Charlie Hunnam has been quite busy as of late. After starring in the latest iteration of Netflix’s Monster as serial killer Ed Gein during the 2025 TV schedule, he’s returning for the fourth season of Ryan Murphy’s anthology, which centers on Lizzie Borden. Now, Hunnam is shifting from the unsettling realm of serial killers to the espionage-centric world of spies for a new streaming show from John le Carré.

BBC and MGM+ announced Hunnam will lead Legacy of Spies, with Matthew Macfadyen, Daniel Brühl, and Devim Lingnau Islamoğlu also part of the project. Hailing from Independent studio The Ink in co-production with Berlin-based label Amusement Park Film, the show will see Hunnam portray British intelligence officer Alec Leamas. The eight-episode series is based on le Carré’s 1963 best-selling novel The Spy Who Came In From the Cold but will also draw inspiration from his 2017 novel, A Legacy of Spies. The synopsis for The Spy Who Came In From The Cold reads as follows:

Stephen Cornwell is taking on writing duties here alongside Clarissa Ingram. The story will be set across the UK and what was East and West Germany and Czechoslovakia. Considering that, it sounds like fans can look forward to a series that presents some distinct locales. Such an approach is essential when telling a spy story that includes international intrigue.

Charlie Hunnam won't just star on the show either. As revealed in the press release, the Sons of Anarchy alum will also serve as an executive producer on the show. Hunnam held that same title on Monster as well.

I like the idea of Hunnam a spy rather than a serial killer in this new streaming series. While he really honed in on Ed Gein’s personality and characteristics, I'm ready to see him take on a role that may allow him to exude more charm. Hunnam has played some interesting roles over the years, but the notion of him playing a seasoned spy is just too cool. I'm optimistic that the actor will crush the role.

Aside from Legacy of Spies, Charlie Hunnam has another new show that I'm pumped about. He's starring in the new Amazon series Criminal with Garrett Hedlund, which also sounds thrilling. So fans of Hunnam are going to be well fed for the foreseeable future

Additional information for Legacy of Spies has not been revealed but, hopefully, additionally details will arrive in the coming months. Here's hoping that Hunnam manages to play a spy as well as he portrays a serial killer or biker. In the meantime, check out Monster: The Ed Gein Story with a Netflix subscription.

I consider Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips to be at the apex of not only comic book storytelling, but that of any medium, and I’m as eager as anyone breathing to see their epic crime noir universe come to life with Prime Video’s Criminal adaptation, The series is set to star Charlie Hunnam, who’s currently winning over audiences as one of this country’s most infamous criminals in Netflix’s Monster: The Ed Gein Story, as well as Tulsa King mainstay Garret Hedlund, who shared his excitement for the show with CinemaBlend, as seen in the video above.

Debuting at some point after all the 2025 TV premieres have concluded, Criminal will open up the multi-generational and interconnected saga that has now spanned 11 trade collections and graphic novels, with 2025’s The Knives being the latest. Hedlund was announced as being part of the cast back in Sept. 2024, but he’s part of a subset whose character details haven’t been revealed yet.

When I talked to the actor about Tulsa King Season 3 (currently streaming via Paramount+ subscription), I asked if portraying Mitch’s small-time criminal story for three seasons helped inform his Criminal role. He told me:

Unsurprisingly, Hedlund didn’t blindly pour all kinds of plot secrets out for me to greedily lap up, but it was perhaps surprising to hear that Mitch seems to be on a different wavelength from his undisclosed character. Although I guess I understand his Tulsa King performance being easier to slip into and out of, since Mitch is a bartender/musician who just happens to also be a shit-kicker employed by a fairly easy-going mob boss.

To that end, though, Criminal is not the kind of world where characters’ humor is showcased and championed. There’s often a darkly comedic undercurrent at play, don’t get me wrong, which is arguably comparable to some of Tulsa King’s more sordid moments.

