The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a well-oiled machine, one that's constantly releasing new content in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. The most highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movie is currently Avengers: Doomsday, which will be the shared universe's next big crossover event. There are countless questions about what might be coming with that blockbuster, and another Marvel actor recently offered a cryptic answer about whether or not he'll appear.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is limited, which is why there are countless theories and rumors about what might appear. While the Doomsday cast announcement revealed most of the actors who will appear, fans are expecting some surprise pop ups as well. Actor Tim Blake Nelson plays The Leader and recently asked by ComicBook if he'll have a role in the next Avengers movie, especially given the ending of Captain America: Brave New World. He played coy, saying:

Nelson isn't going to give away any spoilers, thanks to Marvel's tight security. But he certainly made it seem like he'll be back sooner rather than later. Whether or not that's in Avengers: Doomsday remains to be seen, but he's confident fans won't have to wait another decade and change for him to once again return to the shared universe.

Nelson debuted as Samuel Sterns in The Incredible Hulk, and it took a long time before he returned to that role as The Leader in Brave New World. But he came back with a vengeance (literally) and was responsible for the story's events including Ross becoming Red Hulk.

Nelson was no doubt asked about this thanks to the post-credits scene that came at the end of Captain America 4. In it Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson visits him in prison, where Stern teases that a threat was coming from another world. Fans widely believed this was a reference to Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom, who was also briefly shown in the Fantastic Four: First Steps credits scene. Since The Leader saw this villain coming, it would make sense if he somehow factored into the action of Doomsday.

Unfortunately, there's been no official confirmation that Tim Blake Nelson will actually appear in the next Avengers movie. But Kevin Feige teased that many but not all of the Doomsday actors were revealed. As such, it's more than possible that we'll end up seeing The Leader at some point throughout its mysterious runtime.

All will be revealed when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18th of next year as part of the 2026 movie release list. We've got over a year to wait, but hopefully we get more more information about that blockbuster sooner rather than later. For now, Nelson's MCU appearance can be streamed on Disney+.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe consistently puts out new content in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. One of the most recent movie installments was Captain America: Brave New World, which has connections to movies like Eternals and The Incredible Hulk. Actor Tim Blake Nelson reprise his role from the latter, although concept art revealed more comic book accurate looks for Samuel Sterns/ The Leader.

Fans were hyped when Captain America: Brave New World's cast list included some Hulk players, including Nelson. He ended up being the mastermind and true villain of the movie, but some fans weren't happy with his appearance in the movie. Concept art from the movie came out with the book Marvel Studios' Captain America: Brave New World - The Art of the Movie, and The Artbook Collector's Twitter showed alternate takes on The Leader. Check them out below:

Does anyone else have FOMO? While Tim Blake Nelson's appearance was disturbing in Captain America 4, he definitely didn't look like this. Fans of the comics will note that the concept art is way more accurate to the source material, specifically giving the character an overgrown head to fit his enhanced mind. Go big, you cowards!

Of course, actually having a main character with this giant green head might be easier said than done. There's always the risk that it will look too silly to get audiences on board. Just look at Corey Stoll's M.O.D.O.K. in Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania. Fans took umbrage with the character's appearance and VFX, as well as how he was used in the story. Perhaps the studio was worried about making the same mistake twice.

It should be interesting to see what comes next for Tim Blake Nelson's character in the MCU. Not only did he survive Anthony Mackie's blockbuster, but The Leader was featured in Captain America: Brave New World's post-credits scene, seemingly teasing the multiversal conflict that's coming in Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars. We'll just have to see if/when the character returns in upcoming Marvel movies.

In many ways The Incredible Hulk has always felt like it was on an island away from the rest of the MCU. Mark Ruffalo took on the role of Bruce Banner starting with The Avengers, which is one major way that the solo movie seems separate. We also never saw the return of most of those characters, but Brave New World brought back not online The Leader but Liv Tyler's Betty Ross. While her role was small, it helped to finally connect that 2008 movie to the rest of the shared universe.

Captain America: Brave New World is streaming now on Disney+, and the next movie hitting theaters is The Fantastic Four: First Steps on July 25th as part of the 2025 movie release list. Only time will tell if/when Tim Blake Nelson returns to the MCU as The Leader, but he seemingly knows something about the conflict to come.

There are several elements that make the highly anticipated Captain America: Brave New World one of the biggest upcoming Marvel movies. Among them is the return of Incredible Hulk character Dr. Samuel Sterns a.k.a. The Leader, who’s once again played by Tim Blake Nelson. This will mark Nelson’s first appearance as the character in well over a decade, and he recently admitted that he was previously “heartbroken” over the prospect of never reprising his role. However, he also just confirmed that there was a silver lining to that wait.

Samuel Sterns was introduced in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk as a cellular biologist who aids Bruce Banner in his attempt to rid himself of his monstrous alter ego. When Sterns is last seen, he’s infected with some of Bruce’s blood, which causes his head to pulsate. While Tim Blake Nelson himself lost hope that he'd ever play Sterns again, he’s happy to be back in the fold, and believes the gap of time will bode well for Sterns:

The comments that the O Brother, Where Art Thou? star shared with THR may suggest that the Marvel Studios braintrust has really been able to think about the character all these years. It’s possible that if Sterns had returned earlier, his characterization may not be as intriguing as it is now. Additionally, the Lincoln alum mentioned that he also benefited from his hiatus from The Leader has also been beneficial for him from a professional standpoint:

While Tim Blake Nelson still has a desire to branch out and flex his various acting muscles, he does seem excited to be a part of the Brave New World cast. He previously teased big things for Samuel Sterns in this new Marvel Cinematic Universe entry. In an interview that took place this past spring, Nelson also said he was “happy” with this interpretation of his villainous character, as he was mostly created without the use of CGI. In other words, it sounds like fans are going to get the green, big-headed baddie from the comics in all his glory!

I’m happy that the Ballad of Buster Scruggs star now has another opportunity to shine within the MCU after the previous disappointment he experienced. Nevertheless, given how talented an actor he is, I’m also thrilled he was able to take on other projects in the interim. Here’s hoping that Dr. Samuel Sterns returns with a vengeance and serves as a complex antagonist for Sam Wilson.

Captain America: Brave New World opens in theaters on February 14 as part of the 2025 movie schedule. In the meantime, stream The Incredible Hulk and other Marvel movies in order using a Disney+ subscription.

Tim Blake Nelson is one of the most recognizable character actors of our time, with credits that include Lincoln, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs and O Brother, Where Art Thou? The star has been performing in mostly supporting roles for years, and it seems like he still has career hits and misses. Nelson was recently cut out of the monster blockbuster Dune: Part Two, which was a big bummer for the actor. However, he still is keeping his head held high, and he even shared a funny Stanley Kubrick story to give some perspective. 

In a recent interview on the Inside of You podcast, the star chatted about his professional highs and lows, including his experiences working with auteur directors like Steven Spielberg and The Coen Brothers. He also opened up about being cut out of the latest Dune flick, having been told his scenes made the movie too long. While this may have truly been the case, he still felt like the cut could’ve been a reflection of his own performance. He said told podcast host Michael Rosenbaum:

This likely is more of his own personal desire to be the best he can be rather a real reflection on why his scenes may have been cut. After all, Part Two, in its final form, was close to three hours long, so cuts were inevitable. Director Denis Villeneuve admitted to cutting some of his favorite Dune scenes from the first film, including one involving Josh Brolin singing. Stephen McKinley Henderson's scenes were cut from the massive sequel as well, so Tim Blake Nelson Nelson shouldn’t take it too personally. 

However, this conversation did prompt a great story about an actor friend of the Incredible Hulk star's, who ended up being fired from Stanley Kubrick’s film Eyes Wide Shut. Tim Blake Nelson recalled the tale, which sounds like a somewhat surreal experience, saying in the YouTube clip: 

This is a somewhat surprising story about Stanley Kubrick, who has a thorny reputation. There are stories about the acclaimed director, such as him allegedly putting Shelley Duvall through hell while making The Shining. A Clockwork Orange BTS fact also involves him making the film a torturous production for Malcolm McDowell. This is one of those rare stories where it seems Kubrick was trying to let an actor down easy, despite the sentiment not really sticking. 

Tim Blake Nelson shared this story to convey that he can’t imagine a skillful director like Denis Villeneuve to be the one who couldn’t get those since-omitted Dune: Part Two scenes to work. That's in the same way that Nelson couldn’t imagine the 2001: A Space Odyssey helmer being the one to blame for his friend's performance. Ultimately, even in his own disappointment, Nelson still had some sweet sentiments to share about working with Villeneuve and co.:

Considering how great the character actor has proven to be, I doubt the cut was a reflection on his performance. However, it’s great to hear that he had a wonderful time on set, regardless and, hopefully, this team can collaborate again in the near future. There is a Dune: Messiah in the works, so there’s always a chance we can see him return to the sprawling, sand-filled franchise.

It may be a while before another collaboration comes into fruition but, in the meantime, Tim Blake Nelson fans can still see the actor in his upcoming film, Greedy People, which is expected to hit theaters in October. For more information on other exciting titles heading to the big screen soon, make sure to consult our 2024 movie release schedule. Also, know that Dune: Part Two will begin streaming for Max subscribers on May 21.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is always expanding, both in theaters and through live-action shows available with a Disney+ subscription. One of the highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movies is Captain America: Brave New World, which will be the first installment of the franchise without Chris Evans. The cast of Captain America 4 includes a few returning faces from The Incredible Hulk, including Tim Blake Nelson's  Samuel Sterns / Leader. The actor/playwright revealed a key reason he’s 'happy’ with his villain, and now I’m even more excited.

What we know about Captain America: Brave New World is limited, as Marvel is known for keeping its cards close to the chest. But fans are hyped for its connections to The Incredible Hulk, including Nelson. He recently appeared on Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum, where he explained why he's so excited to return to the MCU. In his words:

Well, there you have it. While massive creatures like Hulk and Abomination require extensive use of visual effects, it sounds like Captain America 4 won't rely on it. And Tim Blake Nelson was able to give a practical performance, even as the the character known as The Leader. Give me this movie, already!

Marvel security is notoriously tight, so there are countless questions and fan theories about what might go down when Captain America: Brave New World finally hits theaters. Unfortunately, some of these rumors seem to have been confirmed/spoiled months in advance, thanks to some merchandise via McDonald's. But we'll have to see if that helps or hurts its chances at box office success when the movie finally is released.

The pressure is on for Captain America 4 to deliver, as there have been a number of Marvel box office bombs recently. And with Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson now taking on the mantle of Cap, it should be interesting to see how it ultimately performs at the box office. But one thing is clear: Tim Blake Nelson is happy with his character.

All will be revealed when Captain America: Brave New World hits theaters February 14th. in the meantime, check the 2024 movie release dates. 

Those of us who have spent years watching the Marvel movies in order know that the studio is constantly expanding the share universe, both in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. One highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movie is Captain America: Brave New World, which will feature the return of a number of actors from The Incredible Hulk. And actor Tim Blake Nelson recently teased what's coming when he pops up in the blockbuster.

What we know about Captain America: Brave New World is limited, but that hasn't stopped anticipation from steadily building. This is partly because the cast list for Captain America 4 includes returning faces from Hulk like Liv Tyler and Tim Blake Nelson. The latter actor spoke to ComicBook about his forthcoming appearance, saying:

Well, I'm intrigued. It looks like Nelson's character Samuel Sterns / Leader isn't merely going to have a cameo, but there are big plans for his character. While we don't know more thanks to Marvel's tight security, hopefully that changes sooner rather than later.

Marvel fans are definitely hyped to see Liv Tyler return as Betty Ross, although exactly how she and Tim Blake Nelson's character factor into Captain America 4's story remain a mystery. But it sounds like a big role, rather than a brief cameo. 

Nelson's comments definitely have me curious about what to expect from his character. It's a relief that it'll seemingly be a substantial role, after seeing Abomination cameo in Shang-Chi.  We've seen villains return in small but memorable roles before, including Crossbones' death in the opening sequence of Captain America: Civil War. 

Given the various Incredible Hulk characters included in Captain America 4, it seems like just about anything could happen in the first Anthony Mackie-led movie. Given how little we know about what's coming next, there are a ton of theories and rumors circulating online. Perhaps the most popular is that Harrison Ford's Thaddeus Ross will become the villainous Red Hulk throughout the movie's runtime. This would definitely be a challenge for Sam Wilson's Cap, who doesn't have any superpowers to protect him.

Of course, this is all speculation at this point. But since Captain America: Brave New World managed to film without being interrupted by the recent strikes, the studio will presumably be able to move forward with its plans without issue. 

Given all these Hulk-related developments, some fans are hoping that we'll finally get a sequel. But Mark Ruffalo has indicated it would simply be too expensive, despite his ongoing tenure as Bruce Banner.

Captain America: Brave New World will hit theaters on February 14th, 2025. Check the 2024 movie release dates while we wait for more news. 

We learned last year that Captain America: New World Order would bring actor Tim Blake Nelson back to Marvel to play The Leader, and it's looking like yet another key member of The Incredible Hulk movie will join him. Liv Tyler, who played Betty Ross in the Edward Norton-led Hulk movie, is returning to the MCU and will be a part of Anthony Mackie's first film as Captain America. 

Liv Tyler is reportedly set to reprise her role as Betty Ross, according to THR. Ross is a scientist and daughter to General Thaddeus Ross, who will be played by Harrison Ford in Captain America: New World Order. While General Ross and other characters from The Incredible Hulk movie have popped up in Marvel movies elsewhere, this will be Tyler's first time back in the MCU since that 2008 movie. 

Betty Ross has historically been Bruce Banner's love interest in Marvel Comics, though one has to wonder if that will be the case in Liv Tyler's return to the MCU. While Ross and Banner shared a peaceful moment before he went on the run. Banner, of course, re-emerged in The Avengers and many adventures that followed, but has not mentioned or shown any sign he's kept in contact with Betty since then. 

Liv Tyler's return as Betty Ross for Captain America: New World Order, paired with the other castings we've heard so far, does leave a big question mark on whether or not Mark Ruffalo will be in this movie. It seems like the film is setting up a lot of Hulk-adjacent characters to appear, so it doesn't seem out of the realm of possibility he'll be worked into this movie. 

