June is Pride Month, and there are plenty of LGBTQ+ folks and their allies who are looking for queer stories to watch. While not exactly a queer rom-com, folks with an HBO Max subscription were recently treated to the streaming release of Harry Lighton's Pillion. I was excited to watch the steamy movie from my home, and it really made the Fifty Shades movies look as wholesome as When Harry Met Sally.

I wanted to see Pillion in theaters, but was too busy back in February when it arrived in US theaters. I was shocked by its sexual content and its portrayal of a dom/sub relationship, as well as its graphic nudity. Overall, I'm surprised this movie was even able to be made and given a wide theatrical release.

Pillion Was Way Steamier And NSFW Than I Thought

Pillion wasn't what I expected, which is very much a compliment. I was hooked on the movie the minute Alexander Skarsgård's Ray entered the film and began to train Harry Melling's Colin as his submissive. In many ways, it felt like the audience was in Colin's POV, getting more invested methodically from their meeting at a bar to them eventually engaging in a committed relationship. Just not the one you typically expect from queer love stories on film.

Indeed, Ray makes it clear to Colin that they are not in "love" the way most relationships play out. Instead, he's in complete control, telling Colin what to wear and having him serve him in and out of the bedroom. And while it's undeniable that Skarsgård's character is easy on the eyes, the actual reality of the dom/sub dynamic is intense and more than I assume most people would be able to handle. There's also a ton of nudity, including close-up shots of Ray's (prosthetic) penis, which has the potential to be a big shock.

For instance, Colin must shave his head and sleep on the floor while Ray sleeps on his comfortable bed. He also cooks all his meals and gives up complete control over his own body when the two are sexual. I couldn't help but think of how PG-13 the Fifty Shades movies were in comparison; I mean, Dakota Johnson's Anastasia would never put up with Ray's demands.

As a queer person, I'm at least partly aware of how these dom/sub relationships work. But I think it's pretty remarkable that Pillion was filmed and released, and is now streaming on a major platform like HBO Max. I have a feeling that straight folks out there might be in for a ton of surprises is they decide to give the movie a try because they love True Blood's Alexander Skarsgård and want to check out a relatively new release. As for LGBTQ+ audiences, I think this movie is a perfect Pride watch, and is more than just steamy scenes.

Pillion is streaming now on HBO Max as part of the 2026 movie release list. Just beware: the movie is definitely not suitable for work.

The Skarsgård family is very talented, and this year, they’re being recognized for it. Specifically, Stellan Skarsgård has been on the awards circuit for his performance in Sentimental Value, which earned him a 2026 Oscar nomination. However, for a little bit, his son Alexander was doing award season with him, and the Andor actor shared some sweet thoughts about getting to share this time with his kid (even though they also talked a lot of smack).

Since Stellan Skarsgård won at the 2026 Golden Globes and earned his Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor, he’s continued on the awards trail. Now, while Alexander’s movie, Pillion (which recently premiered on the 2026 movie schedule and is currently in theaters), didn’t make as big a splash, he was on the trail for a while, and he got to be on it with his dad. Speaking to Variety about how much he loved doing all this with his son, the Good Will Hunting actor explained:

It really was lovely to see the father-son duo celebrating their fantastic films. It was also a blast to see them consistently ribbing and poking fun at one another.

For example, last year, the Skarsgårds talked smack about who should win during awards season, seeing as they both would have been up for supporting actor awards. They also got to do interviews together, like Actors on Actors, which is where this smack talk happened, and we got to see them joke about having a “gloves off” battle.

Of course, the trolling didn’t end there. Alexander joked that he would be “orchestrating a massive smear campaign” against his father. However, the True Blood actor has also made it clear that it had been a “joy” to do all this with his pops. Considering awards season is made up of a lot of festivals, parties and awards shows, the people in the nominated movies see a lot of each other. So, this made it so the father-son duo could spend some quality time together while also working. Talk about a win-win.

Now, two things could have made this whole situation better. One is obviously an Oscar nomination for Alexander. Then, his brilliant work in Pillion would have been recognized, and he could have continued poking fun at his dad while celebrating both films. The other, as Stellan pointed out, was having Bill Skarsgård with them. He’s also a very accomplished actor, and what’s better than two Skarsgårds? Three.

Although I will say, despite only Stellan getting a nomination, the smack talk and nice comments have continued. Alexander had a funny reaction to his dad’s nod, and they’ve both been clear about how proud they are of each other.

So, all around its been lovely and funny to see these two joking around and celebrating each other. Now, I’m kind of hoping Alexander accompanies his dad to the Oscars this year. Well, to see if that happens and if Stellan Skarsgård takes home the gold, you can catch The Academy Awards on March 15 at 7 p.m. ET on ABC.

Alexander Skarsgard is an actor whom I enjoy watching because he doesn’t play it safe with projects. When I heard about Pillion, I said sure why not? I haven’t watched many romantic movies about BDSM. The dom/sub lifestyle is not for everyone, so some view it as a dark dynamic, and that sometimes reflects in movies. I watched Pillion, unsure about whether it positively or negatively portrayed BDSM culture.

I also wasn’t sure if the film would showcase Colin (Harry Melling) and Ray’s (Alexander Skarsgård) relationship as toxic and abusive or as an inspiring love story. Pillion had a much more complex conversation about these characters and this subculture.

That’s what made me enjoy it.

Warning: Pillion spoilers are ahead. Proceed with caution.

I Worried That Pillion Would Glamorize Toxic Relationships

I loved Secretary when I first watched it. It’s one of James Spader and Maggie Gyllenhaal’s best movies, so it’s a very entertaining movie. However, if I rewatched it, I may see the relationship as too toxic to support. Additionally, I now view some fictional couples that I used to love at a different time in my life, but now see as a toxic representation of romance. I know sometimes the film industry misrepresents the BDSM community.

It makes it more toxic than people claim it is. I know nothing about it, besides reading or seeing a few articles or clips about it. However, I agree that it’s often shown in a toxic way. This sometimes also means that the romance between a dom/sub can be represented as loving and mutual, or extreme abuse of a power dynamic, even if it starts consensual.

I also know Pillion is a comedy. Therefore, I didn’t expect a major dissection of the BDSM community and the levels of toxicity or care in it. I anticipated a fun, potential romantic movie about an LGBTQ+ dom/sub dynamic. Though Ray could be toxic at times, I don’t think the movie wants to showcase this relationship as dangerous for Colin.

The film has more layers than just labeling some aspects of BDSM as right or wrong, good or bad. Pillion wants to show how Colin and Ray’s relationship works, and what they both ended up enjoying from it, until one tries to change the established rules.

Instead, It’s A Movie About Self-Discovery

I think the Pillion ending leaves room for interpretation. It’s not a wild ending, but a movie where people may project their own experiences and beliefs on it. I don’t think there is a right or wrong way to view it. However, I viewed it as, despite having his heart broken by Ray, Colin’s embracing of his new identity. He is willing to try again at love. He didn’t simply want a new relationship, but wanted a new dom. He discovers that he loves the dom/sub dynamic.

I think the importance of Pillion is less about the Ray and Colin relationship (and whatever kinky things they do) and more about Colin’s journey of self-discovery. He starts the film timid, shy, and confused. He’s an introvert who seems not to have many friends or hobbies. His parents are his closest friends.

As a gay man, he also doesn’t seem to have had many romantic relationships. He’s not scared or hiding his sexuality. He just hasn’t found his place within that community. Colin needs to gain confidence and a sense of self. Ray gives him this. The BDSM community also provides this self-discovery for Colin. Pillion’s best scenes involve the other dom/sub relationships embracing Colin as their own.

He gains a whole community while dating Ray. His relationships with the community seem more transformative than his one with Ray. Ray is the gateway into this world, but the community makes it shine and important.

Pillion Is A Queer Coming Out Movie, But Not In A Traditional Sense

Many great LGBTQ+ movies showcase queer characters finding their identity in a standard way. It’s a coming-out story with the main character searching for acceptance from their family and friends. These are moving, empowering movies. However, sometimes it’s nice to encounter films that are different from the standard. Pillion is one of these movies.

It’s a coming-of-age and a coming-out movie, but not from the perspective of a character trying to accept his queerness. He’s finding his identity within the LGBTQ+ community. The BDSM community is where he feels most comfortable. People don’t understand Ray and Colin’s relationship. That’s okay, because they enjoy it. Ray and Colin’s relationship becomes complicated because Colin seems fine with the dynamic at first.

Then he tries to change things. I don’t think this shows that Colin doesn’t like or belong within this world. It shows that Ray just might not be the right dom for him. Colin needs someone who can be a true dom, but with some compromise. He doesn’t mind being submissive but may want occasional kissing and dates with his dom.

The right partner will accommodate him.

It Shows Good And Bad Sides Of BDSM, Which Makes It Feel More Realistic Than Other Depictions

I want to make it very clear that I know very little about BDSM and the dom/sub lifestyle. Therefore, I don’t know what’s an accurate portrayal or what’s extremely inaccurate. However, I imagine that these relationships can turn toxic. The whole idea is someone dominating someone else. Usually, the person is willing to participate. When Colin meets Ray, he isn’t aware of this lifestyle and finds himself thrown into it. He has to learn, grow, and figure out things along the way.

He doesn’t know that he enjoys this dynamic until he experiences it. It makes sense that the two men would clash on their wants and needs because Colin is just learning to understand them. Ray is very familiar with this world. He’s not willing to compromise, and that causes problems. This clash leads to conflict in the relationship, which partly makes it toxic.

However, Ray really likes Colin. He tries to change a little to give him what he needs. Ultimately, he realizes he cannot be what Colin needs because this changes his identity and the nature of their relationship. The dom/sub relationship doesn’t work for Ray the way Colin wants it. Nevertheless, it’s kind that Ray even tries a little for him.

I imagine, like all relationships, dom/sub ones are complicated. There are bad and good parts, but the most important necessities are trust, communication, and satisfaction in a way that meets both partners’ needs. I think Pillion showcases that side of the BDSM world well. It felt more realistic than some movies that treat it with judgment or a lack of understanding.

And, Pillion Is Oddly Romantic

I would not put Pillion in the conversation of the best romantic comedies, but I think it’s a fascinating LGBTQ+ romantic movie. It centers queer love in a world of subcultures and unconventional relationships and romances. Their queer identity is an important part of the story.

I also think Ray loves Colin, but not in a way that everyone can understand. Colin loves him back and wants to be what he needs. Both men try to compromise and alter themselves to please the person they care about the most. Eventually, they come to understand that they cannot be what the other needs.

Ray must release Colin so he can find a better match for him. Loving someone enough to let them go is sometimes the kindest act of love. Pillion is a must-watch movie, and was one of the best upcoming LGBTQ+ movies that I couldn't wait to watch.

Catch Pillion at a theater near you.

The 2026 movie schedule is packed with bold, unusual releases, but only one of them comes with an Alexander Skarsgård nude scene, and that happens to be one of the upcoming A24 movies Pillion. Unfortunately (or maybe mercifully, depending on your perspective), Skarsgård’s full nude moment, prosthetic and all, was, yes, cut down. Pun fully intended. Here’s why the filmmakers decided to go with less length and more tension.

According to reporting from Entertainment Weekly, the trimmed moment involved a longer close-up shot during an early alleyway scene between Skarsgård’s biker character, Ray, and Harry Melling’s character, Colin. While the scene remains explicit in the final cut, the cast and filmmaker confirmed the original version lingered longer than what audiences now see. Melling revealed to the outlet:

According to Harry Melling, long removed from his days playing Dudley in the Harry Potter films, the issue wasn’t audience shock. The problem was tone. The longer shot tended to break the tension, pulling viewers out of the moment with nervous laughter instead of keeping them locked into the scene’s intensity. As he put it later, the goal was to stay with Colin in that heightened, adrenaline-fueled headspace, which is why the moment ultimately didn’t make the final cut. He added:

Pillion follows a BDSM relationship dynamic and is intentionally direct about sex and vulnerability. That balance made editing especially important, particularly for first-time feature director Harry Lighton, who was tasked with maintaining honesty without tipping into shock-value territory.

Skarsgård, looking as ripped as he was in the acclaimed historical drama The Northman, later echoed that sentiment, praising Lighton’s instincts in the edit room and clarifying that the goal was never to tone the film down, but to keep it grounded in character and story. The veteran True Blood actor added:

The Murderbot star has also confirmed he used a prosthetic for the scene, something that has become standard practice in many modern productions that include explicit nudity. For Skarsgård, though, the bigger issue was always whether the moment felt honest rather than performative.

The broader takeaway reflects a shift in how filmmakers approach sex on screen. Modern audiences often respond well to explicit material when it feels emotionally grounded, but can quickly disengage when scenes appear designed purely to provoke reaction. Skarsgård himself has said he finds it frustrating when films either shy away from intimacy entirely or linger on it simply to shock viewers.

For Pillion, the final edit represents a middle ground. The film still maintains its bold tone and sexual honesty, but trims moments that risk pulling viewers out of the characters' emotional perspective. In this case, less screen time for one shot meant more sustained tension for the scene as a whole.

Pillion is now playing in theaters, so check your local listings for showtimes. You can also take a look at other upcoming LGBTQ+ movies headed to theaters soon.

Charli XCX has been making her mark in the music business for over a decade, inclugin with the “Brat Summer” phenomenon following the release of her album brat in June 2024. Now she’s trying something different, starring in a mockumentary about that era of her life and career in the upcoming A24 movie The Moment. The film premiered at Sundance this week, and critics are weighing in on Charli XCX’s acting skills, the movie’s message and that Kylie Jenner cameo.

Charli XCX ‘Has The Chops’ To Lead A Movie

In addition to The Moment, Charli XCX has two other projects premiering at the Sundance Film Festival ahead of their release to the 2026 movie schedule — The Gallerist, a dark comedy thriller with Jenna Ortega and Natalie Portman, and the erotic thriller I Want Your Sex — so the artist’s acting abilities are something critics are definitely paying attention to. According to Ross Bonaime of Collider, she is “wonderful,” as he rates her movie 7 out of 10:

Monica Castillo of RogerEbert also gives The Moment higher-than-average marks with 2.5 stars out of 4, though she notes it loses momentum about halfway through. Still, it’s got a lead actress giving her all and is full of industry jokes, the critic says, writing:

Nick Schager of the Daily Beast isn’t a fan of the movie, commenting that while there may be a message amongst the mess, The Moment has no idea how to convey it. Charli XCX’s efforts are undercut by the work of director/co-writer Aidan Zamiri, according to the critic, who says:

Speaking of the plot, let’s see what critics are saying about the movie overall.

The Moment Is For ‘Those Devoted To The Charli Cause’

Audiences’ enjoyment of The Moment may be contingent on how much of a fan of Charli XCX they are in the first place. Johnny Oleksinski of the N.Y. Post doesn’t appear to fall in that category, calling the movie a “brat bummer” and giving it 2 out of 4 stars. The critic writes:

Richard Lawson of THR agrees this “muddled mockumentary” is primarily for the fans. It could have worked more universally if it had leaned into the spoof of it all, Lawson says, but it felt too self-conscious to commit to anything so un-cool. In the end it seems the “Brat Summer” trend was too fleeting to support what The Moment is trying to do. The critic writes:

Charli XCX isn’t the only one playing a version of themselves in The Moment, and several critics mentioned the cameo from the youngest sibling in the Kardashian-Jenner family.

Kylie Jenner Has A Cameo In The Moment ‘For No Discernible Reason’

From The Moment’s reviews, it sounds like Kylie Jenner’s role isn’t too big but has a vital effect on the plot. See what critics are saying about the reality TV star’s acting debut:

• [One] sequence also introduces a placidly smiley Kylie Jenner playing herself on seemingly a Valium-Adderall speedball of deluded bounciness. – Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire
• Another cameo by Kylie Jenner oddly comes out of nowhere, then has major implications on the rest of the film for no real discernible reason. – Ross Bonaime, Collider
• [Kylie Jenner’s] cameo is indistinguishable from a KUWTK confessional. – Adrian Horton, The Guardian
• When the pace does slow, the humour and self-doubt mix more successfully; notably in a scene involving Kylie Jenner playing an exaggerated version of herself. – Amber Wilkinson of ScreenDaily

A lot of critics recognize the big swing that Charli XCX is taking by playing a version of herself in a faux account of a very real pop culture phenomenon, and it would seem there’s no better studio than A24 to handle it.

If these critics’ reactions have you intrigued about the project — or if you’re still hanging onto every bit of Brat Summer that you can — you can check out The Moment when it hits theaters Friday, January 30.

Ever since the 2026 Oscar nominations got announced, I’ve been waiting to see if Alexander Skarsgård would have something dry and witty to say about his dad, Stellan Skarsgård, getting recognized for his performance in Sentimental Value. Well, now the son of the Academy Award nominee has shared his thoughts on his father’s nomination, and, as expected, it's hilariously blunt.

For a bit of context, this week, Stellan Skarsgård received his very first Oscar nomination. He was recognized for his work in Sentimental Value, and he was nominated alongside Frankenstein’s Jacob Elordi, Sinners’ Delroy Lindo, as well as One Battle After Another’s Benicio del Toro and Sean Penn. Considering Stellan’s long list of great movies, it’s a bit shocking that this is the first time he’s been recognized by The Academy. So, folks are celebrating. However, when the LA Times asked Alexander about his father’s big news, he simply said that he felt:

It’s the “I guess” that really gets me; it's hilarious. It’s also on-brand. In the lead-up to the Oscar nominations, both Alexander and Stellan joked about competing during the awards season. At one point, the Pillion star made a quip about launching a “massive smear campaign” against his dad. They also both talked smack about who should win during their Actors on Actors segment.

So, considering the fact that the True Blood actor literally told his dad, “You’re going down, old man,” it’s unsurprising and hilarious that he responded to the nomination this way.

Plus, the Murderbot star has a history of quippy and funny remarks about his family. One time, when his brother, Bill Skarsgård, was starring in Nosferatu, Alexander was asked if his sibling’s vampire was sexier than his True Blood character. In response, he said that Nosferatu was “pure sex,” and went on to deadpan that Bill’s performance was “okay.”

What all this should tell you is that The Northman star's reaction to his father’s Oscar nomination is very on-brand for him and truly hilarious.

Now, I’m wondering how he’ll react if Stellan wins. The actor did win a 2026 Golden Globe for his work in Sentimental Value, and he seems to be a frontrunner in the Oscar race, too. So, it’s entirely possible that he’ll take home more gold when The Academy Awards air on the 2026 TV schedule. However, we’ll have to wait a bit for that potential reaction, because the Oscars are happening on March 15.

In the meantime, though, you can catch up on all the work the father and son are releasing. Alexander has two movies premiering soon on the 2026 movie schedule, with The Moment hitting theaters on January 30, and Pillion premiering in cinemas on February 6. Meanwhile, Sentimental Value is available to purchase on YouTube if you want to see Stellan’s nominated performance.

Extreme transformations clearly run in the Skarsgård family. Stellan Skarsgård famously spent hours each morning being covered in barnacles to play Bootstrap Bill Turner in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. Now it sounds like his son, Alexander Skarsgård, has taken that legacy somewhere even stranger, with a new role that required him to be fully sealed inside prosthetics.

The former True Blood star (available to stream with an HBO Max subscription) recently opened up about the experience in an interview with Variety, as part of a wide-ranging profile. Among the films discussed was the upcoming Wicker, in which he plays a mysterious creature made of grasses and reeds who forms an unlikely bond with a lonely character played by Olivia Colman. The role didn’t just require emotional commitment but physical endurance, he explained:

This means for long stretches of shooting, Skarsgård was essentially trapped inside the character, forced to communicate through exaggerated movement and presence rather than subtle expression. It’s the kind of constraint that turns even simple scenes into a test of stamina.

Naturally, the comparison to his father came up. Stellan’s transformation for Pirates of the Caribbean is legendary, with individual barnacles glued on one by one during marathon makeup sessions. But the Northman actor, who is not above smack talking his Pops, was quick to point out that the two experiences were demanding in very different ways, saying:

Getting the makeup down to a one hour application process is pretty impressive. But, shorter prep time didn’t mean an easier day, though. Once the Murderbot performer was sealed in, there was no quick break or adjustment. The trade-off was efficiency for intensity. After shooting for two weeks, he was reportedly given a full week off just to let his skin recover from the glue.

The restrictions also forced him to rethink his performance. With his face immobilized, the Legend of Tarzan lead couldn’t rely on the micro-expressions he’s known for. Instead, he had to go bigger, exaggerating movement and energy to stay readable on screen, especially opposite an actor as subtle as Colman.

That willingness to embrace discomfort fits neatly into Skarsgård’s recent career choices. From playing a chilling tech mogul on Succession to pushing boundaries in films like Infinity Pool and Pillion, he’s consistently chosen roles that challenge traditional leading-man expectations. Vanity has never seemed to be the point.

The family throughline is hard to ignore. Between Stellan’s barnacle-covered Bootstrap Bill, Bill’s transformative turns as Pennywise and Count Orlok, and now Alexander’s wicker-bound role, extreme makeup has become a Skarsgård tradition. In each case, the transformation isn’t about spectacle, but about fully disappearing into the character. Alexander does exactly that here, even if his version comes with a more claustrophobic twist.

Audiences won’t fully appreciate the extent of the transformation until Wicker arrives on the 2026 movie schedule. Wicker is set for its world premiere at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival on January 24, 2026, in the USA, with wider theatrical release dates expected later in the year.

Awards season is ramping up as is the amount of chatter surrounding Stellan Skarsgård. Having been recognized in a few ways as of late, Skarsgård is one of the many 2026 Golden Globe nominees, thanks to his highly praised performance in Sentimental Value. As for how his actor kids are taking in buzz their father’s success, his son, Alexander, is joking about launching a “massive smear campaign” against him this awards season.

Stellan Skarsgård has been nominated 23 times in the Supporting Actor category for Sentimental Value, as of this writing. Considering the sheer amount of nominations he's received as of late, it's feeling like a certainty that there's an Oscar nomination is in his future. Murderbot’s Alexander Skarsgård spoke about his father during an episode of the Variety Awards Circuit Podcast. The younger Skarsgård is still trolling his pop, but he also had some kind sentiments to share:

Nothing like a little family rivalry to keep things interesting, right? I was already laughing at the father-and-son pair roasting each other after being nominated in the same Gotham Awards category this year. But a smear campaign? Suddenly, we’ve hilariously entered Succession-level family drama. With Stellan Skarsgård nominated at the Golden Globes for his drama flick and his eldest son snubbed this year for his role in Pillion, I can understand why the funny back-and-forth banter is still going.

On the other hand, as Alexander Skarsgård said, his famous dad getting awards attention does mean more family time together. Film festival appearances and partying it up with dear old dad does sound fun, to be honest. Of course, despite the funny father-and-son jesting, Alexander genuinely told Variety how proud he is of his father. In fact, here’s the talented actor’s reasoning for why Skarsgård getting recognition for Sentimental Value is so important for him:

I can imagine how “moving” it is for the Northman star to see his father still receiving praise. As Stellan Skarsgård has graced the big and small screens with his best works for six decades, it’s clearly a proud moment for his children to see that their dad’s success has never wavered from him.

