ll see yourself gazing down a hallway that seemingly has no end. The only thing visible is a candelabra which looks to be floating in space. The characters in the movie frequently have issues with the hallways they run down not being quite what they're expected to be. 

The Grandfather Clock 

The grandfather clock is a simple effect that you ride by briefly on the Haunted Mansion attraction. The hands are perpetually spinning, a great deal faster than normal, but more importantly, the clock strikes 13 rather than 12. It doesn’t play a major role in the film but can be seen in a brief shot near the end. 

Madame Leota 

The most iconic character in the Haunted Mansion attraction has to be Madame Leota, and she’s no less iconic in the film, being played by the incredible Jamie Lee Curtis. We see Leota’s disembodied head inside her crystal ball, just as she is seen in the attraction. 

The Ballroom/Dining Room 

After we leave Leota’s chamber on the attraction, we arrive in the ballroom. We see many ghosts dancing and others are gathered around a table as if ready to enjoy a meal. Another spirit is playing a pipe organ, bringing the first notes of a very particular song to our ears. All of this appears in the attraction. The ghost at the pipe organ is spotted more than once, and the big party in the ballroom is referenced at the very end of the movie as the characters celebrate Halloween. 

Dueling Ghosts 

Two more ghosts in the ballroom that deserve their own mention. A pair of portraits up above occasionally come to life and attempt to shoot at each other. In the Haunted Mansion movie, these characters also appear, though outside of the dining room. They take shots at each other while Lakeith Stanfield’s character stands between them in one of his first ghostly encounters.  

The Bride 

While the ballroom sequence of the ride lightens the mood a bit, things get spooky once again as we enter the attic of the mansion, and find the possessions of Constance Hatchaway, The Bride. We see her various wedding portraits, and as the ride vehicles move by, the images shift as each of the husbands loses his head. We get an entire sequence in the attic in the movie that includes several of the same portraits that we see on the ride and The Bride is one of the primary ghosts we see in the movie. 

The Hatbox Ghost 

Leaving the attic of the mansion takes us outside, and the next thing we see is the Hatbox Ghost. The character is the primary villain of the Haunted Mansion movie, which is a big deal, considering the effect didn’t even exist a few years ago. While the Hatbox Ghost was created for the original Disneyland version of the mansion, it was pulled soon after opening because it didn’t work as intended. A new one was put in Disneyland in 2015 and the Hatbox Ghost is set to make his Magic Kingdom debut this year, as one of the many upcoming Disney World attractions. 

The Gravedigger 

After we leave the Hatbox Ghost we move outside the Haunted Mansion into the graveyard. The ghosts are very active, which has terrified a local gravedigger and his pet dog, who stand by looking terrified. Both man and dog appear in the film, though in the movie they’re both ghosts just like everybody else. 

Grim Grinning Ghosts 

The iconic song from the ride, “Grim Grinning Ghosts” is sprinkled throughout the score of the film, but we only hear any of the lyrics (written by Imagineer X. Attencio) in small bits. It’s most noticeable at the very end, while the humans and ghosts are celebrating Halloween. However, the busts that sing the song in the ride are nowhere to be found.

Hitchhiking Ghosts 

The very last spirits you meet when visiting the ride are among the very first you meet in the movie. Riders are warned that the Hitchhiking Ghosts might follow you home, and that’s exactly what they do in the movie. In fact, it’s these ghosts that ultimately bring all our main characters together. 

As a huge fan of the Haunted Mansion ride, seeing all of these references, and the way they were woven into the film's story was incredible. Any fan of the attraction is going to have a lot to love about this movie, and one certainly wonders how many more fans of the ride might be made thanks to the new movie.

No matter which genre of movie you prefer to see at the theater, it seems there’s likely a big summer movie that meets your needs. While many seem to be taking in the “Barbenheimer” double feature, others may be looking for something more family-friendly or horror that will leave them shaking. Haunted Mansion, which is set to hit the big screen on July 28, may just satisfy those latter two audiences, as Rosario Dawson and LaKeith Stanfield lead an impressive cast in the newest take on the popular Disney ride. Critics have seen the Justin Simien movie, so let’s see if this one we want to make time for this weekend.

First reactions to early screenings had moviegoers surprised that the plot addressed loss and grief, but they said there were plenty of laughs to be had, as well as some jump scares. It sounds like a little bit of everything, so let’s see what the critics are saying. In CinemaBlend’s review of Haunted Mansion, Eric Eisenberg calls it a great introduction to the horror genre for younger audiences. He rates the movie 3.5 out of 5 stars, writing:

Molly Edwards of GamesRadar rates it 4 out of 5 stars, saying Haunted Mansion breathes new life into the Disney ride, providing unexpected emotional heft with a cast that appears to be having a blast. Justin Simien packs in the Easter eggs, but knowledge of the ride isn’t a prerequisite, the critic says, writing:  

Valerie Complex of Deadline says this movie would be a decent option for movie night at your house but isn’t sure it’s worth the price of a trip to the theater. Unlike the ride it’s inspired by, Haunted Mansion is less of an enchanting journey and more of a haphazard tour through an amusement park, the critic says. Complex continues: 

David Ehrlich of IndieWire also agrees the early potential is squandered and that the film is better suited for release on Disney+ than in theaters. Justin Simien brings some big ideas to the table, but they never quite take shape, Ehrlich writes. He grades it a C-, calling it “undead on arrival”: 

Luke Y. Thompson of the AV Club also gave Haunted Mansion a C-, noting that while LaKeith Stanfield shines, the other actors don't bring the same level of commitment. At times, Thompson says, the movie feels like an eternal cycle of the 9-minute ride, which nobody needs for 123 minutes. The critic continues: 

The critics seem to be split over this one; however, if it sounds like a movie you and your family might enjoy, you should check it out for yourself and draw your own conclusions. Haunted Mansion is set to hit theaters on Friday, July 28. That’s not the only scary movie hitting the screen, either, so check out all of the upcoming horror movies, as well as our 2023 Movie Schedule to find release dates for films of all genres. 

Disney has given us several movies based on its theme park rides over the years. And when Justin Simien’s Haunted Mansion hits theaters July 28, it won’t be the first time this particular attraction has been depicted on the big screen. Eddie Murphy starred in The Haunted Mansion in 2003, and then the Muppets took a swing just a couple of years ago with 2021’s Muppets Haunted Mansion. Now, the upcoming Disney movie has held its premiere, and those who were able to attend an advance screening are hitting social media with their first reactions.

This time around it’ll be Rosario Dawson leading an iconic cast that also includes LaKeith Stanfield, Owen Wilson, Tiffany Haddish, Jamie Lee Curtis and more. From what we know about Haunted Mansion — and what’s shown in the Disney film's trailer — audiences can expect plenty of laughs peppered into the spooky imagery, but let’s see what those who have seen the movie are saying.

Jazz Tangcay of Variety confirms there are plenty of laughs and jump scares in the film, but tweets that the movie’s portrayal of loss and grief was unexpected: 

Shannon McGrew of Nightmarish Conjuring agrees the film is filled with heart, and she credits the writing of Katie Dippold. Dippold’s background is in comedy, working on Mad TV and Parks and Recreation before penning The Heat with Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy, as well as the 2016 remake of Ghostbusters. That humor is apparent, as McGrew also notes that Haunted Mansion walks a thin line between humorous and spooky:

POC Culture tweets that fans of the theme park are going to love this flick, assuring movie-goers that it pays homage to the famous Disney ride with plenty of easter eggs. However, the thread continues to say the movie’s plot is unnecessarily bloated: 

Russ Milheim of The Direct agrees with the opinion above, saying Haunted Mansion is not without its faults but is a love letter to the ride that will bring fans much joy: 

Steven Weintraub of Collider notes that this movie will scare the kids and entertain adults, which might make it a good gateway horror option in a summer that’s filled with family friendly options at the theater. He tweets: 

Kristen Lopez of The Wrap calls this latest theme park ride adaptation wonderful, specifically shouting out the visual effects and the score from Academy Award nominee Kris Bowers. Lopez writes: 

So far, it seems like those who've screened Haunted Mansion agree that lovers of the ride are going to enjoy this movie. It also sounds like a good one to bring the family too, since the jump scares will be balanced out by plenty of laughs. If this sounds like one that you’re interested in, the movie is set to hit the big screen on Friday, July 28. Also be sure to check out our schedule of 2023 new movie releases to see what other big summer releases are heading to theaters soon. 

Haunted Mansion may fall into the category of a Disney remake, but it will apparently present audiences with something very original. This Disneyland ride came to the big screen for the first time in 2003 in the Eddie Murphy flick, but the upcoming Disney movie will be a standalone film with a new story and characters. With this in mind, LaKeith Stanfield, who is an A+ casting choice for the reboot, explained how his new movie pays homage to the theme park ride and distances itself from the Eddie Murphy version.

The Haunted Mansion ride is truly one of the most iconic attractions you’ll find at a Disney theme park. While many don't believe in ghosts, they might start to question that notion by riding through an ancient mansion where they see ghostly apparitions waltzing in the Grand Ballroom or gliding through a cemetery where its spirited residents entertain you through song. Fortunately, Haunted Mansion reboot star LaKeith Stanfield told Fandango that his movie pays tribute to the chilling theme park ride in an authentic way that's sure to make fans of the ride nostalgic. 

This is such a relief to know as the Disney theme park ride truly does take you on a journey like no other. It makes sense that the movie’s director Justin Simien wants to do the same thing for audiences. Based on Haunted Mansion’s first trailer, we see highlights of iconic parts of the attraction from the deadly bride to the Hatbox Ghost. And, we also can’t forget the memorably frightening character of Madame Leota played by Jamie Lee Curtis, who can vouch for the horror and spookiness the supernatural horror comedy film will bring. 

If you’d like more proof, The Haunted Mansion's new full-length trailer really does look surprisingly scary for a Disney movie as it's filled with jump scares, creepy ghostly figures, and even supernatural possession. For all we know, this can be the studio’s long-awaited return to gateway horror. 

The 2003 version of The Haunted Mansion starred Eddie Murphy, and it was about a realtor and his family who get trapped in a scary mansion filled with a terrifying history. The Get Out actor explained that his Disney horror/comedy separates itself from the the first movie, saying:

Considering the original movie didn’t sit well with the critics, I don’t want the depiction of this ancient and scary mansion to die with that Eddie Murphy movie. 

The upcoming movie’s director said his “beef” with the Eddie Murphy film was the lack of references to the Disneyland ride. Sure, the 2003 movie gave us Madame Leota and the Grim Grinning Ghosts, but watching the film didn’t make you feel like you were on a journey in the iconic ride. 

It’s a real shame that the original Disney film didn’t pan out well as there was potential for the movie to change the popular Disneyland attraction. Stolen Kingdom documentary director Joshua Bailey revealed that the mansion would have shown it was property for sale by Evers and Evers Realty with the SNL alum voicing the narration instead of the Ghost Host. If the remake is a success, maybe these changes will be made, but with the new cast.

Based on what LaKeith Stanfield is saying about Haunted Mansion, it looks like the film’s creators understand the purpose of a remake, and are respecting the source material. Audiences will be presented with an original story that pays true homage to the source’s inspiration behind the film when this 2023 movie release hits theaters on July 28. 

Over the weekend, the cast of Disney's Haunted Mansion movie showed up at Disneyland to record interviews and help promote the film based on the popular attraction. We know that Jamie Lee Curtis certainly had fun chatting with fans about the upcoming Freaky Friday sequel. But all the while, Lakeith Stanfield took a moment from the day to celebrate the acclaimed actress and tell a wonderful story about some of the time they've spent together. 

Lakieth Stanfield, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Owen Wilson were all present at Disneyland this past weekend, as part of promoting the upcoming Haunted Mansion movie. While the cast certainly looks like they had fun making the new movie, Lakeith Stanfield posted a picture of himself and Curtis, each in mouse ears, that was about more than a day at a theme park. It’s clear that Curtis means a great deal to the actor, as he related a story about her meeting his mother, and the personal conversations the two stars have had together. Stanfield said...

It’s unclear if all this happened at Disneyland or if it was part of some previous interaction. Although the picture and video of Jamie Lee Curtis conversing with fans, which has gone viral, is from the balcony of Disneyland’s exclusive Club 33. So they almost certainly had a wonderful lunch together on that day, and LaKeith Stanfield is from Southern California, so it’s possible that his mother did pay them a visit.

The pair previously appeared together in Rian Johnson’s Knives Out, and the Trading Places icon has previously spoken about how she reached out to the actor and shared her own struggles with addiction when he her co-star was going through the same. These are two stars from very different generations, but they clearly have a special connection that makes them both dear friends. 

And what do you do when you have a chance to hang out with a dear friend? You go to Disneyland together. At least that’s what I do. These two are clearly having a blast, posing with some Pride Month mouse ears. We’ll likely see more from this day when whatever interviews or promos that were filmed there find their way online in advance of Haunted Mansion hitting theaters in just about a month. But for now, check out the Instagram post:

Jamie Lee Curtis will play the iconic Madame Leota in the latest movie to be based on the iconic theme park attraction. She’s the face in the crystal ball receiving incantations on the Disneyland and Magic Kingdom attractions. The trailer for Haunted Mansion has teased that we'll see her as both a head inside a crystal ball and as an actual person, likely in some sort of flashback.

Lakeith Stanfield will play a paranormal investigator, who is one of several people enlisted by Rosario Dawson’s character to deal with 999 happy haunts that have infested the home she just purchased. Disney, and Haunted Mansion fans, are hoping this second try at turning the beloved Disneyland attraction into a movie, will be the one that works. We'll see when it opens on July 28 as part of the schedule of 2023 new movie releases.

Not only is Haunted Mansion one of the biggest upcoming 2023 movies, but this year marks a major anniversary for it. To be clear, I am NOT referring to the popular attraction at Disneyland or Walt Disney World, but the first movie based on that ride – from director Rob Minkoff and starring Eddie Murphy – which was released 20 years ago.

Disney has been hit and miss when it comes to turning theme park attractions into movies but the original Haunted Mansion movie, despite having a lot more going for it than you might remember, is seen as one of the misses. But the ride is still popular, and following the success of Jungle Cruise, Disney has assembled an impressive ensemble for the new Haunted Mansion cast to make it a hit with the public. See what foolish mortals are getting spooky – as classic characters and new ones alike – in director Justin Simien’s new cinematic take on the freaky favorite.

Rosario Dawson (Gabbie)

Leading the impressive cast of Haunted Mansion as Gabbie –  a single mother, doctor, and new owner of the “strangely affordable” New Orleans mansion – we have Rosario Dawson, whose relationship with Disney dates back to her role on Star Wars TV show, The Mandalorian, as Ahsoka Tano, which she is reprising in her own upcoming, self-titled series on Disney+. The actor broke into Hollywood as a teen with her underrated performance in Kids before becoming a “Geek Goddess” by playing multiple comic book characters like Wonder Woman in some DC animated movies, nurse Claire Temple in Daredevil and other MCU-canon shows, and, eventually, narrating Max’s new DC docuseries, Superpowered: The DC Story. Also recently, she received acclaim for her performance in Hulu’s Dopesick cast, reprised her Kevin Smith movies role in Clerks III, and – according to Variety – is lending her voice to an upcoming interactive animated adventure series called Ghosts of Ruin.

Owen Wilson (Father Kent)

If The Exorcist taught us anything, it’s that when you’re dealing with otherworldly beings, call a priest. In Haunted Mansion, that priest will be played by Owen Wilson, who also has previous ties to Disney as the voice of Lightning McQueen in the Cars franchise and playing Time Variance Authority officer, Mobius, in the MCU. The actor – who has an Oscar nomination for co-writing one of the best Wes Anderson movies, The Royal Tenenbaums – also made his debut under Anderson’s direction (one of many times) in 1994’s Bottle Rocket, before going on to an eclectic career involving a few blockbusters like Armageddon, many classic comedies like Meet the Parents and Wedding Crashers, and films that combine drama with comedy fair like Midnight in Paris and the more recent Paint, in which he plays a Bob Ross-like character hosting a public TV art show.

Lakeith Stanfield (Ben Matthias)

Widowed scientist-turned-failed paranormal expert, Ben, will be played by Dawson’s Sorry to Bother You co-star and one of the first people cast in Haunted Mansion, Lakieth Stanfield. After making his debut in the acclaimed 2013 drama Short Term 12, the actor, went on to star on one of the funniest shows on Hulu, FX’s Atlanta, play a memorable role in Jordan Peele’s directorial debut, Get Out, and earn an Oscar nomination for Judas and the Black Messiah, among so many other highlights. Next in the pipeline for Stanfield is an Apple TV+ original sci-fi series called The Changeling and a biblical epic coming out in 2024 called The Book of Clarence.

Tiffany Haddish (Harriet)

Playing a psychic named Harriet, we have Stanfield’s co-star from Jay-Z’s “Moonlight” video, Emmy winner Tiffany Haddish, who has also worked with Jordan Peele to great effect in 2016’s Keanu, in addition to her many great scene-stealing and lead roles in comedies like Girls Trip and The Oath. She has also tried her hand at drama in the likes of The Kitchen and The Card Counter, and a mix of both with movies like Here Today and TV shows like The Afterparty as Detective Danner, whom she is reprising for Season 2 on Apple TV+. She is also known for lending her voice talents to many notable roles, such as Queen Watevra Wa’Nabi in The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part and Netflix original-turned-Adult Swim series, Tuca and Bertie as Tuca.

Danny DeVito (Bruce)

As a “crotchety” college history professor named Bruce – according to D23.com – is an actor more than capable of embodying the concept of “crochety”: Danny DeVito, whose own previous Disney credits include Dumbo (which also reunited him with his Batman Returns co-star, Michael Keaton, and director, Tim Burton) and the One and Only Ivan voice cast in 2020. Years earlier, he was best-known for his Emmy-winning role on Taxi and movies like Throw Momma From the Train, The War of the Roses, and Matilda (all of which he also directed), but the Academy Award nominee (for co-producing Erin Brockovich) has a special fanbase these days that know him as Frank from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Also this year, he lends his voice to Migration and will soon star alongside Chris Pine in his directorial debut, Poolman.

Chase Dillon (Travis)

Rounding out the key cast members as Gabbie’s son, Travis, is Stanfield’s The Book of Clarence co-star, Chase Dillon, who makes his theatrically released filmed debut with Haunted Mansion, as his only other film role was the Netflix original western, The Harder They Fall, in 2021. The young actor has appeared in several TV projects – including his debut on BET’s series reboot of First Wives Club; the Max original sketch comedy, That Damn Michael Che, as the SNL star’s younger self; one of the best Amazon Prime original series, The Underground Railroad; and Apple TV+’s animated series, Pinecone & Pony.

Jared Leto (The Hatbox Ghost)

It wouldn’t be much of a Haunted Mansion movie without some direct references to the popular attraction, and the new film has found some big names to take on some key roles, such as Jared Leto as the Hatbox Ghost, according to EW. The Academy Award winner (for 2013’s Dallas Buyers Club) last played a creepy creature in his Marvel movie debut, 2022’s Morbius, (six years after his DC movie debut as the Joker in Suicide Squad) but has a more longer history with horror, having starred in the 1998 slasher Urban Legend, a memorable scene from American Psycho, and the extremely disturbing thriller, Requiem for a Dream. From his breakout performance as Jordan Catalano on My So-Called Life to his lead role in the upcoming Tron sequel, Ares, the Thirty Seconds to Mars frontman has led a pretty eclectic career.