It may sound odd for so many Hulk characters to potentially appear in a Captain America movie, though Marvel fans know this is how the situation has been for a while. Disney can't do a solo Hulk film or give him top-billing in a movie without it being distributed by Universal, so Marvel has told his story through subplots in Avengers movies, Thor: Ragnarok and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. Liv Tyler's casting could hint that we're in for another one of those stories in Captain America: New World Order, but we'll just have to wait and see. 

Liv Tyler's casting is just the latest interesting bit of information we've gotten about Captain America: New World Order. The movie is expected to be one of the last movies we'll see in the MCU's Phase 5, which may be why we're seeing so many characters added to the mix. Perhaps these returns will set up a bigger Hulk story for Phase 6 and allow Anthony Mackie's first film as Captain America to stand out with his performance. 

Captain America: New World Order arrives in theaters on May 3rd, 2024. Use that Disney+ subscription right now to revisit the previous Captain America movies, though you'll have to be subscribed to HBO Max to see Liv Tyler in The Incredible Hulk. 

Chris Evans’ run in the Marvel Cinematic Universe may have come to an end, but that doesn’t mean that we’re done seeing Captain America movies. Among the many exciting titles that the franchise has in the works as part of Phase 5 is Captain America: Brave New World – which is being directed by Julius Onah based on a script by Dalan Musson and The Falcon And The Winter Soldier head writer Malcolm Spellman. The blockbuster won’t be coming to theaters until 2025, but already the project has assembled an impressive ensemble cast.

So who are the actors presently attached to star in Captain America: Brave New World? We’ve crafted a breakdown of the cast for you below, and we’ll continue to provide updates as more names are added. For now, here are all of the stars set to appear in the 2025 film.

Anthony Mackie

Back in 2014, Anthony Mackie made a splash in the Marvel Cinematic Universe playing Sam Wilson in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and since then he has been on a wild ride through the canon. After flying high with the moniker Falcon, he is now the MCU’s newest Captain America, and it’s him – not Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers – who is referenced in the title of Captain America: Brave New World. The story will serve as a follow-up to the story told in the Disney+ original series The Falcon And The Winter Soldier (where Wilson embraces the mantle bestowed upon him), and it will mark Mackie’s seventh time appearing in a Marvel blockbuster.

Danny Ramirez

Deepening the connection between Captain America: Brave New World and The Falcon And The Winter Soldier is Danny Ramirez, who made his MCU debut as Joaquín Torres on the Disney+ original series. Appearing in five of the six episodes, Torres has been established as an ally of Sam Wilson’s who serves as a liaison between the Avenger and the United States Air Force. In 2022, Ramirez starred as an ace fighter pilot alongside Tom Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick, but we’ll have to wait and see if he gets a similar opportunity in his first Marvel blockbuster (his role in the film confirmed at D23 Expo 2022). In the comics, Torres takes on the mantle of Falcon, and fingers are crossed that the new Cap will pass on the title to his friend in the 2024 movie.

Carl Lumbly

We could call Sam Wilson the second Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but that wouldn’t technically be correct. There was a different hero who was given the famed Super Soldier Serum after Steve Rogers disappeared during World War II, and while he proved his worth in combat, his reward for his service was imprisonment and experimentation. This is the tragic story of Isaiah Bradley as told in The Falcon And The Winter Soldier, and Carl Lumbly will be back to reprise the character in Captain America: Brave New World. Lumbly was announced as part of the movie’s ensemble at D23 Expo 2022, and we’ll see him in the MCU again following his role in the Netflix miniseries The Fall Of The House Of Usher (which reunited Lumbly with Doctor Sleep writer/director Mike Flanagan).

Tim Blake Nelson

For a long time it seemed like Louis Letterrier’s The Incredible Hulk was a forgotten chapter of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but the canon has been embracing it more and more as of late. Tim Roth’s Emil Blonsky a.k.a. Abomination returned in both Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings and She-Hulk: Attorney At Law, and now Tim Blake Nelson is set to come back as Samuel Sterns a.k.a. The Leader in Captain America: Brave New World (another part confirmed at D23 Expo 2022). When we last saw Sterns in the MCU, his head was bubbling after a wound was exposed to Hulk blood – but we have no idea what the character has been up to for the last decade.

Harrison Ford

In March 2022, it was announced that William Hurt had passed away, but his Marvel Cinematic Universe character, Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, will live on, and he will next appear in Captain America: Brave New World. Now set to play the role is Harrison Ford, whose casting became official in October 2022. Ford is presently starring opposite Helen Mirren in the Yellowstone prequel series 1923 on Paramount+, and has Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny coming out in 2023. In addition to playing Ross in Captain America 4, the beloved actor will reprise the part in 2025’s Thunderbolts.

Shira Haas

You may not know Shira Haas’ name now, but that will very likely change following her arrival in the Marvel Cinematic Universe starring in Captain America: Brave New World. Haas has spent most of her career working in film and television in Israel, though she starred with Jessica Chastain in Niki Caro’s The Zookeeper’s Wife from 2017 and opposite Rooney Mara and Joaquin Phoenix in Garth Davis’ 2018 film Mary Magdalene. At D23 Expo 2022 is was announced that the actor will be playing Ruth Bat-Seraph a.k.a. Sabra in Captain America 4, who is a superhuman Mossad agent introduced in Marvel Comics back in 1980.

Xosha Roquemore

In mid-January 2023, Xosha Roquemore was announced as being a new member of the Captain America: Brave New World cast. Unfortunately, not part of the casting news was the role that the actor will be playing. Roquemore is perhaps best known for her role as Tamra Webb on The Mindy Project, but more recently had supporting roles in 2018's Brian Banks and 2021's Space Jam: A New Legacy. Her other TV credits include First Wives Club, Cherish The Day, and Black Monday.

Seth Rollins

From Dwayne Johnson to Dave Bautista to John Cena, we've seen many wrestlers become huge names in Hollywood films over the last decade, and now it seems that Seth Rollins is aiming for a similar career path. Rollins (real name Colby Lopez) already has some acting experience, having played a supporting role in the 2017 Wesley Snipes film Armed Response, but he's now set to be in his most high profile film yet with Captain America: Brave New World. His part in the movie was confirmed by a Twitter user who spotted him on set.

We will surely continue to learn about more actors in the Captain America: Brave New World cast as we get closer to the film starting production, and we will continue to update this feature as new names are announced. While waiting for more news you can learn about everything else that is in the works from the MCU with our Upcoming Marvel Movies and Upcoming Marvel TV features. Our Marvel Movies In Order guide organizes the franchise canon to date, and we’ve also ranked all 30 Marvel blockbusters to date.

Every once in a while, there comes a movie I am so hyped for that I literally count down the days until it gets here. For a long time, it was the Harry Potter series. Then I started to convert that energy to movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But as I’ve gotten older, I also have that same energy for a certain filmmaker whenever he releases a new project, and that’s Guillermo del Toro. 

A master of fantasy and horror, del Toro is one of my idols in the movie world, and someone I truly look up to in terms of what I believe is a great moviemaker. And now, he’s coming out with a new film on Netflix, his adaptation of Pinocchio that he’s been working on for years. And let me tell you – the cast is stacked. 

From people who have appeared in several del Toro movies before, to brand new actors, here is where you might have seen (or heard) the Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio cast before. 

Ewan McGregor - Sebastion J. Cricket

First up on the list, we have Ewan McGregor, who plays Sebastian J. Cricket in Pinocchio, and McGregor has been around in the business for years. Most people might know McGregor from his role as Obi-Wan in the Star Wars franchise, a role he reprised in 2022 in the Disney+ original series, Obi-Wan Kebobi, but McGregor has done so much more in the world of movies and television that you might know. 

For example, McGregor has an amazing voice, and he performed in the movie musical Moulin Rouge!. He’s also appeared in many other films, including Big Fish, Trainspotting (and its sequel), Black Hawk Down, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, The Ghost Writer, Angels and Demons, Christopher Robin, and more. He was also in Birds of Prey, as well as the Stephen King adaptation, Doctor Sleep. In terms of voice-acting, he played Lumiere in the 2017 live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast, and was the main protagonist in the film, Robots. 

McGregor hasn’t done as much on television, but his starring roles are significant. He played two of the main characters in the third season of Fargo, and starred in Halston, for which he won a Primetime Emmy Award. 

David Bradley - Geppetto

Gepetto is the man, the myth, the legend in Pinocchio who creates the titular boy, and he is voiced by David Bradley. Another of Hollywood's familiar faces, Bradley has been around in the industry for a long time. Some of his biggest roles include playing Filch in the Harry Potter franchise, as well as Lord Walder Frey in Game of Thrones, but he’s done so much more. 

Some of his biggest movies include The Intended, Harry Brown, The Young Messiah, Jolt, and others. In television, he worked with del Toro before in the animated series Tales of Arcadia, but has appeared in many other shows, like The Strain, Mount Pleasant, After Life, and Thieves Like Us, among other guest appearances. 

Gregory Mann - Pinocchio And Carlo

Of course, we have to have Pinocchio in Pinocchio, and he is voiced by Gregory Mann, who also voices Carlo in Pinocchio. Gregory Mann is a relative newcomer to Hollywood, with his only credit thus far being in the 2019 version of Cats, but I’m sure that as time goes on, you’ll get to see him more and more. 

Burn Gorman - Priest

Moving on, we take a look at Burn Gorman, who plays Priest in Pinocchio. Like many of the cast members on this list, he has been in many movies and TV shows – and has worked with Guillermo del Toro in the past. Gorman was a part of the Pacific Rim movies, and had a role in Crimson Peak. Some of his other films that you might have seen him in include The Dark Knight Rises, Fred Claus, Watcher, Enola Holmes, and Imperium. 

Gorman has also had a very recognizable career in television, appearing in shows such as Torchwood, Turn: Washington’s Spies on AMC, as well as The Man in the High Castle on Amazon. He also appeared in the Halo series on Paramount, was a part of The Offer cast, and was in The Expanse. Truly, all over the map, this one. 

Ron Perlman - Podesta

Next up is Ron Perlman, who plays Podesta in Pinocchio. Perlman is another actor who has done so much in the world of movies and TV, but he’s also a really good voice actor, too - with almost too many roles to even talk about. My personal favorite is when he voiced the Stabbington brothers in Tangled. 

Other than that, Perlman has made a lot of films. Some of his biggest roles are in the 2021 movie, Don’t Look Up, Drive, the Hellboy films, Alien: Resurrection, Quest for Fire, and several more. Perlman is also a frequent collaborator with del Toro, and has appeared in many of his movies, including Cronos, Blade II, Nightmare Alley, and Pacific Rim. 

In television, he had a main role in the Beauty and the Beast TV series, and was a big character on the popular FX drama, Sons of Anarchy. 

John Turturro - Doctore

Moving on, we take a look at John Turturro, who voices Doctore in Pinocchio. Another major player in the world of Hollywood, Turturro has appeared in many movies, including Do The Right Thing, Five Corners, The Big Lebowski, The Jesus Rolls, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, the Transformers film series, and even 2022’s The Batman. 

In terms of television, most recently, Turturro took a role on the popular Apple TV+ series, Severance, but has appeared in many other shows including Monk, The Night Of and The Plot Against America. 

Finn Wolfhard - Candlewick

Candlewick in Pinocchio is played by Finn Wolfhard, someone who really got his start in Hollywood by playing Mike Wheeler in Stranger Things, a role he has continued to play to this day and will continue to do so in Season 5 of the show. However, Wolfhard has also appeared in several movies during his career so far, including the IT films, The Goldfinch, Ghostbusters: Afterlife (which is getting a sequel) and The Addams Family animated film. His career is still so new – but I’m sure we’ll be seeing a whole lot more of him as time goes on. 

Cate Blanchett - Spazzatura

Another star on this list, Cate Blanchett voices Spazzatura in Pinocchio. I could go on for hours about Blanchett and how brilliant of an actress she is, but we’ll be swift and say that she’s appeared in many amazing movies. For a highlight of what she’s done and what you might have seen her in, she was in The Lord of the Rings franchise as Galadriel, Elizabeth and its sequel, Hamlet, The Aviator, Blue Jasmine, Carol, Notes On A Scandal, and so many others. 

Blanchett also voiced a main character in the How To Train Your Dragon franchise, and was a part of many other recent films, too, such as Nightmare Alley, Cinderella, Ocean’s 8, and Thor: Ragnarok, where she played Hela, Thor’s sister. 

The actress has also appeared in a few television shows as well, such as Heartland, Stateless, and the miniseries, Mrs. America, but movies are where she frequently shines. And, I can’t wait to see what she does with this role. 

Tim Blake Nelson - Black Rabbits

Tim Blake Nelson voices Black Rabbits in Pinocchio, and Nelson has been in the business for some time. He’s worked on many films including Minority Report, Lincoln, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Syriana, Old Henry, and, like many others on this list, Nightmare Alley. And that’s just a highlight of some of his best. 

Nelson has also done some work in television. Most recently, in 2022, he was a part of the cast for Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities, but he’s also worked on shows such as Watchmen and Lost Ollie. 

Christoph Waltz - Count Volpe

Christoph Waltz is a name I’m sure many of us are familiar with, since he’s such an amazing actor, and of course, he’s voicing Count Volpe in Pinocchio. Waltz has done so much in the industry. He’s primarily known for his breakout role in the Quentin Tarantino film, Inglorious Bastards, but has appeared in many other movies, including Django Unchained, Carnage, The French Dispatch, Spectre, and No Time To Die. He was also in Downsizing. 

Waltz has also done some work in television as well. While he primarily appeared on German television shows for many years, he’s also had guest appearances on American shows like Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, and had a role in Most Dangerous Game. 

Tilda Swinton - Wood Sprite And Death 

Last but not least, we have Tilda Swinton, who voices both the Wood Sprite and Death in Pinocchio. Swinton is certainly a star of Hollywood, and has appeared in many, many films where you might have seen her. Some of her best include Orlando, Caravaggio, The Last of England, War Requiem, Young Adam, Julia, Constantine, We Need To Talk About Kevin, The Chronicles of Narnia series, and so many more. 

She’s also appeared in several Wes Anderson movies, including The Grand Budapest Hotel, The French Dispatch, and Moonrise Kingdom. She also portrayed the Ancient One in Doctor Strange and Avengers: Endgame. In television, she’s had guest appearances on shows such as What We Do In The Shadows, Getting On, and What If…?