Garrett Hedlund addressed the upcoming comic adaptation more directly as he continued, saying:

One of the most exciting things about Criminal is the fact that its co-creator headed up the production as showrunner, with Sean Phillips also on board as executive producer, so the final product should essentially be the idealized version. So it's music to fans' ears to hear that Ed Brubaker sounds like a great boss for a show like this.

The biggest draw for those unfamiliar with the comic, however, will be the stacked cast, including the former co-stars Hedlund and Hunnam, who portrayed badass brothers in Netflix's 2019 action thriller Triple Frontier.

In Criminal, Hunnam plays Leo Patterson, a longtime legacy thief who opts to mastermind heists and other jobs in ways that require zero guns and violence, which stands opposite the methods used by his father Tommy. Not that Leo is always successful at achieving such goals, but it's the thought that counts. I don't recall Leo having any brothers, so that likely rules that role out for Hedlund, but I'm hoping they actually do get to share the screen together in the new show.

It sounds like fans can expect him to pop in during the latter half of the first season, as Eps. 5-8 were all directed by Hedlund's Mudbound helmer Dee Rees. But we can also look forward to other A+ cast members include Richard Jenkins, Kadeem Hardison, Luke Evans, Emilia Clarke, Adria Arjona, Logan Browning, Pat Healy, John Hawkes, Michael Mando, Chris Diamantopoulos, Marvin Jones III and more.

For now, Criminal doesn't yet have a release date, but fans can definitely enjoy lots of Garrett Hedlund's Mitch Keller in the meantime, with new episodes of Tulsa King hitting Paramount+ every Sunday.

One of Netflix’s most successful series franchises has definitely been its Monster dramatizations of real-life killer crimes and cases, and The Ed Gein Story has been no exception since it debuted on the 2025 TV schedule. The crimes he committed were certainly exceptional in their abhorrence, and Charlie Hunnam brought the mommy-fixated creepster to life with disturbing aplomb. Fans are digging it, even if critics were split, and Murphy & Co. apparently enjoyed working with Hunnam enough to bring him back for Season 4, which has Lizzie Borden as its subject matter.

Not only that, but Season 4 has officially started filming, and Netflix unveiled some other big casting news to go along with Hunnam’s involvement. We’ll dig into those details lower down, but let’s first enjoy Netflix’s shot of the pair portraying Lizzie Borden and her father Andrew.

Portraying the accused and acquitted Fall River, Mass. native Lizzie Borden is Ella Beatty, whose only TV work prior to this was in the second season of Feud as Kerry O'Shea and Kate Harrington. (Her solo film credit is in the stellar If I Had Legs I'd Kick You.) She'll have her work cut out for her, especially with Christina Ricci having portrayed Borden on the small screen in the relatively recent past. This new role should be slightly easier for Hunnam, however, given how much of a mental struggle playing Ed Gein was.

Check out all of the currently confirmed cast members, with more to be announced as filming continues.

Monster Season 4 Cast List

• Ella Beatty - Lizzie Borden
• Charlie Hunnam - Andrew Borden
• Rebecca Hall - Abby Borden
• Billie Lourd - Emma Borden
• Vicky Krieps - Bridget Sullivan
• Jessica Barden - Nance O'Neill

Rebecca Hall is great in every kind of project, but my horror fandom most loudly trumpets her efforts in projects like 2015's The Gift, 2020's The Night House and 2022's Resurrection, and it's great that she'll play Lizzie Borden's step-mother not long after audiences see her in Adam Wingard's next action-horror, Onslaught. As Lizzie's older sister Emma, American Horror Story and Scream Queens vet Billie Lourd should also deliver excellence.

Also making the jump from The Ed Gein Story to Monster's next chapter is Vicky Krieps, who portrayed Nazi war criminal Ilse Koch, an inspirational figure to Hunnam's killer; here, she'll be playing the Bordens' live-in maid Bridget Sullivan. Rounding out the early cast list is The End of the F***ing World and American Horror Stories vet Jessica Barden, who will portray actress Nance O'Neill, who enters the Bordens' story at a later point.