Jamie Lee Curtis (Madame Leota)

Succeeding Jennifer Tilly in the role of the iconic Madame Leota – the head inside the floating crystal ball – is, arguably, the all-time best Scream Queen, Jamie Lee Curtis. Of course, in addition to being the face of the Halloween movies not named Michael Myers and starring in plenty of other great horror movies, the daughter of Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh has a couple of other Disney movies on her resume – namely Freaky Friday and Beverly Hills Chihuahua. Curtis – who recently won Best Supporting Actress for Everything Everywhere All At Once – will also soon appear in the film adaptation of the Borderlands video game. 

Winona Ryder (Pat)

As a teaser for Haunted Mansion reveals, Winona Ryder is making a cameo as a tour guide named Pat – only her latest role in a long line of creepy credits. After breaking out in the Beetlejuice cast as Lydia (whom she is reprising in the upcoming sequel), she led the dark teen movie, Heathers; starred in a some more classic Tim Burton movies (such as Edward Scissorhands); and played Mina Murray in Francis Ford Coppola’s Dracula adaptation. Of course, the two-time Academy Award nominee (for Little Women and The Age of Innocence) is also expected to return for Stranger Things Season 5 as Joyce Byers.

Dan Levy (Vic)

Along with Ryder, another actor revealed to be joining Haunted Mansion at D23 Expo in a small, unconfirmed role is Dan Levy, who is best known from the Schitt’s Creek cast as David Rose. The son of his co-star and co-creator, Eugene Levy, first got into acting with a small role on Degrassi: The Next Generation and more recently appeared in Hulu’s Happiest Season cast, lent his voice to Netflix’s Q-Force, and was on an episode of The Idol for HBO. He also created and judges a reality cooking competition for Max called The Brunch. 

Hasan Minhaj (Sketch Artist)

Appearing as a police sketch artist whom Ben and Bruce enlist to identify a ghostly encounter, we have Hasan Minhaj – formerly of The Daily Show and Netflix’s Patriot Act. Some of his most notable acting credits include two of Kate McKinnon’s best movies (Rough Night and The Spy Who Dumped Me), and Jennifer Lawrence-led 2023 comedy, No Hard Feelings, more recently. The comedian also has a couple great Netflix original stand-up specials called Homecoming King and The King’s Jester.

There are plenty more other grim, grinning ghosts to behold, in addition to star-studded Haunted Mansion cast. Any volunteers to see the new film when it hits theaters Friday, July 28th?

For more than 50 years, The Haunted Mansion dark ride at various Disney parks around the world has terrified and entertained millions of theme park attendees with its thrills, chills, and spills. The ride is so popular in fact it spawned a 2003 film adaptation starring Eddie Murphy. Since then, there have been multiple installments in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise and other movies based on popular Disney attractions. But in that time there hasn’t been another Haunted Mansion movie. That will soon change.

In the very near future, there will be another Disney movie inspired by the beloved attraction, and judging by the cast, director, and that first teaser trailer, it sounds like we’re all in for one hell of a ride. Here’s everything we know about Disney’s Haunted Mansion right now… 

What Is The Haunted Mansion Release Date

In addition to an assortment of upcoming superhero epics and returning action-adventure franchises, moviegoers will also be treated to a funny, spooky, and family-friendly horror comedy when Haunted Mansion is released theatrically on July 28th. 

In February, Deadline revealed that the movie, which was to come out in mid-August, was taking the place of the highly anticipated The Marvels, which was pushed back to its current release date of November 10th. 

The Haunted Mansion Trailer Is Full Of Thrills, Chills And A-List Stars

In March 2023, Disney released the first teaser trailer for Haunted Mansion, which featured all kinds of thrills and chills, references to the beloved ride on which it is based, and some of the A-listers who make up its impressive cast. The trailer is equal parts frightening and hilarious, and if the full movie is anything like this, we’ll be in for a good time come this summer. Check it out below:

Obviously, with this being a teaser, not a whole lot in terms of the plot is revealed besides the “family seeks spiritual help to take care of a ghost problem” angle, but this brief glimpse should be more than enough to figure out if you want to go see Haunted Mansion in July.

The Haunted Mansion Cast Includes Rosario Dawson, Owen Wilson, Tiffany Haddish, LaKeith Stanfield And Danny DeVito

When Haunted Mansion lands in theaters this summer, it will feature a rather impressive group of actors with years of experience in comedies, horror films, and family-friendly adventures. According to Variety, Rosario Dawson will be leading the Haunted Mansion cast as Gabbie, a mom who moves into a New Orleans estate with her young son, Travis (Chase W. Dillon).

Starring alongside the Ahsoka lead actress will be Owen Wilson as a priest named Kent, LaKeith Stanfield as a paranormal expert named Ben, Tiffany Haddish as Harriet, a French Quarter psychic, and Danny Davito as a college professor, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

In the same Variety article mentioned above, it was revealed that the movie will feature references to the ride of the same name with characters like Jared Leto’s Hatbox Ghost and Jamie Lee Curtis’ Madame Leota. Winona Ryder, Dan Levy, and Hasan Minaj have also joined the cast, but their respective roles have yet to be revealed.

Haunted Mansion Follows A Woman And Her Son As They Attempt To Rid Their New Home of Supernatural Squatters

When Haunted Mansion lands in theaters this summer, it will follow Gabbie as she attempts to rid her new home of what Disney has called “supernatural squatters,” a clever way of saying ghosts. Not able to complete the task on her own, she will turn to a ragtag group of so-called spiritual experts to free her estate of the ghostly presence once and for all.

Haunted Mansion Is Directed By Dear White People’s Justin Simien

Taking on the directing duties for Haunted Mansion will be Justin Simien, the filmmaker, actor, and author, who is perhaps best known for the 2014 satirical dark comedy, Dear White People, a film he followed up with the Netflix series of the same name. That series ended its four-season run on the popular streaming service in September 2021.

The news was first reported back in April 2021 when publications like Variety announced that Simien had been tapped to lead the latest film project based on a popular Disney park attraction. This will be the first big-budget film production for the filmmaker, whose other credits include the 2020 Hulu horror comedy Bad Hair. At the time, it was also revealed that Katie Dippold, who wrote the 2016 Ghostbusters reboot, would be penning the Haunted Mansion script.

Jamie Lee Curtis Has Said Haunted Mansion Finds The ‘Sweet Spot’ Of ‘Scary, Funny, And Adventure’

Academy Award winner Jamie Lee Curtis is no stranger when it comes to horror movies (the Halloween horror franchise) and Disney remakes (Freaky Friday), and so you could say she is an expert on both. When speaking with Entertainment Weekly in October 2022, Curtis revealed that director Justin Simien and company found “the sweet spot” here, saying:

Curtis would go on to say that Haunted Mansion is “scary like a Disney Ride,” but also captures the humor of the classic theme park attraction. Though she couldn’t share all too much information about the movie when it came to specifics, the Oscar-winning Everything Everywhere All at Once star did say she has never worn costumes as beautiful as the ones she wore for the movie.

Guillermo Del Toro Was Previously Attached To Reboot The Haunted Mansion Franchise In 2010

The upcoming Haunted Mansion movie isn’t the first time Disney has attempted to reboot the series since the release of the 2003 film. In fact, Guillermo del Toro, the director behind The Shape of Water and Nightmare Alley, was planning a version of his own “truly scary” adaptation of the beloved theme park ride. The project was first announced at the 2010 San Diego Comic Con where it was revealed that the visionary filmmaker would write and produce the planned reboot. Several years later, in 2015, it was revealed that Ryan Gosling was in talks to lead the “supernatural family film.” However, those plans didn't work out over the years and set the stage for the current upcoming version. 

Expect to hear much more about Haunted Mansion, as well as other major releases on the 2023 movie schedule, in the coming weeks and months. In the meantime, check out all the upcoming Disney movies so you don’t miss anything from the House of Mouse.

Fans who love the western genre don’t get too many new films to enjoy nowadays, but a new entry is now with us, as the star-studded The Harder They Fall recently hit Netflix. The film, starring Idris Elba, Regina King, Jonathan Majors, Zazie Beetz, LaKeith Stanfield, Delroy Lindo, and many more, focuses on revenge and rivals in the Old West, with each actor playing real historical figures, but in a fictional situation. And, it’s said to be a fantastic blend of brutal, bloody violence, and surprisingly funny moments.

You will probably be wondering just how you can watch The Harder They Fall streaming when your leisure time allows, and, luckily for you, this guide will break down exactly how to do that. We’ll also give you some further viewing options for similar movies. So, let’s get to it!

Where To Watch The Harder They Fall Streaming

It is no longer uncommon for a number of movies to have their first, and only run, on streaming services. Most movie lovers already have access to several different streamers, especially one as common and (basically) beloved as Netflix. The Harder They Fall is streaming, worldwide, exclusively on the massive service, and was released there in the wee hours of November 3, 2021, meaning that you can already dive into the rootin’ tootin’, gun-toting, revenge-gathering adventure as of this writing.

Can I Watch The Harder They Fall In Theaters?

Something else that’s been done on a more regular basis in the past few years, is giving streaming movies like The Harder They Fall a limited release in theaters. The new film, which is billed as one that “injects New Blood into the Old West,” also had this treatment, and released in some theaters a few days after its world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival on October 6, 2021. Once it had shown at a few more festivals, The Harder They Fall had a limited theater release on October 22. Now, though, in order to watch the movie from writer/director Jeymes Samuel, you’ll have to head to your Netflix account. 

What Else To Watch If You Liked The Harder They Fall

The Harder They Fall is not the first, and is unlikely to be the last, Western starring a main cast that features some of Hollywood’s most recognizable black actors. So, if you enjoyed the action-packed story of this film, know that there are others (like Django Unchained) you can check out as well, which are either already available on streaming or can be rented when you need more shoot-em-up action. To start, Idris Elba appeared in yet another movie this year as a man who rides a horse, in the Netflix drama Concrete Cowboy. While not technically a Western (or action film), as it takes place in modern day Philadelphia, it has roots in a real community in the city.

Watch Concrete Cowboy on Netflix.
Watch Django Unchained on Tubi.

The 1993 movie, Posse, focuses on a group of Buffalo Soldiers, led by Jesse Lee (Mario Van Peebles), who get sent on a dangerous mission with a white soldier (Stephen Baldwin), but when they realize that the racist officer (Billy Zane) who sent them on the assignment had planned to betray them, the only way to get out is with guns blazing.

Watch Posse on Pluto.

Finally, we have the 1972 classic, Buck and the Preacher, which was directed by and starred Sidney Poitier. The movie follows former soldier Buck (Poitier) after the Civil War, as he makes his living by helping former slaves settle in the West. When con artist Preacher (Harry Belafonte) joins the group, the two clash constantly, until a gang of bounty hunters attempts to round up the former slaves, which leads the men to fight their common enemy.

Rent/Buy Buck and the Preacher on Amazon Prime.

The Harder They Fall, Jeymes Samuel’s new school western starring Jonathan Majors as the outlaw Nat Love as he seeks revenge against those responsible for his parents’ murder is finally streaming on Netflix following a limited theatrical engagement. After watching the movie that also features Idris Elba and Regina King, you might be wondering why so many people on The Harder They Fall cast look so familiar. Well, fret not, for we have put together a quick yet comprehensive guide of all the major players and cut-throat bandits seen throughout the movie. Let’s break down all those familiar and not-so-friendly faces…

Jonathan Majors (Nat Love)

Taking on the role of the vengeful slave-turned-cowboy Nat Love in The Harder They Fall is Jonathan Majors, who is currently in one of the most impressive runs in show business in recent memory. A relatively unknown actor only a few years ago, Majors has skyrocketed into stardom ever since he appeared in the 2019 drama The Last Black Man in San Francisco. But Majors’ career really took off in the 2020 when he landed the lead role of Atticus Freeman on the HBO supernatural horror series Lovecraft Country.

In the summer of 2021, Jonathan Majors reached yet another level of his career (one that has potential to turn him into an everyday name) when he took on the role of He Who Remains on the Disney+ streaming series Loki. Majors will reprise that role (though as a different variation of the character) when he portrays Kang the Conqueror in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, which is slated for a 2023 release.

Idris Elba (Rufus Buck)

Idris Elba shows up in The Harder They Fall as Rufus Buck, the recently escaped convict who finds himself in Nat Love’s crosshairs after killing the outlaw's parents. The Netflix western caps off an impressive year for the former star of The Wire, a year that also included Concrete Cowboy and The Suicide Squad. But Elba was already a massive star before the start of 2021, with memorable roles on Luther, The Office, and the aforementioned HBO crime drama.

Over the years, Idris Elba has appeared in the Fast and Furious franchise, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and various other movies including dramas like American Gangster and sci-fi thrillers like Prometheus, to name only a few.

Zazie Beetz (Stagecoach Mary)

Zazie Beetz brings to life the historical figure known as Stagecoach Mary, a legend of the Old West, in The Harder They Fall. Ever since breaking out as Vanessa “Van” Keefer on Atlanta  and Noelle on Easy in 2016, Beetz built up an impressive career for herself, with appearances in massive box office hits like Deadpool 2 and Joker. 

Other notable movies and shows to feature Zazie Beetz include Lucy in the Sky, Seberg, The Twilight Zone, and Invincible. Beetz looks to keep the momentum going in 2022 with the star-studded Brad Pitt action thriller Bullet Train and DreamWorks Animation feature film The Bad Guys.

Regina King (Trudy Smith)

Portraying the “Treacherous” Trudy Smith, Rufus Buck’s most loyal right-hand-woman, is Academy Award winner Regina King. Throughout her career, King has appeared in some of the most consequential and successful films including Boyz in the Hood, Friday, Ray, and If Beale Street Could Talk (for which she won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress). King also received a Golden Globe nomination for her feature film directorial debut One Night in Miami.

Regina King has been just as successful on TV since breaking out on the medium with a starring role on the long-running comedy series 227 in 1985. Since then, King has appeared on The Boondocks, 24, Southland, American Crime, Seven Seconds, and Watchmen, taking home Primetime Emmy Awards for those last three.

Edi Gathegi (Bill Pickett)

Portraying Bill Pickett in The Harder They Fall is Edi Gathegi, who has appeared in a little bit of everything since making his professional acting debut in the 2006 action flick Crank. Since then, Gathegi has appeared in Gone Baby Gone, X-Men: First Class, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part I, and The Last Thing He Wanted.

Edi Gathegi’s TV career is probably where most will recognize his face though, as he has had roles on House, Justified, The Blacklist (and The Blacklist: Redemption), StartUp, and Briarpatch. He is also set to have a main role on the Apple TV+ streaming series For All Mankind when the show returns for a third season.

RJ Cyler (Jim Beckwourth)

Taking on the role “Bloody Arm” Jim Beckwourth in The Harder They Fall is RJ Cyler. Ever since breaking out with his portrayal of Earl Jackson in the 2015 coming-of-age dramedy Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, Cyler has gone on to play the Blue Ranger, aka Billy Cranston in the 2017 Power Rangers movie, show up in White Boy Rick, and share the screen with Brad Pitt, Ben Kingsley, and several other notable stars in War Machine.

RJ Cyler’s TV work is just as impressive with major roles on I’m Dying Up Here, Black Lightning, Scream, and Swamp Thing, as well as a few episodes of the HBO comedy series Vice Principals.

Lakeith Stanfield (Cherokee Bill)

Stepping in to take on the role of Cherokee Bill in The Harder They Fall is Lakeith Stanfield, who is perhaps one of the most recognizable faces in the large ensemble cast. Over the years, Stanfield has had major roles in everything from Short Term 12 to Selma and The Purge: Anarchy to Straight Outta Compton. In 2017, Stanfield had a small yet key role in Jordan Peele’s horror film Get Out before starring in the truly bizarre Sorry to Bother You the following year. Here more recently, Stanfield has played major parts in Uncut Gems, Knives Out, and Judas and the Black Messiah.

Lakeith Stanfield is also one of the main stars of the FX series Atlanta, which is expected to return for a third season at some point in the first half of 2022.

Delroy Lindo (Bass Reeves)

Veteran of film, TV, and the stage, Delroy Lindo portrays Bass Reeves in The Harder They Fall. Throughout his film career, which goes back to the mid-1970s, Lindo has appeared in a total of four Spike Lee Joints — Malcolm X, Crookylyn, Clockers, and Da 5 Bloods —as well as action thrillers like Congo and Romeo Must Die to dramas like The Cider House Rules and The Devil’s Advocate.

Delroy Lindo has also appeared on shows like The Good Fight, This Is Us, Kidnapped, and Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. Perhaps the most impressive portion of Lindo’s career is his work on various stages around the world. With memorable performances in multiple Shakespeare productions and 20th Century classics like Of Mice and Men and A Raisin in the Sun, Lindo’s talent is undeniable.

Danielle Deadwyler (Cuffee)

Danielle Deadwyler shows up in The Harder They Fall as Cuffee. Prior to landing a role in the new Netflix western, Deadwyler spent the majority of her career taking part in various TV projects that just so happen to be some of the most notable of the past decade or more. This includes Atlanta, Watchmen, The Haves and the Have Nots, FBI: Most Wanted, and several others of note. Deadwyler has also appeared in movies like The Youth, Gifted, and It’s Time during that same stretch of time.

Deon Cole (Wiley Escoe)

Deon Cole portrays the character Wiley Escoe in the Netflix western drama The Harder They Fall. Over the years, Cole has been a fixture of the Barbershop franchise as well as other comedies featuring large ensemble casts like Friendsgiving and Holiday Rush. 

However, most will probably recognize Deon Cole from his TV work, which includes playing Charlie Telphy on black-ish and its spinoff series grown-ish. Outside of that critically acclaimed beloved property, Cole has appeared on Angie Tribeca, The League, and Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts. Cole is also an accomplished comedian, having made appearances on shows like Def Comedy Jam, and Wild ’n Out. He has also been nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards for his writing work on The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien and Conan.

Damon Wayans Jr. (Monroe Grimes)

Damon Wayans Jr. shows up in The Harder They Fall as Monroe Grimes. Wayans, the son of legendary comedian Damon Wayans, has spent much of his life working on various film and TV projects. Starting with his work on the silver screen, Wayans has appeared in movies like Blankman (as a young Kevin Walker), The Other Guys, Let’s Be Cops, Big Hero 6, and Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, with multiple movies scattered between those.

Like his father before him, Damon Wayans Jr. has carved out a nice place for himself on the small screen throughout her career. This includes everything from Happy Endings to New Girl and Happy Together to Bob’s Burgers. At some point in the near future, Wayans will also serve as the host of the Frogger game show.

Well, that about does it for The Harder They Fall cast, but with so many great 2021 Netflix movies coming out before the end of the year, be on the lookout for more lists just like this one.

Westerns seem to be having a moment again in Hollywood, or at least it looks like they might be poised to after having seen the latest trailer to the Netflix original The Harder They Fall. If you thought the classic genre was only a staging ground for dry and stodgy tales of justice, director Jeymes Samuel is here to disprove that notion and then some. Though it also helps that the cast, presumably led by Idris Elba, is so impressive, that one can’t begin to fit all of those names in a headline.

Thankfully, Netflix released a trailer for The Harder They Fall, and you can see the cast do their thing at 24 frames per second. As the main conflict seems to rest between Rufus Buck (Idris Elba) and Nat Love (Loki’s Jonathan Majors), factions start to become apparent. With a bench that also includes stars like Regina King, Delroy Lindo, Zazie Beetz, and LaKeith Stanfield, there’s going to be an insane amount of action, shootouts, and quips flying on screen. And from what it sounds like, Elba might be the bad guy in this showdown; though there’s always room for a twist or two to land on the table.