Truly, a cast of stars is here and they are bringing it in Pinocchio. And who knows? You just might have found a new show or movie to fixate on starring these incredible actors. So many amazing projects to pick from – where will you start? 

If you’ve been following the Marvel Cinematic Universe for a short time, the name ‘The Leader’ might not mean that much to you at this point. In your eyes, I’m sure you’ve thought there were tons of leaders in the MCU, but we’re not talking about team leaders – no, we are talking about The Leader. As in the supervillain, The Leader, who was announced to be coming back in Captain America: New World Order. 

But, who exactly is The Leader? And why are comic book fans everywhere making a big deal out of this? For all of your questions, here are seven things you should know about The Leader before his real big-screen debut in Captain America: 4.

The MCU’s Leader First Appeared In The Incredible Hulk

The major announcement that came out was that Tim Blake Nelson would be reprising his role in the MCU to play The Leader, who was last seen in the 2008 film, The Incredible Hulk. However, he wasn’t necessarily The Leader just yet. 

In that film, he was still just Samuel Sterns, a cellular biologist who was working on an antidote for Bruce’s condition, but at the end of the film, he was exposed to a substance and started his transformation into The Leader. 

I can honestly understand why people wouldn’t know exactly who this man is, considering there are so many things that separate the 2008 The Incredible Hulk from the rest of the MCU – namely that Edward Norton portrays Hulk and not Mark Ruffalo, who has been portraying the character since The Avengers. But it’s still exciting to see that The Leader is going to be back in full force, after being absent for so long.

Even Though The Leader Is Facing Captain America, He’s Hulk’s Arch-Nemesis In The Comics

I have to say, though, it is surprising that The Leader is going to be making a real big-screen debut as an antagonist in Captain America 4, because he’s not necessarily known to be Captain America’s enemy – he’s mainly Hulk’s archnemsis in the comics. 

To be honest, I’m genuinely shocked that they didn’t have some sort of callback or hint to his return in the Disney+ series, She-Hulk, which featured not only one but two Hulks and could have been a nice tie-in to his next appearance. But, maybe we’ll get to see The Leader and Hulk interact in some other movie down the line. In the comics, The Leader doesn’t even really care about Bruce – rather, he's just obsessed with Hulk, and wants to bring suffering to that part of Bruce. 

The Leader Is An Incredible Genius

I feel like at this point, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is known to have pretty smart characters, from Robert Downey Jr’s version of Tony Stark to Peter Parker to obviously Bruce Banner, but The Leader is on another level of intelligence in the comics. There, when he is exposed to gamma radiation, his skin not only turns green, but his head grows. 

What happens when your head grows in comics? Your brain grows, too – and The Leader’s grew a ton. It’s really one of his defining features, because in nearly every illustration you see of him, he’s featured with a giant head and green skin. Because of this high intelligence, the Leader is able to come up with some of the most dangerous weapons that can truly help take over the world. 

He’s Sort Of Obsessed With The Afterlife

I mean, aren’t we all? The Leader, honest to God, has a good reason to be obsessed with the afterlife, because in the comics he has been killed and resurrected God knows how many times. 

Instead of just making a joke out of it like Deadpool would probably do or, ya know, going to therapy, this man has become so obsessed with the afterlife that he will literally do anything to discover more about it – and talk to strange entities that he really shouldn’t be because of his curiosity. 

But Because Of This, He Actually Met Bruce Banner’s Father

However, with this obsession that The Leader has with the afterlife, he’s actually been to Hell and back in Marvel Comics, and uses that to his advantage to find Bruce Banner’s father, Brian. 

For those who don’t know, Bruce Banner in the comics has been through a ton (as has the MCU version), and a big reason why that happened was because of his father, who was incredibly abusive – and, spoiler alert, killed Bruce’s mother, so yeah, he’s not the best guy to be around. 

However, The Leader finds him skulking around in the afterlife in the lowest pits of hell, and finds it easy to manipulate Brian’s soul and gain access to all of his memories, further getting more info to torment Bruce, and learn more about the Green Door, a pathway that connects the Below-Place (where Brian is) and the rest of the multiverse. 

The Leader Was A Big Part Of Creating Red Hulk

If you’ve ever heard of the Red Hulk, there’s a reason why, because he’s like the Hulk, only red, and pretty dang powerful. You want to know who helped created it? The Leader, because of course. 

As part of Intelligencia, a villain group that is literally made of the smartest supervillains in Marvel, he and the rest of the members were able to create Red Hulk by using a serum they made on Thaddeus Ross – who was just re-cast with Harrison Ford for Captain America 4, so could we be seeing Red Hulk in this movie? I’m even more excited now and the theories are flying. 

He Has History With The Thunderbolts...As Red Leader

Last but not least, we need to talk about the Thunderbolts, and how The Leader actually has ties to them as Red Leader. He became a part of it after he was killed and brought back to life, turning him red now, and becoming a full-time member of the villain team.

For those who don’t know, Thunderbolts is an MCU movie that is in production, and already announced a good amount of its cast, but who knows? We might end up getting more as time goes on – and Red Leader could end up being a part of that, but let’s get past Captain America 4 first. 

What are you the most excited for when it comes to The Leader? All I can say is that I hope Captain America 4 gets here quicker than ever because I’m going to freak out once I see him again, especially for the stories we could get in the future. 

When it comes to some of the best horror movies or the best fantasy movies, who is one of the first people you think of? For me, it’s always been Guillermo del Toro, an Academy Award winning director and screenwriter who has created some of the best films of the last twenty years, like Pan’s Labyrinth, The Shape of Water, and so many more. And now, he’s returned to television with the release of Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities. 

This show features eight different horror stories written and directed by different people, and also features an entirely new cast in every episode. With that much talent, it might be hard to figure out exactly where you might have seen them before. If you’re wondering “where have I seen that actor before?”, this is Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities cast and why they look so familiar.

Cabinet Of Curiosities – Lot 36

“Lot 36” is written by Regina Corrado and is based on a story by del Toro himself, and directed by Guillermo Navarro. 

Tim Blake Nelson

Tim Blake Nelson has appeared in shows such as Watchmen, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidy, and the film, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, where he starred. 

Elpidia Carrillo

Elpidia Carrillo has had a role on the popular TV series, Mayans M.C., but also had an appearance as Sonia on the hit teen drama, Euphoria, as well as a role in the original Predator film from 1987. 

Demetrius Grosse

Demetrius Grosse has appeared in The Walking Dead universe show, Fear the Walking Dead, for several episodes, and has popped up in many TV shows like The Rookie, Swagger, Frontier, and more. 

Sebastian Roché

Last for “Lot 36” is Sebastian Roché, an actor who is most known for his role in The Young Pope but has appeared in many big roles in shows such as The Man in the High Castle, Genius, The Originals, and more. 

Cabinet Of Curiosities – Graveyard Rats

“Graveyard Rats” is based on a short story by Henry Kuttner, and directed by Vincenzo Natali. 

David Hewlett

The only leading star of “Graveyard Rats” is David Hewlett, who has appeared in several movies and shows, such as The Shape of Water, SEE, and Stargate: Atlantis. 

Cabinet Of Curiosities – The Autopsy

“The Autopsy” is based on a short story by Michael Shea and directed by David Prior. 

F. Murray Abraham

F. Murray Abraham won the Academy Award for his role in the film, Amadeus, but has appeared in many other movies, including several Wes Anderson films, as well as Star Trek: Insurrection, Inside Llewyn Davis, and currently stars in the Apple TV+ series, Mythic Quest. 

Glynn Turman

Glynn Turman has appeared in several movies and series. Most recently, in 2020, he had a role in Netflix’s film, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, and had had roles in shows such as Fargo and The Wire. 

Luke Roberts

Last but not least for “The Autopsy” is Luke Roberts, who had a lead role in the show Ransom, as well as appearing in many episodes of Black Sails on Starz. 

Cabinet Of Curiosities – The Outside

“The Outside” is based on a short story by Emily Carroll, a comic-book author, and is directed by Ana Lily Amirpour. 

Kate Micucci

Kate Micucci has done a lot of voice roles for shows like Scooby-Doo and Guess Who? as well as American Dad!, and more. She also appeared in the film Flora & Ulysses, as well as the TV series, Mom. 

Martin Starr

Martin Starr first came to prominence with his role in Freaks and Geeks, but then appeared in shows like Silicon Valley, Roswell, Revelations, Party Down, and many more. He also had a minor appearance in Spider-Man: No Way Home. 

Dan Stevens

The last big name for “The Outside” is Dan Stevens, who has been in shows like Gaslit, High Maintenance, Legion, Downtown Abbey, and more. 

Cabinet Of Curiosities – Pickman’s Model

“Pickman’s Model” is based on a short story by H.P. Lovecraft and directed by Keith Thomas. 

Ben Barnes

Most recently, in 2021, Ben Barnes got lots of attention for his starring role as the Darkling in the fantasy series, Shadow and Bone, which is also going to be getting Season 2 very soon, but he's also appeared in shows such as Westworld and The Punisher. 

Crispin Glover

Crispin Glover has appeared in shows such as American Gods, Texas Rising, and more. He also was in the comedy film, Hot Tub Time Machine. 

Oriana Leman

Last for “Pickman’s Model” is Oriana Leman, who is mainly known for her role in the fantasy series, Locke & Key, where she plays Carly Miller. 

Cabinet Of Curiosities – Dreams In The Witch House

“Dreams in the Witch House” is based on a short story by H.P. Lovecraft, and directed by Catherine Hardwicke. 

Rupert Grint

You might know Rupert Grint from his time as Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter film series, but he’s also currently starring on the Apple TV+ series, Servant. 

Ismael Cruz Cordova

Isamal Cruz Cordova has appeared in several TV shows, including the Amazon series, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, as well as Berlin Station, The Undoing, The Catch, and so many more. 

DJ Qualls

DJ Qualls has had experience in television before, as he appeared in the popular CW show, Supernatural, as well as shows such as Z Nation, The Man in the High Castle, Fargo, and more. 

Nia Vardalos

Nia Vardalos got famous for writing and starring in one of the most successful romantic comedies of all time, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, but also has appeared on the cancelled Love, Victor, as well as the miniseries, Station 19. 

Tenika Davis

Last but not least for “Dreams in the Witch House” is Tenika Davis, who’s biggest work was having a role in Jupiter’s Legacy, as well as Titans in 2021. 

Cabinet Of Curiosities – The Viewing

 “The Viewing,” features a stacked cast. The episode is written by Aaron Stewart-Ahn and Panos Cosmatos, who also directed. 

Peter Weller

Peter Weller has appeared in many TV shows before, including Longmire, MacGyver, The Last Ship, the popular FX drama, Sons of Anarchy, the Showtime series, Dexter, and many others. He also played the titular character in the original Robocop, and had a role in Star Trek Into Darkness. 

Eric Andre

Eric Andre actually has his own show, called The Eric Andre Show, but he’s been in other projects as well. He appeared in The Righteous Gemstones, and also voices one of my favorite cartoon characters, Luci, in the adult animated show on Netflix, Disenchantment. 

Sofia Boutella

Sofia Boutella is mainly known for her role in Kingsman: The Secret Service, but also appeared in Modern Love. She is set to premiere in the upcoming Rebel Moon. 

Charlyne Yi

Charlyne Yi has been in the business for some time and appeared in many movies and TV shows. Some of her biggest roles were in shows such as House M.D., Love, Jane the Virgin, We Bare Bears, Steven Universe, and more. She also appeared in movies like Always Be My Maybe, The Mitchells vs the Machines, and others. Most recently, she was in the film Block Party Juneteenth. 

Steve Agee

Steve Agee has had roles in many TV shows, such as D-Sides, New Girl, Fortune Rookie, Drunk History, American Princess, Twelve Forever and more. He also appeared in The Suicide Squad as John Economos, a role he reprised in the popular series, Peacemaker. He also portrayed Issac in Superstore. 

Michael Therrialt

If you want to talk about someone who has been in television for some time, Michael Therrialt is the person to bring up, as he has appeared in several TV shows. Some of his biggest roles have been in series such as Covert Affairs, Hemlock Grove, Heroes Reborn, The Girlfriend Experience, Damien, The Bagel and Becky Show, Reign, Alias Grace, and more. He also appeared in the horror film, Cult of Chucky. 

Saad Siddiqui

Last but not least for “The Viewing,” we take a look at Saad Siddiqui, who has been in many TV shows before, including The Art of More, Rogue, Incorporated, Slasher, October Faction, Coroner, The Hardy Boys, and more. He also had a minor role as Karan in Legends of Tomorrow. 

Cabinet Of Curiosities – The Murmuring

The last episode of Cabinet of Curiosities, called “The Murmuring,” is based on an original story by Guillermo del Toro and is directed by Jennifer Kent, known for her famed horror movie, The Babadook. 

Essie Davis

Essie Davis had a lead role in The Babadook, led the series Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, and also appeared in shows like Lambs of God. 

Andrew Lincoln

Primarily known as Rick Grimes from The Walking Dead, Andrew Lincoln has also appeared in movies such as the classic holiday film, Love, Actually, and the television series, Afterlife. 

Hannah Galway

Hannah Galway is mainly known for her role in the TV series, Sex/Life, which is getting a Season 2, but also had appearances in shows like Under the Banner of Heaven and Good Sam. 

This cast for every single episode is truly stacked to the brim and features so many talented actors that I can hardly believe it. With such a creative lineup and spooky stories, Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities is sure to be one of the streaming platform’s best releases so far this year.

There are a number of big Marvel movies on the horizon, and one of those is Captain America: New World Order. The upcoming film was announced at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con as a part of Marvel’s Phase 5 lineup. Not much is known about the movie at this point, but new details have just arrived. And fans will be excited to learn that the Anthony Mackie-led movie will see the return of none other than Tim Blake Nelson’s Samuel Sterns a.k.a. The Leader!

That’s right, you read that correctly. News of Tim Blake Nelson’s return came during Marvel Studios’ presentation at Disney’s D23 Expo. Exact details on The Leader’s role were not revealed, though one would assume that he’ll serve as an antagonist to Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson. To say that Nelson’s casting is a surprise would be an understatement, considering that he hasn’t appeared since the aforementioned MCU flick (which released back in 2008). 