Amid the see of family love, it's still priceless that Alexander Skarsgård is joking about starting a “massive smear campaign” against his dad’s awards success. But, all joking aside, it’s very beautiful that the Big Little Lies actor sees his dad being on the awards circuit as an opportunity to hang out with him more and continue to create a career legacy worth being proud of.

Tune into the 2026 Golden Globes to see if Stellan Skarsgård wins Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture. The show airs tonight, Sunday, January 11, on CBS at 8pm ET/5pm PT and will be available to stream live with a Paramount+ subscription.

The 2026 movie schedule is already filled with a vast assortment of unique titles, and some of them are upcoming A24 movies. One of the latest flicks to hail from the acclaimed entertainment company is Pillion. The rom-com stars Alexander Skarsgård and Harry Melling as two men who engage in a BDSM relationship, which seemingly unfolds in interesting ways. While this trailer is sure to generate a few laughs, it’ll arguably more than likely further Skarsgård’s status as one of the Internet’s biggest daddies.

Written and directed by Harry Lighton, Pillion tells the story of the well-meaning but somewhat awkward Colin (Melling) who meets and strikes up a relationship with bike gang leader Ray (Skarsgård). From there, the two begin to cohabitate, and their relationship becomes one marked by the dominance and submission roles that come with BDSM. Ray ultimately becomes the “dom,” while Colin serves as the “sub.” Lighton’s LGBTQ+ rom-com seems set on presenting a more nuanced look at such relationship dynamics.

The footage above is just a teaser and represents just a taste of what’s to come, but it did make me chuckle a couple of times. What really caught me off guard a bit was Ray’s casual mention of Colin’s need to purchase a butt plug. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen someone mention one in such a matter-of-fact way. Again, though, that surely factors into Lighton’s apparent goal of approaching erotic practices through a lighter, comedic lens.

What can’t be ignored, of course, is the screen presence of Alexander Skarsgård, who’s long been loved by fans. As mentioned, many see him as the Internet’s daddy, but this movie – which sees Skarsgård looking as ripped as he was in the acclaimed historical drama The Northman – may boost his status. In the short time since the trailer dropped, a few thirsty posts from users like @modytalkmovies and @DannyWxo. I wouldn’t be surprised in the least if those kinds of messages continue ahead of (and well after) Pillion’s release.

Of course, this film has two lead stars, and Harry Melling also seems to be making the most of every bit of screentime he has. Long removed from his experience playing Dudley in the Harry Potter films, Melling has since landed some interesting projects and is building up a solid filmography. This latest movie sees the Lost City of Z star giving a performance that’s a bit more understated but still humorous.

Of course, this film has two lead stars, and Harry Melling also seems to be making the most of every bit of screentime he has. Long removed from his experience playing Dudley in the Harry Potter films, Melling has since landed some interesting projects and is building up a solid filmography. This latest movie sees the Lost City of Z star giving a performance that’s a bit more understated but still humorous.

Pillion premiered earlier this year at the Cannes Film Festival, and it’s been very well received thus far. As of this writing, Harry Lighton’s film has an 100% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 27 reviews. If those early marks are any indication, this could be a rom-com classic in the making. I’m curious to see what the general public will have to say about it – beyond the mentions of Alexander Skarsgård’s physique and seemingly limitless rizz, of course.

An exact U.S. release date for Pillion has yet to be revealed, though A24 has confirmed that it’ll be released this February. In the meantime, read up on upcoming LGBTQ+ movies, and continue to check out 2025 film releases.

HBO doesn't have a monopoly on prestige television, but they are the king of it. The network loves to work with the same people who have proved they have what it takes to make great shows. That includes many of the same great actors who appear on more than one show. Some of these actors have appeared in three or four (or more) shows over the years, but for this list, we're sticking with at least two, usually the ones they are best known for. Actors like Wendell Pierce, Cynthia Nixon, and many more.

Wendell Pierce - The Wire And Treme

Wendell Pierce first broke out as the best-dressed detective in the Baltimore Homicide Unit on The Wire. Pierce's character, Bunk Moreland, appears in every episode of the show. A couple of years after The Wire ended in 2008, the show's creator returned to HBO with Treme, and it was a natural fit to include Pierce, who is a New Orleans native, in the cast.

Carrie Coon - The Gilded Age And The White Lotus

2025 was a huge year for Carrie Coon on HBO. Not only did she return for Season 3 of The Gilded Age as the determined high society lady, Bertha Russell, but she also killed it on the third season of the anthology series The White Lotus. She stole the show with her monologue in the final episode of that show, while continuing to dominate New York society in the 1880s in The Gilded Age.

Steve Buscemi - The Wire And Boardwalk Empire

Steve Buscemi's first appearance on HBO came when he joined the cast of The Sopranos as Tony Blundetto, Tony Soprano's cousin, in Season 5 of the legendary peak TV-era show. He wasn't on the show long, but a couple of years later, he played a much bigger role on Boardwalk Empire. He played the fictional mob boss Nucky Thompson in the period piece created by Sopranos writer Terrance Winter.

Evan Rachel Wood - True Blood And Westworld

Evan Rachel Wood started her career as a talented child actor and made her first appearance on HBO as a recurring character in True Blood. She made an even bigger splash on the network as one of the main characters in Westworld. Wood also appeared in the miniseries Mildred Pierce on HBO.

Alexander Skarsgård - True Blood And Big Little Lies

Alexander Skarsgård is a true HBO regular. His first show for the network, the limited series Generation Kill, aired in 2008 and he returned to the network that same year as a series regular in the vampire hit True Blood. While still starring on that show, he made a one-off appearance in the series finale of Eastbound and Down. He was a main cast member on Big Little Lies, playing a very dark character (and earning an Emmy in the process), before he took on a notable guest-starring role in Succession, earning two more Emmy nominations.

Sydney Sweeney - Euphoria And The White Lotus

Sydney Sweeney burst onto the scene alongside her castmates in the teen drama Euphoria on HBO in 2019 and in 2022, she also appeared in Season 1 of The White Lotus. She earned not one, but two Emmy nominations that year, one for each show.

Edie Falco - Oz And The Sopranos

The HBO show Oz was an early entry in the "peak TV era" from the network, running for six seasons in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The cast of Oz was stacked and included Edie Falco as Officer Diane Whittlesey. That isn't the show she is most famous for on the network, of course. As Falco's time was coming to a close, she landed the role of a lifetime as Carmela Soprano in The Sopranos, and her amazing performances earned her three Emmy awards.

Aidan Gillen - Game Of Thrones And The Wire

Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish in Game of Thrones is one of the great TV villains of all time, and the character was played brilliantly by Aidan Gillen. It wasn't Gillen's first major role on HBO, as that came a few years earlier when he played the ambitious politician Tommy Carcetti on the final three seasons of The Wire.

Cynthia Nixon - And Just Like That And The Gilded Age

itsCynthia Nixon has been a staple on HBO for decades now, starring as Miranda Hobbes in And Just Like That... and it's predecessor. She's also one of the stars of the incredible period drama The Gilded Age as the spinster-turned-wealthy widow Ada Forte, née Brook.

Michiel Huisman - Game Of Thrones And Treme

Treme, which ran for four seasons on HBO, had a whole host of actors who were HBO regulars. Michiel Huisman, who played the musician only known as "Sonny" on the New Orleans-based show, was also starring in a little show called Game of Thrones at the same time on the network, playing Daario Naharis.

Michelle Monaghan - True Detective And The White Lotus

It must be incredibly rewarding for any actor to have the opportunity to star in two anthology shows on HBO. Michelle Monaghan knows exactly how it feels. She first starred in Season 1 of True Detective and, more recently, was part of the stellar cast of Season 3 of The White Lotus.

Michael K. Williams - The Wire And Boardwalk Empire

The late Michael K. Williams left behind an incredible legacy at HBO. He was, of course, one of the most incredible TV characters of all time as Omar Little on The Wire, and he followed that up with a great turn as a gangster in 1920s New Jersey in Boardwalk Empire. Those weren't his only appearances on the network. He popped up in a one-off scene on The Sopranos in 2001, then later in the miniseries The Night Of. His final television credit before his tragic death was on the HBO show Lovecraft Country.

Alexandra Daddario - The White Lotus And True Detective

Before earning an Emmy nomination for her great turn as newlywed Rachel Patton in Season 1 of The White Lotus, Alexandra Daddario had a recurring role on another HBO anthology series, True Detective, during its first season. She even had a cameo early in her career in The Sopranos.

Murray Bartlett - The White Lotus And The Last Of Us

It's easy to see why The White Lotus was such a monster hit when it aired its first season, with Murray Bartlett stealing the show as the hotel manager who gets caught in a serious downward spiral as the show goes on. He's hilarious and heartbreaking at the same time. Later, he was cast in "Long, Long Time," one of the most beloved episodes of The Last of Us, as Frank, the deceased lover of Bill, played by Nick Offerman. While it was only one episode, it was so good that we had to include it here. Bartlett was also a regular cast member on the HBO show Looking.

Danny McBride - Eastbound And Down And The Righteous Gemstones

What is there to be said about Danny McBride's various sitcoms on HBO? After making his name in supporting roles in movies like Pineapple Express and Tropic Thunder, he arrived on HBO in the now-legendary Eastbound and Down. His next hit for the network was Vice Principals alongside Walton Goggins, and then as Jesse Gemstone on The Righteous Gemstones.

Clarke Peters - The Wire And Treme

It's hard to believe that The Wire is one of those shows that never won an Emmy. That goes double for the excellent cast, including the great Clarke Peters, who played Lester Freamon in all five seasons of the show. Like some of his co-stars on the show, he also appeared in Treme on HBO.

Jeanne Tripplehorn - The Gilded Age And Big Love

Jeanne Tripplehorn is a veteran actor whose career stretches back to 1992's Basic Instinct. She was a big part of Big Love on HBO as Bill's only legal wife in the show about polygamy in Utah. Tripplehorn also starred in a recurring role on The Gilded Age as a disgraced high society outcast who happens to be one of the kindest characters on the show. She was also nominated for an Emmy for her role as Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in Grey Gardens on HBO.

Jeffrey Wright - Westworld And Boardwalk Empire

Jeffrey Wright is one of the best actors of his generation, and he's had an opportunity to show off just how great he is in multiple HBO shows. First, he won an Emmy for his role in the miniseries Angels in America. Later, he had a recurring role on Boardwalk Empire, before his fantastic turn on Westworld, for which he was nominated for three more Emmys, but sadly didn't win one. In 2025, he reprised his voice role in The Last of Us video game in the HBO adaptation.

Jamie-Lynn Sigler - The Sopranos And Entourage

Jamie-Lynn Sigler occupies an interesting spot here. Of course, she's best known for her role as Meadow Soprano on The Sopranos. Her next role on HBO came in a role that was a fictionalized version of herself dating Turtle in Entourage.

Walton Goggins - Vice Principals And The White Lotus

Walton Goggins has been one of the hardest-working actors in Hollywood for many years, and in 2025, he really upped his profile with his fantastic performance in Season 3 of The White Lotus. It was his third major show on HBO after Vice Principals and The Righteous Gemstones.

Lena Headey - Game Of Thrones And The White House Plumbers

She played one of the greatest villains of all time on Game of Thrones, and Lena Headey returned to HBO in 2023 in the underrated miniseries The White House Plumbers, where she played Dorothy Hunt, wife of one of the Watergate burglars, E. Howard Hunt.

Pedro Pascal - Game Of Thrones And The Last Of Us

Like a lot of actors, Pedro Pascal put in a ton of work early in his career with one-off roles in every show you can imagine. Then, in 2014, he was cast as Oberyn Martell on Game of Thrones, and his career blew up. More recently, he's been breaking hearts on The Last of Us on HBO.

Indira Varma - Game Of Thrones And Rome

The Game of Thrones cast was absolutely stacked, including the great Indira Varma, who played Ellaria Sand in 13 episodes of the show. That wasn't her first time in an HBO show, however. In 2005, she starred as Niobe in two seasons of Rome, the incredibly underrated (and expensive to produce) historical drama created by John Milius.

Jim True-Frost - The Wire And Treme

Jim True-Frost's character in The Wire has one of the most interesting character arcs on a show full of great arcs. His performance as Roland Pryzbylewski was, like so many others on the show, nothing short of excellent. Like others on The Wire, True-Frost also starred in Treme. He even had a cameo in Boardwalk Empire as legendary lawman Eliot Ness.

Kim Dickens - Deadwood And Treme

Kim Dickens has a stellar television resume, and two jewels on that CV are both HBO shows. First, she was one of the main characters, Joanie, in Deadwood. Later, she starred on Treme.

John Hawkes - Deadwood And Eastbound And Down

The original cast of Deadwood was a bunch of heavyweights, including John Hawkes, who played Sol throughout the run of the show. A few years later, the versatile actor returned to HBO in a completely different kind of role as the brother of Kenny Powers in Eastbound & Down. Most recently, he put in a fantastic performance in Season 4 of the anthology series True Detective.

Rose Leslie - Game Of Thrones And The Time Traveler's Wife

The Time Traveler's Wife is one of the more under-the-radar shows in HBO history. Rose Leslie led the cast of the show that was canceled after one season, despite a passionate fanbase. Of course, Leslie first became a star on HBO as Ygritte on Game of Thrones.

Bobby Cannavale - Boardwalk Empire And Vinyl

Bobby Cannavale really made his name on HBO as the volatile gangster Gyp Rosetti in Boardwalk Empire, though his first gig on the network was in a small role on Six Feet Under. After Boardwalk Empire, he teamed up with the creators of Vinyl, starring in the lone season of the short-lived show.

Edi Patterson - The Righteous Gemstones And Vice Principals

The Righteous Gemstones and Vice Principals are two shows that were perfect for Edi Patterson. She's wonderful at playing quirky characters, fitting in great with the cast of both of those shows.

Domenick Lombardozzi - The Wire And Boardwalk Empire

Herc in The Wire is an obnoxious character that is hard to love, but Domenick Lombardozzi's performance charms everyone who watches the show. He repeated the feat later on Boardwalk Empire.

Regina King - Watchmen And The Leftovers

If anyone on this list needs no introduction, it's the great Regina King. She is a force of nature in everything she does, including two excellent HBO shows, The Leftovers and the one-and-done Season of Watchmen.

Michael Imperioli - The Sopranos And The White Lotus

Some people might remember Michael Imperioli as Spider in Goodfellas, but most will first know him as Christopher Moltisanti, Tony's frustrating nephew in The Sopranos. He returned to HBO in Season 2 of The White Lotus and once again reminded fans of the network how great he can be.

Anyone boasting an Apple TV+ subscription can speak to the streaming service’s seemingly endless supply of sci-fi offerings like Severance and Dark Matter, with the majority being extremely smart and well-crafted. So it’s perhaps no surprise that Alexander Skarsgård’s new series Murderbot quickly became one of the best Apple TV+ original series and is an absolute must-watch, even if you’re like me and have next to zero knowledge of the source material.

Based on Martha Wells’ seemingly easy-to-digest book series The Murderbot Diaries, the genre-mashing show -- one of many book-to-screen adaptations to arrive recently -- hails from co-creator siblings Chris and Paul Weitz, who are perhaps best known both together and separately for varied projects such as American Pie, About a Boy and The Twilight Saga: New Moon. The brothers have proven themselves capable of jumping from comedy to drama to science fiction with ease, and Murderbot may be their magnum opus as a slice of perfect television, no matter what SecUnit is mumbling under his breath.

Murderbot's Cast Is A Perfect Blen

A TV series' greatness can often come down to the quality of its cast, and Murderbot is indeed impressive in that respect, starting with the leading actor himself, Alexander Skarsgård. The Succession and Big Little Lies vet delivers a splendid performance as an advanced (but not too advanced) security droid that hacks its system in a way that makes it more perceptible to human emotions and behavior. The role is relatively subdued role and skews more analytical than charismatic, but that's precisely why it works so well.

Let's run through everyone right quick:

• Alexander Skarsgård gives a hilariously non-comedic performance as the overly analytical SecUnit/Murderbot
• Noma Dumezweni's Mensah is a respect-worthy team leader whose scientific passion isn't upended by her strict practicality.
• David Dastmalchian delivers a nuanced performance as Gurathin, a human with augmented technology in his body.
• Sabrina Wu's legally minded scientist Pin-Lee, Akshay's maturity-lite wormhole expert Ratthi and Tattiawna Jones' biologist Arada are solid individually, but work on all cylinders in developing their shared relationship as a throuple.
• Tamara Podemski's geochemist Bharadwaj has arguably less story points than everyone else, but is still a genial voice of reason amidst the younger crew members.

The series does feature other co-stars that we'll get into below, with the biggest surprise appearance going to PEN15 co-creator and star Anna Konkle as the erxpertly named Leebeebee.

Murderbot's Action-Packed Story Is Perfect

Despite taking place on a different planet where a team of scientists is conducting research while aided by a security droid who's hacked its gornering module to become more like a human, Murderbot is surprisingly easy to jump into for anyone who thinks that plotline sounds horrifying. It may have science-fiction window dressing, but this is almost more of a philosophical action-comedy.

The hook of the series is SecUnit essentially learning how to become more human while fighting against its inherent instincts and command prompts. As he grasps the concepts of compassion, empathy, loyalty and friendship, SecUnit is also trying to keep the team safe from outside threats that crop up, and the bot's own past plays into the action-oriented mystery.

Perhaps the show's biggest advantage, at least in terms of all of its genre inspirations working in tandem, is the fact that nearly all of the episode runtimes are 25 minutes or shorter, so there's literally no fluff or wasted moments. Audiences go from hilarious character beats to tense gunfights, and just about every installment wraps on a banger of a cliffhanger that just begs to be followed by another episode.

Murderbot Itself Is A Weirdly Perfect Main Character

While I can't speak to whether this is a thing in the source material, Murderbot's live-action series feels a lot like a parable about being on the autism spectrum. SecUnit experiences several situations that can be likened to neurodivergence, from taking others' responses too literally to lacking an understanding of sarcasm and irony to being focused on personal desires instead of the mission at hand.

As a piece of machinery, SecUnit also doesn't have an inherently strong sense of humor, which in turn makes Alexander Skarsgård's inner monologues so damned funny, with so many of the character's early reactions being snippy, judgmental and dismissive. The actor has never taken on a role quite like this, and I honestly wouldn't have expected it to be such a worthwhile match. Happy to be misguided there.

Like too few shorter-form TV series these days, Murderbot actually puts its titular character through narrative growth and evolution in a way where the SecUnit present in the finale is completely different from the bot we meet in the premiere. And not in a way where any of SecUnit's neurodivergent tendencies were removed or wiped out, but in a way where he's become more acclimated to its human crew, even if the plot itself threatens to destroy everything.

The Show-Within-A-Show Sanctuary Moon? Yep, Perfect

Even though Murderbot's in-universe spacey soap opera The Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon only gets around 10 minutes of on-screen footage throughout the entire season (and that might be overstating it), these heightened and objectively ridiculous sequences are a huge stepping stone for SecUnit's understand human emotions and behaviors, which is kinda like only using the cover of Cosmo as dating advice. But man oh man, it's amazing.

Star Trek vet John Cho, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Clark Gregg, 30 Rock's Jack McBrayer and Jurassic World Dominion's DeWanda Wise are all pushing their performances to a 10, making Sanctuary Moon one of the hammiest things on the 2025 TV schedule. If only the show actually existed as a real thing people could watch, even if I probably don't have time to check out ALL 397 episodes.

I am so extremely hopeful that enough people are watching Murderbot that Apple TV+ orders another 3 seasons right out the gate. If the only shows I watch in 2026 are Murderbot Season 2 and Severance Season 3, I'll still be a happy viewer.

Alexander Skarsgård comes from a big acting family, following in the footsteps of his father, Stellan, and acting opposite his talented sibling way back when. However, the Swedish actor has apparently gone through his fair share of crying bouts early on in his career due to less-than-wonderful auditions, and addressed how he still has “a little PTSD” about that time in his life.

Alexander Skarsgård best movies are plentiful, starting with his first American role in Zoolander, and hopes are high for his upcoming A24 movie Pillion. But despite the success he can currently celebrate, he spoke candidly while appearing on Tyler Jesse Ferguson's Dinner’s On Me podcast about how relatively quickly his mind can drift back to the point in his career before he was booking roles with frequency. As he put it:

I completely understand what Alexander Skarsgård is saying. During any kind of job interview, it’s natural to feel unconfident if things aren't going well, and to feel like it's all been a waste. At the same time, it's just as natural to remember that not every person in the world reaches their goals immediately, and it doesn’t mean their dreams will never happen. Acting is a tough, competitive business, with rejection being one of the profession's unfortunate side effects.

During the podcast, Alexander Skarsgård spoke about how his Swedish Navy background helped his role in HBO’s life in the military series Generation Kill, but also addressed that he would sometimes audition for roles he knew he was wrong for just because the offer came in.

Some roles prove to be good business opportunities to get one's name out there, as well as for financial reasons. For instance, Miles Teller did the YA adaptation of Divergent for “business reasons,” while a thespian like Michael Caine took on a flop like Jaws: The Revenge for its big payday. But if there's no connection to the part, casting directors are keen on being aware of it.

Fortunately, Alexander Skarsgård found a lot of roles throughout his career to connect with. Most recently, he stars in the sci-fi novel adaptation of Murderbot (which is streaming on your Apple TV+ subscription). The Golden Globe nominee plays an emotionless robot who secretly gains the power of free will, but is forced to be a hero when he’d prefer to binge-watch soaps. While Skarsgård found the struggle real in keeping a straight face around comedic stars, it’s clear that auditioning for the lead role won over casting directors and allowed Skarsgård to flex his range in unexpected ways.

The beginning of Alexander Skarsgård’s career may trigger a sense of PTSD when he reflects on the early days, but the fact that he never let setbacks completely hinder his dream is something to aspire to.

Spoilers ahead for Episode 8 of Murderbot Season 1, called "Foreign Object" and available streaming with an Apple TV+ subscription now.

Murderbot is quickly approaching the end of its first season in the 2025 TV schedule, and Alexander Skarsgård's SecUnit increasingly has to deal with the humans in its charge putting themselves in danger and keeping it from binge-watching more episodes of Sanctuary Moon. As episodes pass, we get to see more of the leading man without the Murderbot mask, but that doesn't mean Skarsgård is suddenly dressed in comfortable clothes like the rest of the cast. He told CinemaBlend about the long process of putting that SecUnit suit on, but prefers practical effects to a CGI suit anyway.

When I spoke with Alexander Skarsgård for Apple TV+'s Murderbot press junket, I had to know: what was his experience with practical effects vs. CGI for a sci-fi project that uses some of both? The Stand alum (who had a hot take on Stephen King) shared:

Infinity Pool was another sci-fi project for Skarsgård, although it certainly leaned more into horror than the comedy of Murderbot. Back in 2023, the actor opened up about a specific sequence from Infinity Pool that was "very creative and innovative and tactile" to film because Brandon Cronenberg was determined to do it on set "as opposed to in post with CGI." Skarsgård definitely had that experience with practical effects before Murderbot, but it sounds like the Apple TV+ show required plenty of patience to gear up as SecUnit. He went on:

There are elements of Murderbot that are easily identifiable as CGI, such as the giant alien monsters that the team encounters on the planet, but I'm now curious about whether there were any practical effects to SecUnit killing Leebeebee. Actress Anna Konkle surely wasn't injured, after all, although Alexander Skarsgård explained why she had him "struggling" on set while filming.