“Energy” is a word that best sums up what’s on offer in this latest project to take a shot at reinvigorating the western. The Harder They Fall has a lot of movement coursing through its metaphorical veins, and the visual style used to channel it into images really sparks. Pair that sort of excitement with a cast that boasts this much talent, and in some cases pits them against one another, and it adds up to a movie that looks truly unpredictable.

There’s literally a moment where Zazie Beetz and Regina King are engaged in a go-for-broke fight, which includes Beetz showcasing some impressive knife work. LaKeith Stanfield gets to deliver some comedically dry dialogue about violence, and even Black-ish star Deon Cole gets an absolutely badass moment tossing some dynamite into the air. The Harder They Fall doesn’t look like a western built solely on quiet contemplation about the nature of the law versus the lawless. This trailer is too vibrant and too charged to even pretend it wants to do that sort of thing, and you’re either on board, or you're not.

Gunplay and wordplay are all on display in The Harder They Fall, giving Netflix a shot of adrenaline at a time when theatrical releases are ramping up. As the studio’s theatrical footprint has been experimenting with wider releases, it’s a bit of a shame not to see Jeymes Samuel’s all-star free-for-all make it to a larger screen count. So if you find this one at a theater near you, consider it striking gold; aggressively entertaining gold.

The Harder They Fall plays its cards, and loads up for action, in select theaters on October 22. Meanwhile, Netflix subscribers will get to watch the original from the comfort of their own homes, starting on November 3. Though if you want to see what the wider world of theatrical exhibition has coming your way, 2021’s release schedule is ready to rock and roll.

Walt Disney Studios is getting ready to make another big movie based on one of the Mouse House's classic rides next month after Jungle Cruise made a splash at the box office and premium streaming. Disney fans can get excited for another Haunted Mansion movie set to star Tiffany Haddish and Get Out actor LaKeith Stanfield. And with production about to begin, the movie has added another big star, most recently seen in Loki: Owen Wilson.

Having starred as the TVA’s Mobius, Owen Wilson has now been brought onto Haunted Mansion to play undisclosed character. The actor known for roles in memorable comedies such as Wedding Crashers, Bottle Rocket and Starsky & Hutch was received with open arms in the MCU, and it’ll be exciting to see how he’ll fit into the studio’s mysterious take on the spooky Disneyland ride.

Word of Owen Wilson’s check-in to Haunted Mansion comes from The Hollywood Reporter, which is describing the movie as a whole as an “ensemble.” In the coming weeks, I’d expect some more casting announcements to follow Wilson's. For now, we know the filmmaker behind Dear White People and Bad Hair, Justin Simien, is directing the movie from a script by Katie Dippold, who previously penned The Heat and 2016’s Ghostbusters.

In late July, Tiffany Haddish and LaKeith Stanfield boarded the Disney movie at the same time. According to THR’s report at the time, Haddish was being eyed to play a psychic, whereas Stanfield would play a “lifeless” tour guide who has lost his wife and has suspicions of the supernatural world. The movie is going to film in Atlanta and be set in the French Quarter in New Orleans, which goes well with the attraction being set in Disneyland’s New Orleans Square.

At this point in time, there’s a wealth of characters Owen Wilson could take on, between being another resident in and around the Haunted Mansion, or a character who visits or moves into the supernatural household. But since he’s just the third actor to be cast in Haunted Mansion, I have an inkling he’ll play a large role in the film.

Disney did make a Haunted Mansion movie back in 2003 starring Eddie Murphy, but it was a flop overall for the studio, making far less earnings than the smash success Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl in the same year, along with being buried with negative reviews. The studio has been attempting to put together a remake for the ride for over a decade, with Oscar-winning director Guillermo Del Toro once set to make a film starring Ryan Gosling.

Haunted Mansion will be one of many movies to be inspired by rides from Disney Parks coming from the studio. There are also film adaptations in development based on Space Mountain and a sequel in the works for Jungle Cruise, along with whispers of a Tower of Terror movie and more Pirates of the Caribbean installments.

This weekend, Walt Disney Studios is finally getting back to unveiling big-screen movies based on their beloved theme park rides with the release of Jungle Cruise, starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt. At the same time, the House of Mouse is getting in line for a new Haunted Mansion movie, as it has reportedly cast two talented leads that have us ready to hitchhike with ghosts.

Tiffany Haddish and LaKeith Stanfield are the names being conjured up to front the upcoming Haunted Mansion movie that has been in development again since last August. The Girls Trip star and Oscar-nominated Judas and the Black Messiah actor are in “negotiations” to play a psychic and widower in the Disney live-action film, per The Hollywood Reporter.

Tiffany Haddish is apparently being eyed to play a psychic who is hired to commune the dead, whilst Stanfield will play a “lifeless” tour guide in New Orleans’ French Quarter who lost his wife and once had suspicions in the world of the supernatural. This Haunted Mansion movie is apparently not connected to the 2003 movie starring Eddie Murphy in any way.

Back in April, Dear White People and Bad Hair director Justin Simien signed on to direct the upcoming Haunted Mansion movie, and it looks like it’s moving right along. The movie is now gearing up to start rolling its cameras in Louisiana this fall. The setting is perfect considering Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion takes place in the theme park’s New Orleans Square section of the park.

The tone of the upcoming Haunted Mansion is still a little foggy after this recent casting news. Tiffany Haddish is known as a comedian, so there’s definitely sure to be some laughs in the Disney movie. Plus, Katie Dippold wrote the script following other funny works including The Heat, 2016’s Ghostbusters and Snatched. With LaKeith Stanfield on board, who also starred in Get Out, Uncut Gems, Sorry to Bother You and the FX series Atlanta, there’s also a sense that the project might have something more to say aside from foolish mortals running from ghosts.

Haunted Mansion is one of Disney’s most near and dear rides, as it is over 51 years old and still kicking. The ride first opened in California’s Disneyland in August 1969, and has also since opened in Orlando, Tokyo, Paris and Hong Kong. Back in 2010, Guillermo del Toro was developing a movie based on the time reportedly set to star Ryan Gosling, but the project was later dropped and sat on a dusty shelf until this recent new venture.

Before we can get on Haunted Mansion, Disney’s Jungle Cruise is hitting theaters and Disney+ Premier Access this Friday, July 30. The studio is also developing a Space Mountain movie, Tower of Terror movie and more Pirates of the Caribbean movies. If only our Fast Passes worked outside the parks for these exciting projects.

Daniel Kaluuya and LaKeith Stanfield are two remarkably talented actors who are only just at the start of their careers, and what's interesting is that they seem to be sprinting together. They first had the opportunity to work together on Jordan Peele's Get Out, and now, four years after that film was released, they have both received Oscar nominations for their respective performances in Shaka King's Judas And The Black Messiah. From an outside perspective they seem to have a cool pair thing going, but that's a funny idea when you consider how different the two experiences were for LaKeith Stanfield during the productions.

As the actor pointed out during a recent interview with NME, his role in Get Out may be incredibly memorable, but it didn't actually take all that long to shoot. Because of this, LaKeith Stanfield didn't spend all that much time on the set of the Jordan Peele movie, hence he didn't have much of an opportunity to strike up a relationship with Daniel Kaluuya. Said Stanfield,

When you put the two movies side-by-side, it's not precisely a challenge to recognize what LaKeith Stanfield is talking about here. He may stand out in your mind as having a big supporting role in Get Out, but in truth he is only in two scenes: the opening sequence where he is kidnapped, and the big party thrown by the Armitages. He does have a big moment with Daniel Kaluuya's Chris, and is the one who gets to say the title of the movie in dialogue, but his total runtime isn't precisely considerable all things considered.

With Judas And The Black Messiah on the other hand, the conversation couldn't be more different. In the film, LaKeith Stanfield plays an FBI informant who is tasked with infiltrating the Black Panthers and getting close to Illinois Chapter President Fred Hampton – played by Daniel Kaluuya. The relationship between the characters is the primary source of drama in the film, requiring the two stars to work together closely.

Of course, if we zoom back to a macro perspective, the developing formula here seems to be that when LaKeith Stanfield and Daniel Kaluuya are in a movie together, that movie gets Academy Award attention. Get Out was nominated in four categories during the 2018 Oscars, winning for Best Original Screenplay; and Judas And The Black Messiah has picked up six nominations, including two in the Best Supporting Actor category for Stanfield and Kaluuya (exactly how that math works out is a mystery, but here we are).

To find out if Judas And The Black Messiah takes home one or more Oscars, you'll just have to tune into the show, which is scheduled to air on ABC on April 25.

As with every award season, nominations can be a mixed bag. There tend to be the usual suspects, along with snubs, surprises and the WTF moments. The most recent WTF nomination happened during this week’s unveiling of Oscar contenders. LaKeith Stanfield scored a Best Supporting Actor nomination for the critical darling Judas and the Black Messiah, despite being the film’s lead. Even the actor was surprised by his nomination, so much so that it led to him dropping an F-bomb in a deleted social media response.

Since the release of Judas and the Black Messiah, LaKeith Stanfield has been pushed in the lead actor category in various awards ceremonies, while co-star Daniel Kaluuya being put in the supporting actor category. Kaluuya has scored multiple supporting actor wins and nominations for playing slain civil rights leader Fred Hampton. So the nomination of Stanfield in the same category at the Academy Awards was surprising, to say the least. The Oscar-nominated actor took to his Instagram to voice his confusion as well. Stanfield later deleted his post, but not before journalist Tomris Laffly managed to grab a screenshot. Check out her Twitter post below:

After deleting his initial response to being placed in the Best Supporting Actor category, LaKeith Stanfield posted a more lighthearted Instagram response to his first Oscar nomination. Check out the actor’s hilarious post below:

Despite the confusing Oscar nomination, I, along with many others, agree that LaKeith Stanfield did deserve a nomination, but in the Best Lead Actor category. Stanfield didn’t just play informant William O’Neal; he became his character. He was so believable that some felt his performance was too close to the actor’s persona. But playing O’Neal did affect audiences as Stanfield spoke on how the role took a mental toll on him even after the film wrapped. The actor’s turn as the informant was just the latest performance by him that captured the public’s attention. Being the lead of such an important film, he did deserve a lead nomination rather than supporting.

But LaKeith Stanfield wasn’t the only one confused over his Oscar nomination. Nominating both Stanfield and Daniel Kaluuya in the Support Actor category spoke more about the award nomination process. In recent years, the Oscars have come under fire for its nomination process, with lead and supporting designation, as well as screen time, becoming significant issues. With Chadwick Boseman being nominated in the Lead Actor category, it's possible that the Academy simply didn’t want Stanfield to take votes away from the late actor. Currently Boseman is the frontrunner to win the Oscar posthumously.

While Chadwick Boseman might not be the reason, LaKeith Stanfield’s Supporting Actor nomination countered the Warner Bros. award seasons campaign. But Stanfield deserved to be recognized for his commanding performance in Judas and the Black Messiah. Hopefully this is just the first of many nominations the actor will score over his career.

Awards season nominations can be weird, especially when it comes to classifying where a particular performance and film should go. The Golden Globes have had their controversies, when movies like The Martian are classified as Comedies, and the Oscars are no stranger to such abnormalities. In particular, the difference between a performance for lead and supporting actors/actresses has led to some interesting scuffles, and the nominations for the 93rd Academy Awards are no exception. While both LaKeith Stanfield and Daniel Kaluuya being nominated for Judas and the Black Messiah is a well deserved honor to their performances, the fact that they’re both nominated for Best Supporting Actor has me wondering what the heck is going on.

The core of Judas and the Black Messiah’s narrative is the true story of Bill O’Neal (LaKeith Stanfield) and how he infiltrated and compromised the chapter of the Black Panthers led by Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya.) Director/co-writer Shaka King’s telling of this story aims its primary focus on O’Neal’s efforts to undermine the revolutionary group on-behalf of the FBI, while a profile of Hampton’s personal life is more of a supporting focus for the tale being told. In that recap alone, you can see where the potential problem is when it comes to this year’s Academy Awards nominations.

I totally agree that Daniel Kaluuya and LaKeith Stanfield should both be nominated for Judas and the Black Messiah. And there’s always a temptation around Oscar season to blur the lines between which performances to submit for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor honors. Even with that knowledge of strategic submissions, I still can’t get over the fact that Kaluuya and Stanfield somehow both would be nominated as Best Supporting Actors in a film that surely has a leading character.

The way I see it, Judas and the Black Messiah treats Bill O’Neal as its functional lead. Between bookending the film with moments calling back to an interview O’Neal gave about his time in the Black Panthers, and the focus primarily being paid to LaKeith Stanfield’s portrayal of the actual man, his performance should have obviously been submitted for a Best Actor nomination. Meanwhile, Daniel Kaluuya’s Fred Hampton is a textbook case of a prime Best Supporting Actor role, as his sheer magnetism anchors the film with a secondary lead that compliments the story of O’Neal’s betrayal.

Any interpretation of how Daniel Kaluuya and LaKeith Stanfield’s performances in Judas and the Black Messiah should have been nominated would most likely lead to the same conclusion: one of them should have gotten a Best Actor nomination so as to differentiate their contributions to the film overall. By nominating both actors in the Best Supporting category, it’s akin to saying that there was some other performance/character, other than Fred Hampton and Bill O’Neal, at the head of that film’s story. The more I think about that last sentence, the more my head spins. And make no mistake, this isn't an oversight by Warner Bros, as the studio's official For Your Consideration campaign clearly submitted Stanfield for Best Actor, along with Kaluuya and Jesse Plemons for Best Supporting Actor.

The Academy Awards has made some interesting choices when it comes to who it potentially honors as Lead and Supporting Actors. Who could forget last year’s race, when The Irishman had apparently no Lead Actor performance of any sort of importance, but was double nominated for Best Supporting Actor? And then there’s that moment where Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer were obviously swapped in the distinction of who should have been the Best Actress/Supporting Actress nominees in The Help, as Spencer was a functional co-lead, while Davis was a comparatively reduced presence in the film? That last decision handed Octavia Spencer the win, which only highlights the game that’s played when submitting your high power talent for awards consideration.

This time, at least from where I’m standing, the game is lost no matter what happens. Judas and the Black Messiah showcased two powerfully moving performances from actors at the top of their game. With Daniel Kaluuya lighting up the screen as Fred Hampton, and LaKeith Stanfield digging into the nuance and subtle shades to Bill O’Neal, their roles are inseparable in their chemistry and their effectiveness. But according to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, they’re both supporting roles, playing to a larger lead that we’re not privy to know about. Which is a shame, because they’re both actors who deserve to be talked about alongside each other, as opposed to being pitted in direct competition. And if you had any doubt who should be in which position, just look at the film's title, and match those biblically charged names to the characters you saw in the film. It can't get any clearer than that.

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One of the most iconic movies made within the past decade is Jordan Peele’s Get Out, a socially-aware horror comedy that called out how terrifying the relationship can be between Black and white Americans. Aside from allowing Peele to transition from comedy to being one of the most exciting new voices in filmmaking, the 2017 Best Picture nominee gave Daniel Kaluuya and LaKeith Stanfield roles that have become synonymous with pop culture.

For Daniel Kaluuya, he’ll never be seen next to a cup of tea the same way again. And regarding LaKeith Stanfield, we’ll never quite wipe away the look on his face when Kaluuya’s character takes a picture of him and he yells the movie’s title. It’s the moment in Jordan Peele’s movie when things started getting really odd. And as a result, Stanfield remembers that his Get Out role specifically made him incredibly recognizable. In his words:

If you remember, LaKeith Stanfield did not have a large role in Get Out. His role was pretty much for that scene, yet after the movie came out, he was getting noticed everywhere. He attributes it to that segment of the movie becoming a meme and popular reaction gif people use in all types of contexts, whether it's to show sudden sadness and or a sense of being troubled, or telling other people online to seriously just like… get out; get out of the conversation, get out of their opinions, etc. It’s seriously a universal and functional reaction that LaKeith Stanfield unknowingly became a part of thanks to this movie.

LaKeith Stanfield reflected on his Get Out role to W Magazine just in time for the film recently passing its fourth anniversary. He continued to reflect on the movie by remembering how he got to be the only one to say the movie’s title:

LaKeith Stanfield’s Get Out character really did transcend his status in the public eye. That led to his reunion with Daniel Kaluuya for Shaka King’s Judas and the Black Messiah, where he plays William O’Neal to Kaluuya’s Fred Hampton, who was the chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther party in the ‘60s.

Judas and the Black Messiah is currently available to stream on HBO Max (along with select theaters). You can subscribe to the streaming service using this link. The movie is being recognized during awards season – CinemaBlend will keep you updated on how the movie shakes out amidst its wide critical acclaim.

Acting can be an extremely stressful profession. Some of the best in the business commit to their characters so much that it can be difficult to leave them behind. Judas and The Black Messiah star LaKeith Stanfield recently revealed the filming of his latest movie, Judas and the Black Messiah, was so intense that it caused the actor to have anxiety attacks.

There will be major spoilers for Judas and the Black Messiah below, so if you haven't caught the film yet, read on at your own risk!

In a recent interview with LEVEL, Get Out star LaKeith Stanfield discloses that the process of filming one particularly intense scene in Judas And The Black Messiah wound up taking a serious toll on his mental health, ultimately resulting in a physical reaction. As he put it,

Stanfield notes that the whole version of the scene in question didn’t make it into the final cut of the film, but it still caused him some pretty serious mental trauma. He goes on to say that he suspects the filming of Judas and the Black Messiah has something to do with his recent stress and panic attacks.

It makes sense, considering just how intense and tragic the ending of Shaka King’s Judas and the Black Messiah is. LaKeith Stanfield plays William O'Neil, an FBI informant who is embedded with the Black Panther party during the late ‘60s. Despite being considered a close confidant of Black Panther leader Frank Hampton (played by Daniel Kaluuya), O'Neil provided information that led to a police raid and Hampton’s subsequent assassination.

Judas and the Black Messiah has seen some seriously high praise for its talented cast and direction from Shaka King. LaKeith Standfield’s co-star Daniel Kaluuya was recently nominated for a Golden Globe and SAG award for his supporting performance as Fred Hampton to boot.

While it was no walk in the park for LaKeith Stanfield to film such an intense movie, hopefully his commitment to character will pay off, as Oscar nominations are on the horizon and it wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest if we saw Judas and the Black Messiah get a lot of love.

With powerful performances by LaKeith Stanfield and Daniel Kaluuya, Judas and the Black Messiah is a raw look at being Black in America. Not only is the story depicted in the film true, making it that much harder (and relevant) to watch, but it’s set in the 60s and history seems to keep repeating itself. The Lucas Brothers, writers of the film’s story, spoke out about African Americans not being perceived as human.

Judas and the Black Messiah follows William O’Neal (LaKeith Stanfield) as he becomes a double agent of sorts. Accepting a plea deal to stay out of prison, O’Neal joins the Chicago chapter of the Black Panther Party to help the police take down (and ultimately kill) Chairman Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya). When I sat down with Keith and Kenny Lucas for an interview with CinemaBlend, the three of us discussed Hampton’s age and him not being seen as human by the people who killed him. Here’s what the Lucas Brothers said:

Fred Hampton was a 21-year-old college kid when he was assassinated. He wasn’t a criminal. He was a person who spoke out against police brutality and fought to keep his community safe from being senselessly murdered. He had a family. He was in love. But he was painted as a dangerous threat that needed to be neutralized, by his own government. As the Lucas Brothers shared:

Judas and the Black Messiah humanizes Hampton by taking the time to strip him of the militant Black Panther caricature and depict him as a real, fully developed person. The Lucas brothers have a lot more stories to tell, and they’re just two of the many people working to change the overall perception of African Americans. Although this film hurt my soul and made me cry, I loved it and I’m so glad it’s been told in the way that it has. It gives hope to those of us who have to choose where we live and how we act based on how the people around us perceive the color of our skin.