Samuel Sterns was introduced as a colleague of Bruce Banner, who tried to help him find a cure for his Hulk affliction via digital correspondence. The two would finally meet up in person, with help from Betty Ross, though the U.S. military charged in after Banner was seemingly “cured.” After Sterns later helped Emil Blonsky, a.k.a. The Abomination, enhance his own mutation, the scientist’s forehead was cut, and he was exposed to a vial of the gamma-radiated blood. Shortly after, his head began pulsating, which was a hint to his own eventual transformation into the intelligent telepath.

It probably shouldn’t be too surprising that Marvel found a way to bring back The Leader, especially since he’s not the only Hulk alum to make a triumphant return after a long absence. Tim Roth’s Emil Blonsky just recently reappeared in Disney+’s She-Hulk: Attorney At Law – and had made a brief appearance in last year’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings before that.

The Leader isn’t the only familiar face that’s returning for the new show, as it was also confirmed that The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’s Danny Ramirez will return as the MCU's Joaquin Torres, who may or may not be on his way to becoming the new Falcon. Also reappearing is Carl Lumbly’s Isaiah Bradley, one of the Captain Americas fans learned about on the Disney+ show. There’s also a new face entering the fray in the form of Shira Haas, who will play the role of Sabre.

It’ll be exciting to see what Cap 4 has in store for Tim Blake Nelson’s long-missed character. Surely, a character as powerful as he is could truly shake things up for the Sentinel of Liberty. Also, I, for one, am more than ready to see Nelson chew up a bit of scenery throughout the proceedings. 

Captain America: New World Order opens in theaters on May 3, 2024 and, in the meantime, you can stream past MCU fare using a Disney+ subscription.

At long last, Anthony Mandler’s legal drama Monster is finally here more than three years after it made its world premiere at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival. But now that you can watch the story of a high school honor student falsely accused of murder in a robbery gone wrong on Netflix, you are probably wondering where you’ve seen the Monster cast before. And while names like Jennifer Hudson, Jeffrey Wright, and John David Washington are easy ones to figure out, some, like the film’s star, Kelvin Harrison Jr. might have you stumped.

Below is a quick breakdown of the major players on the Monster cast, who they play, and where you’ve seen them in the past. With both established and rising stars in the acting world, as well as some of the best hip-hop artists of yesterday and today, taking up residence on the cast, there’s a lot to unpack here…

Kelvin Harrison Jr. - Steve Harmon

Kelvin Harrison Jr. portrays Steve Harmon, a 17-year-old honor student at a private New York City high school who dreams of one day becoming a filmmaker, a dream that this is cut short when he goes on trial for a robbery and murder he did not commit. Prior to Monster (which initially premiered in 2018), Harrison appeared in 12 Years a Slave, Ender’s Game, and The Birth of a Nation before becoming relatively well known with It Comes at Night. In the past couple of years, Harrison has shown up in Waves, The High Note, and most recently The Trial of the Chicago 7, playing the late Fred Hampton.

Jennifer Hudson - Mrs. Harmon

Taking on the role of the Mrs. Harmon, Steve’s successful and devoted mother, is Academy Award, Golden Globe, and two-time Grammy Award winner Jennifer Hudson. The talented singer-turned-actress has appeared in a number of well-regarded movies since making her big screen debut with 2006’s Dreamgirls. In the 15 years since her award-winning performance as Effie White, Hudson has gone on to show up in movies like The Secret Life of Bees, Chi-Raq, and Sing, to name just a few. Hudson is also set to portray the late, great Aretha Franklin in the upcoming biopic Respect.

Jeffrey Wright - Mr. Harmon

Portraying the character Mr. Harmon, Steve’s supportive father, is Emmy Award winner Jeffrey Wright. One of the most established stars featured in the Monster cast, Wright has appeared in everything from limited series like Angels in America (which netted him the aforementioned Emmy), shows like Westworld, and countless movie titles including Cadillac Records, W., and various James Bond films as Felix Leiter, with another, No Time to Die, on the way. And then there’s the whole business of Wright taking on the role of Jim Gordon in The Batman.

John David Washington - Richard ‘Bobo’ Evans

Taking on the role of Richard “Bobo” Evans, one of the men accused of the robbery and murder who then testifies against Steve Harmon for a lighter sentence, is John David Washington. At the time of Monster’s initial premiere, Washington had yet to make a name for himself with memorable performances in BlacKkKlansman, Tenet, and Malcolm and Marie, though the few credits to his name at the time included some heavy-hitters like Monsters and Men, Love Beats Rhymes, and the HBO series Ballers. As a child, the future leading man, had small roles in several films featuring his father, Denzel Washington.

Rakim ‘A$AP Rocky’ Mayers - William King

Rakim Mayers, aka A$AP Rocky is featured heavily throughout Monster as William King, a fixture of the Harlem streets who is also charged with robbery and murder alongside Steve Harmon. Despite his explosive performance leading you to think otherwise, this is only A$AP Rocky’s second acting role in a movie (he previously appeared as himself in a few others), with the other being the 2015 coming-of-age story Dope. The Grammy-nominated rapper remains one of the leading voices in today’s hip hop scene with a slew of hit singles, albums, and mixtapes released in the past decade.

Jennifer Ehle - Katherine O’Brien

Stepping in as Steve Harmon’s cold yet pragmatic defense attorney Katherine O’Brien is Jennifer Ehle. With credits going back to her theatre work back in 1991, Ehle has remained a major player in film, television, and the stage with memorable roles in everything from the 1995 Pride and Prejudice miniseries to the pandemic thriller Contagion in 2011. If neither of those titles ring any bells then you’ll surely remember Ehle from the Fifty Shades franchise, in which she plays Carla Wilks.

Tim Blake Nelson - Leroy Sawicki

Tim Blake Nelson plays Leroy Sawicki, Steve Harmon’s high school film teacher who inspires him to document the world around him. Over the years, the actor/writer/director has appeared in everything from Coen brothers movies like O Brother, Where Art Thou? and The Ballad of Buster Scruggs to entries in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with The Incredible Hulk, as well as the the HBO series Watchmen. Nelson has also written and directed his fair share of movies over the years including Leaves of Grass, Anesthesia, and Kansas.

Nasir ‘Nas’ Jones - Raymond ‘Sunset’ Green

Legendary rapper and producer Nasir “Nas” Jones takes on the role of Raymond “Sunset” Green, a fellow inmate who helps Steve Harmon navigate life behind bars and is more like a spiritual leader in the sense that he works with the young high school student to help him learn how to put his mind at ease and not let the system get him down. Largely known for his rap career, which kicked off with 1994’s Illmatic, Nas has made several film appearances including Hype Williams’ 1998 hidden gem Belly where he shared the screen with the late DMX.

Paul Ben-Victor - Anthony Petrocelli

Leading the prosecution against Steve Harmon in Monster is Paul Ben-Victor’s Anthony Pretrocelli, who is hellbent on proving that the high school student and aspiring filmmaker isn’t as innocent as he claims. Probably best known for his portrayal of Greek crime boss Spiros “Vondas” Vondopoulos on The Wire, Ben-Victor’s career in film and television goes back more than 30 years. Over on the film side of things, Ben-Victor has shown up in staples of the early ‘90s like Tombstone and True Romance as well as more recent movies like The Irishmen and The Banker. He’s also had roles on shows like Entourage, NYPD Blue, and Monk to name a few.

Jharrel Jerome - Osvaldo

Jharrel Jerome is seen in Monster as Osvaldo, a Harlem teenager who despite being an accomplice in the robbery gone wrong, hopes to get a full acquittal based on his age and testimony. Prior to the filming of Monster a few years back, Jerome came on the scene with a memorable performance in Moonlight, in which he appeared as the teenage version of Kevin, Ciron’s (Ashton Sanders) longtime friend and romantic interest. Since then, Jerome has gone on to win an Emmy and multiple other awards for his portrayal of Korey Wise in When They See Us and recently appeared in Concrete Cowboy.

Jonny Coyne - Detective Karyl

Detective Karyl is one of NYPD detectives investigating the bodega robbery gone awry in Monster and the investigator who is determined that Steve Harmon is involved in the murder. Over the years, Coyne has appeared in a number of movies including Nightcrawler, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, and even Lara Croft: Tomb Raider — The Cradle of Life. The English actor, however, is more known for his various television roles over the years which include everything from The Blacklist to Preacher and Turn: Washington’s Spies to Mom, with dozens upon dozens of smaller roles and one-off appearances mixed in.

Lovie Simone - Renee Pickford

Relative newcomer Lovie Simone appears as Renee Pickford, Steve Harmon’s love interest in Monster. The new Netflix movie was Simone’s first film production at the time but has gone on to show up in Share, Selah and the Spades, and the 2020 supernatural horror film The Craft: Legacy, portraying Tabby. Simone got her first big break in the acting world with a recurring-turned-main role on Greenleaf from 2016 to 2020. She has since shown up in Orange is the New Black, Blue Bloods, and Social Distance.

Mikey Madison - Alexandra Floyd

Mikey Madison shows up in Monster as Alexandra Floyd. Prior to landing a role in the Netflix crime drama, Madison made a name for herself on the FX comedy series Better Things. She has had a few more film appearances in the years since filming Monster with the most notable being as “Sadie” one of the members of the Manson Family who decide to target Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) instead of Sharon Tate in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. In case you’re wondering, yes, she was the cult member who was incinerated in Dalton’s pool. She will next appear in the 2022’s Scream though her role has yet to be revealed.

This is just the main cast from Monster and there are tones of other great actors who appear in the gripping legal drama throughout its duration. If you’ve finished the movie and now want to see what else is coming to theaters this year (especially those featuring Jennifer Hudson and Jeffrey Wright), check out CinemaBlend’s list of 2021 movie premiere dates.

I think it's safe to say that the multi-talented Jonathan Groff won over a lot more all-aged fans with his roles in popular projects such as the Frozen films and the epic musical Hamilton than he did with his hyper-dark role on Netflix's serial killer drama Mindhunter. Groff is returning to the streaming service for his next big TV project, but it won't be for Mindhunter Season 3, much to the dismay of fans. Rather, Groff is joining New Girl and Watchmen stars for the family-friendly limited series Lost Ollie.

Inspired by the children's book Ollie's Odyssey from author William Joyce, Lost Ollie will be a live-action/animated hybrid series about a lost toy (Jonathan Groff) in the midst of an epic journey in search of his owner, and also about a boy named Billy (Kesler Talbot) who lost not just his homemade stuffed rabbit, but also his best friend. The quest to reunite will put both Ollie and Billy in all kinds of dangerous situations, but I can't help but feel like everyone will pull through. That said, the show will consist of four 45-minute episodes, which implies things might be far more dramatic than happy-go-lucky with each installment's passing.

While the behind-the-scenes talent on Lost Ollie is also superb – more on that lower – let's talk about all the big names that will be joining Jonathan Groff. On the toy side of things, we have the Grammy-winning Mary J. Blige (Power Book II: Ghost) as a raggedy but fearless teddy bear named Rosy that befriends Ollie, while Watchmen's Tim Blake Nelson is set to voice a chivalrous and helpful old clown doll named Zozo.

On the human side, Lost Ollie will have Jane the Virgin vet Gina Rodriguez playing Billy's loving and inspirational mother Sharon, affectionately known as Momma. On the flip side, Jurassic World's Jake Johnson will play Billy's father James, a.k.a. Daddy, whose good intentions for Billy are sometimes upended by being overworked and stressed. And then there's Kesler Talbot as Billy, a creative young boy who aims to retrieve the beloved toy his mother made for him. This sounds like it has Brave Little Toaster vibes, and I am all about courageous, size-appropriate objects.

Interestingly, this is a cast that is already well familiar with Netflix TV projects. (As King George himself sang, "You'll be back.") Mentioned previously, Jonathan Groff headed up the first two seasons of David Fincher's Mindhunter, while Gina Rodriguez is the voice of the titular criminal in Carmen Sandiego and Jake Johnson lent his expletive-spewing skills for the adult-animated comedy Hoops. Meanwhile, Mary J. Blige was part of the first season of The Umbrella Academy, and Tim Blake Nelson starred in the docu-drama Wormwood some years back. Only Kesler Talbot hasn't worked with the streaming service before, but that'll change with Lost Ollie.

Bringing Lost Ollie to life will be creator, writer and executive producer Shannon Tindle, an artist and designer who worked on such projects as Coraline and Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, and who also penned the story for Laika's Kubo and the Two Strings. The director all four episodes will be Peter Ramsey, who worked with Jake Johnson in the absolutely stellar Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, and Stranger Things' Shawn Levy will be executive producing along with colleague Josh Barry. Another major creative plus for Lost Ollie is that Lucasfilm's Industrial Lights & Magic studio will be handling the character designs and animation.

So while it's not another season of Mindhunter for Jonathan Groff, and also isn't another Frozen film or another Lin-Manuel Miranda musical, Lost Ollie sounds like it could be an exciting and emotional project right up there with some of Disney's most memorable projects in recent years. And if Ollie, Rosy and Zozo end up crossing paths with a toaster, a lamp, a vacuum, an electric blanket and a radio, it will be the greatest crossover in human history. Or perhaps something slightly less hyperbolic.

Lost Ollie doesn't yet have a release date set on Netflix, and it might be a while before that happens, given how long it usually takes live-action/animated hybrids to come together. But here's hoping we haven't all outgrown our favorite toys by the time it gets released.

There are actors like Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, and even Jermey Renner who will always be remembered for their roles in various Marvel movies, but there also actors who either appeared in early Marvel Cinematic Universe titles or showed up before they were big stars who tend to be forgotten. Take Ty Burrell, for example, who showed up as Betty Ross' boyfriend in 2008's The Incredible Hulk just one year before he became a major star on ABC's Modern Family. 

If Edward Norton's Hulk movie would have switched places with Iron Man 2, we all probably would remember Burrell in the same way we remember Terrence Howard in the first Iron Man solo film, but instead, his performance is often forgotten.