Skarsgård did demonstrate exactly how complicated the process of suiting up as Murderbot was while filming the series. While the TikTok video is less than a minute and a half long for fans to watch, the sixteen-step process (with the aid of somebody to help yank up the pants, strap on the armor, and get his feet in those SecUnit boots) is sped up quite a bit. Take a look:

Clearly, a lot of work went into getting Skarsgård set to play Murderbot, but he did seem to be having fun for at least part of the process. By the end... well, I can't blame him for needing a drink of water. I do love that the leading man did in fact play the android throughout the season, even when SecUnit's face wasn't visible and a stand-in could have been in the suit. For example, Pedro Pascal stopped putting on the suit for The Mandalorian at a certain point while still voicing the Star Wars bounty hunter. Not so for Skarsgård!

There are still a couple of episodes left in Murderbot Season 1, and remains to be seen if a second season will happen. Check out Apple TV+ now for the first eight episodes, and find new episodes on the streamer on Fridays.

Murderbot has entered the back half of Season 1 for viewers tuning in weekly with an Apple TV+ subscription, with leading man Alexander Skarsgård continuing to prove that sometimes not emoting at all can be much funnier in a quirky comedy than any slapstick antics. As SecUnit – or the self-titled Murderbot – Skarsgård has to keep an almost entirely straight face, with his character's snark (and obsession with the soap opera The Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon) mostly coming across via narration. According to the actor, however, there was one particular scene that was a real challenge when it came to staying expressionless.

And considering the ordeal for the actor when it came to putting on his Murderbot costume, it says something that this interaction is what had him "struggling" while filming for the 2025 TV schedule! When I spoke with Skarsgård during Apple TV+'s press junket for Murderbot, I had to know: did he have an approach to keeping that incredibly straight face? He explained:

The cast of Murderbot is comprised of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child's Noma Dumezweni as Mensah, David Dastmalchian fresh off of the cast of The Life of Chuck as Gurathin, Sabrina Wu as Pin-Lee, Akshay Khanna as Ratthi, Tamara Podemski as Bharadwaj, and Tattiawna Jones as fellow series regulars alongside Alexander Skarsgård, but he gave special shout out to Anna Konkle. While she didn't debut on the show as a recurring actor until Episode 5, she certainly made an impression!

The leading man went on to praise Konkle's comedic performance while also admitting that Leebeebee's attempt to kiss Murderbot had him cracking up time and time again. He said:

I think anybody who has been watching Murderbot can agree that the cast and production team did indeed finally get the shot, so at least Alexander Skarsgård's struggles were worth the effort! While my favorite comedic bit of Murderbot so far has to be the recurring joke of Murderbot's obsession with Sanctuary Moon (with cuts to the space soap opera featuring stars like Clark Gregg, John Cho, Jack McBrayer, and DeWanda Wise), I think Leebeebee attempting to kiss Murderbot will go down as one of the most memorable moments of the first season.

Of course, it remains to be seen if this is truly Murderbot's first of multiple seasons or the show will be finished after just the one. Apple TV+'s production is based on The Murderbot Diaries book series penned by Martha Wells, so there is likely plenty of source material to continue SecUnit's story. The streamer is also home to several excellent ongoing shows, ranging from complicated dramas like Severance to other comedies like Shrinking. Then again, as a fan of Brie Larson's Lessons in Chemistry, I can't deny that Apple TV+ has also been the home of some standout one-and-done series over the years.

For now, keep signing into Apple TV+ on Fridays for the latest episodes of Murderbot. It remains to be seen if any other characters will make an ill-advised move on Murderbot like Leebeebee, but I know I'm hooked on the comedy.

While there have been tons of advances in CGI and motion-capture, having a practical costume for an actor to use on set is arguably always an advantage. It’s not always a given, which is why I’m kind of surprised that the 2025 TV schedule saw everything we know about Murderbot include the fact that star/good soldier Alexander Skarsgård actually suits up!

But even as someone who’s seen some impressive transformations take place, watching this Apple TV+ anti-hero get into character is pretty intense. Thankfully I don’t have to simply describe the process for you, as there’s a handy video that shows off the 16.5 step process:

While that’s definitely a process that looks like it involves high levels of patience, dexterity, and flexibility… I’d still want to try it. Normally, here's where you'd have someone like me wax poetic about how it'd be a way to better understand the artist's journey into their character. However, if Alexander Skarsgård's attitude maps with my own personal brand of madness, he probably loves the end result - even if the process is a bitch.

The steps that allow the leading man of author Martha Welles’ book-to-screen adaptation fly did leave me with some legitimate questions, though. After seeing how the cybernetic smart ass is made, I felt the need to watch the trailer for Murderbot all over again.

After doing just that, I find myself even more fascinated by trying to pick out when the CGI does kick in, and when the practical effects are present. Which means I now need to let you take this journey for yourself:

Obviously the bits with Murderbot’s helmet coming on and off are digital effects. But did our True Blood veteran actually stand stock still while his character was sold as an inferior unit? Did he run into the baking desert, in full uniform, and pretend to fight off that space centipede? Also, did Alexander Skarsgård’s previous gag with Jack McBrayer at Sundance 2023 lead to the 30 Rock vet being cast in Murderbot’s soap opera within a dystopian comedy?

I clearly need to watch Murderbot after taking this mini-journey of discovery. While that makes my watch list for current and upcoming Apple TV+ shows even longer, we’re thankfully only three episodes into this artificial person’s story.

New adventures premiere every Friday, on the Apple TV+-ready streaming device of your choice. Let’s just say we all have four episodes of homework for the near future. Don’t worry, Mr. Skarsgård – your bodily sacrifice in the name of dark sci-fi laughs is not in vain!

In the house of Skarsgård, more than a few actors have played vampires. However, there’s a new contender for “Sexiest Vampire” in the family, and even Alexander Skarsgård has to admit it’s not him. The True Blood star, who played the dreamy vampire Eric Northman on the show (streaming with a Max subscription), says his brother Bill has taken over the title of the "sexiest vamp." But honestly, it’s The Stand actor’s three-word review of his little brother’s performance as Count Orlok in Robert Eggers’ acclaimed Nosferatu that cracks me up.

The Succession veteran recently joined Josh Horowitz on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, where the conversation took a delightfully fang-filled detour into vampire territory. Naturally, Horowitz asked the burning question: who’s the hotter bloodsucker, Alexander’s brooding Eric Northman from True Blood, or Bill Skarsgård’s grotesque, gothic Count Orlok in Robert Eggers' 2024 horror movie release. Without missing a beat, the Swedish-born thesbian replied:

It’s a hilariously unexpected answer, given that Bill Skarsgård's version of Orlok is more nightmare fuel than heartthrob. In Eggers’ epic horror remake, Skarsgård is nearly unrecognizable under heavy prosthetics, facial lesions and a wardrobe that screams 1800s plague-core. With his towering frame, whispered rasp, and, yes, an ominous broom mustache, this isn’t your average broody vampire in a leather jacket. And, notoriously, he scared even his castmates.

Speaking of which, Alexander Skarsgård’s Eric on True Blood was absolutely “that” guy: often shirtless, rocking slicked-back hair, and radiating Viking energy. That same vibe likely helped Skarsgård land one of his best roles, as the Viking prince in Robert Eggers’ The Northman. Across eight seasons of the HBO hit, Eric had no shortage of steamy moments. So the idea that his brother’s rat-faced nightmare ghoul is somehow the “sexier” vampire? That’s peak Skarsgård humor.

And just when it seemed like the Tarzan performer was hyping his brother to the undead moon, Josh Horowitz asked for a more honest, “unbiased” take on Bill's performance. That’s when the older Skarsgård deadpanned:

Cue the laugh track. Horowitz cracked up in response and said, “Spoken like a true brother.” Sibling trolling aside, there’s no denying Bill Skarsgård’s Nosferatu transformation has had people talking since the film's release. The Big Little Lies veteran also clarified on the podcast that, despite the jabs, there’s no real rivalry between the Skarsgård brothers, at least regarding work. He explained:

The Skarsgård clan is no small crew. Alongside Alexander, Bill, and Vikings star Gustaf, not to mention their father, legendary actor Stellan, there are five more siblings, making it a family of nine. While several have stepped into the Hollywood spotlight, each has carved out a distinct path. And, honestly, we’re all better for it. Alexander gave us a sleek, modern-day vampire icon, while Bill is now redefining horror with a performance that’s somehow both terrifying and (yes, really) “pure sex.”

Honestly, a True Blood and Nosferatu double feature is a steamy Halloween screening tradition waiting to happen. What can I say? I like my vampires like I like my Scandinavian imports, tall, cold, and Skarsgård-ed.

While the main draw of the MonsterVerse movies is obviously to watch towering Titans fight each other, the fact of the matter is human characters are needed to help anchor the stories. One of those characters was Alexander Skarsgard’s Dr. Nathan Lind, who appeared in Godzilla vs. Kong (which you can access with a Max subscription). But Skarsgard ended up getting much of his role cut down, though he did make a solid point about that development while reflecting on his time in the MonsterVerse.

Ahead of his new Apple TV+ subscription-exclusive series Murderbot premiering on the 2025 TV schedule next month, Skarsgard sat down for an interview with Empire (via Comicbook), and Godzilla vs. Kong came up. The actor confirmed that Nathan Lind was supposed to have more scenes in the fourth MonsterVerse movie, saying:

Nathan Lind, a former Monarch geologist, entered the Godzilla vs. Kong picture with Apex Cybernetics CEO Walter Simmons recruited him for a mission to travel into Hollow Earth to find a secret power source. Nathan was chiefly paired with Rebecca Hall’s Dr. Ilene Andrews, and the two managed to make it out of these chaotic events alive. But Nathan hasn’t been seen since, and it doesn’t sound like there are any plans to bring him back.

Alexander Skarsgard doesn’t sound too broken up about this, though. He’s well aware people were seeing Godzilla vs. Kong to watch the title monsters exchange blows with each other, and the team-up to bring down Mechagodzilla was a nice bonus. Nathan Lind may have been one of the leading human characters, but he’s there solely in service to Godzilla and Kong. So if some of his scenes need to be cut to make them shine even brighter, that’s happening. The actor also described his collaborative process with director Adam Wingard thusly:

So far, no actor in the MonsterVerse film series has appeared in more than two movies, and while I’d like that to change someday, again, the Titans are the priority. However, if you’re looking for a solid character-driven story in this franchise, I recommend watching the show Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, which is returning for a second season and can be found on Apple TV+. You’ll still get to see Godzilla and various other Titans, but here, the humans are just as important to the tale being told.

Next up on the MonsterVerse cinematic front is the yet-to-be-titled sequel to Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. Kaitlyn Dever, Dan Stevens (reprising Trapper), Jack O’Connell, Delroy Lindo, Matthew Modine and Alycia Debnam-Carey star in this Grant Sputore-directed feature coming out on March 26, 2027.

Some of our best horror movies have been centered around characters who just so happen to be legendary creatures of the night: vampires. And, because of the enduring popularity of these mythological bloodsuckers, not only do we also have a number of TV vamps, but many famous actors who’ve portrayed some version of the famed, usually-human-looking beasts. Here for you now are 32 actors who’ve played a vampire.

Eddie Murphy (Vampire In Brooklyn)

So many vamps have been seen on screen that even a comedy and action movie legend like Eddie Murphy has played one. The 1995 horror comedy, Vampire in Brooklyn, saw the star play the last member of a group of Caribbean vampires, who hits New York to find a mate so that he can continue his family line.

Tom Cruise (Interview With The Vampire)

Who could forget the 1994 film that gave us Tom Cruise as the captivating and cruel (And blond!) bloodthirsty fiend, Lestat de Lioncourt, from author Anne Rice’s legendary novel series, The Vampire Chronicles? Of course, it also gave us Brad Pitt’s tortured vamp, Louis, and made a star out of young Kirsten Dunst.

Dakota Fanning (The Twilight Saga: New Moon, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse)

While there are some obvious stars to add to this list, let us not forget that the cast of famous (and soon-to-be-famous) vampires in The Twilight Saga films was quite stacked. That roster included noted child star Dakota Fanning, who portrayed the villainous Volturi guard member, Jane, who was able to mentally create sensations of pain in those who she deemed worthy of punishment.

Evan Rachel Wood (True Blood)

Several vampire-focused TV shows have hit the airwaves over the past 20 or so years, so we would be remiss if we didn’t mention the HBO hit, True Blood. Many of its stars portrayed members of vamp-kind for most or all of the series’ seven seasons, but Evan Rachel Wood made an equally impressive (bloody) splash as the Vampire Queen of Louisiana, Sophie-Anne Leclerq, during her recurring guest appearances in Seasons 2-4.

Robert Pattinson (Twilight)

Back to Twilight! It’s not worth mentioning this franchise without bringing up lead romantic vamp Edward Cullen, as well as the man who brought him to life in five movies, eventuall live action Batman actor Robert Pattinson. Despite the fact that his love interest’s portrayer, Kristen Stewart, would have dumped Edward “immediately”!

Chloë Grace Moretz (Let Me In)

It’s possible that we don’t get creepier than kid vampires in movies and television shows, and that’s what we got with Chloë Grace Moretz’s Abby in the 2010 film, Let Me In. She befriends a young loner after moving into his apartment complex, but is (you guessed it) hiding nefarious purposes he could have never guessed, which end up taking his life in a most unexpected direction.

Salma Hayek (From Dusk Till Dawn)

This might be the shortest movie vampire appearance on the list, as 1996’s From Dusk Til Dawn saw Salma Hayek play the fanged exotic dancer, Santanico Pandemonium, only for about five memorable minutes that simply cannot be forgotten once witnessed.

Taika Waititi (What We Do In The Shadows)

Undead life isn’t always filled with glamorous globe-hopping adventure, gorgeous mates who can’t resist you and other perks, at least according to 2014’s What We Do in the Shadows, which concerns the rather mundane day-to-day lives of vampire roommates, of whom Taika Waititi’s uptight and nearly 400-year-old vamp, Viago, is among.

Theo James (Underworld: Awakening, Underworld: Blood Wars)

Another big screen franchise that depended on heaps of stars to populate its supernatural world is that of Underworld. Two sequels saw Theo James play the heroic vampire, David, heir to one of the main vamp covens, and lead Selene’s one steadfast ally during an important time in her journey.

Willem Dafoe (Shadow Of The Vampire)

Not many cinematic vampires are said to be based on a real person, but the one played by Willem Dafoe in 2000’s Shadow of the Vampire is. He portrayed a fictionalized version of the real Nosferatu lead actor, Max Schreck, whom the crew begins to suspect is an actual vampire because of his behavior and the strange goings-on surrounding filming.

Gerard Butler (Dracula 2000)

Speaking of vampires who are based on real people…Author Bram Stoker based his Dracula on Vlad the Impaler, and Gerard Butler played yet another version of the ever-popular character in a film from, yes, 2000. This tale sees the ancient vamp accidentally awoken by a group of thieves who find and steal his highly protected coffin, which had been watched over by generations of the Van Helsing family.

Wesley Snipes (Blade)

A Marvel character that will soon have another portrayer when the upcoming Blade reboot finally begins filming, the original action/horror trilogy famously saw Wesley Snipes take on the vampire/human hybrid titular lead, who’s a nearly unstoppable vamp hunter bent on taking down all members of the species who bit his mother and infected him with their supernatural blood while he was still in utero.

Colin Farrell (Fright Night)

If a scary and suave undead night stalker is your type, look no further than Colin Farrell’s Jerry Dandrige in 2011’s remake of the 1985 cult classic, Fright Night. He may have to eventually do battle with a couple of teenagers, but he sure looks darn good doing it.

Ethan Hawke (Daybreakers)

A movie that takes a more science-fiction approach to a world overrun by vampires is the 2009 film Daybreakers, which sees Ethan Hawke play a vamp hematologist who refuses to drink human blood and is looking for a synthetic option to their usual meal of choice that will stop humanity from being wiped out by his more brutal peers.

Luke Evans (Dracula Untold)

Again with Dracula? Why, yes! This time, Luke Evans plays a Vlad the Impaler who only becomes a vampire to have the strength, speed and ferocity to turn back an invading army in an attempt to save the people of his kingdom. Does it work out for him? Well, yes…and no.

Kate Beckinsale (Underworld)

There’s no mentioning the Underworld franchise without giving respect to the main heroine, Kate Beckinsale’s Selene. In the first film she’s a vampire looking to destroy the werewolves that killed her family, but she ends up uncovering a major secret about the two sets of creatures and falling in love with a human, instead.

Alicia Silverstone (Vamps)

This 2012 horror comedy sees Alicia Silverstone play Goody, an old vampire who tries to stay young and hip while helping her much younger bloodsucking buddy, Stacy (Krysten Ritter), get used to her powers as they try to abstain from the red stuff during their immortal and unholy (sorta) lives.

Pedro Pascal (Bloodsucking Bastards)

Ever wondered what working in an office that was slowly being overrun by vampires who care as much about the bottom line as they do about drinking blood would be like? Just watch Bloodsucking Bastards, where beloved The Last of Us cast member Pedro Pascal begins turning his employees into the titular immortals.

Jim Carrey (Once Bitten)

Jim Carrey’s first leading role came in this 1985 comedy, where he played a teen virgin turned into a vampire by an alluring, 400-year-old creature of the night, who seduced him so she could use his blood to keep her youthful appearance.

Paul Reubens (Buffy The Vampire Slayer)

In the 1992 horror comedy that eventually led to the long-running series of the same name, the late Paul Reubens starred as Amilyn, a vamp doing the bidding of a much more powerful bloodsucker who’s ruling his kind in Los Angeles.

Alexander Skarsgård (True Blood)

While HBO’s True Blood was positively filled with the undead, few of them made as much of an impact on audiences (and the lead, Sookie) as Alexander Skarsgård’s cunning and alluring (but sorta evil) 1,000-year-old Eric Northman. This also happens to be the role that really made Skarsgård famous.

David Boreanaz (Buffy, Angel)

When it comes to popular TV vampires, no one can discount the reign of David Boreanaz as evil vamp turned heroic vamp (and then sometimes evil vamp again) Angel, whom he played on Buffy the Vampire Slayer beginning with the first episode in 1997, through wrapping his run on the fifth season series finale of his own show, Angel, in 2004.

Sterling K. Brown (Supernatural)

Sterling K. Brown may best be known now for delivering heartfelt emotions as Randall Pearson on This Is Us, but for four episodes across Seasons 2 and 3 of the CW mega-hit, Supernatural, he played Hunter and dedicated vamp-hater-turned-vampire, Gordon Walker, to astounding, understandably cold-blooded effect.

Kiefer Sutherland (The Lost Boys)

Even though Kiefer Sutherland was certainly a star on the rise by the time he starred in The Lost Boys in 1987, his part as apparent vampire motorcycle gang leader David cemented his leading man qualities and turned him into a household name.

Rami Malek (The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part II)

Sure, Bohemian Rhapsody is one of the best Rami Malek movies to watch, but let’s not discount his turn as the powerful (and ancient) Egyptian vampire, Benjamin, in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part II, one of the few creatures of the night in the franchise who can directly manipulate things, with his specialty being controlling fire, water, air and earth.

Bryce Dallas Howard (The Twilight Saga: Eclipse)

Yet another actor you may have forgotten was fanged in the expansive Twilight franchise is Jurassic World star Bryce Dallas Howard. She took over the role of evil, vengeful vamp Victoria (who’s looking to kill Bella in retaliation for Edward killing her love, James) from Rachelle Lefevre, for the third movie, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.

Tilda Swinton (Only Lovers Left Alive)

As one half of the very old vampire couple at the center of the 2013 dramedy, Only Lovers Left Alive, Tilda Swinton is a wife forced to visit the husband (played by Tom Hiddleston) she’s long been separated from once she realizes his lengthy undead existence has begun to bring him down, as she tries to force him to reevaluate the value of living forever.

Bill Nighy (Underworld, Underworld: Rise Of The Lycans)

Every good vampire needs a parental figure to show them the ropes, and for Underworld’s Selene, that role was filled by Viktor, who was portrayed by Love, Actually star Bill Nighy. His Vampire Elder turned out to be more of a threat than the heroine ever expected, though, leading to some tense moments between Selene and her mentor.

Gary Oldman (Bram Stoker's Dracula) 

Back to Drac! One of the most popular films about the character is still 1992’s Bram Stoker's Dracula, which saw eventual Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban star Gary Oldman play Vlad Dracula.

Christopher Meloni (True Blood)

Where there is one vampire there are generally enough to have a whole hierarchy among their brethren, and as with the series True Blood, sometimes we get to see what that could look like. In Season 5, Law & Order: SVU and Organized Crime star Christopher Meloni portrayed the Guardian, Roman Zimojic, who led the Vampire Authority and (ostensibly) set the rules for all vamps. Many, however, didn’t agree with his desire to have his kind fit in with human society, which caused a lot of problems for the calm, determined and deadly when challenged leader.

Nicolas Cage (Renfield)

If you guessed that this is yet another Dracula story, well, you’re sort of correct. 2023’s horror comedy, Renfield, stars Nicholas Hoult as the count’s titular long-time familiar, who’s tired of helping him kill innocent people and all the abuse he’s taken from the being who gifted him with immortality, as well as super strength and speed (when he eats bugs) 90 years prior. So, he gets help from a support group for people in codependent relationships in order to be able to live his own life again. Nicolas Cage is our Dracula here, and he’s a perfectly winking one, who still manages to be creepy and deadly.

Johnny Depp (Dark Shadows)

Johnny Depp has become known for his outrageous characters, and his Barnabas Collins is no different. The 2012 Dark Shadows film (which was based on the 1966-1971 gothic daytime drama of the same name) follows Barnabas after he’s cursed with vampirism in 1760, buried alive in a coffin, and then accidentally freed in the early 1970s. He rejoins the Collins family at the estate they still hold, while trying to keep his true nature a secret, but hijinks ensue as his past comes back to haunt them. 

This, of course, is just a small sampling of the famous actors who've portrayed vampires over the years, but if you decide to do a vamp movie/TV show marathon, you can start right here and have hours of entertainment.

SPOILER WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Mr. & Mrs. Smith Season 1. If you have yet to watch the new series and don’t want anything spoiled, please exercise extreme caution.

The Amazon original series, Mr. & Mrs. Smith finally debuted on the streaming platform in February 2024, and the small-screen reimagining of the 2005 Brad Pitt and Angelina Joie action comedy, is getting a lot of praise from critics. While a lot of that attention has been focused on series leads Donald Glover and Maya Erskine’s John and Jane Smith, there has also been a lot of buzz about the various guest stars who appeared throughout the show’s first eight episodes. Maybe because the cast list is absolutely stacked!

If you’ve watched the new 2024 TV show and are wondering why some of those familiar faces look so familiar, stick around, because we’re about to break down all the Mr. & Mrs. Smith Season 1 guest stars…

Alexander Skarsgård (Other John)

Before Donald Glover and Maya Erskine’s titular characters show up on Mr. & Mrs. Smith, we are introduced to a team of spies played by Alexander Skarsgård and Eiza González. The mysterious couple isn’t around all that long and they don’t even get a chance to finish their final bottle of wine before being taken out by a pair of mysterious killers. Before his brief portrayal, Skarsgård made a name for himself on shows like True Blood and Big Little Lies.