You can see Judas and the Black Messiah in select theaters and streaming on HBO Max. Let me know in the comments the titles of other films that stirred an emotion deep in your soul like an emotional wrecking ball.

There are few movies receiving as much as attention as Shaka King’s Judas and the Black Messiah thanks to the biographical drama’s heartbreaking retelling of the events that led to the assassination of Illinois Black Panther Party Chairman Fred Hampton and the struggles of the African-American community in late 1960s. The Judas and the Black Messiah cast, which includes Daniel Kaluuya as impassioned activist and LaKeith Stanfield as the criminal-turned-informant who provided the FBI with information on the Black Panthers, is another reason the movie is receiving so much buzz.

And outside of the two main leads, Judas and the Black Messiah has a cast that is absolutely stacked with actors who have appeared everywhere from The West Wing to Fargo and from Atlanta to The Wire. But with so many faces — both the known and unknown — being featured throughout the tense drama, keeping up with everyone isn’t the easiest of tasks. That being said, we’ve put together a list of the cast and where you’ve sen them before.

Daniel Kaluuya (Fred Hampton)

Daniel Kaluuya’s portrayal of Fred Hampton in Judas and the Black Messiah has already earned the British actor several awards nominations with more surely on the way. This, however, isn’t anything new for Kaluuya, who has previously received recognition for his roles in Get Out and Queen & Slim, with the former earning him an Oscar nomination at the 90th Academy Awards in 2018. In addition the those roles, Kaluuya has also shown up in movies like Black Panther, Sicario, and Widows, which happened to be set in Chicago.

LaKeith Stanfield (William O’Neal)

Prior to showing up as William O’Neal, the FBI informant who infiltrated the Black Panther Party in the in order to get a lightened sentence, LaKeith Stanfield made a name for himself in movies like Selma, Dope, and Straight Outta Compton, but his turn as Darius Epps on the FX series Atlanta and appearance in Get Out kicked things up a notch. Since then, Stanfield has given outstanding performances in everything from the surrealist dark comedy Sorry to Bother You, the anxiety-inducing Uncut Gems, and farcical whodunit Knives Out.

Jesse Plemons (Roy Mitchell)

You can’t have a movie about the FBI taking advantage of someone’s misfortune without having an overbearing handler like Jesse Plemons’ Roy Mitchell in Judas and the Black Messiah. Plemons’ career has taken him from Paul Walker’s younger brother in the 1999 football drama Varsity Blues which he followed with a big role on the 2006 television adaptation of Friday Night Lights. Since then, Plemons has had roles on shows like Breaking Bad and Fargo, as well as in movies like The Irishman and I’m Thinking of Ending Things.

Dominique Fishback (Deborah Johnson)

Dominique Fishback has said that taking on the role of Deborah Johnson, the fiancée of Fred Hampton and mother of his son, was a transformative experience that changed her life. And if buzz surrounding her performance is to be believed, this is the start of the next chapter in the young actresses’ already successful career. Since making her acting debut on The Knick in 2013, Fishback has gone on to have a major role on the HBO series The Deuce as well as Jamie Foxx’s 2020 superhero drama Project Power.

Ashton Sanders (Jimmy Palmer)

Ashton Sanders shows up as Jimmy Palmer, a member of the Black Panther Party in Judas and the Black Messiah, but you wouldn’t be wrong if you thought you’ve seen young actor before. Sanders appeared in Straight Outta Compton in 2015, but he properly entered the spotlight the following year with a career-making performance as the teenage version of Chiron in the Academy Award-winning coming-of-age drama Moonlight. Sanders has since gone on to become a series regular as The RZA on Hulu’s Wu-Tang: An American Saga, which follows the rise of legendary hip hop group the Wu-Tang Clan.

Martin Sheen (J. Edgar Hoover)

Under all that makeup is Martin Sheen playing former FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover in Judas and the Black Messiah. Perhaps the most prolific name attached to Shaka King’s moving drama, Sheen has appeared in hundreds of movies, shows, documentaries, and other productions over the course of his decades-spanning career. From Apocalypse Now to The Departed and The West Wing to Grace and Frankie, Sheen has been a longtime fixture of Hollywood, one who continues to turn out great performances even as he turns 80 years old.

Darrell Britt-Gibson (Bobby Rush)

It is rare to see a movie these days that doesn’t feature at least one member of the cast of The Wire, and Judas and the Black Messiah is no exception. Portraying Black Panther Party Chicago chapter co-founder (and future U.S. Congressman) Bobby Rush is Darrell Britt-Gibson, who took on the role of Darius “O-Dog” Hill on David Simon’s crime series in the show’s final two seasons. More recently, Britt-Gibson has shown up in movies like Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Just Mercy, and The Unicorn, as well as shows like Barry and You’re The Worst.

Lil Rel Howery (Wayne)

If you didn’t know any better, you would think Judas and the Black Messiah was a reunion for the cast of Get Out considering the presence of the film’s two leads as well as Lil Rel Howery, who played Rod Williams in Jordan Peele’s 2017 socially-charged horror drama. Prior to taking on the role of Wayne in the 2021 biographical drama, the actor and comedian found success in movies like Bird Box, Bad Trip, and Good Boys, as well as roles on shows like Insecure, Lip Sync Battle, and his own 2018 comedy Rel.

Algee Smith (Jake Winters)

Algee Smith, who plays Black Panther Party member Jake Winters in Judas and the Black Messiah has been on a role as of late with his leading role of Chris McKay on the HBO drama Euphoria. This has been a long time in the making for the singer and actor who found success with his portrayal of Ralph Tresvant in the 2017 miniseries The New Edition Story and its 2018 followup The Bobby Brown Story. Besides that, Smith has given outstanding performances in The Hate U Give and Detroit.

Jermaine Fowler (Mark Clark)

Portraying Mark Clark, the other member of the Black Panther Party’s Chicago chapter caught in the crossfire of the December 1969 raid is Jermaine Fowler, the up-and-coming comedian and actor who has been making a name for himself in recent years. Starting with Guy Code in 2012, Fowler has shown up on everything from Crashing to Superior Donuts, and will soon have a role of a lifetime when he portrays Lavelle, the son of Eddie Murphy’s Akeem in Coming 2 America.

Dominique Thorne (Judy Harmon)

Prior to her appearance in the Judas and the Black Messiah, in which she plays Black Panther Party member Judy Harmon, Dominique Thorne only appeared in one movie: If Beale Street Could Talk. The world will soon see much more of the young actress as she is set to take on the role of Riri Williams, aka Ironheart in the upcoming Disney+ original series Ironheart.

Robert Longstreet (Leslie Carlyle)

Robert Longstreet takes up the role of FBI Agent Leslie Carlyle in Judas and the Black Messiah, but you were probably busy wondering if that was the same guy from Doctor Sleep and The Haunting of Hill House whenever he was on screen. Spoiler alert: that was him. Over the years, Longstreet has been a part of the cast of movies like Pineapple Express and The Old Man & the Gun as well as countless smaller roles on shows like Matlock and Dawson’s Creek.

Terayle Hill (George Sams)

Judas and the Black Messiah is full of portrayals of some of the Black Panther Party’s most notable members, including George Sams, who is portrayed here by Terayle Hill. Probably best known for portraying Trey on Cobra Kai, Hill has spent much of the past six years showing up on shows like The Quad and Step Up: High Water.

Amari Cheatom (Collins)

Amari Cheatom, who plays Collins in Judas and the Black Messiah is another member of the film’s cast that has appeared in a number of culturally significant movies over the years. With credits that include Django Unchained, Crown Heights, Detroit, and Night Catches Us to his name, Cheatom has made a name for himself in hard-hitting dramas based on historical events or set in pivotal times in American history.

Caleb Eberhardt (Bob Lee)

Caleb Eberhardt, who plays Bob Lee in Judas and the Black Messiah, only kickstarted his career within the past decade but has already earned roles in some pretty big productions. With roles in movies like The Post and Black Christmas as well as television shows like The Deuce and Happy!, the young actor is making his mark.

With a cast as talented as the one that brings the characters (both real and imagined) to life in Judas and the Black Messiah it is shocking that they weren’t nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast. But hey, the movies that were nominated, including The Trial of the Chicago 7 more than earn their recognition.

Daniel Kaluuya and LaKeith Stanfield, who previously appeared together in the 2017 film Get Out, have teamed up once again for Judas and the Black Messiah. Judas and the Black Messiah, directed by Shaka King, tells the story of William O’Neal (LaKeith Stanfield), a petty criminal, who agrees to work undercover for the FBI to infiltrate the Black Panther party and take down revolutionary leader Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya).

Judas and the Black Messiah debuts in theaters and on HBO Max on February 12th, and now the critiques have started rolling in.

CinemaBlend's own Eric Eisenberg saw the film, and he is mostly singing the movie's praises. He gave Judas and the Black Messiah four out of five stars and praised many aspects of the film, including the lead performances and the HBO Max film's powerful story. He said:

Peter Debruge from Variety calls the film “powerful” and predicts it will be an Oscar contender, while also praising the performances, specifically that of LaKeith Stanfield. Peter continues:

Jimi Famurewa from Empire also praised Stanfield’s performance, as well as many other aspects of Judas and the Black Messiah, including the writing, the cinematography, the score, and, again, the other actors’ performances. (I'm sensing a theme.) He goes on to say:

The performances continue to be commended across the board. David Rooney from The Hollywood Reporter noted the "sensational" performances from Kaluuya and Stanfield, while commenting on the currency of the story's themes. He continues, saying:

Not all critics were overwhelmingly enthusiastic about the film. Robert Daniels of The Playlist touches on Kaluuya's "electric" performance, but says that O'Neal, played by Stanfield, "just isn't a compelling character." He continues, saying:

Though certainly met with some criticism, the response to Judas and the Black Messiah seems to be mostly positive so far, but we'll have to wait until moviegoers see the film to find out if that momentum continues.

Judas and the Black Messiah debuts in theaters and on HBO Max on February 12th, and in the meantime check out CinemaBlends guide to every movie coming out in 2021.

As we look ahead to the early months of 2021, few upcoming releases have us more excited than writer/director Shaka King’s Judas And The Black Messiah. While the movie doesn’t have a specific set release date just yet, it’s expected to hit theaters/HBO Max before this year’s unusual Academy Awards deadline, and the debut trailer that launched during the summer has us thinking that it will definitely be a contender. A big part of what has us filled with so much anticipation is just the outrageously talented cast that has been put together – and only further hyping that aspect is the revelation that every star was King’s first choice.

Though they have no actual direct involvement with Judas And The Black Messiah other than being fans of the film, Gabrielle Union-Wade and her husband Dwyane Wade hosted a special Instagram Live session with Shaka King this afternoon, and during the half hour conversation one subject explored at length was the all-star ensemble that has been put together. Lakeith Stanfield and Daniel Kaluuya play the principals, and there is extreme talent playing the supporting roles, including Dominique Fishback, Ashton Sanders, Jesse Plemons, Dominique Thorne, Darrell Britt-Gibson, and more. The filmmaker had nothing but great things to say about the cast, and added the enticing detail that he had each and every one of them in mind when he was penning the script:

Described by the director as an undercover thriller in the style of Martin Scorsese’s The Departed or Mike Newell’s Donnie Brasco, Judas and The Black Messiah chronicles the true story of how a small-time criminal named William O’Neal (Lakeith Stanfield) was convinced by the FBI to work as an informant specifically focusing on the actions of the Black Panther Party and its chairman Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya).

Despite being a massive chapter in the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s, this is a story that has never been told in a feature film – though we did just see Fred Hampton portrayed by actor Kelvin Harrison Jr. a couple months ago in Aaron Sorkin’s Netflix film The Trial Of The Chicago 7. That movie only featured Hampton in an extremely minor role, however, and Judas And The Black Messiah is a movie that will put the revolutionary front and center.

According to Shaka King, his entire cast put in extreme effort in the making of the film, and he makes it sound like he is exceptionally proud of their work. The writer/director continued,

In addition to all the names mentioned, Judas And The Black Messiah also stars Martin Sheen, Lil Rel Howery, and Jermaine Fowler.

As mentioned earlier, Warner Bros. has not yet announced a firm release date for the buzzed-about period drama, but just like every film on their 2021 slate it will be getting a day-and-date release in theaters and on HBO Max. We’re eagerly anticipating news of when the movie will arrive, so stay tuned for the latest updates about Judas And The Black Messiah here on CinemaBlend.

As one of the most acclaimed and meme-ified movies of 2019, Uncut Gems was a great critical and commercial hit for Adam Sandler, writers-directors Benny & Josh Safdie, and the studio behind it, A24. While the movie didn't receive a lot of love at the Oscars, particularly with Sandler getting egregiously snubbed, the drama certainly found an audience, proving to viewers who typically associate the comedian with his outlandish larks that he had serious acting chops. Now that it's been nearly a year since the movie's notable release, what is the Uncut Gems cast, which also includes LaKeith Stanfield, Julia Fox, Idina Menzel, Judd Hirsch, and Kevin Garnett, working on now?

Let's take a look and see!

Adam Sandler (Howard Ratner)

As Howard Ratner, a Diamond District jeweler with hefty gambling debts, Adam Sandler gave arguably the best performance of his career in Uncut Gems. Having established his star power on Saturday Night Live, he went on to make a series of profitable (if not always critically celebrated) comedies, including Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, The Waterboy, The Wedding Singer, Big Daddy, Mr. Deeds, and 50 First Dates, as well as Click, Grown Ups 1 & 2, and Just Go With It. He also lends his voice to the Hotel Transylvania movies. Additionally, Sandler garnered praise for his performances in Punch-Drunk Love, Funny People, and The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected). Additionally, the actor/producer grew his fanbase through several Netflix originals, with Murder Mystery being the most heavily-streamed title of these collaborations.

Most recently, Adam Sandler co-wrote and starred in the 2020 Netflix horror-comedy, Hubie Halloween, the latest Happy Madison production. He also reunited with the Safdie brothers earlier this year for the short film, Goldman v Silverman. Currently, Sander is filming a role in Netflix's upcoming sports film, Hustle, from director Jeremiah Zagar (We the Animals). He's also set to reprise his role as Dracula in Hotel Transylvania 4. And the comedian might also make Murder Mystery 2, notably since he's signed on to keep working with Netflix for the foreseeable future.

Julia Fox (Julia De Fiore)

In the role of Julia De Fiore, Howard's girlfriend and employee, Julia Fox provided a stunning breakthrough performance in Uncut Gems. But as a clothing designer, model, painter, and photographer prior to this film debut, Fox was already an established artist. Following her work in this superb film, Fox was seen in Puppet and the TV series, Day by Day. She also stars in PVT Chat, which is currently in the film festival circuits. Additionally, Fox starred in the music video for "Nothing Good," by Goody Grace ft. G-Eazy and Juicy J. Recently, the burgeoning actress filmed a role in Steven Soderbergh's No Sudden Move, which will be her high-profile follow-up to this Safdie brothers' hit.

Outside of acting, Julia Fox wrote and directed the short film, Fantasy Girls.

LaKeith Stanfield (Demany)

As Demany, Howard's constantly pestered assistant, LaKeith Stanfield provides another standout supporting turn in Uncut Gems. First gaining recognition for his outstanding Independent Spirit Award-nominated performance in Short Term 12, Stanfield continued to find notice and praise for his other supporting turns in Selma, Straight Outta Compton, Get Out, Dope, and Knives Out, as well as his leading roles in Sorry to Bother You and Crown Heights. He also stars in FX's acclaimed Atlanta. Other notable credits include Death Note, Snowden, The Purge: Anarchy, and The Girl in the Spider's Web.

Earlier this year, LaKeith Stanfield starred in The Photograph and did voice work for the final season of BoJack Horseman. Additionally, Stanfield filled in as co-host for Adult Swim's The Eric Andre Show Season 5. Next, he'll play William O'Neal in Judas and the Black Messiah. Currently, the in-demand actor is filming a role in the dramatic western, The Harder They Fall, and he'll also voice the lead character in Netflix's upcoming anime series, Yasuke.

Kevin Garnett (Himself)

Playing a fictionalized version of himself, former professional basketball player Kevin Garnett made a good impression with Uncut Gems. Thanks to his versatility, defensive ability, and impressive work ethic, the athlete was considered one of the greatest power forwards in professional basketball history. Garnett played with the Minnesota Timberwolves for 12 seasons before he joined the Boston Celtics, resulting in the team winning the NBA Championship. Later, he joined the Brooklyn Nets before returning to Minnesota and then retiring from the sport in 2016.

While Kevin Garnett impressed many moviegoers and critics with his performance, it wasn't his first time acting. He previously had an uncredited role in Blue Chips and he played the late Wilt Chamberlain in the 1996 TV movie, Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault.

Despite Uncut Gems' critical success, Kevin Garnett doesn't have any additional acting projects currently lined up.

Idina Menzel (Dinah Ratner)

In the role of Dinah Ratner, Howard's exasperated wife, Idina Menzel showcased her exceptional dramatic talents once more in Uncut Gems. A Tony-winning actress and musician, Menzel is best known for her award-winning Broadway performance in Wicked, as well as her celebrated work in Rent, including the 2005 film adaptation, and If/Then. She's also well-known for voicing Queen Elsa in Frozen and Frozen II. Her other notable film and TV credits include Enchanted, Glee, Kissing Jessica Stein, Ask the Dust, Hercules, Private Practice, Rescue Me, and Lifetime's Beaches remake. The actress also reprised the role of Elsa in Ralph Breaks the Internet.

Next, Idina Menzel is expected to star in an upcoming modernized musical version of Cinderella, starring Camila Cabella, which is scheduled to come out early next year. There's also the long-promised film adaptation of Wicked, which may or may not find the actress returning to her star-making role.

Eric Bogosian (Arno Moradian)

As Arno Moradian, a menacing loan shark out to collect Howard's well-overdue tab, Eric Bogosian provided a very threatening role in Uncut Gems. An accomplished playwright and novelist in addition to being an accomplished actor, Bogosian is best known for writing plays like Talk Radio and subUrbia, both of which have received film adaptations. Oliver Stone directed the former in 1988, with Bogosian playing the lead role, while Richard Linklater brought the latter to the big screen in 1996, with Bogosian penning the screenplay.

As an actor, meanwhile, Eric Bogosian starred in Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and he also appeared in Billions, The Get Down, The Good Wife, The Larry Sanders Show, and Scrubs. His other famous film credits include Deconstructing Harry, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, Special Effects, Under Seige 2: Dark Territory, and Beavis and Butt-Head Do America, as well as Igby Goes Down, Blade: Trinity, and Cadillac Records. He also narrated Listen Up, Philip.

Most recently, Eric Bogosian appeared in HBO's Succession and an episode of Instinct.

Judd Hirsch (Gooey)

In the role of Gooey, Howard's father-in-law, Judd Hirsch played a small-but-noteworthy part in Uncut Gems. A two-time Emmy and Tony-winning actor, Hirsch is best known for his extensive TV work in Taxi, Numb3rs, and Dear John, as well as his noteworthy roles in Ordinary People, for which he was Oscar-nominated, Independence Day, Independence Day: Resurgence, Teachers, Running on Empty, Tower Heist, The Muppets, and A Beautiful Mind. He also previously collaborated with Adam Sandler on The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected). Recently, Hirsch starred in CBS' sitcom, Superior Donuts, which ran for two seasons. Prior to that, he was a series regular on ABC's Forever, which only lasted one season.

Earlier this year, Judd Hirsch was seen in the horror film, A Deadly Legend, as well as episodes of Hunters, God Friended Me, and The Return of Brian Willing.