But Ty Burrell isn't alone. In fact, there have been more than a dozen (and counting) famous actors whose Marvel appearances aren't all that remembered, which is insane considering the names of some of these film and television stars. Actors like Kate Mara, Powers Boothe, and even Bill and Ted Face the Music's William Sadler have all shown up in Marvel movies over the past 12 years, so I thought it would be fun to explore some of the most notable bit roles, cameos, and other appearances up through Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Ty Burrell - The Incredible Hulk

When Ty Burrell showed up as Betty Ross' (Liv Tyler) boyfriend, Leonard Samson, in 2008's The Incredible Hulk, he was mostly known as the rich jerk from Zack Snyder's Dawn of the Dead remake and not the lovable Phil Dunphy on Modern Family. Burrell's character doesn't really do much outside of make Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) jealous and tip off Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross of Banner's return from exile. It's just a bummer we never got to see how the character would have been expanded if the second movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe got a sequel of its own.

Tim Blake Nelson - The Incredible Hulk

Tim Blake Nelson's transformation from cellular biologist Samuel Sterns to Leader near the end of The Incredible Hulk was one of the most exciting moments in the 2008 summer blockbuster, but just like Ty Burrell's Leonard Samson, the character was never seen again. Unlike Burrell, however, Nelson was already an established star at the time of his first and only Marvel appearance, having shown up in The Thin Red Line, Minority Report, and a little movie called O Brother, Where Art Thou?.

Peter Billingsley - Iron Man, Spider-Man: Far From Home

Remember Ralph Parker from the 1983 holiday classic A Christmas Story? Well, Peter Billingsley, the actor behind the role, is all grown up now and has appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe twice at this point. His first appearance can be seen in Iron Man as Stark Industries scientist William Ginter Riva who is on the receiving end of Obadiah Stain's (Jeff Bridges) epic "with a bunch of scraps" rant about Tony Stark, and then again as the same character in 2019's Spider-Man: Far From Home amazing Mysterio reveal scene. Billingsley is a long-time collaborator of Jon Favreau, having appeared in and produced a number of the director's films, including Iron Man.

Kate Mara - Iron Man 2

You might think that Kate Mara's only appearance in a movie based on a Marvel Comics property came in 2015's Fantastic Four, but the star of the box office and critical failure showed up in the Marvel Cinematic Universe five years earlier in bit role as process server for the U.S. Marshals serving Tony Stark a subpoena to appear before the U.S. Senate in Iron Man 2. 

Mara had already appeared in the children's superhero comedy Zoom, We Are Marshall, and 24 by the time she was cast in Jon Favreau's second Iron Man movie, but she was still a few years out from finding success with American Horror Story: Murder House, House of Cards, and The Martian.

Natalie Dormer - Captain America: The First Avenger

Natalie Dormer is probably best known for her portrayal of Margaery Tyrell on HBO's Game of Thrones, but like just about every face in Hollywood, the British actress made a brief, yet important appearance in 2011's Captain America: The First Avenger as Private Lorraine. In the scene, Lorraine grabs Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) and pulls him in for a kiss while he awaits the arrival of Howard Stark (Dominic Cooper) just as Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) walks by at just the wrong time. 

Natalie Dormer, still a year out from Game of Thrones, was already somewhat established at the time, having appeared as Anne Boleyn on The Tudors in the historical drama's first two seasons.

David Bradley - Captain America: The First Avenger

Natalie Dormer wasn't the only Game of Thrones star to appear in Captain America, as David Bradley, who shocked and disgusted fans of HBO's fantasy series as Walder Frey, showed up as the tower keeper in the opening moments of the 2011 Marvel movie. He's only in the film for a few minutes before he is gunned down by Red Skull (Hugo Weaving) after locating the tesseract. David Bradley had one hell of a 2011 with his final appearance as Argus Filch in the Harry Potter franchise, as well as roles in Game of Thrones, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Jenna Coleman - Captain America: The First Avenger

Jenna Coleman, best known for her portrayal of Clara Oswald on Doctor Who, also made a very brief appearance in Captain America: The First Avenger as Bucky's date, Connie, at the world expo in the film's first act. Even though she had appeared on shows like Emmerdale and Titanic when she was cast in a very small role in the first Captain America adventure, Coleman was still a year out from becoming one of the most well-loved companions on the British science-fiction program.

Harry Dean Stanton - The Avengers

The first Marvel Cinematic Universe crossover film The Avengers had one of the biggest casts at the time of its 2012 release. In addition to the likes of Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo, and Scarlett Johansson, Joss Whedon's epic also featured some great cameos, including one by Harry Dean Stanton. The late character actor is seen in a brief interaction with Bruce Banner (Ruffalo) following the big blowup abroad the Helicarrier. And although short, it's great to see the actor best known for roles in Paris, Texas, Alien, and Escape from New York show up for some comedic relief.

Ashley Johnson - The Avengers

Ashley Johnson shows up briefly at the very end of The Avengers when her character, Beth, is being interviewed about the battle of New York. At first it may seem weird that the the actress who appeared in The Help, What Women Want, and who would later become the voice of Ellie in The Last of Us, would have such a small part, but Johnson's role was trimmed down and most of her scenes ended up being cut from the final draft. This includes her conversation with Steve Rogers, which explains her specially naming Captain America during the interview.

William Sadler - Iron Man 3

William Sadler, who has appeared in everything from The Shawshank Redemption to the Bill & Ted franchise, showed up on more than one occasion in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. His first appearance came in 2013's Iron Man 3, where he is seen playing President Matthew Ellis during the action-packed kidnapping scene aboard Air Force One. Sadler would reprise the role in a few episodes of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Chris O'Dowd - Thor: The Dark World

Don't feel bad if you forgot that Chris O'Dowd was in 2013's Thor: The Dark World because the British funny man known for his roles from The IT Crowd, Get Shorty, and Bridesmaids even forgot he was in the movie until a 2019 interview with MTV News. O'Dowd showed up briefly as Jane Foster's date, Richard, in the early goings of the second Thor adventure, but I guess not enough for anyone to remember, the actor included.

Sam Neill - Thor: Ragnarok

The great dramatic retelling of "Loki's sacrifice" in the beginning of Thor: Ragnarok is probably best remembered for the performance by Matt Damon as the over-the-top actor portraying the God of Mischief, but acting great Sam Neill is also in there as an Asgardian actor taking on the role of Odin during the play. Neill, who is best known for his portrayal of Alan Grant in Jurassic Park (and the upcoming Jurassic World: Dominion), previously worked with Ragnarok director Taika Waititi's Hunt for the Wilderpeople, which explains his brief cameo here.

Those aren't even all of the great actors who have made appearances in the Marvel Cinematic Universe over the past 12 years. With the Marvel One-Shots featuring the likes of Lizzy Caplan, Bradley Whitford, and Scoot McNairy, to name a few, as well as cameos from people like Garret Morris in Ant-Man, there are just too many to count. Did this article reveal any of those forgotten stars or did it leave out some that slipped between the cracks? Either way, sound off in the comments below.

Watchmen introduced Wade Tillman, a.k.a. Looking Glass, early on in the HBO series and his backstory coincided with Adrian Veidt’s teleporting squid incident in 1985. Preaching about sinners to local amusement park goers, Wade ends up deceived and naked inside the hall of mirrors. He may have managed to avoid the psychic blast that killed everyone at the park, but Wade’s life was never the same again after that. However, Watchmen’s Tim Blake Nelson recently revealed that Looking Glass’ whole origin story was completely changed during filming.

Watchmen has been lauded by viewers and critics alike for its gripping story and exploration of race in the U.S. But, as Damon Lindelof mapped out what Wade’s storyline would be, the showrunner ended up scrapping the initial idea and rewrote Wade’s origin. That repurposed story was what viewers saw in the fifth episode, “Little Fear of Lightning,” which included the psychic blast that traumatized Wade for life.

At the point of the change, however, Watchmen had already wrapped filming on three of its nine episodes. What was Wade’s original backstory? Here’s what Tim Blake Nelson told EW Live:

That certainly sounds interesting and would have gone hand-in-hand with Watchmen’s central story. We may never know what Wade being in an interracial relationship would have looked like onscreen, but I wouldn’t mind it if HBO released a featurette about the making of Watchmen to find out more about it.

All that said, Tim Blake Nelson ultimately believes that the change was “a better decision for the show as a whole.” Luckily for Nelson, Damon Lindelof altering Wade’s origin story after they’d already begun filming Watchmen didn’t actually change any of the major decisions he’d already made about how to play the character. Here’s how he put it:

That’s great news as I imagine it would’ve been hard for Tim Blake Nelson to start from scratch with his portrayal, especially since he’d already been playing Wade for three episodes. Honestly, Damon Lindelof sounds like a great and collaborative showrunner and it’s pretty awesome to hear about the details that ultimately became Watchmen.

Watchmen is currently available to stream on HBO Max. For more on what to watch, be sure to check out our 2020 summer TV schedule for premiere dates and times.

You are not likely to find a comic book adaptation as refreshingly original as HBO’s Watchmen. Instead of recreating the story that already existed, it serves as a continuation to Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ groundbreaking graphic novel. Having been one of 2019’s most talked about television events, Damon Lindelof’s nine-part miniseries continues to attract audiences and incite discussion,and not just in relation to its recent inclusion for the launch of HBO Max.

It is actually quite fascinating how the modern day world of Watchmen (still overrun with crime, corruption, and a distorted sense of identity years after the events of the comic) can be so easily compared to the modern day world in reality... with the exception of costumed vigilantes being a pressing issue. Yet, if social commentary is not what keeps your mind on the miniseries, perhaps it is the wonderful cast. The actors brought in to portray familiar faces to the Watchmen universe and new faces alike are one of the reasons why we almost wish the show could continue past its sole season. Fortunately, the performers have plenty more on their respective agendas in the near future. Just see for yourself…

Regina King (Angela Abar/Sister Night)

Even before playing detective/vigilante Angela Abar (who crusades in costume as Sister Night) on Watchmen, 2019 was already a big deal for Regina King. The actress won her first Academy Award earlier that same year for her supporting role in If Beale Street Could Talk. Despite being a familiar face in several classics spanning decades (such as her debut in sitcom 227, stoner favorite Friday, and music biopic Ray), King seems to be taking a break from acting to focus on her feature-length directorial debut, an adaptation of Kemp Powers' Jim Crow-era stage play One Night in Miami.

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Cal Abar/Doctor Manhattan)

One of the most surprising twists on Watchmen was the reveal that Angela Abar's husband, Cal Abar (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), was actually Jon Osterman, better known as the omnipotent Dr. Manhattan, in disguise. Abdul-Mateen was in disguise for another iconic comic book role as DC villain Black Manta in 2018, which is as role he is set to reprise in the announced sequel to Aquaman, which is currently dated to come out in 2022. In addition to that, the Black Mirror star plays the protagonist in producer Jordan Peele's Candyman, director Aaron Sorkin's retelling of the Chicago 7 trial, and the highly anticipated fourth installment of the Matrix franchise.

Don Johnson (Judd Crawford)

From playing a slimy murder suspect in Knives Out to racist police chief Judd Crawford on Watchmen in 2019 alone, Golden Globe-winner Don Johnson (otherwise known as Miami Vice's Crocket and Dakota Johnson's dad) seems to be more popular than ever at 70 years old. Currently, the actor is set to appear alongside John Boyega and James Cromwell in Green Room director Jeremy Saulnier's upcoming thriller Rebel Ridge , and will star in and produce a revival of his mid-'90s crime series Nash Bridges.

Jean Smart (Laurie Blake)

Another Watchmen star who rose to prominence in the 1980s is Jean Smart, who plays an older version of Laurie Blake, whom fans of the comic recognize as the second Silk Spectre. The 68-year-old, three-time Emmy-winner starred in another TV revival in 2019 (Mad About You on Spectrum) and will next seen as the President of the United States in the upcoming HBO Max exclusive sci-fi comedy Superintelligence, also starring Melissa McCarthy. She will also appear opposite William Shatner and Chistopher Lloyd in the romantic indie comedy Senior Moment, which is currently in post-production.

Tim Blake Nelson (Wade Tillman/Looking Glass)

The mysterious Looking Glass (whose mirrored mask reflects his origin story of being in a carnival fun house the night of November 2, 1985 when the "inter-dimensional squid" landed) is not Watchmen star Tim Blake Nelson's first role in a comic book adaptation, but, arguably, his best thus far following supporting roles in the mostly forgotten The Incredible Hulk in 2008 and Josh Trank's infamous Fantastic Four reboot. The character actor, better known for frequent collaborations with the Coen brothers, will next star in his second collaboration with director James Franco in The Long Home, and also alongside John Boyega in the legal drama Naked Singularity,

Jeremy Irons (Adrian Veidt/Ozymandias)

One of the more brilliant choices for the Watchmen series was Jeremy Irons as an aged Adrian Veidt, the highly-intelligent billionaire who once moonlighted as superhero Ozymandias before emerging as the graphic novel's true antagonist (well, debatably). The Academy Award-winner, whose first foray into cinematic DC Comics adaptations came from playing Alfred Pennyworth in 2016's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and 2017's Justice League, has two films currently in production, including the romantic comedy Love, Weddings & Other Disasters and the sports biopic Frankel, named after the famous race horse, which Irons is also producing.

Louis Gossett Jr. (Old Will Reeves/Hooded Justice)

In a massive, surprising twist, Watchmen reveals the true identity of legendary vigilante Hooded Justice is Will Reeves, played as an old man by Louis Gossett Jr., who was forced to keep his vigilantism a secret due to his ethnicity. At 84, the Oscar-winner is the oldest cast member of the HBO miniseries cast, and also one of the busiest. He has several film projects on the horizon, most notably as a Vietnam vet opposite Dick Van Dyke in the comedy Capture the Flag and Artisans, a mid-90s period piece about two aspiring rappers written directed by his son, Satie Gossett.

Jovan Adepo (Young Will Reeves/Hooded Justice)

Starring as the younger Will Reeves in flashbacks, Jovan Adepo first worked with Watchmen showrunner Damon Lindelof on The Leftovers before later playing son to Denzel Washington and Viola Davis in Fences. In the past year or so, Adepo headed up the World War II-era horror film Overlord, played an adult Antron McCray in Netflix's When They See Us, and had a recurring role on Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan. His next miniseries will also be based on a work of fan-favorite literature: CBS All-Access' reimagining of the Stephen King novel The Stand. The actor will also soon return to the big screen with Karem Sanga's romantic drama The Violent Heart.