Eiza González (Other Jane)

Eiza González’s Jane makes it a little longer than her John, but not by much, as the mysterious spy is killed off four minutes into the first episode. Probably best known for her roles in Baby Driver, Hobbs & Shaw, and Ambulance, González has also appeared on shows like From Dusk till Dawn: The Series and Extrapolations.

Paul Dano (Harris, A.K.A. ‘Hot Neighbor’)

Paul Dano appears briefly throughout Season 1, and you would think that his character, Harris, a.k.a., “Hot Neighbor,” would be some kind of villain. But no, the architect who lives next to John and Jane Smith is just simply obsessed with their brownstone and how they afford such a place. Dano does give off some creepy vibes like characters in several of his best movies like The Batman, Prisoners, and There Will Be Blood.

John Turturro (Eric Shane)

John Turturro, who has been in some of the best Coen Brothers movies over the years, shows up in the second episode of Mr. & Mrs. Smith Season 1 as Eric Shane, a wealthy and eccentric billionaire real estate mogul who becomes the titular couple’s target. But he isn’t around long, as a botched mission ends with this wild character in a compost bin. In addition to playing iconic movie characters, Turturro has also appeared on a long list of TV shows that includes The Plot Against America, The Night Of, Severance, and Monk, for which he won a Primetime Emmy Award.

Sharon Horgan (Gavol Martin)

Catastrophe star and co-creator Sharon Horgan shows up in the third episode as Gavol Martin, a successful businesswoman who becomes John and Jane’s latest target when they’re on a luxurious skiing holiday in the Italian Dolomites. But, things don’t according to plan on what ends up being a tense and thrilling vacation, as Gavol finds herself in a delicate and dangerous situation. Horgan has also appeared on shows like Bad Sisters, HouseBroken, and Disenchantment in recent years.

Billy Campbell (Parker Martin)

Billy Campbell also appears in the third episode of Mr. and Mrs. Smith Season 1, and he can be seen playing Gavol Martin’s frustrated husband, Parker, who has grown tired of his wife’s workaholic and demeaning personality. If Campbell looks familiar, it could have something to do with the fact that he famously played Clifford Secord in Joe Dante’s The Rocketeer, a Disney movie that deserves a sequel. More recently, Campbell has landed roles on shows like Cardinal, Helix, FBI, and Star Trek: Prodigy.

Parker Posey (Other Jane)

We meet a third set of John and Jane Smiths halfway through Mr. & Mrs. Smith, a couple that initially seems like a friendly, well-meaning pair of spies. But as we learn throughout the show, looks are often deceiving, and that’s the case for Parker Posey’s Jane. Prior to taking on the role of the cold-hearted killer, Posey appeared in some of the best ‘90s movies like Dazed and Confused, You’ve Got Mail, and Party Girl, to name a few. More recently, Posey has given great small-screen performances on The Staircase, Lost in Space, and Tales of the Walking Dead.

Wagner Moura (Other John)

Wagner Moura appears as the John to Parker Posey’s Jane and one part of the dastardly duo tasked with taking out other killers from the shadowy organization. Moura, who will show up in A24’s Civil War later in 2024, is best known for his work on shows like Narcos and Narcos: Mexico where he played Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar. Fans of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish should recognize Moura’s voice from his portrayal of the Wolf, a.k.a., one of the best DreamWorks Animation villains to date.

Úrsula Corberó (Runi)

One of the briefest guest appearances during Mr. & Mrs. Smith Season 1 belongs to Úrsula Corberó, who shows up as John Smith’s ex-girlfriend, Runi. If you recognized the actress from her shot time at the farmer’s market it could have something to do with her portrayal of Silene Oliveira on the popular Netflix streaming series, Money Heist. 

Ron Perlman (Toby)

Ron Perlman has one of the wildest and most over-the-top guest spots during Season 1 when he shows up as a man named Toby, who has to be rescued and protected by Donald Glover and Maya Erskine’s characters in Lake Como. Though his character is a major departure from roles he had on Sons of Anarchy and Hand of God, the Hellboy and Transformers: Rise of the Beasts actor is just as charismatic and hilarious on the new Amazon series.

Sarah Paulson (Couples Therapist)

Another great Mr. & Mrs. Smith guest spot belongs to Sarah Paulson, who shows up in the final third of the season as John and Jane Smith’s quirky couples therapist. A nice touch to the cast, Paulson makes the most of her short time on screen and gives a genuinely hilarious performance. It’s quite different from her Ratched and various American Horror Story characters, which makes the guest role so much more fun.

Michaela Coel (Bev)

Michaela Coel shows up as Bev, a rival spy whom Jane initially believes is John’s hook-up buddy near the tail end of the show’s first season. Throughout her career, Coel has done everything from appearing in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever as Dora Milaje warrior Aneka to creating and starring in her own black comedy series, I May Destroy You, and showing up in two of the best Black Mirror episodes. 

Who knows what kind of guest stars will show up in Mr. & Mrs. Smith if the show is picked up for a second season, but if you want to revisit these great appearances you can do so right now with an Amazon subscription. 

Stream Mr. & Mrs. Smith on Amazon.

The Culkin brothers and the Skarsgård brothers are two very dominant acting families in 2024. For the Culkins, Macaulay is one of the most famous child actors of all time, and Kieran just had an incredible run playing Roman Roy on Succession, which won him several awards. For the Skarsgårds, Alexander Skarsgård's best projects include True Blood and Big Little Lies, as well as arthouse favorites like Infinity Pool and The Northman. In addition, Bill is best known for his star-making performance as Pennywise in the IT movies. With both families having such cultural relevance, some people on the internet pondered about who would win in a fight between the families, and Kieran Culkin recently gave his two cents on the matter.

In speaking to Entertainment Tonight on the Emmy’s red carpet, Culkin became aware of this bizarre internet debate, and he was very quick to give his opinion. A fight with the Skarsgårds did not seem like something the Succession cast member ever would want to participate in, and the mere size of them would ensure that the Culkins would lose. He said:

The interviewer brought up that some people on the internet thought the Culkins' speed and small stature would actually be an advantage in a fight, and they may be able to overpower the Skarsgårds with their nibble quickness. To which the 2024 Emmy winner doubled down and insisted that “size matters,” and the Culkins would definitely lose if they had to take on the famously tall Swedish acting family. 

The only way he thought they might have a shot was if the Skarsgårds were maimed and tied up before the fight. You can see his full answer in the clip from the red carpet interview below: 

As much as I want to believe that the agile Culkins could use their brains to their advantage to win against the Skarsgårds in a brawl, I have to side with Kieran Culkin on this one. 

Not only are the Skarsgård brothers very very tall, they are also in insane shape. Alexander Skarsgård’s physique in The Northman is mind-boggling, and he probably would be able to take on all six Culkin brothers by himself. And with the other five Skarsgårds in the mix, it doesn’t seem like a fair fight. However, I still loved hearing the arguments to the contrary. 

Even though this is a pretty silly debate, it’s exactly the kind of tomfoolery that Kieran Culkin probably loved hearing about. The actor has a wonderful sense of humor, he and loves an opportunity to joke around. He even couldn’t help but add in a silly jab at Pedro Pascal when he accepted his Golden Globe Award last month. This is the exact kind of witty energy he brought to Succession and his new indie film with Jesse Eisenberg, A Real Pain. 

This quality alone is probably why some thought he and his brothers could overpower the Skarsgårds, but unfortunately when it comes to a physical fight, as Kieran put it, “size matters.”

You can see Kieran Culkin in Succession with an HBO Max subscription. In addition, A Real Pain is getting tons of buzz out of Sundance, and it will likely have a wide theatrical release later this year. For more information on other exciting films heading to cinemas in the near future that star the Culkins and the Skarsgårds, make sure to check out our 2024 movie schedule. 

Murderbot is finally getting the adaptation it deserves. Apple TV+ has some of the best shows. Whether you’re looking for a comedy, a drama, or something in between, the streaming service has it. And now, we’re getting Murderbot, a new sci-fi drama

The new series comes from Academy Award nominees Chris and Paul Weitz, known as the Weitz Brothers. But for those who don’t know about it, here is what to know – and what you can expect.

What Is The Murderbot Premiere Date?

At the time of updating this in May 2025, Murderbot is set to premiere on May 16th, 2025, as per Apple’s press site. New episodes will drop weekly. The 2025 TV premiere schedule just got so much better!

What Is Murderbot About?

If you’re not familiar with the popular sci-fi book series, you’re probably wondering what Murderbot is even about. The book series of the same name by Martha Wells, as mentioned in the announcement from Apple TV+, follows a security android who is repulsed by the emotions that humans feel, and yet can’t help but feel drawn to people, including his clients, curious as to how they work. This only begins to build his free will – something the people who program him don’t want the android to have.

He has to hide his free will amidst performing assignments, but in reality, he wants to live an everyday life as humans do while trying to see where he fits in the grand scheme of the world.

Star Alexander Skarsgård even spoke about creating the series to Empire in April 2025, stating that it’s the “most relatable" role that he has done in his career thus far despite him literally playing a robot:

This sounds like it could join the ranks of the best sci-fi TV shows, or the best dystopian TV shows. This is an exciting premise with a different take that I don’t think we get to see that often.

Check Out The Murderbot Trailer

If this idea interests you at all, then you have to check out the Murderbot trailer! It gives us our first look at Skarsgård as a robot and the story we are about to dive into. I’m ready for this sci-fi classic.

The Murderbot Cast

If you’re looking to see who the cast is, we have you covered. Here is who you can expect to see in Murderbot thanks to Apple:

• Alexander Skarsgård
• David Dastmalchian
• Noma Dumezweni
• Sabrina Wu
• Tattiawna Jones
• Akshay Khanna
• Tamara Podemski

Talk about a stacked cast. It just makes me more excited.

About The Book Series

As mentioned above, the new series is based on the book series of the same name, written by Martha Wells, known as The Murderbot Diaries. The series has been ongoing since 2017, and seven books in total have been released – all within the last six years.

Her books have gained critical acclaim and appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List. The series also won two Nebula Awards and won the 2021 Hugo Award for best series. It’s the perfect choice for an upcoming book-to-screen adaptation.

Chris and Paul Weitz Are The Creators, Directors And Writers Of Murderbot

As written above, theWeitz Brothers (or Chris and Paul Weitz) are the creators, directors, and writers of the upcoming Murderbot series.

If these names sound familiar, these two have worked on several films. The brothers co-directed the iconic American comedy film American Pie, which gave us the incredible American Pie cast, and About A Boy. Chris Weitz directed New Moon, one of the films in the Twilight film franchise, and The Golden Compass.

The two siblings also co-directed Down to Earth, a fantasy comedy movie starring Chris Rock. Talk about an impressive resume. Considering these two have been on their game in the past with some of these films, I can’t wait to see them bring this sci-fi TV show to life.

The Series Will Be Ten Episodes

As confirmed by Apple, we know that Murderbot is only going to have ten episodes. This isn’t surprising, as most Apple TV+ shows tend to have fewer episodes.

Truthfully, many shows nowadays have a shorter number of episodes, which usually means each one is longer than those of a typical network show. And, if that means we can still get a great story, I’m down for however many episodes this show has.

What are you the most excited for when it comes to Murderbot? It’s so close to premiering! I think it’s time to read all those books, don’t you think?

While the general public has to wait a little more than two years for Superman: Legacy to reach their eye, writer/director James Gunn and his team have been busy lately with a key step in the filmmaking process: casting. Over the last few weeks, the search for who will play Clark Kent and Lois Lane in this upcoming DC movie has been narrowing down, and it may not be too much longer until we learn who’s been selected for these roles. In the midst of this though, there’s apparently been movement on finding Legacy’s Lex Luthor, with two frontrunners being reported.

According to THR, a shortlist of Lex Luthor actors has been assembled, and brothers Alexander Skarsgård and Bill Skarsgård are said to be on it. This doesn’t necessarily mean they’re the top two choices for the role at the moment, but evidently there’s interest in seeing how they could do as Superman’s arch-nemesis. It was also mentioned that it’s unclear right now if Nicholas Hoult, who’s one of the final contenders for Superman, might be put into the Luthor running again, as it’d been reported he initially tried out to play the villain before being tested as Clark Kent instead.

Bill Skarsgård already has some superhero movie experience under his belt from playing Zeitgeist in Deadpool 2 and Kro in Eternals, so playing Lex Luthor would be a major next step up for him. He also already has ties with Warner Bros. from playing Pennywise in the IT movies, and will further diversify his comic book media resume by playing Eric Draven in The Crow reboot. As for Alexander Skarsgård, although he hasn’t starred in anything superhero-related, he also goes back with Warner Bros. with movies like The Legend of Tarzan and Godzilla vs. Kong. The elder of the Skarsgård siblings also got to play a supervillain of sorts, Randall Flagg, in The Stand miniseries that Paramount+ subscribers can stream.

The mention of the Skarsgård brothers being considered for Lex Luthor came in a report talking about how the frontrunners for Clark Kent and Lois Lane in Superman: Legacy tested in predetermined pairs this past weekend: Nicholas Hoult and Rachel Brosnahan; Tom Brittney and Phoebe Dynevor; and David Corenswet and Emma Mackey. They were filmed performing several scenes, with the men in makeup and wardrobe as Clark, and the women looking like Lois. Then on Sunday, all the male actors returned for another series of screen tests, this time costumed as Superman, but Mackey was the only Lois contender who performed with them. However, THR’s sources said that this doesn’t necessarily mean she’s the one who will score the role.

We also learned earlier this month that Superman: Legacy will include members of The Authority, a superhero team getting their own movie in the DC Universe’s Chapter One slate. On that front, it was mentioned that Legacy will take place in a world where superheroes already exist, a contrast from Man of Steel kicking off the DCEU by having Superman as the first public superhero. The plan is for Legacy to start filming in early 2024, and both Gunn and his fellow DC studios co-head Peter Safran consider Legacy to be the “true beginning” of the DC Universe. That said, the animated Max series Creatures Commandos will precede it, and Xolo Maridueña’s Blue Beetle is also considered to be part of this new continuity.

Superman: Legacy hits theaters on July 11, 2025. While we wait to learn who will comprise the movie’s main cast, revisit Superman’s past movie and TV appearances with your Max subscription.

While Succession had a great four-season run, the HBO original series that captured so many eyes and told the story of the Roys has finally ended. The finale was crazy, with even more intense episodes during Season 4, and so much more. But what is the cast going to do next? Here is what we know. 

Brian Cox (Logan Roy)

Arguably the face of the franchise, Brian Cox as Logan Roy was a huge deal and truly captured what it was like to run a major media conglomerate while also being the patriarch of a ruthless family, and I don’t think anyone else could have played the part so perfectly. So, it’s not that much of a surprise that this veteran actor has plenty lined up after his lead part in the show. 

Cox is set to star in a new Netflix film from famous duo of Joe and Anthony Russo, called The Electric State, according to NME, and is set to come out in 2024. He is also set to appear alongside star Jennifer Coolidge, Gabrielle Union, and Dustin Hoffman in the new feature, Riff Raff, according to Deadline. Additionally, he appeared in a Paramount+ original movie, Little Wing, in 2024, and is set to voice Santa Claus in an upcoming animated feature for Netflix called That Christmas, according to Variety. 

Also, Cox will spread his talents to the world of fantasy as he is a part of the voice cast for the upcoming anime, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, according to Deadline.  

Jeremy Strong (Kendall Roy)

Another face of the franchise, Jeremy Strong was the perfect Kendall Roy and he was even better in Season 4 of the series. While his father on the show, Brian Cox, has plenty lined up in television and film, Jeremy Strong is actually going to be switching mediums for a bit. 

Strong appeared in the Broadway play, Enemy of the People since then, but is set to appear in The Apprentice according to Deadline, a movie regarding Donald Trump. 

Sarah Snook (Shiv Roy)

Shiv Roy was another one of my personal favorites from the television series, and she was portrayed by the amazing Sarah Snook, who had an amazing run as the character. Snook has also appeared in the Apple TV+ movie, The Beanie Bubble, which also featured a star-studded cast with actors such as Zach Galifiankis, Elizabeth Banks, and Geraldine Viswanathan. Coming up, she’ll be in a new series called All Her Fault, according to Variety, and has a new film, Memoir of a Snail, releasing in theaters after it premiered at a film festival in June 2024.  

Matthew Macfadyen (Tom Wambsgans)

Matthew Macfadyen as Tom ended up becoming a sleeper hit performance for me on Succession, and over time I ended up really loving his character, so it’s no surprise that the actor has some new projects coming out. 

Macfadyen just has a major release with his role as Paradox in Deadpool & Wolverine, and will have a new film called Holland, Michigan releasing on Amazon Prime, according to Deadline. Additionally, he has a new miniseries releasing on Netflix, titled Death By Lightning, where he will co-star beside Michael Shannon.

Kieran Culkin (Roman Roy)

Roman Roy is a character you can’t truly ever forget from Succession, and he was played by the amazing Kieran Culkin, who has some roles lined up after the show. He reprised his role as Wallace in a voice role in the anime Scott Pilgrim Takes Off in 2023. He first played the role in live-action in the 2010 film, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. 

Culkin is also set to appear in the upcoming movie, A Real Pain, directed by Jesse Eisenberg, according to Collider.  

Alan Ruck (Connor Roy)

Alan Ruck portrayed Connor Roy in Succession, and he has plenty of new projects set up for the next few years. In 2023, he appeared in the Amazon Prime movie, The Burial. According to Deadline, Ruck is set to appear in a new movie called Crust. He is also going to star in Wind River: The Next Chapter. 

Justine Lupe (Willa Ferreyra) 

Willa was another character I didn’t think I’d end up liking as much as I did, but Justine Lupe did an excellent job portraying her. Soon, Justine Lupe will appear in a Netflix comedy series called Nobody Wants This, according to Deadline, alongside a star-studded cast of Kristen Bell, Adam Brody and more. 

Nicholas Braun (Greg Hirsch)

Oh, I could go on for hours about cousin Greg, but for now, we’ll just talk about Nicholas Braun and how awesome he did portraying the character. He appeared in Dream Scenario in 2023. Braun is set to appear in the upcoming Saturday Night as Jim Henson, according to Deadline,  and will appear in a new film called Three Bags Full alongside several other stars like Hugh Jackman, Emma Thompson and more. 

Peter Friedman (Frank Vernon)

Frank Vernon was another character that was around for a while, and he is played by Peter Friedman. The actor is currently working on a short film titled X, but he was also  in the final season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel as George, so he’s certainly working outside of the Succession world already. Recently, Friedman has been active in theater, with a role in the show Job. 

Fisher Stevens (Hugo Baker)

Hugo Baker ends up making it all the way to the end of Succession and he is played by Fisher Stevens. The actor, who has been in Hollywood for some time, has appeared in several Wes Anderson movies, including Asteroid City. He also appeared in a film called Coup!, and will be in a new movie called In The Grey, according to Deadline. 

David Rasche (Karl Muller)

Karl Muller was another associate of Logan’s and Waystar on Succession, and he was played by David Rasche. He was in About My Father in 2023, and now has a new miniseries that he will co-star in, titled Dying for Sex, according to Deadline. 

Hiam Abbass (Marcia Roy)

While Marcia Roy sort of stopped appearing as much as the series went on, Hiam Abbass’ incredible performance will live on forever. Abbass was in Insidious: The Red Door in 2023, but so far she has nothing new coming out, so we’ll keep an eye out for new news. 

Arian Moayed (Stewy Hosseini)

You just gotta love Stewy and his attitude, and he was played by Arian Moayed. He appeared in a new film alongside Liam Neeson called Retribution, and has several projects coming out. A new film called House of Spoils alongside star Ariana DeBose and Barbie Ferreira, per Variety, is in the works, as well as another movie called Shell, according to Deadline. Additionally, the actor will be in a new movie for Apple and Skydance called Fountain of Youth. 

J. Smith-Cameron (Gerri Kellman)

Gerri was another character that I ended up loving on Succession until the end, and she was played by J. Smith-Cameron. She appeared in Turtles All The Way Down in 2024 for Max, and appeared in the popular TV show, Hacks and the TV show In The Know. There’s nothing set up just yet but I’m sure it won’t be long before we see more of Smith-Cameron.  

Alexander Skarsgård (Lukas Matsson)

Last but not least, we need to talk about Alexander Skarsgård, who played Lukas Matsson in Seasons 3 and 4, a very prominent role. He appeared in a film called Eric Laure with Judy Greer and appeared in a small role in the Amazon Prime series, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, but the actor still has so much coming up. 

He will also be in a new feature, The Tiger, according to Deadline, where he will co-star with Dane DeHaan.

Skarsgård will also be in the thriller, The Pack, with leading lady Florence Pugh, according to Deadline, and the latest war film, Lee. And lastly, he’ll be in a new Apple TV+ series, Murderbot. 

This cast is honestly full of so much talent it’s going to be hard to keep track of where they are over the next several years, but just know you’ll be getting plenty of new movies and fun television shows from all of them. I’m so eager to see what they accomplish next. 

Spoilers below for the latest episode of HBO’s Succession, so be warned if you haven’t yet made the trip to Norway.

We’ve reached the halfway point in Succession’s streamable fourth and final season, but the specter of Logan Roy definitely hasn’t been vanquished from the HBO hit, as Brian Cox’s patriarch is still a major point of contention for the Roy siblings on their quest to sell most of the company off. But nothing is ever so easy for these characters, even when it seems like it, as evidenced by the episode “Kill List.” Kieran Culkin’s Roman laid out a venomous rant that appeared to blow up the deal with Alexander Skarsgård's quietly ruthless Lukas Matsson, until it didn’t, as it now looks like the baby brother’s emotional outburst was the perfect move to secure the buyout, even if ATN is (currently) part of the deal.

While Succession fans could no doubt spend a while just talking about the business end of what went down on top of that Scandinavian mountain, the best part of the episode in my eyes was easily Roman wholeheartedly unburdening himself via a rage-filled dressing-down of Skarsgård's power-hungry tech king Matsson. Any rant that ends with someone saying “Yeah, I fucking hate you,” with a hard-G on the F-bomb, well, it’s one for the ages. And Culkin talked about bringing that scene to life for the latest ep of HBO’s Succession Podcast. When host Kara Swisher brought up the character going over the edge in a way that Matsson likely viewed as a business-minded ploy, the actor answered by saying:

It was a breath of mountain-fresh air for Roman to take the offensive and get the spotlight in Episode 405, with the previous installment hinging largely on the “underlined or crossed-out” debate surrounding Kendall’s name in Logan’s non-legalized will. Granted, that required Culkin to deal with even more dark states of mind to sink into ahead of filming, to the point where the actor admitted he wasn’t even fully cognizant of the gorgeous settings they were filming in as the cameras were rolling, and only took the time to appreciate things in between set-ups. 