Keith Williams Richard (Phil)

Playing the part of Phil, Arno's quick-tempered henchman, Keith Williams Richard fit the bill as a large and imposing supporting character in Uncut Gems. In addition to making a memorable appearance in this awards contender, he also made his acting debut. After this cinematic introduction, Richard starred in the short film, Three Deaths, earlier this year.

Jonathan Aranbayev (Eddie Ratner)

As Eddie Ratner, Howard's oldest son, Jonathan Aranbayev made his screen debut in Uncut Gems. And to date, this role remains his only professional film credit. His follow-up project hasn't been announced yet.

Noa Fisher (Marchel Ratner)

In the role of Marchel Ratner, Howard's disengaged daughter, Noa Fisher plays a prominent supporting character in Uncut Gems. This indie drama-thriller became the young actress's first screen credit, serving as a promising start to a hopefully burgeoning career. Earlier this year, Fisher starred in the short film, Let's Do Drugs, as well as episodes of Betty and Day by Day.

Jacob Igielski (Beni Ratner)

Playing the part of Beni Ratner, Howard's youngest son, Jacob Igielski received his biggest role to date in Uncut Gems, notably as he made his feature film debut. Prior to this performance, the child actor was seen in short films like 2013's Opening Night and 2016's Fidelio. Also, Igielski appeared in an episode of Netflix's Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj. Next, he stars in the horror film, Mother, from writer-director Michael Morrissey.

The Weeknd (Himself)

In the role he was born to play, The Weeknd plays a fictionalized version of himself in Uncut Gems. The Canadian R&B artist started his career in 2010 when he uploaded songs to YouTube. Following a series of mixtapes, he released his debut studio album, Kiss Land, in 2013. He followed that up with 2015's Beauty Behind the Madness, which was nominated for Album of the Year at the Grammys. 2016's Starboy won Best Urban Contemporary Album and became the artist's biggest success to date. Earlier this year, The Weeknd released his fourth studio album, After Hours, to wide acclaim. In addition to these achievements, The Weeknd is also an Oscar-nominated musician for his single, "Earned It," which was featured in Fifty Shades of Grey.

Earlier this year, The Weeknd expand his acting resume to include voice work in episodes of Robot Chicken and American Dad!, the latter of which he also helped write.

Mike Francesa (Gary)

In a rare acting turn, sports radio personality Mike Francesa played a small-but-crucial role as Gary, Howard's befuddled bookie. Much like several other performers in the film, Francesa made his feature debut in Uncut Gems. His only other acting credit was in John Leguizamo's 2003 TV movie, Undefeated, wherein he made a cameo as himself. While Francesa hasn't established himself as an actor, his voice is certainly well-known. His WFAN show, Mike and the Mad Dog, which he hosted with Chris Russo, ran from 1989 to 2008 and it was considered one of the most successful talk radio programs in American history. After that, he hosted Mike's On: Francesa on the FAN through 2017. From there, Francesa would return on-and-off in short-form segments over the next couple years.

Mike Francesa doesn't have any future acting credits lined up presently. He retired from radio for the third time back in July to spend more time with his family.

Did you love Uncut Gems? Who gave your favorite performance in this heavily-praised Safdie brothers movie? Be sure to let us know in the comment section below!

Rian Johnson's murder mystery Knives Out evokes the feel of classic mysteries like those of the Agatha Christie collection, and it has a comedic tone similar to Clue. Knives Out was a runaway hit for Johnson, earning him critical praise and box office success. A major reason for the film’s popularity was the ensemble all-star cast lead by Chris Evans. People flocked to the film because of these a-listers but they enjoyed it because of the clever script and performances.

Since Knives Out, most of the cast has remained busy and booked--appearing in TV shows, movies, theater, and so-on. If you’re dying to know what projects the Knives Out cast will be doing next, then look no further.

Daniel Craig (Benoit Blanc)

Daniel Craig played lead detective Benoit Blanc in Knives Out. He was the one leading the charge to solve the case of who killed author Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer). Craig will conclude his run as James Bond when No Time To Die hits theaters in April 2021.

Craig will reprise his role as detective Blanc in the upcoming Knives Out sequel. Not much is known about the sequel, but it will likely involve a new set of suspects and a new murder mystery.

Ana de Armas (Marta Cabrera)

Ana de Armas plays Harlan’s beloved nurse Marta. Originally, she believes herself responsible for Harlan’s death, but then gets involved in trying to uncover the truth behind it. Ana de Armas has been one of the busiest since Knives Out. She appeared in the British crime thriller The Informer. She then appeared in the Netflix original movie Wasp Network with Penelope Cruz, Edgar Ramirez, and Gael Garcia Bernal.

De Armas also appeared in another Netflix original movie: The Night Clerk. This one stars de Armas, John Leguizamo, Helen Hunt, and Tye Sheridan. It involves a hotel night clerk being the center of a murder investigation. She also appeared in Netflix's bio-pic Sergio about UN diplomat Sergio Vieira de Mello.

Ana de Armas will appear alongside Craig again in No Time to Die. The Cuban actress will make history when she plays Marilyn Monroe in the upcoming movie Blonde. She’ll also star alongside Ben Affleck in Deep Water.

Chris Evans (Hugh Ransom Drysdale)

Chris Evans' character Ransom is the eldest grandson of Harlan. They have a disagreement and they fight before Harlan’s death. Ransom also is the family member most helpful with the case to find his grandfather’s murder, and he enjoys a knitted sweater.

Without having another Marvel movie to film, Evans was able to join the world of TV with Defending Jacob. In the Apple TV series, Evans plays an assistant district attorney whose life gets turned upside down when his 14-year-old son is accused of being involved in a murder. Jaeden Martell who also played a Jacob in Knives Out co-stars in Defending Jacob with Evans and Michelle Dockery. The series streamed on AppleTV from April to May 2020. Netflix has commissioned a project called The Gray Man that stars Evans and Ryan Gosling. The Russo brothers will direct it.

Evans is also rumored to be playing Orin Scrivello in the Little Shop of Horrors remake. Orin is the psycho dentist and abusive ex-boyfriend of Audrey. Steve Martin played this character in the 1986 version.

Jamie Lee Curtis (Linda Drysdale)

In Knives Out, Jamie Lee Curtis plays Linda Drysdale, Harlan’s daughter and a suspect in his murder. Curtis voiced the character of Agent Bruchstein for the FX animated series Archer. The Halloween actress is set to reprise her role as Laurie Strode for two additional Halloween movies: Halloween Kills and Halloween Ends.

Curtis will also appear in the A24 sci-fi film Everything Everywhere All At Once. The film stars Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, James Hong, and Jonathan Ke Quan.

Michael Shannon (Walt Thrombey)

Walt is Harlan’s son and the one who works in his publishing company. He’s fired by Harlan right before his death, making him a prime suspect in the case. Michael Shannon appeared in the Broadhurst Theatre production of Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune. He played Johnny from May 4th to July 28, 2019.

Shannon will join an ensemble cast in the adaptation of Liane Moriarty’s book Nine Perfect Strangers. David E. Kelley will act as executive producer for this upcoming Hulu series. In 2020, he appeared in the films The Quarry and Echo Boomers. Shannon also has a few upcoming projects: Bullet Train, Swing, and Shriver. Shriver reunites him with his Knives Out co-star Don Johnson.

Don Johnson (Richard Drysdale)

Richard Drysdale is Linda’s husband and Harlan finds out about his affair. Johnson appeared with Knives Out co-star Michael Shannon in Shriver. In 2019, the same year as Knives Out’s release, Johnson was appearing in Watchmen as Chief Judd Crawford.

Don Johnson teams up with John Boyega in Rebel Ridge. Rebel Ridge is a thriller about an ex-marine who takes on dirty cops. Johnson will also reprise his role as Nash Bridges in the upcoming revival of Nash Bridges.

Toni Collette (Joni Thrombey)

Joni is a Thrombey by marriage. She was married to Harlan’s now-deceased son Neil. She embezzles from Harlan by dipping into her daughter’s college fund to keep up her lifestyle. In 2020, Toni Collette appeared in Dream Horse alongside Damian Lewis. It’s a sports movie based on the true story of a racehorse. Collette had a role in the Netflix and Charlie Kaufman original film I’m Thinking of Ending Things.

In 2019, she also appeared in the critically acclaimed Netflix miniseries Unbelievable, which earned her an Emmy nomination. In 2021, Toni Collette will take on the leading role in the adaptation of Karin Slaughter’s novel Pieces of Her. She also has a few projects in development: a sci-fi thriller with Anna Kendrick called Stowaway and a Guillermo del Toro thriller called Nightmare Alley.

Lakeith Stanfield (Detective Lieutenant Elliott)

Lakeith Stanfield played a detective assigned to Harlan’s case. He doesn’t seem too thrilled with Blanc taking over the investigation but slowly gets on board with his method of crime-solving. Stanfield co-starred with Issa Rae in the romantic drama The Photograph.

Stanfield lent his voice to the final season of BoJack Horseman. He played Guy. In 2021, Stanfield will voice the first African samurai in Yasuke. Stanfield appears in the Black Panther Party drama Judas and the Black Messiah. He’ll play activist William O’Neal alongside Daniel Kaluuya and Jesse Plemons.

Katherine Langford (Meg Thrombey)

Katherine Langford plays Meg Thrombey, Harlan’s granddaughter and she’s Joni’s daughter. She seems nice and kind, unlike the rest of her family, but when her tuition is threatened, her true colors show. Langford had the lead role in the Netflix original series Cursed. She played Nimue, a young woman with magical powers on a quest during medieval times. It’s a retelling of the legend of King Arthur.

In 2020, Langford co-starred with Charlie Plummer and Hayley Law in the teen drama-comedy Spontaneous. She played a girl who finds love after people in her high school start to randomly explode.

Jaeden Martell (Jacob Thrombey)

Jaeden Martell played Jacob Thrombey, the youngest of the Thrombey dynasty. He’s the son of Walt and Donna (Riki Lindhome). He doesn’t do much in the film but stays on his phone, but you just know he’s up to no good. Martell appeared in many movies in 2019, including the horror film The Lodge and the coming-of-age story The True Adventures of Wolfboy.

He reprised his role as teen Bill in IT Chapter Two. Jaeden Martell joined his Knives Out co-star in Defending Jacob. In the Apple TV series he played Chris Evans and Michelle Dockery’s characters’ son Jacob. He’s suspected of being involved in the murder of another teen. Martell will star opposite Susan Sarandon in the upcoming drama Tunnels. The film is about the unlikely friendship between the grandmother who raised a school shooter and the brother of one of her grandson’s victims.

Christopher Plummer (Harlan Thrombey)

Harlan Thrombey was the patriarch of the Thrombey family who is killed by a member of his family. Knives Out then follows Harlan through flashbacks and shows various reasons why he might have been killed. Plummer appeared alongside Sebastian Stan, Ed Harris, Samuel L. Jackson, Peter Fonda, and William Hurt in The Last Full Measure.

Plummer played Howard in the suspense drama series Departure. It’s a show about the mystery of Flight 716, a plane that vanishes. Departure was renewed and Plummer will make an appearance in it. In 2021, Plummer will voice a character in the animated feature Heroes of the Golden Masks.

Noah Segan (Trooper Wagner)

Noah Segan plays Trooper Wagner in Knives Out. Wagner is one of the men called to investigate Harlan’s death. Unlike Detective Elliot, Wagner is immediately impressed and in awe of Blanc. Segan appeared in the anthology horror film Scare Package. Segan appears in the segment called “M.I.S.T.E.R.” The film is currently available on Shudder.

Noah Segan also appeared in the horror western The Pale Door.

Knives Out is full of amazing performances, so we can’t wait to see the cast’s upcoming projects. Knives Out is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video. Stream it here.

If I was asked to name the reigning go-to guy for the weirdest projects in entertainment today, Lakeith Stanfield would be the first person to come to my mind. You may assume I would come to such a conclusion based on his breakout role as the enigmatic Darius on Atlanta or as the lead of surreal social satire Sorry to Bother You, but that is not necessarily the case. In fact, I would argue that his real life is even stranger and arguably more interesting.

Born in San Bernardino, California, in 1991, Lakeith Stanfield made his feature-length acting debut, alongside Brie Larson, in the acclaimed 2013 drama Short Term 12, for which he received a Film Independent Spirit nomination. Since then he has done everything from historical biopics (including playing Snoop Dogg in Straight Outta Compton), horror (most notably his scene-stealing role in Get Out), breakneck crime thrillers (he put up with a lot of Adam Sandler’s shit in Uncut Gems), and even voicing a buffalo named Guy on Bojack Horseman.

Clearly, his diverse and unusual filmography has been essential to him getting noticed as a performer, but a good number of things he is known for offscreen (both prior to and in the prime of his acting days) are enough to turn heads as well. Just take it from these seven lesser-known facts about Lakeith Stanfield, starting with insight into what his career could have been had he not achieved stardom… among one other crucial reason.

A SWAT Raid Ended Lakeith Stanfield’s Job At A Medical Marijuana Farm

One interesting connective through-line that many of Lakeith Stanfield’s characters seem to have in common is an interest in smokable substances, which is something the actor has actually had professional experience in while raising plants at a hub for medical marijuana, as he described it on Jimmy Kimmel Live, at least. That was, until six months into the job when, according to a Los Angeles Times interview, police raided the farm, putting a stop the operation and pushing the young man to pursue a new career.

Lakeith Stanfield Studied Modeling Before Breaking Into Acting

While that follow-up career, of course, would eventually be as a screen actor, according to Empire’s biography of him, Lakeith Stanfield initially tested his worth as a model by taking classes at LA’s John Casablancas Modeling and Career Center. Considering the rather impressionable fashion choices he is famous for sporting on the red carpet, hearing him tell Jimmy Kimmel about his lessons on the catwalk is not much of a surprise.

Lakeith Stanfield Had Never Seen Friends Before Playing Chandler In Jay-Z’s Parody Video

It was surprising, however, when Lakeith Stanfield told Jimmy Fallon that he had never seen an episode of Friends before, despite hearing about it "in passing." The reveal came in response to the Tonight Show host’s mention of Jay-Z’s satirical video for "Moonlight," which recreates a classic episode of the sitcom with well-known black actors, including Issa Rae as Rachel, Lil Rel Howery as Joey, Tessa Thompson as Monica, and Stanfield himself as Chandler Bing. Could that BE any more ironic?

Lakeith Stanfield Raps On The Sorry To Bother You Soundtrack

Similarly ironic is how Lakeith Stanfield’s Sorry to Bother You character Cassius Green proves to be not much behind a mic in a notably biting scene from the biting 2018 satire despite the very impressive rhymes he drops on one of its original songs. In fact, in addition to his guest spot on the film’s unofficial theme song “OYAHYTT,” by writer and director Boots Riley’s band The Coup, the actor also releases his own rap music under the moniker HTIEKAL.

Lakeith Stanfield Had No Idea Who Was Playing Teddy Perkins While Shooting That Famous Atlanta Episode

Another person famous for producing music under a pseudonym is Atlanta star and creator Donald “Childish Gambino” Glover, whom Lakieth Stanfield, apparently, did not realize was the one playing the title role of Season 2’s “Teddy Perkins,” at first. The actor dished on the puzzling experience filming the creepy, Emmy-winning episode (in which Darius tries to pick up a piano from a wealthy recluse) in the following excerpt from a 2018 Entertainment Weekly interview:

I am not sure who deserves the most praise in this situation: Donald Glover for staying in character so well and in such elaborate prosthetics or Lakeith Stanfield for enduring the discomfort of sharing a space with such a haunting personality. Either way, “Teddy Perkins” almost rivals Get Out as Stanfield’s greatest moment in the horror genre thus far.

Knives Out Co-Star Jamie Lee Curtis Convinced Lakeith Stanfield To Quit Smoking Cigarettes

Speaking of horror, Lakeith Stanfield got to act opposite the ultimate “Scream Queen,” Jamie Lee Curtis, in writer and director Rian Johnson’s reinvention of the whodunnit Knives Out. On another Tonight Show appearance, Stanfield recalled how the Halloween actress spotted him smoking a cigarette on set and told him to “cut that out,” to which he simply replied, “You know what? You’re right.” Sometimes speaking up is all it takes to get something done, excluding Stanfield’s campaign to play a certain comic book character.

Lakeith Stanfield Attended The Premiere Of Joker Dressed As The DC Character

When word got out that Warner Bros. was casting the lead of an origin story for Batman’s arch enemy, Lakeith Stanfield took to social media soon after to express his interest in the role that would ultimately go to Joaquin Phoenix, whose shocking performance later earned him a Best Actor Oscar in 2020. However, Stanfield would get the last laugh when, according to a report by Screen Rant, he showed up to the premier of Joker dressed in his own cosplay of the Clown Prince of Crime. If he keeps this up, perhaps we may one day see him taunting Robert Pattinson’s Batman in a future film.

What do you think? Have you never been more fascinated about Lakeith Stanfield until now, or are those facts nothing compared to this particularly amusing GQ interview he gave in 2017? Let us know in the comments and be sure to check back for additional information and updates on the very talented and very, very unique actor, as well as even more in-depth looks into the lives of your favorite celebrities, here on CinemaBlend.

If you’re like me, you’re probably going through massive Atlanta withdrawal by this point. The critically acclaimed FX dramedy wrapped up Season 2 (a.k.a. Robbin’ Season) back in the spring of 2018 before going on hiatus. The show has faced a few behind-the scenes obstacles on the road to Season 3, with the most recent one caused by COVID-19. Luckily, both a third and fourth season have been mapped out, and production is scheduled to start in early 2021. But at this point, some of you may still be thinking about that Atlanta ending that closed out Season 2 and how it sets up the next season.

Robbin’ Season was filled with revelations for Earn, Alfred, Van and Darius, and the finale put a firm stamp on what was a very cerebral set of episodes. It also appeared to pave the way for some interesting plot points in Season 3. Atlanta has always been unpredictable when it comes to the stories it tells, but some of the things the Season 2 finale alludes to just seem too clear. So let’s start off by reflecting on that last episode before looking ahead:

How Atlanta Season 2 Ended

The finale – “Crabs in a Barrel” – provided a surprise for Earn and Van, who learn during a parent-conference that their young daughter, Lottie, is gifted. The teacher also recommends that the two send her to an expensive private school, where she can reach her full potential. Earn, who’s set to join his friends on Clark County’s European tour, resolves to use his earnings to pay for Lottie’s tuition. Despite parting on mostly good terms, Van shows concern for Earn, who was pretty much self-destructing due to the change that’s taken over his life during the past season. This sense of dread only increases when Van later texts him, saying that she’s considering taking Lottie and moving in with her mom.

Leading up to the finale, there were doubts as to whether Alfred would keep Earn on his manager, due to his constant mistakes. And in the finale, the tension only rises, as Al and Darius move from their house and the group prepares for the tour. But near the end of the episode, Earn manages to impress his cousin when he slips a gun (the one he received from their uncle) into Clark County’s bag to avoid getting stopped at airport security. Later, on the plane, Al reveals that he saw what Earn did and commends him for having his back, as Al states that people in the music industry only care about themselves. This point is solidified when Clark arrives on the plane, having placed blame for the gun on his manager, Luke.

Earn And Van’s Relationship Won’t Be The Same

The relationship between Earn and Van has always been up and down but, at the beginning of the season, it appeared they were making an effort to create a true commitment. Yet things end up going south in “Helen” when Van states that Earn only uses her for sex – to which he replies that he’s content with their “arrangement.” Van is also frustrated by Earn’s infrequent presence in their daughter’s life, which only increased in Season 2.