Hong Chau (Lady Trieu)

Starring as Adrian Veidt's daughter, the Vietnamese-born Lady Trieu, is actress Hong Chau, who prior to Watchmen was best known for her Golden Globe-nominated performance as a five-inch tall refugee opposite Matt Damon in Alexander Payne's 2017 sci-fi satire Downsizing. Since appearing in the HBO series, she has been in the drama Driveways (alongside the late Brian Dennehy in one of his final roles), continued her stint as a regular on the Amazon original hit Homecoming, and most recently appeared in the film adaptation of the Artemis Fowl novel series, which premiered exclusively on Disney+ in mid-June.

Tom Mison (Mr. Phillips/Game Warden)

Starring as one of Adrian Veidt's servant clones, Mr. Phillips, is Tom Mison, who also serves double duty on Watchmen as the mysterious Game Warden. The theatre-trained actor began his reputation for playing mysterious, British-accented characters on TV by playing an out-of-time version of Ichabod Crane on Fox's modern day Sleepy Hollow series, and then followed that with Hulu's series adaptation of Four Weddings and a Funeral. There is evidently nothing currently on the horizon in the world of acting for Mison, who has also expressed to NME that he would prefer not to return for a second season of the superhero series as he felt it wrapped up perfectly.

Sara Vickers (Ms. Crookshanks)

Adrian Veidt also has a female servant clone named Ms. Crookshanks, played by Sara Vickers, who is also of British origin, but would probably credit Watchmen as her most recognizable endeavor to date.She did land an appearance on the Netflix original historical drama The Crown as Marion Crawford, and starred in an episode of TNT's 19th-century mystery The Alienist.

Cheyenne Jackson (TV's Hooded Justice)

Hooded Justice is one of the more mysterious figures of the Watchmen graphic novel, and that mystery is heavily dramatized on the show within the miniseries titled American Hero Story where he is played by American Horror Story actor Cheyenne Jackson. The film and stage star will soon appear in a small role in another sci-fi miniseries called Stellar People, this one with a more comedic edge, as well as a humorous cinematic adaptation of the medieval horror video game Werewolves Within. He also has a role in the upcoming Fox sitcom Call Me Kat starring Mayim Bialik, who is also executive producing with her former The Big Bang Theory co-star Jim Parsons.

James Wolk (Senator Joseph Keene Jr.)

Set on carrying out the legacy of his father, who authored the act that outlawed costumed vigilantes, is the insidious Senator Joseph Keene Jr., played in Watchmen by James Wolk – whom DC fans might also recognize as the voice of Superman on Kaley Cuoco's animated Harley Quinn series. The Mad Men actor will soon return to reality as part of the cast of Spinning Gold, a biopic chronicling the career of Casablanca Records co-founder Neil Bogart (played by Supergirl star Jeremy Jordan), and will lead upcoming series Ordinary Joe in the title role of a man living in three parallel realities.

Frances Fisher (Jane Crawford)

Starring as Judd Crawford's wife Jane is Frances Fisher, who has been very successful in film and TV alike for decades, having played a vengeful prostitute in Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven, Rose's mother in Titanic, and, more recently, James Holden's mother, Elise, in the acclaimed sci-fi drama The Expanse. The English actress will continue her versatile career with many upcoming projects, including war movies, a post-apocalyptic sci-fi thriller called Awake, and the animated coming-of-age story The Potters.

Be sure to check back for more information on HBO’s Watchmen, as well as additional updates on cast members from your favorite movies and TV shows, here on CinemaBlend.

One of the best things about all of 2019 was, without a doubt, Damon Lindelof's stunningly realized Watchmen adaptation, and it's a bummer knowing that Lindelof probably won't be handling a second season. However, the absolute worst thing about 2020 so far, the COVID-19 pandemic, has shockingly delivered a brief and topical return to the Watchmen universe via a hand-washing PSA that features stars such as Regina King, Jean Smart and more reprising their iconic roles.

Accompanied by signature scoring from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, the brilliantly titled "Washmen" was shared by Damon Lindelof on Instagram, and can be viewed below.

For a quick rundown on all the awesome Watchmen stars who pop up in the cheeky PSA, we have Tim Blake Nelson as Wade "Looking Glass" Tillman, Jovan Adepo as young Will Reeves, Yahya Abdul-Mateen III as Cal Abar / Doctor Manhattan, Jean Smart as Laurie Blake, Dustin Ingram as Agent Petey (or Lube Man, if you prefer), Sara Vickers as Ms. Crookshanks, Tom Mison as Mr. Phillips, Regina King as Angela "Sister Night" Abar, and Andrew Howard as Red Scare. A big blue round of applause to all involved for diving back into character for this.

Ever since the COVID-19 crisis first started keeping people in their homes, social media has been bombarded with videos of celebrity-fueled PSAs like this, with some of them slightly more self-aware than other arguably misguided attempts. But at no point has anyone offered advice as perfect as what Agent Petey gives (while amusingly dressed as Sister Night):

Of course, Laurie Blake's hand-washing scree is even more amusing, though not necessarily something for everyone to commit to memory. And I also rather like Ms. Crookshanks falling back on old habits by singing "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" as she scrubs up. And if there was an honorary award to grant to anyone in the video, it would go to Tim Mison for calling back to the various versions of Mr. Phillips, while also throwing in a solidly gruff impression of Jeremy Irons' Adrian Veidt.

Damon Lindelof followed that video up by posting a "thank you" message to everyone who participated in creating this fun PSA.

While it seems like the above video might have been reverse-engineered after the concept of "Washmen" was first conceived, I like to think the video came first, and was followed by a spirited round of off-base pitches: "Who Bathes the Bathesmen? No, that's not right. Who Cleans Up The Cleans-Upsmen? No, still not getting it. Who Anti-Bacterializes The Anti-Bacterializers? Yeah, I think that one. Wait, no..." Not that anyone on Damon Lindelof's creative team is as dumb as that.

Most of America remains hunkered down in our homes for self-quarantining, with a growing desire for fictional superheroes to break through into our reality to provide safety and comfort (and medical supplies). Those heroes ain't comin', but at least we have Watchmen's protagonists around to make sure we're doing our part to keep our mitts clean.

Watchmen is currently available to stream on HBO Go and HBO NOW, with the Blu-ray and DVD sets hitting retailers on June 2 (unless that date gets affected by coronavirus setbacks). While waiting to see if someone else might pick up the reins for Season 2, check out the Marvel comics we'd like to see Damon Lindelof take on.

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Major spoilers below for anyone who isn't currently caught up with Watchmen. You have been warned.

The show that needs no introduction beyond one of the most respected comic book works in the medium's history, HBO's Watchmen delivered another bamboozling time-spanning installment with Episode 5. I'd have called it a head-scratcher, only it's futile trying to scratch my head through the reflective material in the hat I'm wearing. To be expected, it delivered a slew of direct and thematic references to Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' Watchmen comic series.

Perhaps unexpectedly, though, Damon Lindelof & Co. answered some pretty big questions with "Little Fear of Lightning." Not only did viewers get to learn Looking Glass' origin story, so to speak, but we also learned that it tied directly back to Viedt's squid hoax. The episode heavily mirrored the comic book's reflection-geared fifth issue, and contained a slew of visual callbacks to the source material, particularly in that wild opening sequence.

For those who haven't been keeping up with our comic book reference rundowns, check out everything we found in Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3 and Episode 4. (And for those who need a new copy of Watchmen for their home library, check this link.)

Comic Newspaper Headlines As Radio Broadcasts

Watchmen's pages were filled with newspaper headlines that served to build up the alt-history world around the core characters, and this episode's title screen incorporated a selection of headlines as radio news broadcasts. Included were "Eastern Europe: Tanks Mass As Conflict Escalates" seen in Chapter X, "California Governor Urges Hard Line" seen in Chapter VIII, and "French Withdraw Military Commitment From NATO" from the newspaper The Comedian was reading at that all-important meeting of the Crimebusters in Chapter I. (I admittedly couldn't pick out what one of them was.)

The Veidt Method Ad

The episode started off on that infamous day in 1985, at a New Jersey carnival, where we get a clear shot of the oft-seen advertisement for the self-help book The Veidt Method, as located on the back cover of the Black Freighter comic book. The book focused on Adrian Veidt's near-superhuman mental and physical prowess, while also espousing his various philosophies and world-views.

One of GWAR's more transparent mottos was "Castrate All Rapists," and their logo was the traditional female symbol, only with teeth drawn into the loop at the top. That symbol, which was perhaps meant to call to mind Vagina Dentata imagery, also resembles the squid's freaky mouth, though obviously not intentionally.

Like many things put out into the world by Veidt in the 1980s and beyond, The Veidt Method was little more than a farce, considering only the tiniest percentage of its readers would be able to come close to developing Ozymandias-level abilities, if anyone. It definitely wouldn't have helped anyone reading it in New York City on 11/2.

Pale Horse Concert Poster

The band Pale Horse served as a mostly unseen presence in Watchmen's comic issues, with its name a Biblical reference to the steed that Death rode in on with the other Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Hell was certainly brought to Madison Square Garden on the night of their big concert, which coincided with the squid monster's nightmarish arrival. Watchmen delivered the ultimate comic book tie-in with the first volume of its official soundtrack series, the faux Sons of Pale Horse album The Book of Rorschach, which was filled with intriguing background tie-in information.

In the TV show, it appeared on a building wall just outside the street carnival that Looking Glass attended. Sadly, it would be the last big marketing promotion the band got, though Paula Malcomson's Seventh Kavalry member Renee did reveal in this world, Steven Spielberg directed the Oscar-sweeping biopic Pale Horse: The Movie, which featured a girl in a red coat calling out for her mother. So does that mean he didn't do Jurassic Park and/or Schindler's List?

Top-Knots

In Watchmen's version of the early '80s, people across the country had adopted the upper-head ponytail hairstyle known unaffectionately as the top-knot. It was heavily implied that this style was made popular by the lead singer of the band Pale Horse, but the fact that an assorted number of criminals also sported top-knots kept things fairly ambiguous concerning the general public's opinions about the hairdo. The Watchmen series prominently displayed a few characters rocking the look at the street carnival.

Gay Women Against Rape Poster

Another big comic reference that appeared near the New Jersey street carnival was a poster for the militant feminist group GWAR – not to be confused with the theatrical hard rock band – whose name stands for Gay Women Against Rape. Though the top of the poster is cut off, it can be safely assumed that the poster was an advertisement for the Benefit Concert being headlined by the gay-friendly band Pink Triangle, which was a referenced event within the comic book.

Watchmen's Palindromic Fifth Issue

Once young Wade Tillman entered the carnival funhouse's hall of mirrors, it became abundantly clear that this episode was a deliberate homage to Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' fifth Watchmen issue, which orchestrated Rorschach's framing and false arrest for the murder of former crime boss Moloch. The issue itself was a palindrome that started and ended on similar notes, utilizing all manner of visual synchronicity throughout, including Watchmen's only two-page splash during the (fake) attempt to murder Adrian Veidt.

The Watchmen TV show tackled that concept beautifully with this fifth episode, which is not coincidentally the exact mid-point of Watchmen's nine-episode season. Wade's mind broke on 11/2, thanks not only to the squid disaster, but also to the anti-religious female who left him naked and self-hating amidst all of his reflections. (His mind obviously didn't break quite as much as those who died that night.) Both incidents informed the man who became Looking Glass, and perfectly set up the way he allowed Sister Night to implicate herself in Judd's murder, in that she would be sent into a dangerous abyss after being stripped of her Sister Night persona.

It was a genius replication of Rorschach's fall from grace, down to the super-violent inciting incident that allowed the vigilante mindset to take over. In the comic, Rorschach mentally usurped Walter Kovacs following his brutal discovery of a child killer, whose dogs were feasting on the victims' bones. (Both Looking Glass and Rorschach came out of their respective situations covered in blood, too.) And even when the narrative wasn't folding in on itself, director Steph Green filled the screen with repeating reflections that drove the theme home.

Adrian Veidt's Squid Monster Disaster

This episode gloriously affixed an exclamation mark to all of the talk surrounding the monstrous act that killed over 3 million people and mentally debilitated many others. Yes, Damon Lindelof's creative team WENT THERE in the opening minutes and delivered the multi-tentacled money shot that Watchmen fanatics had never seen in live-action before. Following Wade's personal nightmare, the camera took to the sky and flew over various fires and blackouts before arriving at the super-gnarly source of it all: Veidt's giant squid monster bursting through the Institute of Extraspatial Studies where the teleportation tech was housed.

While Zack Snyder's 2009 film opted not to directly adapt the squid hoax, the HBO series dove in with both feet, giving fans a comic-faithful eyeful (pun intend-squid) of the deadly monster and the destruction its world-altering arrival caused. I mean, I feel back for all those people who died, but hot damn, was it a jolt to see that one-eyed fucker (to quote LG) up close and impersonal.

Watchmen: 6 Thoughts About HBO's Show From Someone Who Didn't Read The Comic

The Importance Of Titles

"Little Fear of Lightning" is a piece of a quote taken from a longer line in Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: "If there were no thunder, men would have little fear of lightning." The connections between that work and Watchmen are fairly obvious, considering both concern the hazardous impact of a freaky-looking creature, and they both feature main characters driven to ideological extremes by their obsessions. Haven't we heard the name Nemo on this show somewhere already?

Looking Glass Loves Him Some Beans

Not for the first time, the Watchmen TV show featured Looking Glass sitting back and having himself a few spoonfuls of beans, taken straight from the can. Rorschach notably favored the same kind of sustenance in the comic book, though its presence in this Rorschach-driven episode feels slightly more meaningful.

Hooded Justice And Captain Metropolis' Relationship

Looking Glass was watching an American Hero Story: Minutemen episode that featured a lewd-though-mostly-costumed sex scene between the Golden Age vigilantes Hooded Justice and Captain Metropolis, whose romantic relationship wasn't public knowledge until Under the Hood's publication. Though Metropolis (a.k.a. Nelson Gardner) wanted Hooded Justice to take his hood off, the latter claims his face will never be seen, which ties into Hooded Justice's ambiguous fate and identity within the Watchmen universe. Gardner does state in the Before Watchmen: Minutemen series (where Hooded Justice is supposedly killed) that he never did learn of his former lover's identity.

More Squids!