Directing the first episode of the fourth season will be Max Winkler, who is not only the son of Happy Days and Barry icon Henry Winkler, but also the husband of the aforementioned co-star Jessica Barden. Winkler has been a go-to director for Ryan Murphy projects in recent years, as he's helmed episodes of American Horror Story and its Stories anthology spinoff, The Watcher, Feud, Grotesquerie and Monster: The Ed Gein Story. Unsurprisingly, he's also already put his efforts to use in the upcoming series Love Story.

Netflix will likely continue ordering up new seasons of Monster for as long as Ryan Murphy is willing to commit to them. So far, its Ed Gein entry has been atop the Top 10 since its release, with millions of views amassed, and it could easily stay in that spot going into the latter part of Halloween season.

For now, all three of Monster's seasons can be streamed via Netflix subscription, and stay tuned for more info about Season 4 as it surface.

Stepping into the skin of one of America’s most infamous murderers isn’t something any actor does lightly. But for Ryan Murphy’s Monster: The Ed Gein Story, Charlie Hunnam took on the seemingly impossible, which was transforming himself from the charismatic tough guy audiences know from his body of work into the deeply disturbed, reclusive “Butcher of Plainfield.” In a recent interview, the actor revealed the Ed Gein evidence that initially threw him for a loop, but ultimately helped him solidify the character for the project on the 2025 TV schedule.

The new Netflix series, the third installment in Ryan Murphy’s Monster true-crime anthology, has sparked controversy and received a generally poor critical reception since its release. But what I find most interesting about the series is Hunnam’s portrayal of Gein. Speaking with TV Insider, the Sons of Anarchy star admitted prepping was far from easy, but one key to the performance came from something pretty unsettling: listening to a real, tape-recorded interview with Gein. The actor shared what unsettled him about listening to the tapes, explaining:

The interview in question was recorded merely two days after Gein was captured and arrested in 1957. This moment of discovery threw Hunnam completely off balance. This wasn’t the cold-blooded monster he had expected to hear, but more in line with a man who seemed to be completely detached from reality. The actor continued:

That insight from the tapes changed how the Pacific Rim veteran approached the performance. He added:

“Horrendous crimes” might actually be putting it mildly, given what Ed Gein was accused of and ultimately convicted of. I mean, just think of all the many horror movies his gruesome acts inspired. Still, hearing those real recordings and getting that unnerving, almost firsthand glimpse into his mind would be deeply disturbing. Realizing the killer sounded so naïve and childlike could shake anyone, and it’s easy to see why it rattled Hunnam, too.

When asked about Hollywood’s responsibility to portray true crime accurately, Hunnam said he’s not sure he agrees that filmmakers are bound to strict realism. Still, he approached Monster: The Ed Gein Story with empathy, rather than exploitation. Rather than glorifying the grotesque, he focused on what drove Gein’s behavior and the psychological wounds that shaped him.

Alongside the creative team, The Gentlemen actor set out to make something more reflective than sensational. Still, like past Monster installments—which drew backlash for not consulting victims’ families before Dahmer—The Ed Gein Story has faced similar criticism for romanticizing its subject. Ultimately, the eerie recordings that shook Charlie Hunnam the most became the key to his haunting transformation.

And while The Ed Gein Story continues to divide audiences, his unflinching performance remains the show's most interesting element, in my opinion. You can stream the series now with a Netflix subscription.

Netflix’s hit anthology series, Monster, has garnered significant attention since it debuted in 2022. That high level of buzz is still apparent when it comes to the newest entry in the franchise. Monster: The Ed Gein Story, which is currently available with a Netflix subscription, is No. 1 on Netflix’s Top 10 for TV series, as of this writing. With that, various viewers are watching Charlie Hunnam play the famous killer, who the actor was initially concerned about playing.