But for all that Roman was so hardcore and in-the-moment when calling out Matsson for forcing the overseas face-to-face as a power move, rather than respectfully giving the family time to grieve before demanding the next move be made in the buyout talks, the character is still in something of a freefall, according to Kieran Culkin. He hasn't quite found his footing in a post-Logan world, and the actor says it's very important for Roman to have a specific task at hand as a way to avoid pitfalling. (Now I kinda feel bad for predicting Roman's death in Season 4.) In his words:

Keeping oneself busy can often be the easiest way to cope with grief, even if it may not always be the healthiest reaction. In Roman's case, fooling himself into believing he'd already grieved is part of what brought him to react so strongly to Matsson, as he was still quite sensitive to every comment the GoJo founder made about their dad, even if he probably would have agreed with most of the comments under different circumstances. You know he was just fooling himself by claiming that Logan wasn't a prick.

It might seem like the easiest move for the Roy siblings to just sell off everything Logan built up in order to spend their lives in the laps of luxury. But for Kieran Culkin, it would be a nightmare for Roman to never be recognized for anything outside of being Logan's son. In his words:

Now, it appears the biggest upcoming event for the Roy crew is Logan's funeral, which Brian Cox himself actually filmed for, as a way to throw onlookers off of predicting who died. Of course, with this season take place across one day per episode, it's hard to tell exactly when that funeral will fall, and whether or not we'll get more information about Logan's past, specifically about his late sister Rose.

But all episodes are available to stream with an HBO Max subscription, with new episodes airing linearly on Sunday nights at 9:00 p.m. ET.

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

In writer/director Brandon Cronenberg’s Infinity Pool, protagonist James Foster, played by Alexander Skarsgård, goes on one hell of a trippy ride. With the character learning about a special kind of lawlessness to which only the extremely wealthy have access in the fictional nation of La Tolqa, the movie goes to some wild places with sex and violence, and it features some head-spinning hallucinatory sequences. It all makes for a pretty crazy cinematic experience – and filming it was evidently a lot of fun for the film’s star.

Following the movie’s premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival earlier this month, I had a chance to talk with stars Alexander Skarsgård and Mia Goth during a virtual press day, and I took the opportunity to inquire about two of Infinity Pool’s craziest montages: James getting cloned for the first time, and the principal characters imbibing a fake hallucinogen called Ekki Gate. Visceral and intense as these moments in the film are, Skarsgård explained that actually filming them was more technical than one might think, but still enjoyable. Said the actor,

According to the Infinity Pool star, there was quite a lot of aesthetic experimentation that went into the creation of these special scenes – which pair extreme behaviors with intense colors and shifting lighting.. Rather than going into the day knowing exactly how everything was going to be filmed, Brandon Cronenberg and cinematographer Karim Hussain played around with different techniques on set, and they used a wide variety of methods to best make the movie pop.

Continuing, Alexander Skarsgård expressed that he was impressed by what the filmmakers were able to achieve on set – particularly because the various effects were done practically instead of in post-production with visual effects and editing tools:

Infinity Pool is now playing in theaters nationwide, having been given a wide release this past Friday. The movie has earned terrific reviews (read our CinemaBlend review out of the Sundance Film Festival), and even though it’s January, it seems destined to be considered one of the best horror movies of the year. Once you’ve seen it, check out our analysis of the intense ending, and start preparing for your next fear fest in theaters with our Upcoming Horror Movies guide.

In Brandon Cronenberg’s Infinity Pool, co-stars Alexander Skarsgård and Mia Goth are front and center in scenes of graphic sex and violence – and it’s not precisely a brand new thing for either star. In their careers, both actors have demonstrated a bold willingness to take part in cinematic extremes, with standout titles from their respective resumes including the heated HBO vampire series True Blood, the witchcraft-centric remake of Suspiria, the dark remake of Straw Dogs, the horrors of X and Pearl (soon to be followed by MaXXXine), and The Northman.

Not all performers are necessarily willing to go to the places that Skarsgård and Goth do, and I recently asked the pair about that aspect of their work.

I interviewed the two actors this week during the virtual press day for Infinity Pool and took the opportunity to inquire about their histories with cinematic sex and violence. I asked if it was a case of them going after certain projects, or certain projects finding them, and Goth said that it’s a bit less specific than that for her. Instead, she explained that the films she makes are those that find her at the right time in her life. Said Goth,

Continuing, Mia Goth added that while cinematic sex and violence may be extreme, we live in what could be described as an extreme world, and she finds her work as a way to navigate all of it:

As for Alexander Skarsgård, he apparently sees working as an actor as a kind of therapy. In Infinity Pool, for instance, he plays a man who corrodes his soul as a tourist in the lawless world of the ultra-wealthy, and the darkness that he explores in the role of James Foster, he feels, is a healthy thing for him personally.

At the same time, however, that’s not his sole purpose as a performer. He goes to some eye-opening places, but he also works outside of those zones to learn other things about himself as an actor. Said Skarsgård,

Going further, Alexander Skarsgård added that the film and television projects he takes on are also not just about self-reflection or a demonstration of range: he wants to both have fun and challenge himself:

Audiences will certainly be impressed by just how far both Mia Goth and Alexander Skarsgård go in Infinity Pool, which is over-the-top and rather demented, but also a terrific social satire. The film has earned terrific reviews since its premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, and it is in theaters everywhere this week. Check Fandango for your local listings and to purchase tickets.

To learn more about what’s ahead on the cinema front in the 11 months, check out our 2023 Movie Release Calendar.

If the last couple years can be taken as proper indication, filmmakers are sick of the ultra-rich, and they are letting it be known through their work. Some of the best cinema of the past year was designed to skewer the privileged and ridiculous lifestyles of multi-millionaires and billionaires – from Rian Johnson’s Glass Onion (a mystery-driven expose of wealthy morons), to Ruben Östlund’s Triangle Of Sadness (class warfare mixed with projectile vomiting), to Mark Mylod’s The Menu (a delicious eat-the-rich satire of haute cuisine).

The latest voice that has added to this growing choir is Brandon Cronenberg … and boy, is it very much his voice. It’s become clear through the writer/director’s first three films that he and his father, body horror legend David Cronenberg, share similar sensibilities towards the grotesque and obscene in their movies, and that boundary-pushing aesthetic is weaponized brilliantly in Infinity Pool, an extreme examination of the lawlessness of the affluent.

No stranger to graphic cinema, Alexander Skarsgård stars as James Foster, an author six years removed from his first published novel and struggling with writer’s block. Supporting him through this creative drought is his publishing heiress wife, Em (Cleopatra Coleman), and together they go on a vacation to the fictional country of La Tolqa hoping that James can find some inspiration. The trip initially seems like a bust, but things turn around when the protagonist meets Gabi Bauer (Mia Goth), a fan of his book who recognizes him and wishes to get to know him better.

The next day, James, Em, Gabi and Gabi’s husband, Alban (Jalil Lespert), take an unauthorized trip away from the resort where they are staying for an afternoon and night of drinking on the beach. What starts as a fun experience devolves into horror, though, as the ride back, with James at the wheel of a borrowed car, is interrupted by a fatal accident. When James is arrested, he learns of the hardcore laws in La Tolqa that would see him sentenced to death for his crime – but he simultaneously learns of a unique loophole offered by the country that he can take advantage of… provided that he can pay.

Brandon Cronenberg has created a horrifying  world you can’t look away from.

Infinity Pool will best be first enjoyed if you’re not aware of the fantastic sci-fi hook that arrives at the end of Act One, but what can be said without spoilers is that it serves as a tremendous vehicle for the movie’s central thesis. Along with a hefty dose of soul corrosion, money offers James an explicit freedom from consequence in La Tolqa, and a journey to see exactly how far the rabbit hole goes with the idea opens doors to hedonistic insanity that never permits you to get off the edge of your seat.

Cronenberg’s screenplay is outfitted with terrific escalation and pacing, and, paired with the dazzling style, there’s an argument made that subtlety is overrated.

Infinity Pool goes way over the top, but it’s a perfect fit for the statement being made.

With spinning cinematography and flashing lights that seemingly cover the full color spectrum, Infinity Pool is a literally dizzying cinematic experience that further twirls your brain around with an orgy of graphic content on its way to driving home its commentary. Premiering at the Sundance Film Festival prior to its wide theatrical release, the movie certainly makes your guts churn and drop your jaw – with intense and gratuitous depictions of violence and sex – but it’s all in service of effectively raising stakes and making its point. All of the outrageousness is counterbalanced by monstrous flippancy demonstrated by the characters, and it sharpens the satire.

Some are not going to be able to stomach it. If you couldn’t handle the overload of bodily fluids in Triangle of Sadness or the blood that pours in The Menu, you’re definitely not going to handle what Infinity Pool has to offer in a trip to the cinema. If, however, you experienced the extremes of those films with a giddy smile and an appreciation for the expressed sentiments, Brandon Cronenberg has served up an early-in-the-year treat for you.

Alexander Skarsgård and Mia Goth both deliver remarkable and daring performances.

Such an endeavor requires bold actors, and Brandon Cronenberg found a tremendous pair in Alexander Skarsgård and Mia Goth: two stars well-versed in cinematic sex and violence who make for a seductive and poisonous couple in Infinity Pool. Their chemistry together is successfully electric and dangerous, as Gabi lures James into an unimaginably dark world, and Skarsgård and Goth’s performances only become more impressive as the story plays out.

There is an under-the-surface darkness to James that we can see at the outset in the film, and Skarsgård both exposes it and cultivates it in brilliant ways over the course of the character’s arc – primarily through action and emotion over literal expression. The shifting balance of reticence and excitement in him is captivating, and it leads to a conclusion that is precisely where the protagonist needs to be left.

Gabi also smells of trouble from the outset, and she doesn’t take long to prove that read correct – but Mia Goth’s job past the film’s setup is hooking James on a leash and luring him into a mysterious and mad new world, and her turn is extraordinary. Saying too much would ruin the fun of seeing the performance evolve, but the legion of horror fans that Goth earned as lauding devotees in 2022 with X and Pearl will love every minute of her work here.

Following Antiviral and Possessor, Brandon Cronenberg has continued his streak of crafting visually arresting works that shock and stun with Infinity Pool. Like with swimming in the dead of winter, you have to brace for it, but it’s quite the experience when you dive in.

After her performances last year in X and Pearl, Mia Goth has quickly cemented her place amongst the best present-day horror actors. But before we see her return in that series’ third movie, MaXXXine, Goth has joined forces with writer/director Brandon Cronenberg for Infinity Pool, which also stars Alexander Skarsgård and Cleopatra Coleman. Infinity Pool premiered at Sundance Film Festival this past weekend ahead of its January 27 release to theaters. Reviews are in for this science fiction-horror film, so let’s see if this nightmarish-sounding flick should be next on our must-see list of 2023 movies.

Infinity Pool sees author James (Alexander Skarsgård) and Em (Cleopatra Coleman) on an all-inclusive getaway in the fictional Li Tolqa, with James hoping the vacation will help him overcome his writer’s block. The couple meets Gabi (Mia Goth), and soon a tragedy befalls them, forcing James and Em to make a life-altering decision. Let’s see what the critics have to say about the film.

Meagan Navarro of Bloody Disgusting rates Infinity Pool 4 skulls out of a possible 5, saying the director’s capability to build such levels of dread and tension, combined with the captivating performances of Mia Goth and Alexander Skarsgård make this sure-to-be-polarizing movie worth the watch. The critic continues: 

Those familiar with Brandon Cronenberg’s past work know his penchant for going to the extreme to make his audience uncomfortable, and this appears to be no different, as an initial cut of the film was given an NC-17 rating. Travis Hopson of Punch Drunk Critics says Antiviral and Possessor are nothing compared to the “utterly genius” Infinity Pool. The critic rates it 3.5 out of 5 stars, saying the retooled R-rated version still pushes the limits: 

Chris Evangelista of SlashFilm rates the movie 8 out of 10, saying he left the Sundance screening dizzy from the extreme gore and brutality. But the critic also said Brandon Cronenberg's movie provides him with something he's never seen before, “and that's the type of giddy high I'm always chasing.” Evangelista continues: 

Poulomi Das of The Playlist agrees with the above assessment, grading the movie an A- and saying Infinity Pool forces the viewers to give themselves to the director for an experience unlike any they’ve had before. The critic says Mia Goth proves her range, even surpassing her performance in Pearl. The review states: 

IndieWire’s Ryan Lattanzio agrees that the actors are impressive and Brandon Cronenberg has some sharp ideas, but this critic was left wanting when it comes to the execution, grading the movie a C:  

If Infinity Pool sounds like a movie you want to check out, you can do so starting on Friday, January 27 when it hits theaters. Also be sure to check out other upcoming horror movies, and if you want to see Mia Goth in one of her previous lauded performances, you can stream X with Paramount+ subscription through a Showtime add-on. 

TV vets Alexander Skarsgård and Jack McBrayer could have been considered the least likely duo in the past. After all, an undead big wig like True Blood’s Eric Northman doesn’t feel like a natural fit to be palling around with Kenneth the NBC Page from 30 Rock. It's now officially time to have your world shattered by these two men, as they were caught randomly talking about dining on a human kidney. And an HBO Max subscription isn't required to enjoy the chat that feels like it's straight out of the popular drama series

When both Skarsgård and McBrayer appeared at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, an exchange played out, and it's quite reminiscent of something from that fang-banging HBO horror show. The video, which was posted to Instagram, starts out in a relatively normal way, with Skarsgård being asked a question related to his role in the upcoming film Infinity Pool. And in time, there's the quick, but hilarious, drop into the world of the macabre, as you can see below: 

Before we dig too deep, let’s truly admire what’s going on here. Alexander Skarsgård is wearing a dog collar with a leash in this Infinity Pool press line, so that’s already spicing things up. But then to drag Jack McBrayer in out of nowhere, playing to the darker side of his “aw shucks” persona? And with a joke involving trying to eat one of Skarsgård’s kidneys on vacation? It’s so creepy that it’s hysterical! 

If there’s anyone from the writers room of that surprise True Blood reboot looking for a story idea, then look no further. Considering the comedic chemistry between the two actors in this press line, this is a concept that can’t merely be ignored by the masses. A full story where a crazed human tries to eat one of Eric Northman’s vampiric kidneys is the lost adventure that this next chapter needs to really get cooking. 

Admittedly, this fun gag involving Jack McBrayer also doesn’t feel all that different from something you’d see in one of the best 30 Rock episodes. Though even if there was some sort of kidney feasting on that show, Kenneth would be the least likely suspect. And even then, he’d probably have a better excuse than transitioning from a vegan diet. Perhaps that’s something that the previously rumored 30 Rock revival could tackle, forming an unlikely crossover that would, without question, rank in the pantheon of Alexander Skarsgård’s best movies and TV shows.

Moving back to the world of the serious, it’s not really known how or why the two were paired up for this delightful moment of morbid comedy. To be completely honest, the answer to that question wouldn’t be as interesting as the fact that it happened. 

Perhaps it’s time for some young aspiring writers, both in film and TV, to start pitching a Skarsgård/McBrayer team-up that banks on this energy. It’d certainly sell for more than the price of a kidney, and the prospect would be even sweeter to behold. For now, if you’d like to revisit the currently existing world of True Blood, which is sadly an affair that includes no Jack McBrayer, that’s easy enough to tear into. 

HBO Max subscribers only need to log into their device of choice, and sink their teeth into seven seasons worth of reruns. For all others looking to see what’s coming up in the world of streaming and broadcast excitement, the 2023 TV premiere schedule can quench that thirst right quick! 

Evidently Florence Pugh never stops finding new projects. Considering this young actress is now Oscar and BAFTA nominated, it makes sense why she’s a woman in demand. What’s ahead next for Pugh is teaming up with The Northman’s Alexander Skarsgård for an upcoming thriller.

Seeing Florence Pugh in original movies like Don’t Worry Darling and Midsommar really introduced audiences to her superb acting range. According to Deadline, she’ll get to star in another original movie called The Pack, where she’ll team up with the film’s director and co-star Alexander Skarsgård. This thriller is about a group of documentarians who brave the Alaskan wilderness to save a near-extinct species of wolves, but after the crew reunites at a prestigious award ceremony, drama ensues when a deadly truth threatens the work they've accomplished. Michael Clayton’s Jennifer Fox will be producing the script financed by 30WEST and written by Rose Gilroy, who's also penning Apple TV+'s Project Artemis.

The 26-year-old actress has so much on her plate going forward. The Black Widow star was added to the cast of Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer and plays a key role in Dune: Part Two - two of the most anticipated new movies of 2023. As for the rest of this year, you'll be able to watch Florence Pugh’s haunting performance in The Wonder with your Netflix subscription soon, and she's also voicing Goldilocks in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. So we have period dramas, animated films, biopics and thrillers in this young actress’s upcoming filmography. If she tackled a romantic comedy, you’d be able to safely say she’s tackled every film genre.

While Alexander Skarsgård has tried his hand at directing for the Swedish-Finnish short film To Kill a Child, The Pack would be Skarsgård’s directorial feature film debut. But you’ll have plenty of opportunities to see The Northman actor in front of the camera, like in the upcoming horror film Infinity Pool with Pearl’s Mia Goth, as well as in the forthcoming biopic Lee with Kate Winslet about World War II photographer Lee Miller. Skarsgård will also be around for another famous actor’s directorial debut in Michael Shannon’s Eric Larue. Skarsgård and Pugh clearly have their work cut out for them.

The Pack will begin shooting in March with no release date announced as of yet. The plot of The Pack almost reminds me of Showtime’s Yellowjackets, which follows a group of girls who survived a plane crash, only to be stuck in the wilderness taking on cannibalistic rituals to survive. With wolves being the central theme of this psychological thriller, I can only imagine this film follows a grisly tone with stellar performances.

Florence Pugh and Alexander Skarsgård will battle it out in the wilderness together in The Pack. Keep up with CinemaBlend’s new movie releases so you’ll know when this anticipated movie will make its way into theaters.

Once upon a time, Alexander Skarsgård played the role of a former Viking-turned \-vampire in the racy HBO series True Blood. Now Skarsgård is actually playing a full blown, totally-ripped Viking prince-turned-berserker in Robert Eggers’ recently released The Northman. It seems like we’ve kind of come full circle here, but apparently the actor would have liked to make a Viking movie way sooner than when he landed The Northman.

Alexander Skarsgård sat down with Vanity Fair ahead of The Northman’s release to talk about all things Viking, and being the Swede that he is, he obviously loves Norse culture and mythology. Apparently the Big Little Lies star has always been dreaming big when it comes to the Vikings, and has always wanted to make a Viking epic with odes to real history and mythology throughout. In his words:

Alexander Skarsgård told of a time in his younger years when his father, Stellan Skarsgård (who has his own extraordinary film career) and mother allowed him to pick his younger siblings’ (of which there are MANY) middle names. He proceeded to give them old Norse names, and I’m compelled to believe that his brothers are probably glad their parents didn’t give Skarsgård first naming rights.

Alexander Skarsgård wasn't alone with having this love for Norse culture and the dream of creating a great Viking epic. As luck would have it, he would meet director Robert Eggers, who coincidentally also spent his career hoping to make “the ultimate Viking movie.” Together, they have created something full of passion and a grounded, historically accurate Viking film.

A ton of work went into The Northman; filming the scenes were apparently pretty brutal, and so was the training it took for Alexander Skarsgård to appear the perfect Viking berserker. What a transformation it truly was for Skarsgård, because even though he was known as “Dude Who Takes His Shirt off” in films, he looks completely different when he takes even more off in The Northman.

Alexander Skarsgård may have played a character named Northman in HBO’s True Blood, but he was able to live out a life-long fantasy of being a full blooded Viking - or at least playing one on screen in The Northman. That’s the kind of passion behind a movie that ends up making great cinema.

The Northman is among the latest of the 2022 movie releases, and you can see the fruits of Alexander Skarsgård and Robert Eggers’ labor in theaters now, for which Skarsgård has already received a lot of praise. The film is pretty much unlike any other Viking movie out there, and that just may come from the years worth of manifestations of those involved. Even if that's not the case, years of boyhood and young adult dreams are certainly worth a couple hours of your time at the theater.

The Skarsgårds have been around for quite a while and are an acting legacy, beginning with the powerhouse that is Dune’s Stellan Skarsgård. Alexander Skarsgård is the eldest of Stellan’s four actor sons, and he has a resume of pretty epic roles himself. While he feels he's sometimes fallen into being type-cast as the “Dude who takes his shirt off” in the past (and certainly looks great in shirtless roles), the eldest Skarsgård brother has also proven his worth in Hollywood as a man with range and superb acting chops. We’ve compiled a list of some of the best Alexander Skarsgård movies and TV shows, and how you can watch them streaming at home or add them to your own permanent Skarsgård collection. 

True Blood (2008 - 2014)

If you’re anything like me, you first fell in love with Alexander Skarsgård in HBO’s racy vampire drama, True Blood. Skarsgård plays the moody, bad boy Viking vampire who owns a popular vampire club in the series. His performance and character is top notch, and is one of the many favorites in the series. 

Alexander Skarsgård is a pivotal character throughout True Blood, and the series pretty much a must-see for any fans of the actor. Not only is Skarsgård’s Eric Northman blood thirsty and completely alluring, but the series’ setting of Louisiana brings an entirely immersive experience to the series and really plays on that modern vampire aesthetic. 10/10 vampire series; would binge again.

Stream True Blood on HBO Max.
Buy/Rent True Blood digitally on Amazon.
Buy True Blood on DVD/Blu-Ray on Amazon.

Kill Your Darlings (2006)

Not to be confused with Daniel Radcliffe’s later film of the same name, Kill Your Darlings centers around five very different individuals and their joint journey from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. Alexander Skarsgård plays a trans woman who, after attempting to light herself on fire, meets up with two other travelers heading to Sin City to see the very same celebrity psychiatrist. 

If you were looking for a hidden gem of a performance from Alexander Skarsgård to even out the number of his impressive and well-known roles, Kill Your Darlings should fit the bill perfectly. Although set in America and spoken a fair amount in English, the film features a number of Swedish actors and was made by a Swedish director. It’s a niche movie and you’ll be hard pressed to find it streaming, but you can buy it pretty cheap on DVD - and it’s worth it. 

Buy Kill Your Darlings on DVD/Blu-Ray on Amazon.

The Legend of Tarzan (2016)

While it was kind of hard to get Disney’s animated version of Tarzan and Brendan Fraser’s George of the Jungle out of my head when thinking about shirtless, loincloth-clad men swinging through trees in a jungle, seeing Alexander Skarsgård completely dominate the role of Tarzan in The Legend of Tarzan certainly did the trick. This was made for a little bit of an older audience, and Skarsgård’s take on Edgar Rice Burroughs’ character totally stands up, and he’s backed by an all-star cast that includes the lovely Margot Robbie and Christoph Waltz. 

Buy/Rent The Legend of Tarzan digitally on Amazon.
Buy The Legend of Tarzan on DVD/Blu-Ray on Amazon.

The Northman (2022)

Alexander Skarsgård is close to his Scandinavian roots in The Northman, in which he plays a Viking prince set on avenging his murdered father. The Northman was brutal for the cast, especially Skarsgård, to film and that brutality certainly shows in the finished product. 

The Northman is Alexander Skarsgård’s most recently released film and is currently available to watch in a theater near you. While it isn’t streaming just yet, according to The Wrap there is a good chance you’ll be able to catch it at home with a Peacock subscription once its theatrical window is over, as it is a Universal picture. 