The episode hammers home just how heavily Wade Tillman was knocked for a loop by the events on 11/2, to the point where he completed a residency training program in Extraterrestrial Squid Science, focusing on the erroneous line of thinking that there were other psychic creatures out there potentially waiting to destroy another part of the world. Who would have guessed that Looking Glass would keep a newspaper clipping from the squid disaster on his wall near his security system and (squi)diploma. It's also meaningful that, as Wade, he leads a support group of people stuff suffering from Veidt's scheme.

Happy Harry's Smiley-O's

The sugar-less breakfast cereal being served to the focus group kids is a trifecta of comic references. The most obvious is the central smiley face image, calling to mind The Comedian's non-bloodied button. The second is the rocket ship toy included, with its weirdly old-school design calling to mind the space race that coincided with Doctor Manhattan's rise in prominence.

The third reference, which is also the most bizarre, is the company Happy Harry's. In the Watchmen comic book, Happy Harry's is the skeezy NYC bar often populated by untrustworthy criminals. Rorschach used it as a hub of information that he can violently extract from its unwilling patrons, so it's rather mind-blowing to see the name affixed to a kid-friendly breakfast food. Is it a coincidence, or did the events of 11/2 inspire Happy Harry to trade bar-owning for food production?

Forever Pet

I'd previously brought up Adrian Veidt's humanoid clones Mr. Phillips and Ms. Crookshank when referencing the cloning elements of Watchmen's comic narrative, but the company Forever Pet is a more direct callback to Veidt's genetically modified pet Bubastis. The creature was sacrificed in the final issue and then cloned for the recent Doomsday Clock arc, and the antagonist's adoration for his potentially semi-sentient pet is embodied in the goal that Forever Pet shares of allowing owners to keep their loved animals with them for life.

Since we're on the subject, I think that Bubastis' death is mirrored in the offhandedly casual way that Eileen Grubba's Cynthia, ex-wife of Looking Glass, disposes of that minutely imperfect dog clone. It's a non-visual death that viewers can assume is painless and instantaneous, which is perhaps intentionally the opposite of Rorschach's dog experience.

Nostalgia Pills

Will's medicine bottle, which is possibly just a Macguffin to lure Angela's Sister Night into the deeper plot, was revealed to contain Nostalgia pills. In the Watchmen comic, Nostalgia was the popular perfume whose marketing campaign was Veidt's thematic precursor to his squid plot.

In the TV show, the Nostalgia name has been taken over by pills containing memories that are somehow imparted to those who digest the meds. It's a very interesting evolution of the concept, though the process isn't yet fully understandable, assuming it ever will be. Taking the pills causes psychosis, which isn't good for Angela, who chugged down the bottle's contents.

Tobacco Is A No-No

The Watchmen comics handle smoking in unique ways, in that characters mainly either smoke hand-rolled cigarettes or they use the kind of glass ball-shaped pipes that Laurie kept handy. Episode 2 featured the cigar-smoking German, and Episode 5 revealed through Renee's makeshift cigarettes that tobacco became a controlled substance at some point before 2019. Not that Renee was very secretive about her vices at any point, and her actions were possibly a clever maneuver to attract the anti-authority side of Looking Glass' personality.

The 7K's Blue-Hued Teleporters

Veidt's Institute for Extraspatial Science utilized Doctor Manhattan's intelligence and physics-altering behavior for human-world applications, with the teleportation technology arguably being the most nefarious influence. It turns out the Seventh Kavalry is attempting to replicate this technology in the building housing their fake church set. With Doctor Manhattan's signature blue glow coming from the machines, the criminal organization has yet to perfect the technique – they're currently sending basketballs to seemingly random locations – for use in their yet-to-be-revealed sinister plot. This is presumably part of what the members were collecting all those watch batteries for, and it would be thematically fitting for Doctor Manhattan to once again be somewhat responsible for any impending destruction.

That Wall Of Screens

Adrian Veidt is a big fan of sitting before a variety of TV screens so that he can soak up all of the information that he can take in, and his familiar array isn't the only collection of screens that show up in Watchmen's comic book. On the TV show, which apparently hasn't embraced gigantic flat-screen monitors, Looking Glass is shown Adrian Veidt's video via just such a multi-view display. As if there was any other way for the mogul's message to have been presented.

Veidt's Confession Video

While Watchmen's sizable audience knew that the public now believes Adrian Veidt to be dead after a seven-year disappearance, the TV show hasn't fulled delved into what happened with him after the 11/2 massacre. In Episode 5, however, the Seventh Kavalry-leading Senator Keene showed Looking Glass an hours-long video (that was pirated, yuk yuk) of Jeremy Irons' Veidt blatantly confessing to perpetrating the squid hoax, which understandably upends Looking Glass' paranoia-fueled world. The video was recorded on November 11, 1985, and it basically confirmed his comic book machinations, while also anecdotally confirming that Veidt was partially responsible for getting the liberal-minded Robert Redford elected as President.

Mercy Fragrance

As discussed earlier, Veidt used fragrances as part of his pre-squid plotting, with Nostalgia being his most prominent effort. This episode had Looking Glass overseeing a focus group testing the perfume Mercy, and though it isn't stated who was behind the fragrance's creation, I think we can agree that we're meant to read into this in the same way that the comic perfume was.

Other Random Thoughts

I like that the play Oppenheimer was the one on display during the Come Back to New York promo. J. Robert Oppenheimer was, of course, the physicist involved in the infamous Manhattan Project who, among others, earned the unofficial moniker "the father of the atomic bomb." This is assumedly indicative of the public's more science-based interests thanks to Doctor Manhattan.

Can we assume that Lady Trieu's daughter – if that actually is her daughter, so to speak – has been given some of those Nostalgia pills, which caused her Vietnam-related nightmares?

I wasn't sure whether or not Renee and the other 7K member counted as far as the whole "Two Riders Were Approaching" theme goes in Watchmen, but I have to assume a later episode will delve into that idea more heavily.

I'm definitely going to do some heavy thinking about where in the hell Adrian Veidt is right now, and how he knew that satellite was going to be flying by at that precise moment.

Join us again each week for more Watchmen-obsessed fun when the HBO series airs every Sunday night at 9:00 p.m. ET.

One might think there would be a tipping point for superheroes on TV, but we are definitely not there yet. And HBO knows it, with the network going forward with its mega-ensemble adaptation of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' seminal graphic novel Watchmen. With the series premiere now here, Damon Lindelof's episodic take on the superhero saga can finally start to show off its stunning cast.

Given HBO's history with original programming, it's no surprise that Watchmen rocks a bunch of talented stars. So let's take a look at all the Watchmen cast members and characters we know so far. It's possible that even more new characters will be revealed as the season goes on, too.

Don Johnson - Chief Judd Crawford

Former Miami Vice frontman Don Johnson has gone through a TV renaissance in recent years, from the short-lived Blood & Oil to the comedy Sick Note to Fox's cancelled LA to Vegas. But while he's always been a badass, he's never been part of the comics, and Watchmen should be a fantastic start. His character Judd Crawford will be Angela's boss and the chief of police in the story.

Regina King - Detective Angela Abar/ Sister Night

From American Crime to The Leftovers to The Boondocks, Regina King knows a little something about making popular and wildly acclaimed TV. Watchmen will hopefully be just as popular and critically adored, and I would bet money on King being a big part of that appeal. Her character Detective Angela Abar fights injustice as a member of the masked police force under her hero pseudonym Sister Night. Details on her character are still pretty sparse, but we've wondered if there's a Silk Spectre connection.

Tim Blake Nelson - Looking Glass

One of cinema's most fantastic character actors, most notably within the Coen brothers' filmography, Tim Blake Nelson has popped up in two comic book movies that weren't the most memorable, but Watchmen should change all that. Empire reported Nelson's been cast as an Oklahoman cop who may be a sociopath named Looking Glass. Looking Glass sports a silver reflective mask that is the perfect accessory to help people remember his name.

Lou Gossett Jr. - Will Reeves

With such classics as Roots, An Officer and a Gentlemen and Iron Eagle in his past, Lou Gossett Jr. has appeared in so many TV shows and movies, it's hard to keep up. Most recently, he could be seen in the now-cancelled Hap and Leonard and in Season 1 of The Good Fight, with many more projects on the horizon. Gossett plays Will Reeves who, according to EW, is a survivor of the Tulsa 1921 race riots.

Adelaide Clemens - ???

Having starred in one of TV's most powerful dramas, Rectify, Adelaide Clemens certainly had work cut out for her in finding an equally noteworthy follow-up show. Clemens was initially reported to play Pirate Jenny in this modern sequel, though that role ended up going to another actress.

Andrew Howard - Red Scare

Having appeared in some of the most popular shows on TV, actor Andrew Howard is no stranger to the world of action and comic book stories. He was part of the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. cast some years back, and has been seen in Limitless, Hell on Wheels, 24: Legacy, The Brave and Bates Motel. He plays Red Scare in Watchmen, and dons a red track suit while working with the police department.

Jeremy Irons - Adrian Veidt/Ozymandias (Probably)

Jeremy Irons has a long history of prestigious and popular projects in showbiz, ranging from playing Alfred in the DC extended universe to Rodrigo Borgia in The Borgias to Scar himself in The Lion King. He even won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1991 for his performance in Reversal of Fortune. Slashfilm has reported that Irons will be playing Adrian Veldt, aka Ozymandias, in what will be an older version of the ego-mad quasi-villain.

Tom Mison - Mr. Phillips

Prior to 2013, Tom Mison was primarily known for projects filmed across the pond. Pride and Prejudice fans will recognize his character's name, Mr. Bingley, from the 2008 miniseries Lost in Austen on ITV, and he was back on the miniseries circuit in 2012 with Parade's End. In 2013, he debuted as Ichabod Crane in Sleepy Hollow, which ran for four seasons. His Watchmen character is named Mr. Phillips, a servant to Adrian Veldt.

Frances Fisher - Jane Crawford

Despite a long and prosperous career, Frances Fisher is probably still best known for her role as Rose's mom in Titanic. More recently, she had multi-episode runs on Resurrection, Criminal Minds, Masters of Sex, and Swedish Dicks, as well as a memorable appearance in Fargo. Like Tom Mison, she appeared in a project based on Pride and Prejudice will the Hallmark movie Marrying Mr. Darcy. Fisher will play Jane Crawford, the wife of Don Johnson's Judd Crawford.

Jacob Ming-Trent - Panda

The career of Jacob Ming-Trent kicked off back in 2007 with an appearance on Law & Order: Criminal Intent, but he didn't get a bigger break into the TV biz until almost a decade later with AMC's short-lived Feed the Beast in 2016. He followed that up in 2017 with Showtime's White Famous, although that too was cancelled after one season. His Watchmen character is Panda, and all we know about him so far is he wears a giant plush Panda head.

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II - Cal Abar

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II made a name for himself in 2016 with The Get Down, where he played the character Cadillac. He then moved to the big screen for roles in Baywatch and The Greatest Showman. He made a return to streaming television with an episode of The Handmaid's Tale and was featured as the villain Black Manta in Aquaman. In Watchmen, he'll play the husband of Regina King's Angela, Cal Abar.

Sara Vickers - Ms. Crookshanks

Scottish actress Sara Vickers is best-known for her performance as Joan Thursday in Endeavour, which airs on ITV. She's turned in performances in the period pieces The Alienist and The Crown. In 2016, she appeared in the third season of British crime drama Shetland in a stint running six episode. Prior to that, she could be seen in Privates on the BBC. Who does she play in Watchmen? Her character's name is Ms. Crookshanks, but that's about all we know for now.

Jean Smart - Agent Blake/Silk Spectre

Jean Smart has had a couple of memorable gigs on television as of late, but superhero show fans may recognize her as Melanie Bird from FX's recently concluded Legion. Smart will play an FBI agent investigating a murder by the name of Agent Blake. We don't know a ton about Smart's character in the present, though it has been revealed she was formerly the Silk Spectre.

James Wolk - Senator Keane

James Wolk, who was a big part of CBS All Access twisted fairy tale series Tell Me A Story, is apparently playing a sizable role in Watchmen. Wolk will be playing Senator Keane, who as mentioned, will be a big part of Season 1 as it unfolds. We're guessing because of some political policy he'll be in support of, though he could always be a hero or villain in disguise.

Jessica Camacho - ???

From her roles on The Flash, Jessica Camacho is no stranger to superhero shows. Now, she's coming into Watchmen with an unknown role, though some are saying she's playing Pirate Jenny. As mentioned earlier with Adelaide Clemens, there's some discrepancy on who's actually playing that role, but we should know once the season gets rolling.

Hong Chau - Lady Trieu

Hong Chau (Downsizing) will play what is being called a key role in Watchmen. For now, all we know is that Trieu is Vietnamese, which comes from Deadline. The fact that the series is being cagey about her role makes us think there's more to it than is being said, so look for some surprise to come from her character.

Dylan Schombing - ???

He may be one of the younger actors of the lot, but Dylan Schombing has made quite a career for himself in a relatively short time. Schombing appeared in the much-hyped American adaptation of The Slap and had long-running roles on Girlfriends' Guide To Divorce and HBO's Sharp Objects. There are no details or rumors about Schombing's role in Watchmen at this time.

Adelynn Spoon - Emma Abar

Adelynn Spoon is a fresh face to Hollywood with Watchmen being one of her first two roles in Hollywood. Spoon is one of three children involved in the production, and will be playing the child of the Abar family, Emma. Her role is listed as recurring, so it's unknown just how much of an impact her character will have in Season 1.

Lily Rose Smith-???

Lily Rose Smith is another relatively fresh face in Hollywood who has joined the cast of Watchmen, but she has had one sizable role prior to joining. Smith was a part of The Vampire Diaries and played the part of Josie Saltzman from 2015 to 2017. Again, we're not sure how these three children will be incorporated into the show's plot, although we're optimistic Damien Lindelof has something in mind for all of these young talents.

For now, these are all the cast members that Watchmen currently has lined up for its HBO debut. Stay tuned for more announcements, and bookmark our fall and midseason premiere guides for all the new and returning shows hitting primetime soon.

Anyone who caught Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt last year is undoubtedly eagerly waiting for the start of Season 2 to finally get underway. Luckily, its spring start date is just around the corner, and while Ellie Kemper, Tituss Burgess, Carol Kane and Jane Krakowski are all due to return one particularly exemplary co-star won’t be involved: Tim Blake Nelson, who played Randy, the fabulously incompetent step-father to Kimmy Schmidt who was just inept as a state trooper too.