The finale seems to indicate that while Earn is still committed to providing for his daughter, he and Van are clearly in different places in their lives. Van knows this, which is why she’s considering taking a new step by moving to her mother’s. And after that text, Earn knows she’s tired of playing house. When it comes to Season 3, there’s a strong chance their relationship will look very different when we see them again, especially since the tour is going to create even more distance between them – both figuratively and literally. It definitely doesn’t feel like they’re anywhere close to giving Lottie the “happy two-parent household” her teacher recommended.

Paper Boi And Co. Are Getting A Major Change Of Scenery

What was arguably the biggest development to come out of the Season 2 finale is that Alfred, along with Earn and Darius, is accompanying Clark County on his European tour. Although a lot of time will have passed by the time Season 3 arrives, it looks like the show won’t progress in real time. This was pretty much confirmed when it was announced that one of the upcoming seasons would shoot outside the US. So it looks like at least part of Atlanta Season 3 will essentially be “Paper Boi Does Europe.”

Atlanta has proven to have a great deal of affection for the city it’s named after, and it’s an integral part of the series’ identity. Nevertheless, taking Alfred, Earn and Darius out of their familiar surroundings keeps things fresh and will allow them to continue to grow as characters. The European backdrop also gives the show an opportunity to explore some more interesting concepts. How does Europe’s perception of rap culture compare to North America’s? Does that same amount of reverence and popularity carry over? And while Afro-European culture has been touched on through Van’s heritage, how might the characters (all African American) respond to it when it surrounds them? These questions are all fair game for Season 3.

Clark County Is Not To Be Messed With

Up to this point, Atlanta hasn’t had what you would consider a true villain. Earn and the gang have come across some pretty dangerous people over the course of the show, but they’ve never had a consistent rival. This all seemed to change with Robbin’ Season’s introduction of Clark County, an arrogant rapper and heavily commercialized rapper. Although he takes a liking to Earn, Al and Darius and plays up a friendly image, the show has hinted to his darker side. I’m still thinking about that unfortunate sound engineer (from “Money Bag Shawty”), who was probably beaten to a pulp by Clark’s gang after his software issues held up the rapper’s studio time.

Clark’s ruthlessness was solidified in the finale when he framed Luke for the gun and, if he was willing to do something that shady to his own manager, you can bet he’ll have no problem throwing Earn or the others under the bus. Europe will be unpredictable as it is, but Clark is going to keep them on their toes. I honestly think it’s only it’s only a matter of time before a member of the trio – or all of them – actually come to blows with the mysterious young rapper.

But what do you think awaits Earn and the others in Atlanta Season 3? Is there anything from the Season 2 finale that you’re still thinking about? Let us know in the comments and stay tuned to CinemaBlend for updates on Atlanta and for other news from the world of TV and film.

There’s a very good chance you are familiar with the Black Panther Party, the socialist political party born out of Oakland, California in the 1960s, and swept up passionate followers for decades. You might not, however, be up to speed with the story of Fred Hampton, the chairman of the Illinois Black Panther chapter who accomplished a lot but was tragically assassinated at the age of 21.

Fred Hampton’s story will fuel the new film Judas and the Black Messiah, a biopic helmed by Shaka King and produced by industry heavyweights Ryan Coogler (Creed, Black Panther) and Charles D. King (Mudbound, Fences). King and Coogler’s relationship dates back to their Sundance days. The latter brought his debut film, Fruitvale Station, to the Sundance Film Festival in 2013, where he met Shaka King and they began discussing collaborations. During a recent press event for Judas and the Black Messiah, Coogler explained how he jumped from Black Panther to a movie about the Black Panthers, stating:

The trailer for Shaka King’s Judas and the Black Messiah was shown during this press event, and it was characterized by a fiery portrayal of Fred Hampton by the brilliant Daniel Kaluuya. The actor had collaborated on Black Pantherwith Coogler, but also was coming off of a string of tremendous and powerful performances in movies like Widows and Get Out.

Daniel Kaluuya will be paired alongside the equally mesmerizing LaKeith Steinfeld (Knives Out, Sorry to Bother You) in Judas and the Black Messiah. Warner Bros. shared the trailer with us, so check this out now:

How does William O’Neal factor in to the story of Chairman Fred Hampton? He’s the Judas to Hampton’s Black Messiah. He’s an FBI informant who tipped the federal agents off to where Hampton was going to be, leading to the raid that resulted in Hampton’s assassination. And Shaka King will allow that disturbing slice of history to unfold when Judas and the Black Messiah makes its way to theaters.

Since 2017, Anne Rice’s wildly popular book series The Vampire Chronicles has been in development as a TV series. This is not the first time that the books have been turned into screen material. The first time was with the cult classic Interview With a Vampire, and then later with Queen of The Damned. The Vampire Chronicles also inspired a Broadway musical called Lestat. Despite the clear fan base, The Vampire Chronicles TV Show has not had an easy road to production.

Hulu was originally supposed to be the home of The Vampire Chronicles show but the streaming service decided to pass on it. Like any good vampire, the show rose again when AMC acquired rights to The Vampire Chronicles and Anne Rice’s The Lives of the Mayfair Witches.

At the heart of these novels are the vampire Lestat, who was played in Interview with a Vampire by Tom Cruise, then by Stuart Townsend in Queen of the Damned, and most recently by Hugh Panaro in the Lestat musical. These three men gave very different interpretations of the famous literary character, but had a certain confidence that threaded throughout. Fans of Anne Rice’s novels, or even just the movies and musical, are probably anxiously awaiting casting news for this iconic character.

Before we get our hopes and dreams shattered by the final casting decision, let’s pick some people we would like to see play Lestat in The Vampire Chronicles series.

Timothee Chalamet

Timothee Chalamet may be a bit too on the nose as a pick, but it doesn’t change the fact that he works. Chalamet has a French father which gives him French origins like Lestat. He is around the same height as the character and close to the age of book Lestat.

Chalamet’s performance in Little Women screams “The Brat Prince,” with a bit of arrogance, self-centeredness, a flare for the dramatics, and pure vanity. Timothee Chalamet already has the luxurious hair for the role, it just might have to be dyed or he could have to wig it up. Chalamet is also quite busy as a star in-demand, but he might just find some time to film a Vampire Chronicles show.

Harry Styles

Before you go HARRY STYLES?! Let me explain. Yes, we haven’t really seen Styles act. His one major role in Dunkirk was basically a non-speaking role, and he passed on the chance to be Prince Eric in The Little Mermaid, so we have nothing to judge Style’s acting abilities on (except some hilarious SNL skits), but there is an attitude and a presence that Styles exhibits that matches Lestat.

Styles is also around the right age, height, and his campiness and rockstar sensibility screams Lestat. All Styles would need was a blonde curly wig. He could pull it off. The real dilemma would come if Styles actually had the time to film a series, which is highly unlikely with his intense touring and recording schedule. In a perfect world, Harry Styles would be a real consideration for Lestat.

Johnny Flynn

Johnny Flynn is much older than Lestat was when he became a vampire. However, this is Hollywood where age only matters for some genders and book facts don’t exist. Also, in my opinion, Flynn is a very young looking mid-30-year-old. He probably can’t pass for 21, but he could pass as 20-something-ish. Flynn gave a great performance in Emma as Mr. Knightley, making him ready for another period piece.

Flynn also has a musical background that ties nicely with Lestat’s acting and rockstar sides. As Mr. Knightley Flynn showed a sweet, complex character, but I’m sure as Lestat, he could play a dark, complex character. He also already has the blonde hair, so him needing a wig is only a maybe option, not a must option, like with others on this list.

Iwan Rheon

Iwan Rheon has shown that he’s a pretty good actor with versatility in multiple projects. With his portrayal of Simon in Misfits, he has shown that he can play creepy, complicated, wounded characters, and that he can play a straight up monster as Ramsay in Game of Thrones.

Rheon is more on the shorter side, being 5’8", but that’s why editors are so great at their jobs. They can make anyone look 6 feet. It is also a bit hard to imagine how he would look with blonde curly hair, but I’m willing to take the gamble and say he could work the wig. I believe that Rheon is a strong enough actor to capture the complexities and duality of Lestat. He’s also another actor with musical experience that fits into Lestat’s background and persona.

Evan Peters

Evan Peters has really shown some acting range during his time on American Horror Story. Many of his evil characters have had a bit of cockiness to them that could translate well to Lestat. Peters is also in his 30s, but not so much in it that he couldn’t play a 20-something. Peters also has shown that he can pull off almost any hair style, so curly blonde shoulder-length hair shouldn’t be a problem for him.

Peters, however, has a hard edge with most of his characters and performances that could make it difficult for him to have Lestat’s jolly, twisted humor. However, under the right direction, he could turn his often serious demeanor into a more playful character, like we’ve seen with Quicksilver.

Lakeith Stanfield

Get your “that wouldn’t be historically accurate!” and “Lestat isn’t black!” out now. Feel better? Good. Now Lakeith Stanfield doesn’t look the part, but he’s a very charismatic, versatile actor who would do one hell of a job as Lestat.

To cast him would involve a lot of changing of Lestat’s backstory to make it work, but it’s also fiction so they could easily find ways to work around it and keep most, if not all of Lestat’s pre-vampire history and life in the 18th and 19th century. Stanfield could definitely give us a touch of spoiled, lots of sex appeal, plenty of vanity, and just enough vampirism to really make Lestat shine in a TV series.

Tom Hiddleston

If you’re a Marvel fan and have seen Tom Hiddleston’s portrayal of Loki, I don’t think I need to say much more. I guess I’ll also add his performance in Only Lovers Left Alive. Hiddleston is much older than book Lestat, but Hiddleston is nearly perfect for the role. He really knows how to bring complicated, wounded, but still likable characters to life.

Hiddleston also feels like someone who just screams French, blonde vampire in the 1700s, right? He also has this nature that makes it easy to envision him as someone very into fashion and a lavish lifestyle.

Michiel Huisman

Anne Rice once mentioned that if she could cast Lestat, Chris Hemsworth would be one of her top choices. However, realistically, Hemsworth is far too busy launching big franchises to film an entire series, especially if it gets renewed for multiple seasons. She also mentioned Anson Mount and Stephen Amell, and you know who is kind of a mixture of all those rugged men? Michiel Huisman.

Huisman is another actor technically out of the Lestat book age range, but besides that, he has the right look, charisma, and hypnotic allure fitting of a vampire. He also has some boyish charm, but with a dark edge fitting of Lestat.

I had a hard time selecting only a few choices, because I think right now, there are actually many actors that could bring this dynamic, fun character to life. I also would love to see a new comer get a chance to put their stamp on Lestat. Lestat is such an important character to Rice fans that I hope whoever ends up winning the role really gives us an outstanding performance.

Romance at the movies is something that’s almost assured whenever Valentine’s Day is around the corner. Much like how October is known to drum up some scares for Halloween, there are films that are tailor made for the holiday, and writer/director Stella Meghie’s The Photograph is meant to be a prime piece of cinematic candy for the masses.

A dual-focused love story, half of The Photograph is about Mae (Issa Rae), a woman falling for Michael, a journalist (Lakeith Stanfield) who’s researching a story about her late, estranged mother, a noted photographer named Christina Eames (Chante Adams). While Mae and Michael move through their courtship, a second story is told, through a letter that Christina left her daughter before her passing.

This second narrative focuses on Christina’s love affair with a man named Issac (Y’lan Noel), and how things eventually fell apart between the two during their short time together in the 1980s. As Mae learns more about her mother, she questions her own personality in return, wondering if she has the same problems with love her mother did.

In the end, both of The Photograph’s stories are supposed to come together to make an interesting whole. That isn’t the case, though, as this unfocused narrative divides more than conquers the attention of its audience, telling two stories that don't quite lock together.

There are two stories at work in The Photograph, and neither is given enough time to be properly built.

Both of the stories being told in The Photograph would be fine if they were told in their own, self-contained strands; or, at the very least, if one of the plots were to be given priority in the narrative that occupies this film’s structure. It’s particularly frustrating that when it feels like one scenario just starts to get interesting, the movie switches tracks to the other half of things to check in. With that sort of energy at work, The Photograph doesn’t allow the audience to really take hold of either side firmly, leaving two half stories that don’t meet together like the puzzle pieces they’re meant to be.

Even a little bit of pruning of the flashback story in order to let the modern angle take priority would be an improvement, as the framework of The Photograph is supposed to be focused on the progression of Mae and Michael’s relationship. That focus is missing a little something to tie it all together, because of the fact that both stories feel like they could have been their own movies.

Romantic comedy tropes are mixed with romantic drama, adding up to a confused overall tone.

Something else that seems to crop up in The Photograph’s confused plot structure is the fact that both stories seem to have a different intention in mind. Trying to marry these two halves together could work in some cases, but based on what it seems the film is trying to provide for its audience, it would have been better for the stories to be fleshed out in their own space.

In terms of the modern plot following Issa Rae and Lakeith Stanfield, The Photograph feels more like a romantic comedy with an added serious weight to it. There’s a ton of cute moments between our protagonists, and in a refreshing reversal, Rae gets to play the stronger half of the duo while Stanfield is the lovesick dreamer. Add in some quirky side characters played by Lil Rel Howery and Jasmine Cephas-Jones, each helping one of our romantic leads sort their feelings, and you've got the template for a version of The Photograph that could have been lighter and more romantically engaging.

Meanwhile, Chante Adams and Y’lan Noel’s half of the narrative is a drama about the personal nature of relationships, especially when one half is more invested than the other. Seeing their hearts break, and even watching Christina's evolving home life with both her mother and her boyfriend, is a more serious experience that is meant to make the audience feel the weight of the drama. There are complimentary threads between these two halves, which if woven correctly could have been rather effective, but without that cohesion, The Photograph misses an important mark in its romantic journey across time.

Despite the chemistry of Lakeith Stanfield and Issa Rae, The Photograph won’t sweep you off your feet.

Even as the narrative and tonal confusion throw off The Photograph, there’s still some aspects that should be celebrated about this film. In particular, the casting of Issa Rae and Lakeith Stanfield is inspired, as both performers are absolutely charming individually. Those hoping that Mae and Michael make for a sweet couple won’t be disappointed, as their vulnerability and jovial nature is beautiful.

With a more bittersweet context, Chante Adams’s Christina and Y’lan Noel’s Issac also sparkle as the doomed couple that are destined to fall out. We only get to experience bits and pieces of their story, as these flashbacks are supposed to really be building the character of Mae and her distrust in love. It’s because of that intent that audiences who really get wrapped up in either half of this story are bound to be let down, as there’s no greater depth to either side provided.

Overall, the total experience of The Photograph is still a bit underwhelming, but still serves as a seasonal entry in the cinematic canon of Valentine’s Day titles. A lush musical score by composer/pianist Robert Glasper helps tie together, with airy jazz tunes playing the mournful and lovely sides of this movie’s narrative coin to the hilt.

While the holiday will certainly draw folks out to the theaters to see this movie, don’t expect it to sweep you off your feet entirely. Rather, think of The Photograph as a first date that isn’t a total disaster, but still makes you weigh your options before calling for a second meetup.

Starting months before its theatrical release, Todd Phillips' Joker been the subject of much conversation. The unsettling psychological drama has been doing great this Awards Season, earning 11 Oscar nominations with Joaquin Phoenix the favorite to win Best Actor at this week's Academy Awards. The character of The Joker is one of the most iconic comic book villains of all time, and there have been plenty of adaptations of the Clown Prince of Crime on film. And now it turns out that Get Out's Lakeith Stanfield has some ideas for his own version of The Joker.

Lakeith Stanfield is an accomplished actor, who has proven his range throughout this tenure on the screen. He's been seen in projects like Knives Out and Uncut Gems, although he recently expressed his interest in playing The Joker, despite how successful Joaquin Phoenix's movie has been. Stanfield was recently asked what he'd bring to the role, saying:

While there's no guarantee that Lakeith Stanfield will ever actually get to play The Joker, he doest have a clear investment in the iconic comic book villain. And if he got the chance, he'd bring in a number of collaborators to help make his vision into a reality.

Lakeith Stanfield's Collider are in direct response to the actor's recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! While promoting his new movie The Photograph, Stanfield told the talk show host that he'd love to play the Clown Prince of Crime- especially in the wake of Joaquin Phoenix's triumphant performance in Joker. In fact, that's just another fun challenge to approaching the villain.

Of course, the concept of another Joker arriving in theaters does seem a bit far fetched. Warner Bros. currently has three versions of the character running around, so there's already a lot of Mr. J available for fans. Jared Leto's Joker made his debut in Suicide Squad, although he was noticeably absent from Birds of Prey. Joaquin Phoenix has been collecting Awards for his performance as Arthur Fleck in Joker, while DC Universe's animated Harley Quinn series features Alan Tudyk as the villain.

I'm eager to see if Jared Leto and/or Joaquin Phoenix end up reprising their roles as the Joker in another movie. Leto's performance in Suicide Squad wasn't very well received, although he is still technically alive in the DC Extended Universe. And while Joker looked like it wasn't going to get a sequel, the movie's box office performance and Awards Nominations might have changed Warner Bros.' tune.

You can see Lakeith Stanfield in both Uncut Gems, and The Photograph will arrive on Valentine's Day. Be sure to check out our 2020 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

Since 2013,  LaKeith Stanfield has created a diverse body of work. He’s played offbeat dudes, villains, hype men, the best friend, and iconic historical figures in everything from horror films to black comedies. Stanfield is one of the most interesting young actors working today. He refuses to be boxed into any role, genre, or label--making him a brilliant character actor and scene-stealer in most of his TV shows and movies. 

LaKeith Stanfield has appeared in dozens of TV shows and short or feature films. He continues to stretch himself as an actor and performer. He’s worked with big names like Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Adam Sandler, Oliver Stone, Ava DuVernay, and Jordan Peele. LaKeith Stanfield continues to aim high and dreams of even more iconic roles with big name directors. Those new to Stanfield’s work may wonder which of his films and TV shows are worth watching. Well, we have some options.

Sorry To Bother You (2018)

Sorry to Bother You is a satirical film about a Black salesman named Cassius (LaKeith Stanfield) who must put on his “white voice” to increase sales. The company mistreats and underpays its workers, so his coworkers try to form a union. Eventually, Cassius becomes one of the company’s best salesmen and starts to neglect his friends and coworkers. Sorry to Bother You then takes a really unexpected, trippy turn that we won’t spoil for you.

Sorry to Bother You is one of LaKeith Stanfield’s leading roles and he does an excellent job leading this very out-there concept. Sorry to Bother You takes an extreme turn of events, but it’s very much grounded in some of today’s biggest issues like capitalism, racism, slave labor, and cultural appropriation. Sorry to Bother You is not a safe film, which means people will have strong reactions to it. 

Stream Sorry to Bother You on Tubi.
Rent/buy Sorry to Bother You on Amazon.

Selma (2014)

Selma, directed by Ava DuVernay, stars David Oyelowo as Martin Luther King Jr. and follows King’s journey that led up to the Selma protest marches of 1965. Selma is a historical drama and part biopic about Martin Luther King Jr., the Civil Rights Movement, and the events that occurred before, during, and after the Selma march of 1965, including the murder of Jimmie Lee Jackson (LaKeith Stanfield). It’s one of the best movies to watch on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The Civil Rights Movement was a long, hard battle that resulted in many casualties. Selma depicts the brutal, frustrating, and difficult steps it took for the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to go into effect. The movie is necessary viewing for its snapshot of such a major event. Ava DuVernay brilliantly directs this Oscar nominated film. Selma only has a few scenes with LaKeith Stanfield, but those short scenes deliver enough personality to give viewers an understanding of why this young man was so beloved and helped make the fight for equality even stronger.