Big Little Lies (2017 - 2019)

Based on the best selling novel of the same name, Big Little Lies was a big deal. It had an enormous budget and cost pretty much the same as Game of Thrones to make, per episode. While Alexander Skarsgård is not one of the main characters, he is surrounded by some of Hollywood’s most renowned leading ladies, like Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman.

Big Little Lies is a dark, comedic series that centers on a murder in a high class, beach front neighborhood. It’s funny and dramatic, and with Season 1 having over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, a pretty solid watch.

Stream Big Little Lies on HBO Max.
Buy Big Little Lies digitally on Amazon.
Buy Big Little Lies on DVD/Blu-Ray on Amazon.

The Stand (2020 - 2021)

Who doesn’t love a good Stephen King film/TV adaptation? There have been a ton, and new ones are being made pretty much all the time. Paramount’s limited The Stand series is one of the handful of adaptations that have been made of King’s most lengthy stand alone work, and it’s definitely a must see for fans of both the horror writer and of Alexander Skarsgård.

Alexander Skarsgård plays the antagonist of The Stand, and his performance of Randall Flagg is pretty spot-on. Even with an all-star cast, Skarsgård stands out in the newest version of Stephen King’s The Stand. His character tends to pop up in other King novels as well, so the possibility for Skarsgård’s version of the character to live on in future projects is, to me, reason enough to hone in on Skarsgård’s Randall Flagg and check out the Paramount limited series.

Stream The Stand on Paramount+.
Buy The Stand digitally on Amazon.
Buy The Stand on DVD/Blu-Ray on Amazon.

What Maisie Knew (2012)

While Alexander Skarsgård plays the brooding, morally gray character pretty often, his role in What Maisie Knew is refreshingly nice and very endearing. The film centers on the titular child of two freshly divorced parents who have new partners. Skarsgård is Maisie’s new caretaker and her mother’s new husband. The film is about Maisie and her new circumstances, and the relationship she forms with Skarsgård’s character. 

Stream What Maisie Knew on Peacock.
Stream What Maisie Knew digitally on Amazon.
Buy What Maisie Knew on DVD/Blu-Ray on Amazon.

Melancholia (2011)

Melancholia is a visually stunning film. While the movie is far from a feel-good watch, it’s moving nonetheless. Melancholia explores the depths of depression with the story of two sisters as the world hurdles to an end as a planet is set to crash into Earth. Alexander Skarsgård plays the groom of one sister, played by Kirsten Dunst, who are getting married amid the impending disaster. The interesting plot line mixed with how artistically the film is approached is reason enough to watch this movie, and the performances from the stars are on point, as well. 

Stream Melancholia on Roku.
Buy/Rent Melancholia digitally on Amazon.
Buy Melancholia on DVD/Blu-Ray on Amazon.

On Becoming A God In Central Florida (2019)

Alexander Skarsgård and Kirsten Dunst team ups are killer, as On Becoming a God in Central Florida is the second which to make the list. I can only describe this series as a wild ride from start to finish. Set in the early ‘90s, this dark comedy handles the toxicity of pyramid schemes and the unexpected happens at pretty much every turn.

Alexander Skarsgård is pretty much unrecognizable in the TV series, but he gives a spectacular performance. He is only really in the first episode, but he is very much memorable. It’s a must see, and you’ll probably stick around even after Skarsgård makes his exit; it’s that good.

Stream On Becoming a God in Central Florida on Showtime.
Buy On Becoming a God in Central Florida digitally on Amazon.
Buy On Becoming a God in Central Florida on DVD on Amazon.

Disconnect (2012)

While Disconnect came out 10 years ago, it’s still very much relevant today. The film centers around three stories as a group of people navigate solving very real problems that result from living in a world where the internet runs everything. It’s a reflective film and speaks to the dangers of having your whole life being online. Alexander Skarsgård is acting opposite Jason Bateman and a whole cast of fantastic performers.

Buy/Rent Disconnect digitally on Amazon.
Buy Disconnect on DVD/Blu-Ray on Amazon.

While a lot of the Alexander Skarsgård performances in this “Best of” list showcase some serious talent in serious roles and prove he’s way more than just a man who takes his shirt off, the actor also has some wild range and does a great job in comedic roles as well. This can be seen in his smaller, yet awesome roles in Zoolander, Eastbound & Down, and Drunk History. They are totally worth checking out too, but just didn’t quite make the list. 

With The Northman having recently hit theaters and gaining some massively positive attention for Alexander Skarsgård, I can’t help but think there may be some great things on the horizon for the actor. While he’s been in the business and in Hollywood for a good two decades, I can’t wait to see what the next ten years look like for the talent, as he, arguably, still has lots of places where he can go in what is sure to be a very long career.

One of the most famous and renowned dynasties in Hollywood is the Skarsgård Family, who have acted alongside each other in a number of projects and also achieved great success on their own. So far, two members of this talented Swedish clan have appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe - namely veteran actor Stellan Skarsgård as Dr. Erik Selvig in two Thor movies and two Avengers movies, and his son, Bill Skarsgård, who joined the Eternals cast as Deviant leader, Kro. However, I must say that I am surprised that the eldest sibling, Alexander Skarsgård, still has yet to make his own Marvel movies debut.

There was actually a time, according to MTV News, when the Emmy-winning Big Little Lies star could have starred alongside his father in the title role of director Kenneth Branagh’s Thor before the part went to Chris Hemsworth. While that ship may have sailed, he would eventually receive the opportunity to play a Nordic prince turned shredded, vengeful warrior as the lead of Robert Eggers’ The Northman cast in 2022 - which, I think, is all the proof we need that he is ready for the big leagues. If and when Alexander Skarsgård finally becomes a comic book movie star, we have a few Marvel characters for him in mind, starting with one who has something in common with another one of his best-known roles.

Hannibal King

In 2008, Alexander Skarsgård first started to become a household name in the United States as part of Showtime’s True Blood cast in the role of a 1,000-year-old vampire named Eric Northman. If he ever wanted to return to the world of supernatural creatures such as this, he could by entering the world of the MCU as Hannibal King - a private investigator from Milwaukee who became a vampire hunter out of disdain for having been turned into one himself. The character was last played by Ryan Reynolds in 2003’s Blade: Trinity - the third installment of the Blade franchise that Marvel Studios is rebooting with Mahershala Ali as the titular half-human, half-vampire, meaning there is a chance to see King to return to the big screen and, if so, Skarsgård has the experience to nail it.

Ka-Zar

Years before he played the lead hero of the The Northman, one of Alexander Skarsgård’s biggest and most iconic starring roles in a feature film was in 2016’s The Legend of Tarzan as the reformed King of the Jungle who is now living in 19th Century London as John Clayton, but must channel his animal instincts again to defeat a Belgian slave baron in Africa. If he were ever interested in going this wild again, he should considering play another jungle man named Ka-Zar, who was first introduced into the Marvel Universe by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in a 1965 issue of X-Men and still has yet to get his own movie. Hell, if she ever gets the chance to take a break from the DC movies, why not also cast Margot Robbie - who previously played Tarzan’s wife, Jane Porter - as Ka-Zar’s wife: Shanna, The She-Devil.

Doctor Doom

In addition to portraying heroic characters like Tarzan or Amleth in The Northman, Alexander Skarsgård has proven that he can also play a really good villain, such as the dangerously jealous Charlie in the 2011 remake of Straw Dogs or in the 2020 update of The Stand as demonic recurring Stephen King character, Randall Flagg. I think that his impressive work as such horrifying and nefarious characters may have earned him the right to at least be considered to play one of the most notorious and powerful villains in Marvel Comics history: Doctor Doom. It is likely that the power-hungry Latverian genius and sorcerer will make his debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe when his arch nemeses make theirs in director Jon Watts’ highly anticipated upcoming Fantastic Four reboot, so maybe Stellan could put in a good word for him?

Sentry

On second thought, with more heroic roles coming his way lately, perhaps Alexander Skarsgård would rather not make his MCU debut as a flat-out villain, but maybe as a superhero who often struggles with having a darker side to himself, such as Sentry. Previously known as a rebellious, degenerate meth addict named Robert Reynolds, consuming an experimental serum that he stole from a science lab gave him the ability to do pretty much anything you could imagine a superhero might be capable of, which I would not be surprised has something to do with why he does not have his own movie yet. However, I think a character like this who tends to be his own worst enemy could lead to some intriguing storytelling in the MCU, especially with someone of Skarsgård’s talent in the role.

Hyperion

Another superhero who has yet to make his big screen debut is Hyperion, who has often been referred to as a Marvel Comics equivalent of Superman for his vast arsenal of abilities, being the sole survivor of his extra-terrestrial race, and having one known weakness: radiation. Other than the fact that he is kind of a dead ringer for the character, what made me think of Alexander Skarsgård as a good candidate is how Hyperion was originally introduced as a villain, which is actually the iteration I would like to see adapted for the MCU. Reason being: I think it would be a fun opportunity to savagely lampoon the Man of Steel, and the actor has previously shown us his penchant for comedy in the Zoolander movies and Long Shot, most notably.

Bruto The Strongman

In my research for this article, I came to the realization that there is not much Swedish representation in the MCU (hell, even the Swedish Stellan Skarsgård’s aforementioned character, Dr. Erik Selvig, is of Norwegian descent), but that could also stem from he fact that Swedish representation in the Marvel Comics is pretty scarce. Well, perhaps the younger Skarsgård, Alexander, could be of some help in that territory by playing one of the more notable Swedes from the comics: Bruto the Strongman. The former circus performer made his debut in the third issue of Incredible Hulk in 1962, which convinces me that he and the actor’s now iconic, chiseled physique would be a great addition to the upcoming She-Hulk TV show on Disney+.

If none of these characters were to work out for Alexander Skarsgård, maybe he could just appear in an upcoming Marvel movie as Dr. Erik Selvig’s son as a fun way to share the screen with his own father. If not even that, I bet the new DC movies could use an actor of his caliber. 

Robert Eggers’ The Northman dropped to theaters over this past weekend, and it brought a very shirtless Alexander Skarsgård towering on the big screen. Skarsgård is completely ripped in the film, and we see quite a lot of him as he plays the vengeful Viking prince Amleth. Now Eggers has explained just how production made sure no one’s “bits” got “chopped off” during a certain naked fight scene that is featured in The Northman.

It's not like we haven’t seen Alexander Skarsgård shirtless before. In fact, he’s kind of been typecasted as the “dude who takes his shirt off.” He even appeared pantless at the MTV Awards one time (peep his IMDB photo - you’re welcome). However, Skarsgård is obviously more ripped in The Northman, which makes a particular nude fight scene extra savage, especially when you consider that they are fighting on a freaking volcano, so their “bits” would have been vulnerable to both sword and magma. 

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, director Robert Eggers made it clear that no one’s junk was ever in any danger. To ensure the safety of some precious packages, actors had to wear thongs instead of actually going nude for the scene. This admission came after being asked if production had to digitally edit genitals out, the truth being that they actually had to digitally add them in. Here it is in Eggers' own words:

Let those last three words haunt your dreams. If you look hard enough, somewhere, on some corner of the internet or on some production assistant’s computer, there are Alexander Skarsgård nudes. 

All jokes aside, Alexander Skarsgård has seemingly always been pretty open about his body and nudity. Much like the Viking culture he portrays in The Northman, he doesn’t seem to approach nudity with any sense of shame or taboo, and has no problem with doing nude scenes. You won’t have to look further than his full frontal scene in Big Little Lies or his time on HBO’s True Blood for evidence of his comfort in that type of scene.

If two vikings fighting naked on a volcano (don’t worry, the “bits” were safe) sounds up your alley, it would just take a trip to the theaters to see it on the big screen. The Northman is the latest 2022 new release to exclusively go to theaters, but it would make sense for the Focus Features/Universal film to release for streaming for all those with a Peacock subscription once its theatrical window is over.

We wouldn’t have guessed it years ago but, as of late, the Vikings genre has seen an uprising. Between the wildly popular Vikings series from The History Channel, to its Netflix spinoff, along with How To Train Your Dragon, The Last Kingdom and the Thor movies, there have been plenty of successful properties inspired by the Scandinavian seafaring people. And this weekend, Alexander Skarsgård stars as a Viking warrior prince in The Northman, which differs from other films in the genre.

The Northman is an A24 film from writer/director Robert Eggers, who previously made critically acclaimed favorites The Witch and The Lighthouse. While Skarsgård spoke about his latest flick, he shared the story behind the film with these words: 

Alexander Skarsgård, who is a producer on The Northman (and got seriously ripped to play the lead role) told Slash Film that a decade ago he had aspirations to see the Viking age be depicted in a historically accurate way, but he’d never seen it be accomplished. Skarsgård was born in Sweden, which makes his ancestors perhaps directly aligned with the Vikings. 

Of course, his father is Stellan Skarsgård, who coincidentally starred in two of the Thor movies. The younger Skarsgård spoke to the difference between The Northman and Marvel’s depictions of Norse mythology: 

The Northman features an incredible cast including Nicole Kidman, Ethan Hawke, Anya Taylor-Joy, Willem Dafoe and Björk. The movie was born out of Alexander Skarsgård’s own desire to make a Vikings film, which later turned into a discussion with Robert Eggers, who co-wrote and helmed it. The movie is an action epic that serves as a revenge tale for a Viking prince who seeks justice for his father’s murder. 

Thor, on the other hand, is based on Norse mythology and Marvel comics, making it a lot more shiny than the grimy and relentless world of The Northman. Chris Hemsworth’s God of Thunder will return this summer with Thor: Love and Thunder. 

The film has earned rave reviews from critics overall, with CinemaBlend also giving the flick a great 4.5 out of 5 stars in our review. The site’s own Eric Eisenberg called the movie “hypnotizing” and “special” when describing his experience with the film. The film managed to hit the No. 4 position at the box office during its opening weekend, earning $12 million. It's a special movie, one that's made all the more unique by its faithfulness to Viking culture.

Check out our interviews with the cast of The Northman and stay up to date on the upcoming 2022 movie releases coming next on CinemaBlend. 

Alexander Skarsgård’s new film The Northman has a lot to offer, chief among them being an absolutely ripped Skarsgård. Ever since we caught a glimpse of the actor in this role, people can’t stop talking about how insane his physique is in the film. Make no mistake, to achieve such a hulking stature takes an incredible amount of work and discipline, which Skarsgård’s personal trainer, Magnus Lygdbäck, detailed to CinemaBlend in a recent interview.

In The Northman, Alexander Skarsgård plays a Viking, so his workout and diet were specific to achieving a physique one would sport while rampaging their way throughout Europe. As Lygdbäck put it, this was imagined as “strong, but not too lean.” He went on to explain what one of Skarsgård’s hardest days of training would look like:

You can immediately count me out of any workout that’s being described as “explosive.” Magnus Lygdbäck took us through a typical warmup Skarsgård would do prior to a full day of shooting, and “explosive” movements are something he emphasized a lot. The limber and exaggerated movements prepare the actor for a day of physical activity as a Viking, or as Lygdbäck put it, “a full day of axe-swinging.”

One would naturally be curious as to how Alexander Skarsgård ate while on this strict workout regime, so Lygdbäck clued us in on that as well:

Well, that sounds pretty standard! As mentioned, Magnus Lygdbäck didn’t want Alexander Skarsgård to get too lean, but his diet was very closely monitored. Though any implication that you can look like Skarsgård while regularly eating pasta is pretty exciting.

The Northman sees a young man named Amleth witness the murder of his father, and once he grows up, he emerges as a ripped Alexander Skarsgård, ready to take vengeance on the man who tore his family apart. To be sure, there’s much more to the performance than the way the actor looks, and Skarsgård triumphs in the role beyond being someone who takes their shirt off.

The Northman comes from the mind of visionary writer/director Robert Eggers of The Lighthouse and The Witch. Check out our interview with him on the ReelBlend podcast. The film is receiving rave reviews from both critics and fans alike. As for everything else coming our way this year, check out our 2022 release schedule. Catch The Northman in theaters for yourself on April 22!

Ever since it was first announced (or at least when it was given a release date), Robert Eggers’ historical thriller, The Northman, has been one of the most anticipated 2022 movies for a number of different reasons. There’s the director’s previous work like The Witch and The Lighthouse, a story inspired by William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, stunning visuals, and one of the most impressive casts put together in recent memory.

If you have been lucky enough to see the new Viking thriller, or are at least planning on experiencing it on the big screen, there’s a good chance you are wondering where you’ve seen members of The Northman cast before. Well, look no further because we’re about to break it down now.

Alexander Skarsgård (Amleth)

Leading The Northman cast is Alexander Skarsgård, who went through a ‘crazy’ transformation in preparation for his portrayal of Amleth, the Viking warrior prince at the center of the film’s narrative.

A member of the expansive and prolific Skarsgård family, the Swedish actor is best remembered for a few of his major roles, with the most notable being on two of HBO’s most popular shows of the past decade-and-a-half. Fans of True Blood will immediately remember Skarsgård’s portrayal of Eric Northman during the show’s seven-season run. And then, Big Little Lies fans will think back to his take on Perry Wright during the show’s run, a role that earned him a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe, and several other accolades.

Oscar Novak (Young Amleth)

Newcomer Oscar Novak appears in The Northman as the younger version of Amleth before he goes into exile.

Novak got his first big break in show business on the historical drama series, Poldark, on which he portrayed Jeremy Poldark in the fifth and final season. Earlier in 2022, Novak played a younger version of Robert Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne in The Batman.

Anya Taylor-Joy (Olga)

Taking on the role of Olga, a sorceress who joins Amleth on his journey in The Northman, is Anya Taylor-Joy, whose busy schedule has kept her in a number of shows and movies as of late, some of which are earning her a great deal of praise.

By 2022, Taylor-Joy had her most successful performance to date on the Netflix limited series, The Queen’s Gambit, on which she portrayed chess prodigy Beth Harmon and took home several awards, including a Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award. She has also appeared in movies like Last Night in Soho, The New Mutants, and Emma in recent years. Taylor-Joy previously worked with director Robert Eggers for the 2015 psychological thriller, The Witch.

Ethan Hawke (King Aurvandil)

Ethan Hawke shows up in The Northman as King Aurvandil, Amleth’s father whose murder sets the young prince on a path of discovery and revenge against those who brought harm to his family and kingdom.

Over the years, Hawke has received multiple Academy Award nominations for roles in movies like Training Day and Boyhood, as well as his screenwriting work on Before Sunset and Before Sunrise. Hawke has appeared in countless movies throughout his career, which goes back to the mid 1980s, including White Fang, Dead Poets Society, Reality Bites, and The Purge. He was most recently on the Disney+ series Moon Knight, where he portrayed the antagonist, Arthur Harrow.

Nicole Kidman (Queen Gudrún)

Portraying Queen Gudrún, the wife of the slain king and mother of vengeful prince Amleth, is Nicole Kidman, who brings years of experience and brilliant acting talent to the expansive The Northman cast. 

The Academy Award winner and six-time Golden Globe recipient has spent the vast majority of her career appearing in critically acclaimed movies and shows like Moulin Rouge!, The Hours, Being the Ricardos, Big Little Lies, and The Undoing, but that barely scratches the surface. Over the years, Kidman has also appeared in everything from Days of Thunder to The Others and Batman Forever to Cold Mountain, with dozens of other appearances on the silver screen and small screen.

Willem Dafoe (Heimir)

Willem Dafoe teams up with Robert Eggers again for The Northman, in which he portrays Heimir, a character described as an “impish delight” in CinemaBlend’s review of the revenge thriller. Dafoe previously worked with Eggers on the 2019 psychological horror film The Lighthouse.

The list of Dafoe’s best movies includes everything from his appearances in the Spider-Man movies to The Last Temptation of Christ, and so much in between. Whether it be something like American Psycho, Platoon, or The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, the veteran actor has consistently proven he’s one of the best around. He’s even managed to play one of the best John Wick characters, which is saying something.

Björk (The Seeress)

In one of her rare film appearances, Icelandic singer and composer Björk shows up in The Northman cast as The Seeress, a mysterious fortune teller who foretells Amleth’s destiny from a young age.

Although she hasn’t appeared in all that many movies, Björk is undoubtedly one of the most recognizable faces in the international music scene thanks to her unique vocals, intricate arrangements, and outstanding music videos. However, Björk did receive a Golden Globe nomination for her performance in Lars von Trier’s 2000 musical drama, Dancer in the Dark.

Claes Bang (Fjölnir)

Taking on the role of Fjölnir, Amleth’s uncle and the man who is responsible for the death of his father in order to attempt taking over his kingdom, in The Northman is Claes Bang, who looks absolutely frightening in the film's various trailers.

Although most of his career has been spent taking part in various film and TV projects in his native Denmark, Bang has made a splash with international audiences in recent years with appearances on shows like The Bridge, The Affair, and Dracula, on which he portrayed Count Dracula himself. His more recent film roles include The Square, The Girl in the Spider’s Room, and The Glass Room.

Gustav Lindh (Thórir)

Gustav Lindh shows up in The Northman cast as Thórir, one of Fjölnir’s sons who crosses paths with Amleth on his road of vengeance.

Throughout his career, the Swedish actor has appeared in movies like Riders of Justice and Queen of Hearts, and The Circle, as well as a list of TV shows that includes Jordskott, Älska mig, and multiple others released dating back to 2015.

Ingvar Sigurdsson (The Sorcerer)

Taking on the role of The Sorcerer in The Northman is Ingvar Sigurdsson, who doesn’t have all that many English speaking roles but is a major star in his native Iceland.

Over the years, Sigurdsson has popped up in movies like Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, A White, White Day, Lamb, Everest, and One Night in Istanbul, as well as a couple dozen or more roles in Icelandic-speaking movies and shows including Metalhead, Polite People, Undercurrent, The Oath, and Of Horses and Men, to name only a few.

Elliott Rose (Gunnar)

Elliott Rose appears in The Northman as Gunnar, the son of Fjölnir and Queen Gudrún who gets caught up in the bloodshed brought on by Amleth’s return from exile.

Rose’s performance in Robert Eggers’ The Northman is the young actor’s first and only feature film to date. He previously appeared in the 2021 short film, Milk, as well as multiple stage productions in England’s West End, including a musical based on Doctor Dolittle.

Kate Dickie (Halldora)

Kate Dickie shows up in The Northman as Halldora, the latest in a series of projects that have seen the Scottish actress portray characters in historical dramas and her second appearance in a Robert Eggers movie, the first being The Witch.

Most will recognize Dickie for her portrayal of Lysa Arryn, the older sister of Catelyn Stark, on Game of Thrones, making her one of the members of The Northman cast to appear on the popular HBO fantasy series. Dickie’s other notable TV projects include Tinsel Town, The Pillars of the Earth, Peaky Blinders, and The Nest. Her film credits include Prometheus, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and most recently, The Green Knight, in which she played Queen Guinevere.

Ralph Ineson (Captain Volodymyr)

Ralph Ineson is no stranger when it comes to historical dramas of this scale, with his portrayal of Captain Volodymyr in The Northman being the latest in a long line of great film and TV projects from over the years.

Throughout his career, Ineson has portrayed characters like Amycus Carrow in the final three Harry Potter movies, a Ravager in Guardians of the Galaxy, the titular mysterious figure in The Green Knight, and various other movies like Gunpowder Milkshake, Robin Hood, and Robert Eggers’ The Witch. His TV work includes the original U.K. version of The Office, Salvage Hunters, Chernobyl, and Game of Thrones, to name off just a few of his credits.