Ed Gein is generally seen as one of the darkest human beings to ever live. He’s been the inspiration for fictional killers from Norman Bates to Buffalo Bill from The Silence of the Lambs. This fact wasn’t lost on Charlie Hunnam, who says that he thought he may have made a mistake by agreeing to play such a troubled individual. He tells EW…

While Ed Gein is only confirmed to have killed two people, he also admitted to stealing corpses from graveyards and fashioning everything from household items to clothing out of various body parts. He made a suit of skin similar to that which was portrayed by the killer Buffalo Bill in The Silence of the Lambs. Gein's relationship with his mother, which became obsessive after she died, was even the inspiration for Psycho’s Norman Bates.

Other actors have spoken in the past about the difficulty they’ve had playing particularly dark characters. It’s not all that surprising that Hunnam would be concerned about that. Evan Peters, who previously played Jeffrey Dahmer in the first season of Monster, has been candid about the difficulties and complexities that came with that character. The brutal scenes he had to play out on camera might have been quite vicious. Hunnam admits that he’s not really a horror fan, and said yes to the role over dinner with creator Ryan Murphy almost entirely because he liked Murphy.

The good news, for Charlie Hunnam, was that when he finally saw the scripts for the series, they revealed that he wouldn’t need to do a lot of the worst stuff on camera, as the series was going to be less about what happened and more about attempting to understand why. Hunnam continued…

While investigating why Ed Gein became the man he did almost certainly made for its own darkness, it seems it was more in line with what Hunnam was comfortable doing. And, based on the popularity of the series on Netflix right now, it appears Hunnam's efforts weren't in vain.

There is no lack of amazing true crime content available on streaming, and Ryan Murphy’s Monster series has been quite popular for those with a Netflix subscription after tackling Jeffrey Dahmer's and the Lyle and Erik Menendez story. For Monster Season 3, the anthology series will delve into Ed Gein, and I’ve been among the fans highly anticipating Charlie Hunnam’s turn as a serial killer. Knowing the popularity of the series (as well as the controversy often surrounding it), I was surprised when I checked out its Rotten Tomatoes score.

Here at CinemaBlend, we love to keep track of how critics are scoring the hottest TV and movie releases in our review roundups, but in the case of Monster: The Ed Gein Story, there simply isn't much feedback. The third installment of the Ryan Murphy series hit the 2025 TV schedule on October 3, and the season stands with just one review on Rotten Tomatoes (as of this writing), which means it has no score.

It’s not rare for Netflix to embargo reviews on a project until the release date, but it is unusual for there to be no feedback on a series that has proven popular in years past. It seems reasonable to assume critics weren’t able to screen The Ed Gein Story ahead of time, and we’ll likely hear from them when they’ve had the chance to get through the eight-episode season.

Already, some partial reviews are dropping. Alix Blackburn of Tom’s Guide has seen the first two episodes of Monster: The Ed Gein Story and can already tell viewers are in for a “chilling and uncomfortable look into one of America’s most infamous killers.” Blackburn says:

Another critic, Karina "ScreamQueen" Adelgaard of Heaven of Horror, seems to like the series overall, rating it 4 out of 5 stars, but she knows some will take issue with how World War II is integrated. Adelgaard writes:

Go ahead and count Lucy Mangan of The Guardian as one who does not recommend Monster: The Ed Gein Story for your next Netflix binge. She gives it just 1 star out of 5, writing:

Glorifying real-life villains has been one argument made against Ryan Murphy’s Netflix series, and accusations that the TV producer prioritizes entertainment over historical accuracy have led to some fans losing faith in his projects (though Murphy has defended his team’s research).

I’m not sure if there was a reason reviews didn’t come out with or before the release of Monster: The Ed Gein Story, but it does sound like true crime fans are in for possibly the most intense season of the anthology yet, just based on the subject matter. If you want to go in without knowing what to expect, all eight episodes of the Charlie Hunnam-led story are available to stream now on Netflix.

Charlie Hunnam was already achieving fame playing one of the best Sons of Anarchy characters, Jax. But the English actor's career could have skyrocketed in almost being one of the Fifty Shades of Grey stars. More than 10 years later, Hunnam has “never looked back” on turning down the role of Christian Grey, but Dakota Johnson still made sure to call him out on it.