Stream Selma on Paramount +.
Rent/buy Selma on Amazon. 

Dope (2015)

Dope follows three high school nerds as they become involved in the drug business. Malcolm (Shameik Moore) is the main protagonist, a kid just trying to survive high school and get into Harvard. Rick Famuyiwa directs this coming of age adventure that displays the struggles of growing up, especially in a dangerous neighborhood. Dope isn’t all drama as it effortlessly blends comedy into these very real and scary situations.

Despite the serious nature of Dope, the film takes a hopeful approach to its events, and keeps things comedic from start to finish. LaKeith Stanfield has a small role in the movie as Marquis, one of the high school bullies. While Stanfield's role isn't big in this film, the movie overall gives a unique look at black teens growing up in rough neighborhoods. It doesn't rely on the typical stereotypes that are often portrayed in films about high crime neighborhoods. Instead, Dope offers a fresh perspective on the varied personalities of black youth. Stanfield has also played a lot of chill characters, and this is one of the few times he plays a character that you wouldn't mind smacking.

Rent/buy Dope on Amazon. 

Get Out (2017)

Get Out is the directorial debut of comedian Jordan Peele. The film became one of 2017’s most discussed and analyzed movies. It received award nominations, including Oscar nominations, and became a box office hit. Get Out stars Daniel Kaluuya, Alison Williams, Bradley Whitford, Lil Rel Howery, and Catherine Keener. In Get Out,a Black man goes to meet his white girlfriend’s parents. Quickly, he discovers that things are not what they seem. Racial problems and tensions that still exist between black and white America are a main focus of this movie. Its real roots give the film Get Out its horror.

The film made you notice LaKeith Stanfield. His screentime is limited but his scenes are pivotal. His first scene launches the film’s major climax. Stanfield’s performance is one of the major standout elements of Jordan Peele’s modern horror classic.

Stream Get Out on Peacock.
Rent/buy Get Out on Amazon. 

Crown Heights (2017)

Based on a This American Life podcast, Crown Heights tells the true story of Colin Warner, a man wrongfully convicted of murder. It mainly follows the journey of Colin, played by LaKeith Stanfield, and his best friend Carl King (Nnamdi Asomugha). Crown Heights premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2017 and won the Audience Award for U.S Dramatic Film.

The movie highlights the problems with the justice system and prisons in general, but it’s more of a story about love and friendship. The bonds that Colin formed lead to those around him fighting so hard to bring him justice. Crown Heights is a tragic story told in a beautiful way. Stanfield once again shows his stellar acting range. As an Amazon Studio Production, Crown Heights is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video. 

Stream Crown Heights on Amazon. 

Atlanta (2016-2022)

In Atlanta, Donald Glover, Brian Tyree Henry, and LaKeith Stanfield play three friends trying to make it in the Atlanta rap scene. The main story follows up-and-coming rapper Paper Boi (Brian Tyree Henry) and his manager and cousin Earn (Donald Glover). LaKeith Stanfield plays their eccentric friend Darius. The three often find themselves in comedic and challenging situations.

Darius occupies the same space as many weird, ditzy, or crazy friend characters that we often see in comedy and sitcom series. However, Stanfield adds layers to Darius that often don't exist in some of these other versions of this character. Darius is as fascinating as he is strange. Atlanta is one of the most refreshing comedies to come out of the last few years. It is extremely funny, edgy, and unique. Atlanta came to an end in 2022 with four seasons. 

Stream Atlanta on Hulu.
Buy Atlanta on Amazon. 

Straight Outta Compton (2015)

Straight Outta Compton is a biopic about the formation of rap group N.W.A. The film mainly focuses on Eazy-E (Jason Mitchell), Dr. Dre (Corey Hawkins), and Ice Cube (O’Shea Jackson Jr.) and their manager Jerry Heller (Paul Giamatti). Neil Brown Jr. and Aldis Hodge play N.W.A members DJ Yella and MC Ren. Straight Outta Compton follows N.W.A’s rise to fame, their times at the height of their success, and the band’s eventual split.

Straight Outta Compton features several famous rappers and artists of the ‘80s and ‘90s, including Snoop Dogg played by LaKeith Stanfield. Stanfield has a small role in Straight Outta Compton but in his brief time on screen, he exhibits the mannerism, charm, and even voice of the real Snoop Dogg. Straight Outta Compton gives a fascinating look at N.W.A and the 90s rap scene. It’s definitely a movie worthy of your attention.

Rent/buy Straight Outta Compton on Amazon. 

Short Term 12 (2013)

LaKeith Stanfield has a deep, personal history with Short Term 12. His first film was the short film version of Short Term 12. He did another short film after this one, but then took a major break from acting, working typical jobs, like at a legal weed dispensary. Short Term 12’s director, Destin Daniel Cretton, couldn’t find anyone that gave him the same performance as Stanfield did in his shorter version, so he went looking for him. This film led to Stanfield’s return to pursuing acting full-time.

In Short Term 12, Lakeith Stanfield plays Marcus, an older member of Grace (Brie Larson)’s group home. He’s struggling with the idea of life outside the group home. Stanfield was nominated for several awards for his performance in Short Term 12, including an Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male actor. The film is a moving look at a group home and the young woman who tries to help them figure things out as she’s trying to solve her own problems.

Stream Short Term 12 on Peacock.
Rent/buy Short Term 12 on Amazon.

Knives Out (2019)

Rian Johnson wrote and directed Knives Out, a modern-day whodunit with an all-star cast that includes Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Michael Shannon, Toni Collette, and Jamie Lee Curtis. Famed and wealthy crime novelist Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) commits suicide, but something doesn’t quite seem right. Three detectives are called to investigate the crime. Stanfield plays Detective Lieutenant Elliot, who ends up assisting private detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) as he tries to solve the crime.

Knives Out has become one of the best-reviewed and biggest Box Office hits of 2019. The film gives tribute to the mystery genre while having fun with it. Knives Out is an enjoyable film that deserves a viewing or a hundred. Stanfield didn’t appear in the Knives Out sequel cast Glass Onion. However, with more Benoit Blanc movies coming, there is always a chance he could return to the Knives Out world.

Rent/buy Knives Out on Amazon. 

Uncut Gems (2019)

Arguably the biggest snub of the 2019 Oscars, Uncut Gems follows jeweler Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler) as he attempts to make a big score. He needs the money to pay off some of his debt and just for personal glory. Howard goes from one scheme after another hoping to make a bunch of money, but things keep getting more and more out of control. Stanfield plays Demany, one of Howard’s assistants.

Uncut Gems feels very chaotic and gives you anxiety but that is part of the thrill of the film. Sandler gives one of his best performances as Howard, and Stanfield gives an equally engaging performance as his shady assistant. Their performances enhance Uncut Gems’ story and style even more.

Stream Uncut Gems on Paramount+.
Rent/buy Uncut Gems on Amazon.

The Changeling (2023-)

The Changeling is an AppleTV+ mini series based on Victor LaValle’s book of the same name. It stars LaKeith Stanfield and Clark Backo as Apollo and Emmy, a couple whose happiness dissolves when they have a child. The baby leads to them both going on a journey for the truth and a possible reunion. 

The show is full of magical elements, but explores very realistic topics such as grief, trauma, mental health, and generational scars. It’s a very complex, dark fairytale. The Changeling allows Stanfield to highlight his ability to enlist emotions from his viewers with some very heart wrenching acting. 

Stream The Changeling on Apple TV+

Haunted Mansion (2023)

Haunted Mansion follows a group of individuals trapped in a mansion full of ghosts. The Haunted Mansion cast includes LaKeith Stanfield, Rosario Dawson, Owen Wilson, Tiffany Haddish, and Danny DeVito.

Overall, Haunted Mansion is a family-friendly comedy, but it has some elements that are more dramatic than viewers may expect. These moments give the film more depth. It’s a little more than just a silly no-stakes comedy. Stanfield leads the charge as Ben and offers the movie its heart and somberness.

Stream Haunted Mansion on Disney+.
Rent/buy Haunted Mansion on Amazon

The Harder They Fall (2021)

The Harder They Fall is a Western film featuring an all-Black main cast. It’s the story of Nat Love (Jonathan Majors) as he goes on a revenge mission to track down Rufus Buck (Idris Elba). The Harder They Fall cast features Zazie Beetz, Regina King, Delroy Lindo, and Stanfield.

Stanfield plays Cherokee Bill, one of the villains in this story. He carries his villainy with a mystique, confidence, and plenty of danger. Stanfield’s character is part of the main cast but not as prominent as some of the other characters, but his version of Cherokee Bill definitely leaves an impression.

Stream The Harder They Fall on Netflix.

The Photograph (2020)

The Photograph is a Black-led romantic movie. It tells two sets of romantic stories. The first set in the present and the second happening in the past. The two leading ladies in The Photograph are Mae Morton (Issa Rae) and Christina Eames (Chante Adams). Michael Block (LaKeith Stanfield) and Isaac Jefferson (Y’lan Noel) are their love interests. Mae and Michael meet when he finds a photograph of her mother and wants to know her backstory. 

Stanfield and Rae have an abundance of on-screen chemistry as these two accomplished individuals who unexpectedly fall in love and must navigate what that could mean for their future. Stanfield hasn’t done many romantic roles (yet), so it’s fun to see him step into a new type of role.

Stream The Photograph on Peacock.
Rent/buy The Photograph on Amazon. 

Judas And The Black Messiah (2021)

Judas and the Black Messiah is a fictionalized account of the Black Panther Party in Chicago in the late-60s and the incidents that led to the assassination of Fred Hampton. Daniel Kaluuya and Lakeith Stanfield star. Kaluuya plays Hampton and Stanfield plays Bill O’Neal, a FBI informant who infiltrates the Black Panther Party.

The film was one of the best movies of 2021 and received numerous award nominations and wins, including a Best Supporting Actor Academy Awards nomination for both Kaluuya and Stanfield. 

Stream Judas and the Black Messiah on Max.
Rent/buy Judas and the Black Messiah. 

LaKeith Stanfield has plenty of exciting upcoming projects. Therefore, you’ll have plenty more great performances from him in the coming years. He’s a fearless actor who continues to evolve with each role. 

Netflix is making a Cowboy Bebop live-action series, and now that the ball is rolling it's time to discuss potential actors to play the anime's lead character Spike Spiegel. There was once a time when Keanu Reeves, Joseph Gordon Levitt, and others were considered ideal for the role, but we're years past that failed film. Without further ado, here's a fresh set of faces we'd love to see take a shot at portraying the anime icon.

Andrew Garfield

The key to casting Spike Spiegel, I believe, is finding someone athletic while at the same time not someone anyone would deem an "action hero." Andrew Garfield is definitely not an action hero, but he was Peter Parker in the Amazing Spider-Man films and a soldier in Hacksaw Ridge. Plus, he's got the long hair that can be manipulated in that style that really only looks good when anime characters do it.

On top of all that, Andrew Garfield seems like an actor who can walk that line between being a sarcastic asshole and still caring. He also seems to be in a creative role phase, so perhaps a live-action Netflix anime adaptation is just the thing he'd need to showcase a side of himself audiences don't see a lot of. It would take a bit getting used to his voice over Steve Blum's but that would be true with most people.

Joe Keery

Most of what sold me on Joe Keery as Spike Spiegel is that most of Spike Spiegel's traits exist in Steve Harrington. He's wiry, scrappy, witty, and can sometimes be a douche. Granted, Steve's hand-to-hand combat skills are well below that of Spike, but he can take a brutal beating which is another indicator he might be Spike's great-grandfather from several generations prior.

As much as we'd all like it to, Stranger Things won't last forever. Netflix could lock him down on Cowboy Bebop, and warm a few diehard fans from his other show up to this live-action series that there's no stopping. After all, winning the fans is half the battle, and Keery's the type of casting that folks could root for, even if they're still unsure about the whole rebooting of a classic anime.

Lakeith Stanfield

No, Lakeith Stanfield doesn't resemble Spike Spiegel, not even a bit. Live-action adaptations are known to switch things up a bit, and if there ever was an actor that audiences could rally behind regardless of his resemblance to the character, he's it. Those who disagree need to look no further than his performance as L in Netflix's critically panned live-action film Death Note.

Stanfield looked to be the only person who watched the Death Note anime in that film, or at least the only one who used it to influence his performance. He looked absolutely nothing like the animated character, yet Lakeith Stanfield had the mannerisms and speech pattern down pat. It was genuinely impressive to me as someone who loved the source material, and I have no doubt he'd put just as much work into mastering Spike if not more if given that chance.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson

A lot of the entries on this list come with some sort of caveat as to why bringing them on would be difficult or not ideal, minus Aaron Taylor-Johnson. He's built similar to Spike, he's well-versed in geek culture, and he's around the right age for someone to play the character. Like seriously, it's hard to build a valid argument as to why anyone but Taylor-Johnson should have this role.

On top of all that, he recently appeared in Outlaw King, which is a Netflix exclusive. Netflix only has the rights to the film, however, so perhaps that doesn't mean much towards the phenomena in which actors of Netflix originals always tend to bleed into the streaming giant's other projects. Whatever the case may be, Aaron Taylor-Johnson may be about the perfect mix of star power and look this casting could get, so hopefully, he's on Netflix's radar.

Ross Butler

Ross Butler is another star on the rise, and beyond his Season 1 stint on Riverdale, Netflix is to thank. The 13 Reasons Why actor could jump on a leading role in Cowboy Bebop, which could serve as a big boost in his star power if done right. Plus, his Asian heritage but American roots would feel true to the dubbed version of Spike Spiegel.

That said, Ross Butler is a little buffer than Spike, which would be a problem. Spike Spiegel is a muscular dude, but he was drawn to have a thin frame. Finding that body type is going to be hard in general, so some compromises would have to be made in finding someone that suits him. For Netflix, the question would have to be if they're set on finding an actor who best portrays the character physically, or emotionally.

Shia LaBeouf

While this may sound like an out-there casting at first, once one sifts through all their crazy memories of Shia LaBeouf, they'll remember he's a damn good actor. Labeouf also naturally has that cocky attitude in his roles that embody the character of Spike Spiegel. I'm fairly confident Spike is a role LaBeouf could knock out of the park if he wanted to, but that's a big if.

Even if he's gone to some weird places in the film sphere, it has been a long time since Shia LaBeouf has done television. He had a Saturday Night Live hosting back in 2007, and before that was his role on Even Stevens. Television doesn't seem like a medium he wants to commit to for an extended period of time, so getting him in the door with Netflix for a meeting on Cowboy Bebop may be half the battle.

Is the perfect actor to play Spike left off this list? If so, leave that actor's name in the comments below. The Cowboy Bebop live-action series is currently in development at Netflix. It could be a while before audiences see any footage or hear any casting news about the project, so be sure to check out what's happening in television in the meantime via our fall and midseason premiere guides.

Although Rian Johnson really only became a household names thanks to Star Wars: The Last Jedi, he's been working with great actors for years. Between Brick, The Brothers Bloom, and Looper - his first three films - his record of collaborations include Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Mark Ruffalo, Adrian Brody, Bruce Willis, Emily Blunt. and Jeff Daniels. Now he's putting together the cast for his next feature, Knives Out, and he's made three stellar selections so far.

We only heard first heard about Knives Out at the start of last month, minimal details revealing that it will be a classic whodunit murder mystery, but in the last few weeks we've learned about some incredible talent coming aboard. And without further ado, let's start with the latest, shall we?

Jamie Lee Curtis is the lead in one of the biggest hits of Fall 2018, reprising her role as Laurie Strode in David Gordon Green's Halloween, and now she is set to follow that part up by collaborating with Rian Johnson. Variety reports that she has joined the cast of Knives Out, though details about her character are being kept quiet.

Those who have seen Halloween can attest to the fact that Jamie Lee Curtis can still very much bring it on screen, as she gives a powerhouse performance. It's not super surprising given that she has called Laurie Strode her favorite role, but we still expect to see a big win streak grow with Knives Out.

While there are some impressive veterans populating this ensemble, the movie has also hired one of the most exciting up-and-comers out there, with Lakeith Stanfield signed on to Knives Out to play a detective. Sadly, not much more is known about the part, but we can certainly hope it will be worthy of his talents.

Stanfield only made his feature debut five years ago, but already he has proven to mass audiences that he is a remarkably gifted actor. Everything started with a brilliant turn opposite Brie Larson in the shattering drama Short Term 12, but since then we've witnessed further greatness in movies like Get Out and Sorry To Bother You, not to mention the genius FX series Atlanta.

Also set to play a key role in the ensemble is Michael Shannon, who was also just revealed as part of the cast today thanks to Variety. This is exciting news partially just because Shannon is an immensely talented performer, but also because it seems like such a great fit genre-wise. There are few around who can radiate intensity like him, and that should be perfect for a tense Agatha Christie-style story.

Part of being a talented character actor is working with the best-of-the-best filmmakers, and it's exciting that Rian Johnson and Shannon are now working together. I'm not quite sure if I want to see him play something totally on-brand for him, or something completely new and different.

Set to join Lakeith Stanfield as a detective in Knives Out is Daniel Craig, who was the first actor to come aboard the project. Given that the movie is getting ready to start shooting later this year, it's unclear how it will coordinate with the production schedule for Bond 25 - but given the setup and presumed scale of this project, it probably won't be filming for very long.

It's worth mentioning that Craig has a bit of experience in the murder mystery genre, having previously starred in David Fincher's The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. We can't say at this point how much further similarities will go from there, but hopefully one area in which they will match is quality level.

Then we have Chris Evans, who is attached to Knives Out in a mystery role. Given the information we have, we can probably rule him out as another detective, but that's really as far as details go.

Given Evans' recent posts on social media, it might wind up being that Knives Out will be his first film to come following the end of his run in the Marvel Cinematic Universe - which lasted for a full eight years. Of course, given the size of the actor's fanbase, and the awesome talent demonstrated during his time as Captain America and in other roles, this certainly will only be the first of many great post-Marvel titles to come.

Next, there's Christopher Plummer, who, per THR, is in negotiations to join the Knives Out cast. Chances are most of you reading this are already well familiar with Plummer, be it from his performance as Captain von Trapp in The Sound of Music, Rudyard Kipling in The Man Who Would Be King or any other number of roles. However, unquestionably Plummer's biggest recent project has been All the Money in the World, where he played J. Paul Getty. Plummer replaced Kevin Spacey, shot all of his scenes just weeks before the movie hit theaters and later earned an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor nomination.

Needless to say an actor of Christopher Plummer's caliber will be most welcome on Knives Out, although like most of the cast, it remains to be seen who he's playing.

The last two years have been eventful for Katherine Langford, between playing Hannah Baker in the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why and starring in Love, Simon. The future was already looking bright for the actress, as she's set for a mystery role in Avengers 4 and will lead the new Netflix series Cursed, but now she can also look forward to appearing in Knives Out, as revealed by THR.

Like everyone else aside from Daniel Craig, there's no word yet on who Katherine Langford is playing in Knives Out, but this movie will no doubt help with increasing her star power.

With production gearing up before the end of 2018, it's very likely that we will get to see Knives Out in its finished form at some point in 2019. Right now the film definitely has our attention, and we'll be sure to keep delivering new details about the project here on CinemaBlend as they become available.

Satire is often designed to hold a mirror up to modern life and point out its absurdities and anxieties, while amplifying those factors to an entertaining end. It is incredibly hard to pull off, as too sharp of an approach can alienate an audience, while too soft of a play leaves it without the proper teeth to take hold of that same crowd. Somehow, Boots Riley's Sorry To Bother You succeeds in this balancing act, as the filmmaker's directorial debut plunges into the deep end of commentary with absolutely insane plotting and ferocious glee, if not always with the clearest of intentions in mind.