This is just a portion of the talented actors who take up a spot on The Northman cast, as Robert Eggers’ new Viking revenge thriller is full of great characters throughout its runtime. And, if you want to know what critics are saying about the movie, as well as its cast, check out a rundown of some the reviews so far. 

2022 has been full of some pretty awesome new release films, and there are plenty more to come. The Northman is one film I’ve been looking forward to seeing, and ahead of the film’s theatrical release star Alexander Skarsgård has opened up about getting super ripped for the role of the Viking prince/berserker. While the actor has certainly looked good shirtless for practically decades, there is a bigger reason why he had to go extra hard on sculpting some muscle mass for The Northman.

Alexander Skarsgård has been open in the past about being type-cast as the “Dude who takes his shirt off” in films and how it may have led to him losing out on roles. While he certainly seems to take his shirt off a good amount in The Northman if the promo material is anything to go off of, it sounds like he had to go above and beyond in getting his body ready for his shirtless scenes in The Northman.

In an interview with Empire on their podcast, Alexander Skarsgård talks about being spoiled as an actor, admitting that becoming seriously fit is actually pretty simple for those in his profession. Yeah, they’ve got to do some heavy lifting (literally), but everything is pretty much planned out for them to get the goal production wants to see on screen. Here it is in his own words:

While it seems obvious, it’s kind of refreshing to have a star state how straight forward training is for film. Getting fit for a role is, like Alexander Skarsgård says, all a part of the work that goes into the film. Actors transform their bodies all of the time to fit what a role calls for (sometimes to frightening degrees - I’m looking at you, Christian Bale), and for those actors who start working on a role long before cameras actually start filming, it can turn into a very real connection to their character.

Explaining even further, Alexander Skarsgård says that he was thrilled to be getting started transforming into the Viking berserker for The Northman, and that gaining muscle mass for the role was incredibly important to pull the character off. As proof of this, Skarsgård relays that his character isn’t entirely human, and has the spirit of a bear wolf. He, of course, needed the muscle and dominating figure to convincingly shed his skin to reveal such a strong and large creature. Here is what the True Blood alum says, exactly:

Alexander Skarsgård was already known to be a towering figure, standing at around 6’4. While he’s typically playing tall and dominating characters and was super ripped in Tarzan, he was still, overall, seen as tall and lean. After The Northman and his insane body transformation of a more savage and brutal strength, it’s possible we may see him stand up to the roles we see from actors like Henry Cavill and Chris Hemsworth, who are known for that body type. 

The Northman can already be seen in some theaters and will officially release to theaters tomorrow. People have already shared their thoughts on the film, and they are hyping Alexander Skarsgård and his character up big time, but you’ll have to form your own opinion by checking him and his new berserker body out yourself. 

From Robert Eggers and Alexander Skarsgård comes the brutal Viking epic, The Northman, and CinemaBlend’s own Eric Eisenberg got the chance to dive into the nitty-gritty of the project with its creators and star. Watch as they explore the conception of the film over one fateful lunch, how it changed through the production process and more!

Video Chapters

• 0:00 - Intro 
• 0:21 - How Fate Brought Robert Eggers and Alexander Skarsgård Together For The Northman
• 2:07 - How Eggers Examined Masculinity And ‘The Macho Stuff’ In The Viking Thriller
• 3:41 - Alexander Skarsgård on Trusting Robert Eggers' Vision 
• 5:01 - How Much The Film Changed During The Production Process According To Robert Eggers 
• 5:37 - Pennywise Vs. Randall Flagg? 'The Stand’s' Alexander Skarsgård Weighs In 
• 6:11 - Outro

If there is a single word that can be used to describe the new Robert Eggers film The Northman, “intense” might be a good try. The new film starring Alexander Skarsgård and Anya Taylor-Joy is a Viking tale of revenge. But if there’s a third co-star in the film its the environments these characters find themselves in, and Taylor-Joy has talked about some of the wild (naked) experiences they went through to get shots for the movie.

Alexander Skarsgård and Anya Taylor-Joy sat down with with Total Film (via GamesRadar) to discuss The Northman and they both admit that simply making this movie was not a simple task. While so often the magic of movie making is about making things look different than they are, if something in The Northman looks brutal, that’s probably because it is. Director Robert Eggers says Alexander Skarsgård transformed himself for the film. Taylor-Joy specifically mentioned a scene that put her co-star in the freezing cold, and naked, for several days in a row. As the actress explains…

While Alexander Skarsgård may have become known for taking his shirt off in films, this was apparently a different situation. When you’re saying that it’s a miracle that anyone survived a movie shoot, that’s quite a statement. Of course, when you’re spending four days naked in the hail, maybe survival was in question at one point or another. Skarsgård himself has talked about this scene and how difficult it was for him. The atmosphere is one of the things that viewers and critics are praising about The Northman and that was brought about through some pretty brutal work.

And Alexander Skarsgård wasn’t the only one who had to deal with some rough treatment on the set of The Northman. Anya Taylor-Joy goes on to describe the hardest scene for her, the one time she actually had to say something, when she ended up frozen in the mud. Taylor-Joy explains…

The Northman may have been tough, it does sound like Robert Eggers was at least very conscious of his actors well being and wasn’t trying to put them through situations where they had trouble. In the end, it’s easier to deal with the rough moments of filming if you know the people behind the camera have your best interests at heart.  

While movie and television history is filled with terrific on-screen representations of Stephen King’s greatest villains, the Skarsgård family is notably responsible for two of them. In both IT and IT Chapter Two, Bill Skarsgård stars as the titular villain, best known for taking the form of Pennywise The Dancing Clown, and his older brother, Alexander, plays the sinister Randall Flagg in the 2020 limited series remake of The Stand. It’s a funny circumstance given that Constant Readers have spent decades debating which of the two characters is the more powerful entity – and it makes you wonder if the siblings have had that conversation between themselves.

This week, I learned from interviewing Alexander Skarsgård that the specific answer to that pondering is “no”… but he does have an opinion to share regarding who he thinks would be the victor in a battle between the two otherworldly antagonists.

Alexander Skarsgård is currently doing press for the phenomenal and critically acclaimed Viking revenge thriller The Northman, and when I spoke with him on Tuesday (as captured in the video up top) my Stephen King fanhood compelled me to ask about Randall Flagg. He told me that he has not had the Flagg vs. Pennywise debate with Bill Skarsgård, but when I pressed him for his thoughts on a “who would win?” situation, he predicted that the former would defeat the latter:

Is it a biased opinion? Without question. But that doesn’t make it any less a valid take, and one that a lot of Stephen King fans will support.

Randall Flagg has taken many forms and gone by many names over the years in books and stories written by Stephen King, but he is best known as a principal villain in The Stand, the 1994 fantasy epic The Eyes Of The Dragon, and the brilliant Dark Tower saga. He’s a lot like the traditional vision of the devil in that he is ostensibly a manifestation of evil and a potent corrupting force with wide-ranging abilities. He’s violent and dangerous, but also, and perhaps more importantly, seductive and manipulative. He’s fallible and can be weakened when his influence is challenged, but even when defeated, he still remains basically immortal.

Pennywise, however, is a wholly different kind of monster – starting with the fact that any human qualities it demonstrates are entirely a put on. At its core, It’s a collection of what are called “deadlights” and their abilities as a cosmic entity are immense. As demonstrated through its haunting of Derry, Maine, Pennywise can not only transform at will in its attempts to elicit fear (which it feeds on), but it has a kind of ubiquity, and it’s presence taints everything around it.

Just like certain comic book arguments that fans will never stop having, the question of whether or not Randall Flagg is more powerful than Pennywise is one that will likely persist until Stephen King actually writes a book where the two characters square off. That doesn’t appear too likely to happen, though, given that King seems to enjoy screwing with fans a bit, as evidenced by this Tweet from a couple weeks ago:

You can be sure that I will ask Bill Skarsgård the same question if I ever get to interview him, but until then cinephiles everywhere should be getting excited for what Alexander Skarsgård is cooking up. As I note in the CinemaBlend review of Robert Eggers’ The Northman, the actor gives the best dramatic performance of his career in the Viking movie, and it’s a spectacular thing to behold on the big screen. Co-starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicole Kidman, Ethan Hawke, and Claes Bang, the film arrives in theaters everywhere on April 22.

For more of CinemaBlend’s Stephen King content, you can keep track of all of the film and television projects that are in the works with our Upcoming Stephen King guide, and learn about the long history of King adaptations with my weekly Adapting Stephen King column. The Stand is available to stream on Paramount+, and you can watch IT and IT Chapter Two on HBO Max.

Robert Eggers movies are instruments of time travel. Any screen projecting 2015’s The Witch becomes a window that lets us peer into the world of 1630s New England, and 2019’s The Lighthouse does the same thing with the same region 260 years later – both films bleeding authenticity even when veering into fantasy and the supernatural. His latest, The Northman, once again replicates this fascinating immersion, albeit this time while outfitting audiences with a Doctor Who-esque universal translator that lets you hear Old Norse as English.

Of course, Eggers’ great skill delivered alongside the remarkable, realistic aesthetics is his ability to layer in genre storytelling – and in this respect, The Northman is his most compelling film yet. In cinematically wrangling a centuries-old Viking myth, the director and co-writer Sjón execute a cold blooded and savage revenge tale that delivers powerful, emotional, and personal stakes while also examining the price of a life dedicated to vengeance. It’s both Eggers’ most intense and most accessible movie of the three he’s made, and matches visceral filmmaking with tremendous performances from an ensemble cast led by Alexander Skarsgård.

The Northman is the legend of Amleth, the story that inspired William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, and with a prayer to Odin the film opens on the North Atlantic in 895 AD as the hero as a young boy (Oscar Novak) anticipates the long-awaited arrival of King Aurvandil War-Raven (Ethan Hawke). The king has been away at war for almost all of Amleth’s life, but upon his return and reunion with Queen Gudrún (Nicole Kidman), he initiates the prince into adulthood.

Son and father form a tight bond, forged with an oath of vengeance should the monarch be slain by an enemy’s sword, but tragically their time together is short. Amleth’s uncle, Fjölnir (Claes Bang), commits treason and conspires with a small group to brutally assassinate the king. Their plan is to also kill the prince, but he manages to escape after slicing off the nose of one of Fjölnir’s men (Eldar Skar). Amleth is presumed dead, but in reality he takes a boat and rows to safety – swearing to avenge his father, save his mother, and kill his uncle.

Decades later, an adult Amleth (Alexander Skarsgård) has become a ferocious and animalistic Viking, part of a clan that raids villages and sells hostages as slaves. Following a violent and successful pillage, he has an encounter with an eyeless seeress (Björk) who prophesies his retribution, and he overhears that an allotment of prisoners are to be brought to a sheep farm in Iceland owned by Fjölnir – who himself has had his crown stolen. Amleth sneaks on to a departing ship, his clandestine arrival noticed only by Olga (Anya Taylor-Joy), a girl from the village he destroyed, and he plots to work among the slaves until it is time to reveal his true identity, rescue his mother, and murder Fjölnir.

The Northman caroms between being brutal and breathtaking, and never takes its hand from your throat.

The Northman wastes no time filling your eyes with spectacle, its opening frames showcasing a volcano mid-eruption as a booming voice calls to the king of the Norse gods, and while the story is ultimately an intimate affair, your mind is frequently treated to breathtaking visions of nature that enhance the scale of the movie with their majesty. There is a complete lack of opulence, as everything from the costuming to the production design feels dirty and of the Earth, and it provides a feral power to the background of the hero’s quest. It’s raw.

The amazement that it inspires in capturing our world in an ancient age is further enhanced by an ever-simmering rage in the film’s tone. It’s a horror movie in a much broader sense than The Witch or The Lighthouse, but it’s no less shocking, as Robert Eggers frequently unfurls moments of barbarity and dark mysticism that provide full body gooseflesh and compel whispering “Holy shit” in a dark theater. You get a pretty good sense of what you’re getting with the introduction of Amleth as an adult, as a remarkable invasion sequence sees him cutting down enemies and ripping out a throat with his teeth, but that, pun absolutely intended, proves just to be the appetizer.

Your jaw is so often left gaping in awe from its stunning cinematography and in terror from its ferocity to the point you might just resign yourself to keeping it open for the duration of the film.

Alexander Skarsgård vanishes in terrifying fashion, delivering one of the best dramatic performances of his career.

The unrelenting nature of The Northman could be a total turnoff that makes you just want to run to the closest shower, but a huge part of the film that keeps its hooks in you is Alexander Skarsgård’s performance. Given what we’ve seen from him over the course of his career, it was really only a matter of time before a big screen project came along that would let him fully show off his dramatic skills, and his turn here grabs your attention like a wolf growling and bearing its teeth five inches from your face. He wholly embodies the Viking prince, and it’s both a phenomenal and scary thing to see.

What makes it all the more impressive is that it’s not just all overflowing id, and Anya Taylor-Joy’s Olga has a lot to do with that. It was her performance in The Witch that first turned heads in the industry, and once again Robert Eggers gets magic out of her (literally). Her confidence, cunning, and general witchiness is magnetic, and properly reflected in her relationship with Amleth – which ends up creating layers in Skarsgård’s turn, with his character torn between his oath to his father and a potential path to a happy, violence-free life with the woman he grows to love.

The cast is full of surprises and treats, from Nicole Kidman making some big choices that bizarrely work, to Willem Dafoe being an impish delight, but The Northman is Alexander Skarsgård’s show, and he is impressive.

Robert Eggers takes a familiar revenge story and makes it feel fresh and passionate.

Narratively speaking, The Northman isn’t particularly complex, featuring familiar revenge story beats as Amleth affirms the fate foretold to him by the seeress, but it’s made with such passion and virility that it’s hypnotizing and just feels special. It’s a work that further solidifies Robert Eggers as a modern auteur, and while it’s everything you want it to be as a continuation of his career, it’s also a film that will hopefully expose his talents to an even wider audience – further expanding his ability to make any movie that he wants to make.

The Northman starring Alexander Skårsgard is one of the most highly anticipated movies of the year, and it’s not hard to see why. The historical epic features an A-list cast, including Nicole Kidman, Anya Taylor-Joy, Ethan Hawke, Claes Bang, Björk, and Willem Dafoe, for one thing. Another is that it features an intense tale of revenge, as the thriller has a Viking prince’s quest to avenge his father’s murder. Did we mention the towering, shirtless Alexander Skårsgard? Critics have screened The Northman, so let’s take a look at their early reactions.

The Northman’s director Robert Eggers has built a reputation as a filmmaker of creating films that are as historically accurate as possible, while maintaining an atmospheric and haunting tone. His two previous feature films, The Witch and 2019's The Lighthouse, both received critical praise, but The Northman is his most ambitious project yet. What are the critics saying about his effort? 

CinemaBlend's own Eric Eisenberg really enjoyed it, calling The Northman Robert Eggers' most accessible film. It's probably also a good sign when the critic keeps whispering, "Holy shit!" during the screening:

CinemaBlend's Sean O'Connell also go to see the film, and offers similar praise, calling it "primal" and "everything you want a Viking revenge thriller directed by Robert Eggers to be."

Erik Davis of Rotten Tomatoes agrees that The Northman is the most accessible venture from the director, but clarifies that that fact doesn't take away from his filmmaking style. He praises Alexander Skarsgård's performance, so it appears the "crazy transformation" the actor went through to prepare for the role might have paid off. While Skarsgård is a "beast," Nicole Kidman's performance is stunning as well, according to Davis:

Maggie Lovitt of Wealth of Geeks says the stunning cinemetography sets the scene for this epic saga:

Germain Lussier of Gizmodo said The Northman is smaller than the trailers make it seem, but that doesn't take away from it being a satisfying and emotional tale of revenge. Apparently the final scene is pretty epic as well:

High praise also comes from IndieWire's David Ehrlich, as he says Robert Eggers succeeded in making a big-budget movie that still feels like his style:

Kate Erbland of IndieWire says The Northman had her on an emotional roller coaster, and it doesn't sound like a bad ride, if you ask me:

Matt Neglia of Next Best Picture echoes other critics' praise about Alexander Skarsgård's performance. More than one critic has called the revenge story "straightforward," but that doesn't seem to be detracting from the film's overall likeability:

It sounds like the early reactions to The Northman are overwhelmingly positive. We’ll get even more details when the reviews come out April 11, so be sure to check back to CinemaBlend for that. While you wait for the film's April 22 release date, be sure to check out our 2022 Movie Release Schedule to see what other films are coming soon to streaming services and theaters near you.

As much as fans love seeing the hottest of Hollywood take their shirts off and show off what a dedicated workout routine can result in, being known as someone who looks great with their shirt off can be less than positive for actors it seems. Star of 2022’s upcoming film The Northman, Alexander Skarsgård, has opened up about being labeled as “The Guy Who Takes His Shirt Off” and how it may have affected his career negatively. Even though fans are typically pretty happy about his characters forgoing a shirt.

While actors like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Jason Momoa are great reps of American Hollywood stars who pull off the shirtless look with ease and lean into their fit lifestyles, Alexander Skarsgård has become one of Sweden’s most recognizable actors who has become somewhat of a sex symbol, appearing with his shirt off in a number of films and TV projects.

In an interview with The Times (via Variety), Alexander Skarsgård explains that even though he has some traits typical to his fellow Swedes, he was branded as one of the “sexy hunky” actors, which then led to people not taking him seriously in his craft of acting. 

Now, it’s kind of important to note that Alexander Skarsgård is a member of a pretty prominent Swedish actor family, his father being Stellan Skarsgård, who is, and pretty much always has been, taken very seriously. He has appeared in a number of major American films since starting out in Sweden in the late 60s, like Good Will Hunting and Denis Villeneuve’s Dune. 

Alexander Skarsgård is the eldest son of Stellan Skarsgård, with one of his younger brothers being Bill Skarsgård, another domineering actor. You’ll recognize him from a lot, including his role of Pennywise in the newest version of Stephen King’s It and as Kro in the MCU’s Eternals. He’s also set to play Eric Draven in the reboot of The Crow, so he’s nabbing some pretty classic roles as well as some major new ones. His other brothers Gustaf Skarsgård and Valter Skarsgård are also successful actors who you have probably seen before. 

It’s kind of wild that Alexander Skarsgård has been cast as the hunky pretty boy who takes his shirt off, both because of his family legacy and because he himself has proven himself capable of taking on serious roles and putting on a captivating performance in them. Skarsgård’s performances in films like Melancholia and Big Little Lies are stand out, and his roles in films like Zoolander and Kill Your Darlings show range. 

Even when Alexander Skarsgård does spend the majority of a movie shirtless, like in Legend of Tarzan and his upcoming film The Northman, his abs don’t take away from what his acting brings to the screen. From what we know about The Northman so far, it’s clear that Skarsgård’s character is so much more than someone who looks good with his shirt off. He appears to have so much depth as a Viking prince out for revenge. 

Judging by what Alexander Skarsgård himself says about the possible roles he has missed out by being somewhat put in a box and labeled as the dude who takes his shirt off, it’s clear we could have missed out on some seriously amazing films with him at the helm. With The Northman steadily approaching with a release date of April 22nd, though, we aren’t totally being denied the actor in great roles, even if it does involve him looking awesome without a shirt. 

Every once in a while, celebrity siblings - such as Ben and Casey Affleck or Dakota and Elle Fanning - end up sharing the screen together. Well, apparently it happens a little more often than just every once in a while, given the amount of examples we compiled below.

Jake And Maggie Gyllenhaal (A Dangerous Woman, Homegrown, Donnie Darko)

Oscar nominee Jake Gyllenhaal and his twice-nominated older sister, Maggie, are in three movies together: 1993’s A Dangerous Woman, 1998’s Homegrown (both were directed by their father, Stephen), and the eventual sci-fi cult classic, Donnie Darko, in 2001.

Jeff And Beau Bridges (The Fabulous Baker Boys)

Oscar winner Jeff Bridges and his older brother, Beau, also played siblings in The Fabulous Baker Boys - a 1989 comedy in which the titular musicians become rivals after teaming up with a beautiful aspiring singer (Michelle Pfieffer).

Kate And Rooney Mara (Urban Legends: Bloody Mary)

Kate Mara of the House of Cards cast led the 2005 straight-to-video slasher, Urban Legends: Bloody Mary, in which her younger sister, Nightmare Alley’s Rooney Mara, made her acting debut.

Sean And Chris Penn (At Close Range)

Future two-time Oscar-winner Sean Penn and his late younger brother, Chris (best known from the Reservoir Dogs cast) played siblings in the 1986 crime thriller, At Close Range, starring Christopher Walken as their criminal father.

Andrew, Owen, And Luke Wilson (Bottle Rocket, The Royal Tenenbaums) 

Owen Wilson and his younger sibling, Luke have also acted alongside their eldest brother, Andrew, in 1996’s Bottle Rocket and The Royal Tenenbaums from 2001 - both of which Owen also co-wrote with director Wes Anderson.

Chris And Luke Hemsworth (Thor: Ragnarok)

Chris Hemsworth has yet to star in anything with his little bro, Liam, but the Australian Marvel movie star’s older bother, Westworld star Luke, did show up in Thor: Ragnarok as a dramatized version of the God of Thunder, whom he is set to reprise (along with Matt Damon as “Actor Loki”) in Thor: Love and Thunder.

Dylan And Cole Sprouse (Various)

Twin brothers Dylan and Cole Sprouse (the latter of which went on to join the Riverdale cast) have shared the same role in several TV shows (most notably Grace Under Fire) and movies (such as Big Daddy with Adam Sandler) and have played siblings just as often, most famously as the title characters of The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, its spin-off The Suite Life on Deck, and 2011’s The Suite Life Movie.

Tia, Tamera, And Tahj Mowry  (Sister, Sister, Smart Guy, Seventeen Again)

Twin sisters Tia and Tamera Mowry have shared the screen with their little brother, Tahj, several times - most notably as guest stars on each other’s respective sitcoms, Sister, Sister and Smart Guy, and in the 2000 Showtime original movie, Seventeen Again.

James And Dave Franco (The Disaster Artist)

After years finding success in the business in separate projects, James Franco and his younger brother, Dave, played Tommy Wiseau and Greg Sestero of the infamous cult favorite, The Room, in the 2017 biopic, The Disaster Artist.

Hilary And Haylie Duff (Various)

Haylie Duff would appear on three episodes of her younger sister, Hilary’s, Disney Channel show, Lizzie McGuire, and provided the singing voice of Isabella Parigi in the theatrical spin-off before they both played a singing group on an episode of American Dreams, sisters in the 2006 rags-to-riches story Material Girls, and both leant their voices to the infamous animated movie Foodfight!, which was released in 2012.

Aly And AJ Michalka (Various)

Singer-songwriter duo Aly and AJ Michalka first shared the screen in the 2006 Disney Channel original movie Cow Belles as sisters, again in the MTV original Super Sweet 16: The Movie the next year as rivals, followed by three episodes of Aly’s CW series Hellcats in 2011 as half-sisters. Most recently, they appeared in the 2015 drama, Weepah Way For Now, as what appear to be fictionalized versions of themselves.