Tim Blake Nelson made this admission to me earlier this week when I sat down to speak to him about his latest directorial effort Anesthesia. Obviously, I couldn’t resist the chance to ask him about a potential return for Season 2 of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, which is when he delivered his devastating news.

Absolutely devastating. A goofy over-the-top Tim Blake Nelson, which is certainly what his performance as Randy can be described as, instantly improves any show or film. Just look at O Brother Where Art Thou?; and Nelson was one of the few people to come out of the disastrous Fantastic Four with any credit, too.

Obviously, the lack of Tim Blake Nelson doesn’t completely wreck Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, but he will still be sorely missed. Of course, that also means the bratty antics of Kiernan Shipka’s Kymmi, Kimmy’s half-sister, will probably be in short supply too.

However, it also suggests that future episodes of the sitcom will see the characters covering fresh, new comedic ground, which it’s always great to hear. Especially since Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is packed to the brim with sensational talent, from Ellie Kemper’s charming leading antics to Tina Fey and Robert Carlock’s pitch perfect writing. Also, let’s not forget Tituss Burgess, who instantly became everyone’s favorite sitcom actor thanks to his constantly hilarious performance as Titus Andromedon.

For those of you that don’t know, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt revolves around the resolute titular character who was previously held hostage in an underground bunker for 15 years as part of a doomsday cult. After breaking free Kimmy moved to New York City, and the show follows her adjustment to modern life. It’s shown on Netflix, has the best theme song currently on television, and will be returning in Spring 2016 for the second season. Here's hoping it gets picked up for Season 3, in which Nelson's Randy can make his triumphant return.

To find out when everything else is premiering and returning over the next few months, check out our midseason TV schedule.

It’s easy to forget that James Franco is a quietly prolific filmmaker. Over the last decade or so, Franco has directed nine films, while he currently has five more in the pipeline. Tim Blake Nelson has now starred, or will star, in five of these films, and he admits that James Franco’s relentless approach to filmmaking inspired his own pursuits on his latest, Anesthesia, which the O Brother, Where Art Thou? actor wrote and directed.

I had the chance to chat with Tim Blake Nelson earlier this week about Anesthesia, during which he talked about how James Franco had been a huge personal influence on simply getting the film written, shot, and out there. Nelson said:

Tim Blake Nelson has worked together with James Franco on a number of the Spider-Man 3 and This Is The End star's projects, including Leave Of Grass, Child Of God, and As I Lay Dying, while he’ll also appear in the upcoming Bukowski and The Long Home.

While a number of James Franco’s films have been met with largely negative reviews, the actor’s directorial efforts have been getting steadily better critical responses. Sure, they’ve not been overwhelmingly popular, but there has clearly been improvement and growth as a filmmaker.

2011’s Sal premiered at the Venice Film Festival, and 2013’s As I Lay Dying was screened in the Un Certain Regard Section at the Cannes Film Festival. There’s also a healthy amount of excitement for the impending Bukowski, Zeroville, In Dubious Battle, and The Disaster Artist, the latter of which revolves around the shooting of The Room, widely regarded to be the worst film ever released.

Meanwhile, Anesthesia marks Tim Blake Nelson’s fifth film as a writer and director, and it revolves around the days leading up to the mugging of Sam Waterston’s Professor Walter Zarrow, and how the people involved in the incident are connected. It’s a subtly affecting drama that slowly builds and is buoyed by fantastic performances.

It also helps that it has an absolutely top-notch cast, with Sam Waterston being joined by Tim Blake Nelson himself, as well as Kristen Stewart, Corey Stoll, Gretchen Mol, Michael Kenneth Williams, and Glenn Close. Anesthesia premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival last April, where it was met with mostly positively reviews, and it finally hits cinemas on Friday.

20th Century Fox had huge plans for Fantastic Four. Sequels were confirmed, while it was even believed that Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan, Kate Mara and Jamie Bell’s quartet would crossover into the same universe as the X-Men. But then the film flopped. Massively. Since then, we’ve been waiting for confirmation regarding the future of Fantastic Four 2. (A movie that still has a release date.) And now Tim Blake Nelson, who starred as Dr. Harvey Allen in the catastrophic blockbuster, has basically confirmed that it won’t be happening.

I had the chance to speak with Nelson over the phone earlier, where we talked about his upcoming film Anesthesia, which he wrote and directed. During our chat, I decided to quiz Tim Blake Nelson for some clarity about Fantastic Four 2, and he admitted that he doesn’t expect it to happen.

While Tim Blake Nelson rather generously insisted that he’s still not 100% sure about The Fantastic Four sequel’s status, I think we can all see that it would be a huge leap of faith for 20th Century Fox to greenlight a follow-up at this juncture.

With 2005’s Fantastic Four and 2007’s Fantastic Four: Rise Of The Silver Surfer deemed as cute but far from weighty additions to the comic-book genre, it was hoped that the 2015 reboot would bring the medium’s favorite foursome to light in a fashion akin to Batman Begins, Iron Man, and Captain America. But production problems soon piled up, which were followed by mandated reshoots, all of which provoked director Josh Trank to send out a Tweet chastising his own film before it was even released.

The public could smell a flop, and they reacted by simply ignoring its release. Fantastic Four grossed just $168 million from a $120 million budget, and because of the tepid response to the original films, it was soon deemed that the series was box office poison.

However, 20th Century Fox had already decided ahead of Fantastic Four’s release that the sequel would happen, even tentatively scheduling its release date for Summer 2017. But the poor response to Trank's Fantastic Four instantly led experts to predict that the film wouldn’t happen.

Then things became murkier, as it was later reported that Fox planned to produce the sequel in an attempt to salvage the franchise, while it was teased that Simon Kinberg, who wrote and produced the original films, would work on the second Fantastic Four film. Tim Blake Nelson’s quote suggests that the film’s future isn’t quite as rosy though. (However, his fate in the Trank story might mean he wouldn't be aware of a sequel... no spoilers.)

Meanwhile, Anesthesia is due out on Friday, and it stars Kristen Stewart, Sam Waterston, Corey Stoll, Gretchen Mol, Glenn Close, as well as Tim Blake Nelson himself. So thankfully, the talented performer is doing just fine.

It can't be a coincidence that Harvey Elder shows up in the new Fantastic Four. Actor Tim Blake Nelson portrays the character, who in the comics becomes the villain known as Mole Man. Though Toby Kebbell’s Doctor Doom is the main antagonist in this new cinematic take on Marvel’s first family, could Fox be laying the ground work to introduce Elder as his villainous self? While at San Diego Comic-Con, we spoke to the stars of Fantastic Four to find out what part he has to play in all of this. 

Miles Teller (Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic), Kate Mara (Sue Storm, Invisible Woman), Michael B. Jordan (Johnny Storm, Human Torch) and Jamie Bell (Ben Grimm, The Thing) spoke to us before entering Hall H for the studio’s panel, and they told us what to expect from Nelson’s pre-Mole Man character. 

In the comics, Elder is a man of high intellect who was shunned. He sought solitude in a rumored underground kingdom. In his pursuit to find it, he became trapped in a series of underground tunnels from where he launched attacks on the surface world. Nelson’s iteration doesn’t seem to fit this bill. Director Josh Trank has taken liberties with the source material, and we’ve seen this particular character in a suit and tie and having some role to fill in the lab where the Fantastic Four work together. 

Based on the actors’ comments, it doesn’t seem like we’ll be seeing Elder become Mole Man in this film. The plot focuses more on the origin story of these characters as they discover their powers and team up to fight Doom. But Fantastic Four 2 is already slated for release on June 9, 2017. Bell also stated that this film nicely sets up a continuation, so keep an eye on Elder. We might not have heard the last of him. 

This version of Fantastic Four tells of how the Reed, Sue, Johnny and Ben received their powers not by cosmic radiation, but by traveling to an alternate dimension. Along with their buddy Victor, the trip changes their physical makeup and, as Mara pointed out, they all react to this change in different ways. They have to learn the ways of their new abilities and to work as team fast, though, because Doom is coming. And by Doom we mean the electrically charged Doctor Doom. 

Actor Tim Blake Nelson made his comic book movie debut in 2008 when he starred as a nerdy, awkward scientist in The Incredible Hulk, and now he's reportedly getting ready to head back to the genre... to play a nerdy, awkward scientist in Josh Trank's upcoming Fantastic Four reboot.

The news of the casting comes from The Hollywood Reporter, which says that Nelson is currently in negotiations but has not yet officially signed on. Should he put his name by the proverbial X, however, he will play Harvel Elder, a scientist who is shunned from society due to his physical appearance and is forced underground, eventually taking on the name Mole Man. Beneath the surface he controls an army of monsters known as Moloids. The trade's sources say that Nelson will not actually become Mole Man in the movie, but that he is set up to become a villain in a future sequel.

In case you're unaware of what Mole Man looks like in the comics, you can get a gander at him below (along with some of his Moloids):

Even beyond the simple comic book movie scientist connection, this whole situation actually sounds remarkably similar to his part in The Incredible Hulk. In that film, Nelson starred as Dr. Samuel Sterns, a professor who works to try and help Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) get rid of the monster living inside him. During a confrontation with the Abomination (Tim Roth) late in the film, a drop of Banner's blood gets into a cut on his head, and it's teased that Dr. Sterns will eventually become the Hulk supervillain known as The Leader. Nelson has suggested that he would still be up for playing that role and presumably still has a contract with Marvel Studios, but the fact that he is joining the Fox's version of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (which also includes the X-Men) suggests that it probably never will.

The Fantastic Four cast already includes a group of very talented young actors, including Miles Teller (as Mr. Fantastic), Michael B. Jordan (as The Human Torch) , Kate Mara (as Invisible Woman), Jamie Bell (as The Thing) and Toby Kebbell (as villain Victor von Doom). Simon Kinberg is being credited with writing the script for the film, but the project has been in development for years and years and has gone through many hands in that time. Josh Trank will helm the film as a follow-up to his feature directorial debut Chronicle, and production has already begun in target of a June 19, 2015 release date.

O Brother, Where Art Thou?’s Tim Blake Nelson is pretty familiar with actors stepping behind the camera. He’s gone behind the lens on several occasions himself, most notably for 2010’s wonderful Leaves Of Grass, and now, he’s signed up to help two of his fellow actors work on their own directorial projects.

The first of the two films is being directed by James Franco, and it is entitled Bukowski. It’ll follow the title author/ post office employee/ drunk/ madman, Charles Bukowski, through his traumatic childhood and high school years. Nelson will play the writer’s abusive father who continually gets into physical altercations with his son.

The second of the two films comes from Tommy Lee Jones, and it’s entitled Homesman. The current Oscar nominee will direct from a script he co-wrote. The action centers around a shady character and a cheap school teacher who concoct a scheme to transport three women over the Western plains in an ox-drawn wagon. Nelson will play a thief looking to pilfer one of the females, which is a key way in which the script seems to separate itself from the beloved children’s game Oregon Trail.

Nelson has served as a ringer in many a movie. The noted character actor has a way of swooping in and stealing scenes, and if these two directors are lucky, he’ll deliver exactly on that reputation.

Both efforts are set to shoot in the next few months. Neither has a release date yet, but given the time frame, they likely won’t be out until very late 2013, or more likely, early in 2014. Until then, try not to die of dysentery.

We've all seen your standard bank robbery movie. You have the smart, well organized criminals and you have the scared hostages. Depending on what movie you're watching, sometimes you're hoping that that the folks in masks get away with the money and sometimes you're hoping they get brought to justice. So what happens when you bring in a second group of bank robbers? Well, you get Flypaper.

The first trailer for the heist comedy, starring Patrick Dempsey, Ashley Judd, Tim Blake Nelson and Mekhi Phifer, has arrived online. Written by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore (the guys who wrote The Hangover), the film is about a man trapped in a bank when two groups of criminals - one highly trained and professional, the other bumbling and idiotic - try and rob the bank at the same time. Grasping an opportunity, he tries to make it so that both teams get what they want and nobody has to die. Unfortunately, it seems that there's another plan in motion at the same time.

Check out the trailer below or in HD over on Yahoo!

It's not secret that I'm a fan of Louis Leterrier's The Incredible Hulk. While certainly not a perfect movie, it did a fine job handling the character and featured strong performances from Edward Norton, Tim Roth and William Hurt. After making only $134 million domestically on a $150 million budget and recasting the lead for The Avengers, however, it's unlikely that we will ever see a continuation of the film's storyline, which would have involved Samuel Sterns, played by Tim Blake Nelson, turning into The Leader, one of Hulk's greatest foes. But that doesn't mean that Nelson has stopped hoping.

The Playlist recently spoke with the actor/director who confirmed that he does have a contract to make more movies under the Marvel banner and would love the chance to play the villain. "It’s a question as to whether they’ll make more movies, which was the [original] intention, or whether they’ll take a fresh start with the villains," Nelson said. Another hurdle is the fact that Mark Ruffalo has replaced Norton in the role of Bruce Banner, meaning that any future movies would likely continue with a new story and abandon Nelson. Ruffalo recently suggested that there could be another solo film for the character in the works, but wasn't pressed as to how Leterrier's film would fit in.

Because the next Hulk film would come out after Joss Whedon's The Avengers, it's hard to imagine that they would reboot the character entirely (though I suppose they could get away with it by calling it a prequel). On that note, should they decide to give Hulk another shot at a lone effort, they should continue on with the established path and give Nelson a chance to show off what he can do.

A trailer for Edward Norton's comedy Leaves of Grass has debuted at Apple.com, and I have to admit, after seeing it I still didn’t really get any sense of what the movie is actually about. Norton plays two identical twin brothers who couldn’t be more opposite if one was a bird and one was a fish. One’s a country bumpkin who’s gotten himself into a spot of trouble, and one is a city slicker who has to head back to Oklahoma to help him out. That’s about all I could gather.

From there the trailer jumps into gun fights and one-liners without actually getting into why one brother is in the shit and how his fancy brother being there will save him. But the movie does look pretty funny, and Edward Norton never fails at bringing his A game, so with him doing dual roles this one could turn out pretty great.

I hope Norton isn’t expecting Oscar consideration though, because they don’t seem to like when one actor plays two characters brilliantly (Eff you Academy for snubbing Sam Rockwell this year). Leave of Grass hits theaters April 2nd; you can check out the trailer below.