Based on an original screenplay by Boots Riley, Sorry To Bother You finds lowly RegalView telemarketer Cassius Green (Lakeith Stanfield) shockingly put on the fast track to success and named a Power Caller extraordinaire - all thanks to the use of his powerful White Voice (provided by David Cross). But as his fast rise leads to serious attention from a watchful corporate overlord (Armie Hammer), life begins to become increasingly weird for him, his girlfriend, Detroit (Tessa Thompson), and the rest of the RegalView telemarketing staff.

Sorry To Bother You is one of the most fun and shocking movie experiences I've had in some time. While the film takes a little while to get started, it doesn't let go of your attention once it's kicked into high gear. Unfortunately, this comes after a bit of a rough first act, where so many abstract aspects and details of the particular world are thrown in that you're kept guessing as to what's important to keep in mind and what's merely set dressing. Future viewings may tie these aspects together in a better fashion, but upon first viewing there's some things that could have been streamlined in the name of the film's narrative.

That's not to say that Sorry To Bother You doesn't have something to say; rather, it has a lot to say, and lands the strong majority of what it's trying to get across. And that majority is a bold vision that invokes the work of greats like David Cronenberg, John Carpenter, and most notably, Terry Gilliam. In fact, Sorry To Bother You feels like a spiritual remake of Brazil, as the pitch black absurdist comedy comments on modern society mix similarly with the same sort of slowly encroaching dread that Sam Lowrey's adventure embodied back in 1985.

Overcoming its slightly flawed narrative, Sorry To Bother You is an impressively confident debut, as writer/director Boots Riley attacks the images he's displaying with a visual language that's as alluring as it is enigmatic. And with a cast boasting leads like Tessa Thompson and Lakeith Stanfield, the film doesn't get lost on its way to the screen. Stanfield in particular shows his chops as a leading actor, going from a meeker victim of the system to a big wheel in a corporate machine, all the while selling his stature in life with equal physical and vocal prowess.

As for Thompson, Detroit, an independent artist, is a wonderful contrast figure to Stanfield's entrepreneurial Cassius, foiling whatever his current state in life may be at any given moment and reflecting it back at him with an extra dose of reality. It's a performance that further sells that she is more than ready to lead her own film. She's also surrounded with a strong supporting cast including Steven Yeun and Armie Hammer that help fill out the world of Sorry To Bother You to a point where however Cassius behaves, moves, or speaks registers with the rest of its thematic world.

A sneaky experience that demands multiple viewings, Sorry To Bother You is a scathing comedy that leaves everything on the field, even if it only needed to leave a good three-quarters on the field to get its point across. Most importantly, it's an entertaining experience that begs for decoding and discussion, as popular culture continues to try and make sense of an increasingly weird modern reality. It's a war cry, wrapped in laughter and horror, ready for you to meet its gaze and begin the conversation. By time the film flashes its title at the end of its closing credits, it's almost as if it's saying those words to its audience. It's up to you to determine if it's a biting barb, or an apologetic epilogue.

One would think that the franchise that started with The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo had its fate sealed, what with the presumptive canceling of its long lingering sequel, The Girl Who Played With Fire. But time, and a new book, have re-invigorated Sony's dedication to the cause, as The Girl In The Spider's Web has not only become a going concern for the studio, but it's also on a pretty fast track to production. While we don't know everything about the film, we do have some details that are crucial to the movie becoming a reality.

So here, now, are the details that we do have for the production of The Girl In The Spider's Web. Keep in mind, some of these details may change, and as such we'll be updating this guide to reflect the evolving nature of this film. If you're really looking forward to this film, we recommend that you bookmark this page and come back as often as you like, to update your own knowledge of the project's goings on. Whenever news breaks, we'll make sure you're the first to know. Now with all of the business out of the way, let's learn some more about Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist's latest adventure.

What Is The Girl In The Spider's Web Release Date?

According to the most recent information, The Girl In The Spider's Web is set for a November 9, 2018 release date. The film is set to battle against the currently slated Dr. Seuss' The Grinch, which opens the same day and likely won't have much direct competition for viewers. Two weeks later will see the hotly anticipated potential blockbuster Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald hit theaters, and even though it's going to be a very different type of film from The Girl In The Spider's Web, the drama could see some audience drop off as people flock to the latest chapter of wizarding adventures. Wednesday, November 21 will bring Creed 2 and Ralph Breaks The Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2 to the big screen, and both of those are also likely to take viewers away, so we'll just have to wait and see how the film fares against its competition.

What Is The Girl In The Spider's Web Rating?

Considering the dark material that the literary inspiration for The Girl In The Spider's Web is cut from, there's no way this film isn't getting an R. This is only further evident in the fact that Sony decided to hire Fede Alvarez, who previously directed The Evil Dead reboot and Don't Breathe for the studio. With both projects being harsh, unforgiving portraits of strong women in peril, as well as fighting their way out of it, it would be a true surprise to see this film get anything less than an R, as Alvarez is undoubtedly where he is because he can handle such material to artistic, critical, and financial success.

Is The Girl In The Spider's Web A Sequel To The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo?

Here's where things get tricky: The Girl In The Spider's Web is indeed a sequel to The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. However, instead of being the second book in the series, it is the fourth book in the Millennium series, and it's written by a different author altogether. While the first three books were written by Stieg Larsson, The Girl In The Spider's Web is written by David Lagercrantz, an author personally authorized by the estate of Larsson's family. It should also be noted that all three books in Larsson's tenure have been adapted as Swedish original films, starring Noomi Rapace as Lizbeth Salander and Michael Nyqvist as Mikael Blomkvist. However, despite plans to combine the last two books in the Larsson trilogy, neither book made it into production, with The Girl Who Played With Fire being the only one of the pair to be scripted.

What's The Girl In The Spider's Web About?

The plot to The Girl In The Spider's Web fits more closely to Lisbeth Salander's skill set than that of Mikael Blomqvist, but it doesn't leave him out for a second. Blomqvist's side of the story sees him focusing on an investigation of Swedish computer scientist, Frans Balder, who ditches a job in Silicon Valley to protect his autistic son. As it turns out, Balder is being watched by "The Spider Society," a criminal collective who intend to do him harm. Further drawing in Mikael is the fact that Balder has been associated with Lisbeth in some sort of technological chicanery. With Salander pissing off the NSA at the beginning of the story, there's also attention from another continent focused in the direction of the action taking place in Sweden.

Why Did They Skip The Second and Third Books?

There are a couple of reasons that Sony may have skipped the two remaining Larsson books, The Girl Who Played with Fire and The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest. The first would be the fact that The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo wasn't the runaway hit that the studio had hoped for. Perhaps with a change in author, the material in The Girl In The Spider's Web might be a better fit for an R-rated blockbuster, at least in the studio's eyes. Second, and probably more importantly, with David Lagercrantz being the current writer of the Millennium universe, he can not only advise the studio of whether or not they're following his vision closely enough, but he may also be able to help the studio shape the direction of the films, as he continues to write books in the series. The fifth book, The Girl Who Took An Eye For An Eye, hits shelves this September.

Who's Directing The Girl In The Spider's Web?

With David Fincher jettisoned alongside The Girl Who Played With Fire's chances of becoming a real film, the hunt was on for a director to follow in his footsteps. Those shoes were filled earlier this year as Fede Alvarez was announced as the director of what had now become an adaptation of The Girl In The Spider's Web. After bringing in critical raves and box office success with both The Evil Dead and Don't Breathe, Sony clearly had enough faith in the Uruguayan filmmaker to shepherd this franchise into being. Also, it helps that both of those films were centered around strong female leads, who were put through the ringer, and delivered Hell to their opposition.

When Does The Girl In The Spider's Web Start Production?

The Girl In The Spider's Web currently has a November 9, 2018 release date. With this in mind, the film went into production in January 2018, with the film shooting in various European locations, including Berlin, Germany and Stockholm, Sweden. September 2017 had been the intended start for production on The Girl In The Spider's Web, but the search for an actress to take over the role of Lisbeth Salander from Rooney Mara lasted until that very month. Rumored frontrunners for the coveted role had included Scarlett Johansson and Natalie Portman, but those behind the production went with The Crown star Claire Foy in the end. Director Fede Alvarez and his co-writer Jay Basu are both also currently drafted to imagine a Labyrinth spin-off, and it was thought that the project could have led to delays for The Girl In The Spider's Web, but that appears to not have been the case.

Who's Writing The Girl In The Spider's Web?

When The Girl Who Played With Fire was originally on the docket, Steven Zallian was onboard to pen the next adventure of Lisbeth Salander. However, when that project was declared dead, Locke writer Steven Knight was brought on to work on the screenplay in an earlier capacity. But, it currently looks like Fede Alvarez and Jay Basu also have story credits, which may indicate the duo have revised the work that Knight previously put together. Alvarez and Basu are also teamed at Sony for a Labyrinth spin-off, though presumably this project will be the first on their plate, before getting into any other realm-y goodness.

Who's Playing Lisbeth Salander?

This had been one of the most important, and most hotly followed, questions surrounding the project, as Lisbeth Salander is a hard character to peg. A bisexual tomboy, with a thin frame, and a very Punk aesthetic, the role would require a physical transformation out of whomever decided to accept the part originated by Noomi Rapace. We mentioned earlier that Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson were in line for the part, but information had also tipped two other heavy hitting competitors for the role of the punky avenging angel of cyberspace, Lisbeth Salander. Those competitors were The Crown's Claire Foy and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story's Felicity Jones. While both are pretty big deals, Foy was actually in talks for the role with Sony, with one other project trying to woo her away. That film was Universal's Neil Armstrong biopic, First Man, which currently has Damian Chazelle and Ryan Gosling in its camp.

While Foy was "entertaining an offer" on that film for a time and it looked like her taking part in First Man would derail her chances of taking on Lisbeth Salander, that turned out not to be the case. Foy was able to take part in First Man, which is in post-production as of April 2018, and still sign on to play everyone's favorite techno punk. Rooney Mara has made it clear that she was game to take on the part again, and also that she was disappointed to not have been asked back, but it sounds like Foy has really gotten into transforming for the role. She noted recently that her look for the movie will be "pared-down" compared to what we've seen in the past from the character but "like-minded" in nature, and that she's enjoying helping pick out Lisbeth's tattoos and deciding on their placement.

Who's Playing Mikael Blomqvist?

The role of Lisbeth's partner in crime / journalist on the go, Mikael Blomqvist, is an equally important subject of discussion when taking into account the production of The Girl In The Spider's Web. Originally played by Michael Nyqvist, the role of Blomqvist went to Daniel Craig in David Fincher's adaptation of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. But, because the production decided to part ways with both of the actors who previously played the leads for this series, we will not see Craig reprise his part in The Girl In The Spider's Web. There weren't many rumors as to who might ultimately nab the role, but early 2018 brought the news that Swedish actor Sverrir Gudnason, who was most recently seen in America playing tennis legend Bjorn Borg in Borg/McEnroe, had signed on to play Blomqvist in the new film.

New Characters

Seeing as how The Girl In The Spider's Web will have Lisbeth and Blomqvist taking on a new case, you can be sure that there will be some new characters to go along with it, and several actors have already been cast to fill those new roles. Stephen Merchant (Logan, Hello Ladies) and Synnøve Macody Lund are joining the cast in unknown roles, with Lakeith Stanfield (Atlanta, Get Out) playing Alona Casales and Sylvia Hoeks (Blade Runner 2049) portraying Camilla Salander. Rounding out the casting additions we know of will be Cameron Britton as one of Lisbeth's "close associates" and Claes Bang as the main villain.

You would have a hard time finding a more iconic comic book villain than The Joker. In the decades since he was introduced in 1940's Batman #1, the clown-themed villain has turned into one of pop culture's most well-known and beloved bad guys. Because of that popularity, the character has been adapted time and time again on the silver screen, and the search is now officially on to find a brand new Joker for the upcoming non-DCEU movie exploring the origins of the character.

No final casting announcements have been made yet (as it's far too early for that), but we've decided to go through the Hollywood landscape and pick out nine actors that we think have the potential to nail the role. With that in mind, let's dive in and take a look at our first possible Mr. J.

Will Poulter

It's hard to think that only four years ago Will Poulter was that nerdy kid from We're the Millers, particularly after he delivered incredible performances in films like The Revenant and War Machine. However, it is his recent turn as corrupt, racist police officer Krauss in Detroit that has definitively proven what he can do as a super villain. His work in Kathryn Bigelow's 2017 thriller combined equal amounts of despicability, authority and menace that made him an unpredictable (yet oddly magnetic) screen presence. You hate him while you're watching him, but it doesn't make him any less of a scene-stealer. If any villain in the pantheon of DC Comics fits that description, then it has to be Mr. J.

Caleb Landry Jones

Caleb Landry Jones will look familiar to fans of the mutant universe out there from his brief stint as Banshee in X-Men: First Class -- before he was unceremoniously killed off in the interim between First Class and Days of Future Past. However, despite his experience on the heroic side of the comic book genre, Jones' experience as an actor seems to have prepared him to delve far deeper into the more evil side of things than anything morally righteous. Most recently making a name for himself as the sadistically macho Jeremy Armitage in Jordan Peele's Get Out, Jones can crack a seriously creepy smile and leave audiences completely on-edge, just like a proper Joker should be able to.

Bill Skarsgård

Okay, so this one feels like we're cheating a little bit since Bill Skarsgard has already proven his ability to play a killer clown with his upcoming stint as Pennywise in the IT adaptation. That said, there's a reason people often like to adhere to an "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mentality. Skarsgard is bringing a lot of charisma, and even more creepiness, to his role as the iconic, murderous clown originally played by Tim Curry. But it actually only seems to represent an appetizer of what he could be capable of if a Joker solo movie were to allow him to step out from the sewer and don the infamous purple suit and green hair.

Lakeith Stanfield

With Lakeith Stanfield, we have yet another Get Out veteran on the list of possible young actors who could potentially play a brand new version of The Joker. Possessing one of the most diverse resumes in Hollywood (with credits on everything from Atlanta to Death Note), Stanfield has proven that he knows how to deliver comedy, drama and everything in between with gusto. Beyond that, when the announcement of a Joker origin movie actually occurred online, Stanfield was one of the first actors to take to Twitter in order to throw his hat into the ring for the role. He may not look like a traditional Joker, but he has all of the inherent traits that the part requires.

Karen Gillan

Although Joker is most typically portrayed as a man in the pages of DC Comics, there's ample precedent to flip the script and turn him into a her. With that in mind, Guardians of the Galaxy actress Karen Gillan recently came out and admitted that she wants a crack at the role at some point, so now feels like a perfect opportunity to give her a shot. In her role as Nebula, Gillan has shown an ability to throw herself into a dark and intense part, while also leaving room for comedy. If any actress young enough to play a Joker origin story has the chops to take on this role, then it's definitely her. Besides, we've seen the Joker story told from a male perspective before; maybe it's finally time to see a female Joker.

Robert Pattinson

Let's get one thing straight: it is not 2009 anymore, and the jokes about his role in the Twilight films have completely run their course. In the years since Robert Pattinson achieved fame and heartthrob status for his work as Edward Cullen and Cedric Diggory, the 31-year-old Brit has proven time and time again that he has the gumption and talent to take on increasingly challenging roles with each passing year. Between his work on Cosmopolis, The Lost City of Z and the recently released Good Time, Robert Pattinson is one of Hollywood's bravest actors, and his tall, wiry frame could potentially make him a dead-ringer to don the role of The Joker when the upcoming origin film finally starts rolling.

Paul Dano

At 33 years old, Paul Dano is the oldest entry on this list by a slight margin. Having said that, the Swiss Army Man star has also amassed an enormous filmography in the years since he began acting, and most of his roles have maintained the creepy (yet oddly comical) stylings that we would need to see in a Joker origin movie. In most of his best roles, Paul Dano has excelled at conveying an underlying sense that there's something not entirely sane lurking beneath his unimposing exterior. If a Joker origin story wants to explore a sad man's descent into madness, then there are few actors more naturally gifted at telling that type of story than Paul Dano.

Iwan Rheon

After achieving fame for his performance as Ramsay Bolton on HBO's Game of Thrones, a comic book villain seemed like an obvious direction for an actor like Iwan Rheon. Although he will flex those particular muscles on Marvel's upcoming Inhumans TV series as Maximus, it's hard to deny the fact that there's still a bit more potential for this 32-year-old actor as a silver screen bad guy. Often regarded as one of the worst villains to ever grace Game of Thrones, there's an argument to be made that Rheon's performance as the Bastard of Bolton even elevated him above King Joffrey. Able to portray ruthlessness, deceptiveness and sadism in every conceivable way, Iwan Rheon legitimately seems tailor-made for a role like The Joker.

Dane DeHaan

Between his work on The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, Dane DeHaan arguably hasn't had the best experience working in the comic book movie genre. Having said that, there's an equally valid argument to be made that he simply hasn't found the right character yet. With his roles in films like A Cure For Wellness, The Place Beyond The Pines, and Chronicle (among others), the 31-year-old actor has proven his ability to delve into dark material and deliver truly haunting performances. Couple that experience with some of the better elements of his Green Goblin, and he could do some severe damage as a young (and completely unhinged) Clown Prince of Crime.

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Jay-Z's latest album, 4:44, has arguably been as successful as fans expected it to be, winning over critics and selling like hotcakes. And the Grammy winner took on another massively popular piece of pop culture for his newest music video, which is a particularly strange quasi-spoof of the hit sitcom Friends, with all of the original actors replaced by some of the most talented black actors and actresses out there, including Jerrod Carmichael and Issa Rae. Check out a clip below, as shared by video director (and Master of None co-creator) Alan Yang.

Why is it so much fun to see all these recognizable celebs aping Friends' ridiculous opening credits? I don't know, but it is. Above, we see The Carmichael Show's Jerrod Carmichael as Ross, Insecure creator and star Issa Rae as Rachel, Girls Trip star Tiffany Haddish as Phoebe, Get Out's Lil Rey Howery as Joey, Westworld's Tessa Thompson as Monica, and Atlanta's LaKeith Stanfield as Chandler. (That's MS. Chanandler.) It's kind of awesome that such a thing can be replicated so well over two decades after the original opening was filmed.

Following the opening, "Moonlight" hits upon the classic Friends episode "The One Where No One's Ready," from Season 3. In the ep, Ross is stressing about nobody being ready for a function being held at the museum he works for, and Jay-Z's version has the actors all playing the Friends roles straight, performing the same dialogue and getting the same live audience laughs. The full video for "Moonlight" is currently only available to Tidal customers, as hinted at in the tweet above, but you can check out another clip from the video on Tidal's website right now, for which Jerrod Carmichael is a more enjoyable Ross than Ross was.

For a quick side-note, it is absolutely worth pointing out how bizarre it is that Carmichael is acting out a part from a popular NBC sitcom just ONE DAY after NBC execs laid out their explanations for why The Carmichael Show was cancelled at the end of June. Plus, we're less than a week away from the series finale airing. Timing, right?

In any case, the "Moonlight" video ends up taking a left turn that involves an appearance from Hannibal Burress, and while I won't spoil anything, suffice to say there's a statement being made about the general state of black entertainers in Hollywood. A purposeful lack of subtlety involved, too, made extremely clear when the song samples the infamous Oscars flub where Warren Beatty announced the wrong Best Picture winner.

While you're waiting for "Moonlight" to drop everywhere other than just Tidal, check out our summer premiere schedule and our fall TV schedule to see what new and returning shows are hitting the small screen soon.