Dakota And Elle Fanning (I Am Sam, Taken)

Elle Fanning has portrayed a younger version of her older sister, Dakota, on two separate occasions: first in the 2001 drama I Am Sam and secondly in the Steven Spielberg-produced, Syfy original miniseries, Taken, in 2002.

Spencer And Abigail Breslin (Various)

Academy Award nominee Abigail and her older brother, Spencer, played siblings in both Raising Helen and The Princess Diaries 2: A Royal Engagement in 2004, played elves in The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause in 2006, and later played cousins in the 2014 crime drama, Perfect Sisters.

Jason And Justine Bateman (Arrested Development)

Justine Bateman played her real-life brother, Jason's, sibling in the 1986 TV movie Can You Feel Me Dancing? and a sex worker whom Jason’s Michael Bluth mistakes for his long-lost sibling on Arrested Development.

John, Joan, Ann, And Bill Cusack (Grosse Pointe Blank)

While beloved star John Cusack and his Academy-nominated sister, Joan, have appeared in more films together than most celebrity siblings can claim (including Say Anything… and High Fidelity), the only screen credit that they also share with both their sister, Ann, and brother, Bill, is 1997’s Grosse Pointe Blank, which John also co-wrote and produced.

Bill And Brian Doyle Murray (Various) 

Bill Murray and his older brother, Brian, are both Saturday Night Live veterans (although at different times) and have several classic movies in common - including Caddyshack, Scrooged, Ghostbusters II, Groundhog Day, and The Razor's Edge.

Ben And Casey Affleck (Good Will Hunting, Chasing Amy)

Years before casting him in his amazing directorial debut, Gone Baby Gone, Ben Affleck shared the screen with his younger brother and fellow Oscar winner, Casey, in Good Will Hunting (which Ben co-wrote with Matt Damon) and Kevin Smith’s Chasing Amy in 1997.

Macaulay And Kieran Culkin (Home Alone, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York)

Kieran Culkin (now more famous than ever since starring on HBO’s Succession) made his acting debut alongside his older brother (child megastar Macaulay Culkin) in 1990’s Home Alone cast as his cousin, Fuller - a role he would also reprise in the 1992 sequel.

Rory And Kieran Culkin (Igby Goes Down)

In addition to playing Macaulay’s younger self in Richie Rich, the youngest Culkin brother, Rory, also played a younger version of Kieran as the title role in 2002's Igby Goes Down.

The Wayans Siblings (Various) 

Where do we start with the Wayans Siblings? Well, for instance, several of them (such as Damon and Kim Wayans) were a part of the In Living Color cast with star and creator Keenen Ivory Wayans, who later directed his younger brothers, Marlon and Shawn, in movies like White Chicks, the first two Scary Movie installments, and Little Man.

Zooey And Emily Deschanel (Bones)

In Season 5 of Bones, star Emily Deschanel’s sister (Zooey of the Elf cast fame and later the lead of the New Girl cast) guest starred as Temperance Brennan’s second cousin, Margaret Whitesell.

Fred And Ben Savage (Little Monsters, The Wonder Years, Boy Meets World)

After playing siblings in the family-friendly horror film, Little Monsters, in 1989, Ben Savage made a guest appearance on his older brother, Fred’s, hit dramedy, The Wonder Years, in 1990 and later returned the favor by inviting him to the Boy Meets World cast for an episode in 1998.

Charlie Sheen And Emilio Estevez (Various)

After making several movies together - including Young Guns, Men At Work, and Rated X (the latter two of which Emilio Estevez directed), Charlie Sheen (née Carlos Estevez) reunited with his brother on an episode of his hit sitcom, Two and a Half Men, in 2008.

Vanessa and Laura Marano (Saving Zoë)

Both of these talented ladies had guest appearances on Dexter at different times in the series’ run, but Vanessa Marano and her younger sister, Laura, did appear together in the 2019 mystery, Saving Zoë, as siblings torn apart by one’s unsolved murder.

Nat And Alex Wolff (The Naked Brothers Band, Mr. Troop Mom, Stella’s Last Weekend)

Hereditary’s Alex Wolff and his older brother, Peacock’s Joe vs. Carole cast member Nat Wolff, both debuted as fictionalized versions of themselves in Nickelodeon’s faux rockumentary, The Naked Brothers Band, its series continuation, and the 2009 TV movie Mr. Troop Mom before reuniting in 2018’s Stella’s Last Weekend, which was written and directed by their mother, Polly Draper.

Vera And Taissa Farmiga (Higher Ground, At Middleton, The Nun)

Scream Queens Vera and Taissa Farmiga, who are often mistaken for mother and daughter, played mother and daughter in 2013’s At Middleton after Taissa previously played her older sister’s younger self in Vera’s 2011 directorial debut, Higher Ground. However, interestingly, their characters in the 2018 Conjuring spin-off, The Nun, have no apparent familial ties.

Maude And Iris Apatow (Knocked Up, This Is 40, Funny People)

Euphoria’s Maude Apatow and her younger sister, Iris, have played siblings in 2007’s Knocked Up, its “sort-of sequel” This is 40 from 2012, and 2009’s Funny People - all three of which also starred their real mother, Leslie Mann, as their mother, and were written and directed by their father, Judd Apatow.

Dan And Sarah Levy (Schitt’s Creek)

While Annie Murphy plays co-creator Dan Levy’s on-screen sister in the Schitt’s Creek cast, Café Tropical owner, Twyla Sands, is played by his real-life sister, Sarah.

Mary-Kate, Ashley, And Elizabeth Olsen (How The West Was Fun)

After Full House made the Olsen Twins, Mary-Kate and Ashley, household names and  before the Marvel movies made their younger sister, Elizabeth, an A-lister, all three of them appeared together in the ABC original TV movie How the West Was Fun in 1994.

Bill And Alexander Skarsgård (White Water Fury)

Years before his terrifying performance as Pennywise in It, Bill Skarsgård made his acting debut alongside his older brother, True Blood cast member Alexander, in the 2000 Swedish thriller, White Water Fury.

Blake And Robyn Lively (Simon Says)

Robyn Lively, star of 1989’s Teen Witch, shared the screen with her then up-and-coming half-sister, former Gossip Girl cast member Blake Lively, in a 2006 slasher flick called Simon Says, which also stars fellow ‘80s icon Crispin Glover.

Brian And Domhnall Gleeson (Mother!, Frank Of Ireland)

Despite plenty of years of experience between the them, it was not until 2017 when Star Wars star Domnhall Gleeson and his younger brother, Brian, shared the screen in Mother! before reuniting as co-creators and co-stars of the Amazon Prime original comedy Frank of Ireland - also starring their father, Brendan Gleeson.

Eddie And Charlie Murphy (Harlem Nights, Norbit)

Comedy icon Eddie Murphy worked behind the scenes a lot with his older brother, Charlie, who passed away in 2017, but the two would also share a few acting credits, - namely Eddie’s 1989 directorial debut Harlem Nights (also Charlie’s first movie), and in 2006’s Norbit, in which Charlie voiced a dog named Floyd.

Phylicia Rashad And Debbie Allen (The Cosby Show, Grey’s Anatomy, The Old Settler)

Phylicia Rashad and her younger sister, Emmy-winning dance legend Debbie Allen, have made guest appearances on each other’s shows - The Cosby Show, on which Rashad played Claire Huxtable, and Grey’s Anatomy, on which Allen plays Dr. Catherine Fox (née Avery) - and both starred in a 2001 TV movie called The Old Settler, which Allen also directed.

Ron And Clint Howard (Various) 

You can find Clint Howard in just about every movie directed by his brother, Ron Howard - including his feature-length directorial debut from 1977, Grand Theft Auto, which was also the brothers’ third time acting alongside each other after the 1963 film The Courtship of Eddie’s Father and a handful of episodes of The Andy Griffith Show.

Angelina Jolie And James Haven (Gia, Hell’s Kitchen, Original Sin)

Audiences probably remember Angelina Jolie’s brother, James Haven, better for other reasons than all the times he shared the screen with his younger sister - namely Gia and Hell’s Kitchen from 1998, and 2001’s Original Sin.

Jared And Shannon Leto (Various)

In addition to being bandmates with his young brother, Oscar winner Jared Leto, in 30 Seconds to Mars, Shannon Leto also shared the screen with him on a couple of episodes of My So-Called Life (on which Jared played the iconic Jordan Catalano) and through brief appearances in the movies Prefontaine from 1997, 1998’s Highway, and Sol Goode in 2003.

Chris And Scott Evans (Before We Go, Playing It Cool)

Former Captain America actor Chris Evans has a brother named Scott who has also appeared in two romantic-comedies from 2014 with his older sibling, called Before We Go (which Chris also directed) and Playing It Cool.

Sarah And Laura Silverman (The Sarah Silverman Program, Bob’s Burgers, Masters Of Sex)

Comedian and actress Sarah Silverman and her sister, Laura, played heavily fictionalized versions of themselves as series regulars on The Sarah Silverman Program, made guest appearances on Showtime’s Masters of Sex together, and have recurred on Bob’s Burgers as Jimmy Pesto’s twin sons, Andy and Ollie.

Kevin, Nick, And Joe Jonas (Camp Rock Movies, Jonas)

Back when they were the biggest thing to come out of Disney Channel, Kevin, Nick, and Joe Jonas played three brothers in a band not named the Jonas Brothers in the Camp Rock movies, and later played themselves to more comedic effect in their own sitcom, aptly titled Jonas.

Looks like talent really does run in the family.

As far as Hollywood hunks go, stars like Henry Cavill and Chris Hemsworth have their shirtless empire pretty down pat. Ahead of The Northman release, though, star Alexander Skarsgård is giving them a run for the superhero actors’ fitness skills. Because he’s looking pretty epic in the new poster for the film. Skarsgård appears both shirtless and completely ripped in the upcoming film’s new poster while he towers over the other stars of the Norse film.

If you’re anything like me, you’ve appreciated Alexander Skarsgård for the hunk that he is since back in his True Blood days. Even so, he went through a major transformation to play the lead in The Northman, and production seems to have taken full advantage of that by displaying him shirtless as often as possible. You can check out the just released poster of the star below, courtesy of Focus Features:

Okay, okay, so Alexander Skarsgård’s abs are pretty much fully blocked by the other characters in the film (they deserve credit too, of course). However, we totally know they are there and how impressive he looks in his fully transformed Norse body.

The Northman transformation aside, it’s almost like Alexander Skarsgård was made for this role. There are, of course, plenty of Scandinavian actors who would look awesome as a big, bad norseman, but Skarsgård has a serious history of playing ancient Vikings. His True Blood character was literally named Northman, and he was both an original and modern day Viking. 

We didn’t see much Viking action in True Blood, though, and The Northman is a completely different side of Alexander Skarsgård in a Viking role, and honestly it looks pretty badass. He plays a Viking Berserker, and apparently some of the wild and primal scenes left Skarsgård pretty wrecked.

The other cast that can be seen in both the upcoming film and new poster for The Northman are pretty epic as well, honestly. You’ll see the familiar faces of Nicole Kidman, Willem Defoe, Ethan Hawke, among plenty of others. 

From what we already know about The Northman, we can expect a pretty star studded revenge tale that centers on Alexander Skarsgård’s character, a Viking prince on his journey to avenge the death of his father. Robert Eggers is the director behind the film; he also directed big, dark movies like The Lighthouse and The Witch. His films are typically thought-provoking and well received, so that’s getting me pretty hyped for The Northman.

The Northman is steadily approaching in all its badass Viking glory, and will be released to theaters on April 22nd. With as sweet as the cast is looking in their new poster, I’m thinking the film is going to be pretty beautiful, especially if there is plenty of shirtless Alexander Skarsgård involved.

While writer/director Robert Eggers has only made two feature films, he has already well-established his reputation with an intense and visceral style. Both The Witch and The Lighthouse are gorgeous movies with brilliant visuals that also deliver long stares into obscene horrors. There is unquestionably an expectation for more of the same from his next movie, the Viking adventure The Northman, but star Alexander Skarsgård (who underwent an impressive physical transformation for the movie) has now painted a pretty striking picture that suggests the work may actually be Eggers' most nerve-shredding yet.

The Northman is now almost exactly one month away from hitting theaters domestically, and Skarsgård recently recounted his experience working on the movie in an interview with Empire. While he's spoken before about the madness of the shoot, he specifically highlighted one sequence in the period revenge drama that was took 30 takes to get perfect, and he noted that the work left him "truly a wreck." Said the actor,

When I think about throat ripping in movies, my brain immediately goes to either Patrick Swayze in Road House or Will Forte in the Macgruber series/movie, but it's exciting to think that The Northman will challenge them in my mind for throat-ripping supremacy. That is a seriously intense description of a sequence, and I can't wait to see it play out on the big screen.

And in case you need an even better taste of what this cinematic experience is going to deliver, you can watch its debut trailer from last December below:

Based on a medieval Scandinavian legend, The Northman stars Alexander Skarsgård as Amleth, a Viking prince born to Queen Gudrún (Nicole Kidman) and King Aurvandill (Ethan Hawke). When his father is killed, he goes on a mission to get revenge against those responsible – pushing himself to extreme limits in the process. The spectacular cast also includes Anya Taylor-Joy, Claes Bang, Björk, Ralph Ineson, and the always-excellent Willem Dafoe (who just worked with Robert Eggers on The Lighthouse).

The Northman has taken a long time to arrive, as it began filming in March 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down production. Once the gears started turning again, the movie wrapped principal photography in December 2020, and now it is being prepared to arrive in theaters on April 22. You can learn more about the movie via our Quick Things guide.

To discover everything else heading to the big screen and streaming for the rest of the year, check out our 2022 Movie Release Calendar.

Alexander Skarsgård has taken on some physically demanding roles in the past. I mean, the man played Tarzan for goodness sake. But even that movie seems to be child’s play compared to his work in The Northman. Robert Eggers’ viking epic looks incredibly intense, and Skarsgård appears to be perfect for the lead role. The actor underwent a “crazy” transformation for the job, but that’s only part of what was needed on the physical end of things. He also had to be “shackled” and “dragged,” which led to some difficulties. 

In The Northman, Alexander Skarsgård plays a viking prince named Amleth who seeks to avenge the death of his father, who was slain by his uncle. The trailer’s tease that the man finds himself a prisoner at some point in the epic tale, and the protagonist certainly suffers while in captivity. And as you’d expect, it wasn’t exactly easy for Skarsgård to portray that on screen. The actor recently caught up with our sister site, Total Film, and explained just why the film stands as “the most difficult job” he’s ever had:

Though I’ve never personally been shackled or dragged through dirt, I’ll take the star’s word that such things do make for a humbling experience. What’s particularly interesting is that the performer jumped to the movie from HBO’s Succession. The gritty age of vikings is definitely a sharp departure from the classy, but cutthroat, corporate world. Still, the actor seems to have relished the opportunity to play in both worlds.

In terms of The Northman, Robert Eggers (known for his work on black and white horror film The Lighthouse) really challenged his actors. They all seemed to have been up to the challenge, despite the obstacles. And while also speaking to Total Film, Eggers revealed that Anya Taylor-Joy powered through spectacularly. Though she did recall one particular day that really speaks to the hazards of shooting the film: 

Those who still doubt just how intense the shoot was can look no further than the trailer for evidence. Check it out for yourself down below:

It’ll be exciting to see how the story unfolds when the film finally releases. For viewers, it should be a truly engrossing experience, one that moviegoers should appreciate all the more for the challenges faced by Alexander Skarsgård and co.

One of 2022’s biggest new movie releases, The Northman, opens in theaters on April 22. If you’d like to get a sense of Robert Eggers’ work while you wait, The Lighthouse is available to stream with an Amazon Prime subscription.

Alexander Skarsgärd has a history of proving he’s committed to the roles he plays. When he beefed up to play the legendary Tarzan, fans around the world were shocked at his transformation. But now that we’ve seen him in all his shirtless glory in the trailer for his upcoming film The Northman, it's clear that he’s taken his dedication to a whole new level. And the film’s director has confirmed that he went to great lengths to bring his character to life. 

In The Northman, Alexander Skarsgärd plays a Viking warrior prince who will stop at nothing in his quest to avenge his father’s death and reclaim his kingdom. The upcoming historical thriller, from acclaimed director Robert Eggers (of The Lighthouse fame), looks to be a no holds-barred epic saga with plenty of violence and vengeance. So it’s no wonder that Skarsgärd needed to be in top shape to play the part – and Eggers told our sisters ssite GamesRadar that the actor went above and beyond in his preparation: 

Knowing how hard he worked to attain his Legend of Tarzan physique makes his work ethic this time around even more impressive. And based on what we’ve seen from the The Northman trailer, Robert Eggers doesn’t seem to be exaggerating. Alexander Skarsgärd’s Amileth seems to do most of his fighting shirtless (let’s hear it for historical accuracy), and so the results of his rigorous training aren’t easy to miss. Take a look at the trailer for yourself to make your own judgment: 

Even if you ignore the shirtless situation, The Northman looks like it’s going to be a can’t-miss movie. An epic revenge saga all on its own has the makings of being a masterpiece but, in the hands of Robert Eggers, it could be something extra special. The director already has a proven track record of making the kinds of films that stay with you long after they’re over – just look at the slow-burn horror fable The Witch, which also starred Anya Taylor-Joy. The Northman also brings another collaboration with The Lighthouse’s Willem Dafoe, who signed on despite the previous film (which was shot in black and white) being a challenging shoot. 

It’s also interesting to see Alexander Skarsgärd starring in another project with his Big Little Lies co-star Nicole Kidman, especially since they’re playing mother and son this time and not husband and wife. Based on the trailer, it’s hard to tell if they’ll actually share the screen. If they do, hopefully it will be under happier circumstances than it was the last time around, even if it means he has to brutally kill several dozen Vikings (while shirtless) to make their reunion happen.

If you’re as excited about seeing the fruits of the labor that Alexander Skarsgärd and the rest of The Northman’s cast put into the film, you won’t have to wait too long. It’s one of many exciting 2022 new movie releases – and it’s hitting theaters April 22. 

The new black-and-white drama Passing, which stars Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga as two biracial friends who reconnect after years of being apart from one another, has finally made its arrival on Netflix. Directed by Rebecca Hall (who is making her feature directorial debut), the film centers on one of those women’s decision to pass as white and not tell her wealthy and racist husband about her heritage. After watching the movie, you might be wondering where you’ve seen some of the members of the Passing cast before and why they look so familiar. If that’s the case, take a look at the list down below in which we break down the major players in this riveting drama about race, class, and personal identity.

Tessa Thompson (Irene Redfield)

Tessa Thompson co-leads the Passing cast as Irene Redfield, a middle-class woman living in Harlem with her husband and children, whose life becomes complicated when she has a chance encounter with an old childhood friend. Since giving a breakout performance as Jackie Cook on the long-running teen mystery series Veronica Mars in 2005, Thompson has gone on to become one of the most recognizable faces in TV and film alike. In recent years, Thompson has graced the small screen on shows like Copper, Dear White People, and the HBO sci-fi drama series Westworld.

To fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Tessa Thompson is best remembered for her portrayal of Valkyrie since making her debut in 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok. Outside of the MCU, Thompson’s film appearances include Creed and Creed II, Sylvie’s Love, Sorry to Bother You, and much more. 

Ruth Negga (Clare Bellew)

Ruth Negga co-anchors the Passing cast as Clare Bellew, a woman who unlike her childhood friend, passes as white and adopts a completely different lifestyle. In 2016, Negga became an international sensation with her tremendous performance in the biographical drama Loving, in which she portrayed Mildred Loving, a young black woman whose fight to marry her white husband Richard Loving (Joel Edgerton) went all the way to the United States Supreme Court. In 2019, Negga shared the screen with Brad Pitt in the surprisingly emotional space movie Ad Astra.

Over the years, Ruth Negga has shown up on several notable TV series including Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., on which she played Raina in the first two seasons and again later in the fifth season. Negga’s other shows include Preacher, Misfits, and Secret State to name only a few.

Alexander Skarsgård (John Bellew)

Alexander Skarsgård takes on the role of John Bellew, Clare’s wealthy, racist, and demanding husband in Passing. Throughout his career, Skarsgård has been featured in some of the biggest HBO shows in the premium cable channel’s history including True Blood and Big Little Lies, the latter of which earned him a Primetime Emmy, a Golden Globe, and multiple other accolades. He is currently a member of the Succession Season 3 cast and finished up his turn as Randall Flagg on the Stephen King adaptation The Stand.

Like his father before him, Alexander Skarsgård has also had success on the big screen as well. With appearances in movies like Hold the Dark, Long Shot, Straw Dogs, and Melancholia over the years, the talented and versatile actor has done a little bit of everything since he started acting nearly 40 years ago.

André Holland (Brian Redfield)

André Holland portrays Irene’s husband Brian Redfield in Passing. Throughout his career, Holland has been a part of some of the most important movies of the 21st Century including 42, Selma, and Moonlight, all of which were released over the course of three years. Since then, Holland has appeared in A Wrinkle in Time, High Flying Bird, and Battle at Big Rock.

In addition to his film work, André Holland has also had several major roles on the small screen as well. Ever since first appearing on an episode of Law and Order back in 2006, Holland has made appearances on everything from The Knick to American Horror Story: Roanoke and 1600 Penn to Castle Rock, as well as several others.

Bill Camp (Hugh Wentworth)

Bill Camp shows up in Passing as famous author and close friend of Irene, Hugh Wentworth. Over the years, Camp has established himself as one of the best living character actors in film, television, and theatre. With titles like Lincoln, 12 Years a Slave, Vice, Joker, and Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), it’s easy to see why he continues to get called upon so often.

The TV side of Bill Camp’s career is just as impressive with brilliant turns on The Night Of, The Outsider, and most recently The Queen’s Gambit as well as more than a dozen smaller performances throughout his career. On top of that, Camp has also given multiple outstanding performances on the stage in productions of Hamlet, Death of a Salesman, and The Crucible.

Gbenga Akinnagbe (Dave Freedland)

Gbenga Akinnagbe takes on the role of Dave Freeland, one of Irene Redfield’s friends in Passing. Akinnagbe’s first claim to fame was his commanding portrayal of the quiet yet ruthless killer Chris Partlow on The Wire starting with the show’s third season. Over the years, Akinnagbe has also landed major roles on 24: Live Another Day, The Deuce, and The Good Wife.

Throughout this film career, Gbenga Akinnagbe has shown up in movies like Savages, Edge of Darkness, and Detroit to name only a few. In 2018, Akinnagbe took on the role of Tom Robinson in Aaron Sorkin’s Broadway adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird following years of appearances in productions ranging from Romeo and Juliet to The Rainmaker.

Antoinette Crowe-Legacy (Felise)

Antoinette Crowe-Legacy portrays Felise, Irene Redfield’s friend in Passing. A relative newcomer to the acting world, Crowe-Legacy’s most notable performance outside of the new Netflix drama is that of Elise Johnson on the Epix series Godfather of Harlem.

Ashley Ware Jenkins (Zu)

Ashley Ware Jenkins’ portrayal of Irene Redfield’s maid Zu in Passing is only the second performance in her young career. Ware Jenkins previously appeared in the 2020 drama Green Flake.

Passing is currently streaming on Netflix. If you want to know what else is coming to the streaming service the final few weeks of the year, take a look at our schedule of all the 2021 Netflix movies.