It’s unbelievable that the role of Christian Grey, which ultimately went to Jamie Dornan, could have been Charlie Hunnam’s. Back in September 2013, the Newcastle upon Tyne native was confirmed for Sam Taylor-Johnson’s movie, only to have dropped out a month later.

In an interview with Variety (via ET), the Critics’ Choice Television Award nominee was honest about having “never looked back” after turning down Fifty Shades of Grey (which is streaming on your Netflix subscription). But, he mentioned that his would-have-been co-star Dakota Johnson sure hasn’t forgotten after they ran into each other over a decade later:

I'm curious how Dakota Johnson would have playfully confronted Charlie Hunnam about skipping the chance to work with her. Maybe the Materialists actress reminded him of all of the handcuffs and riding crops the actor missed out on if he took on Christian Grey. Yep, lay on the guilty pleasures the two could have had on set.

If the Pacific Rim actor chose to star in the Fifty Shades of Grey movies, his career could have exponentially changed in the way Dakota Johnson’s and Jamie Dornan’s did. But his reasons for dropping out were understandable. In 2015, Hunnam said his feelings about passing on the big role had to do with not being mentally ready due to “a lot of personal stuff.” The real reason, however, for leaving Fifty Shades, he said, was experiencing “something of a nervous breakdown” with his heavy TV schedule of filming Sons of Anarchy and Crimson Peak.

But then in 2019, when Charlie Hunnam spoke about not regretting his Fifty Shades of Grey leave, the Nicholas Nickleby actor was honest about being “totally at odds” with the creative team about his differing vision for Christian Grey. So even if the CinemaCon Award winner missed his chance to take part in a cultural phenomenon, he made it clear that following his instincts was more important than taking on a role that didn’t feel right to him.

Charlie Hunnam may have “never looked back” turning down Christian Grey, but he didn’t need that role to make it big in Hollywood. He’s got the 2025 Netflix release Monster: The Ed Gein Story and Amazon Prime’s Criminals to wow us with. But, leave it to Dakota Johnson to playfully remind him over a decade later about the huge role that got away from him.

Netflix just dropped the first look at their upcoming streaming release, Ryan Murphy’s true crime series true crime series Monster: The Ed Gein Story, and it’s already setting social media ablaze. With Charlie Hunnam taking the role of Gein, the new installment of Murphy’s Monster anthology is set to premiere on October 3, just in time for Halloween season. And let's just say fans had a lot of reactions to the Sons of Anarchy star’s look as a real-life serial killer.

The promotional images, posted to Netflix’s official Instagram, lean into some of the long-standing best horror movie legacy taglines like “Before Psycho… There Was Ed” and “Before The Texas Chainsaw Massacre… There Was Ed.” In the promotional photos, which can be seen below, Hunnam showcases his transformed physique, screaming as he wields a chainsaw, wears a human skin mask, and lies disturbingly close to a motherly figure.

For those unfamiliar, Ed Gein’s gruesome crimes directly inspired some of horror’s most iconic villains, including Leatherface in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Buffalo Bill in The Silence of the Lambs, and Norman Bates in Psycho. Given that legacy, it’s not surprising that some viewers are unsettled by this first, polished glimpse of Charlie Hunnam in the role.

The streamer’s Dahmer series sparked controversy when families of the real-life victims spoke out against the dramatization, and its latest Monster installment seems to be facing the same sort of scrutiny. Some viewers are unsettled, others seem a little too enamored with Charlie Hunnam’s transformation, and a third group is approaching the project with cautious curiosity. Here’s a look at how fans are reacting in the comments to the first look.

The Fans Who Aren’t Feeling It

For plenty of viewers, the whole thing feels too much. Whether it’s the glamorization of Gein or the unsettling imagery, these commenters are side-eyeing the project:

• “Yeah this seems kinda glorified.” – @lawrenceofhampton
• “He’s all ripped. Did anyone on this movie look at a picture of Ed Gein?? 😂” – @heppgram
• “These romanticized retellings of horrific events are fucking weird” – @reidschroder
• “really disturbing how they posted this on the day of the actual serial killers birthday.” – @vicious_cemetery_
• “Stop making these. Banking off real crime cases just doesn't sit right with me. What about the victims' families?? They better be getting paid at least.” – @mrdavemingchang

Fair enough. Early reactions to The Ed Gein Story highlight a sharp cultural divide with the upcoming series.

Fans Thirsting For Hunnam’s Sexy Gein

Then there are those who saw past the chainsaws and corpses and zeroed in on Hunnam himself. The Pacific Rim alum's transformation inspired a wave of swooning:

• “Charlie Hunnam is unrecognizable 😍😮🔥” – @ankitjain77
• “Still hot though!” – @observettemarch
• “Oh Ryan 🤌” – @olii_007
• “I can’t wait!! Charlie is going to be brilliant❤️” – @southernpearl18
• “Looks sick!!!!!🔥” – @keshakims2
• “Gein was found to be insidiously strong in the way that farmers are. Plus, he was getting bicep exercises by digging up those graves.” – @nightmariane
• “IVE BEEN WAITING FOR CHARLIE TO DO THIS KIND OF ROLE FOR YEARRRSSSS 😍👏🔥” – @melshauntedhouse

Alrighty then. Some fans seem a little too enthusiastic about the chainsaw-wielding first look. But, hey, serial killer energy aside: I get it. The actor is looking good.

What Positive-But-Not-Horned-Up Fans Are Saying

Not everyone is screaming or swooning but are instead simply intrigued to see where Netflix takes this, especially given the success of Dahmer and The Menendez Murders. Some of the best comments from those optimistically cautious are:

• “Ooooh can’t wait for this. I watched the Dahmer one and Menendez one and I always find these perspectives interesting.” – @k8sorgen
• “Can't wait to disturb and terrify myself with this” – @gokineticfiber
• “i luvv texas chainsaw hope this wont flop tho” – @_.strvxn
• “Sounds like a chilling story! Can't wait to watch it on Netflix this October 3.” – @adivraza

Between the freaked out, the horned up, and the cautiously intrigued, Netflix has once again proven it knows how to spark conversation. Charlie Hunnam may not look like the real Ed Gein, but that hasn’t stopped people from debating whether this is prestige horror or an exploitative spectacle.

Either way, Monster: The Ed Gein Story drops October 3, and based on the reactions, it’s shaping up to be one of the most talked-about spooky season events hitting the 2025 TV schedule.

Charlie Hunnam has played bikers, gangsters, explorers, and soccer hooligans over the years, but he’ll soon play one of the most notorious American murderers when Monster: The Ed Gein Story premieres. The upcoming 2025 TV show, which will be available with a Netflix subscription, will serve as the third installment of Ryan Murphy’s Monster anthology crime series that previously touched on killers like Jeffrey Dahmer and the Menendez Brothers.

Charlie Hunnam’s Ed Gein series is one of those upcoming Netflix shows that I’ve been excited to watch for as long as I’ve known about it, and so it’s safe to assume I have some thoughts now that we’re so close to it coming out.. That said, come with me as I break down everything that’s been said about the Netflix true crime show, things I hope to see, and how to get all caught up on the man known as the Butcher of Plainfield, who inspired some of the best horror movies ever made.

What We Know About Charlie Hunnam’s Ed Gein Series

With less than a month until Monster: The Ed Gein Story premieres on Netflix, here’s everything that’s been made official by the streaming platform.

• Monster: The Ed Gein Story premieres October 3, 2025
• It Will Consist Of Eight Episodes
• This Is The Third Season Of Ryan Murphy’s Monster Anthology Series
• The Story Will Follow Ed Gein, AKA, The Butcher Of Plainfield
• Charlie Hunnam, Tom Hollander, Laurie Metcalf, and Olivia Williams Lead The Cast

Charlie Hunnam Playing Ed Gein Could Be The Sons Of Anarchy Star’s Most Interesting Role In A Long Time

Okay, now that you know all the nitty-gritty details about Monster: The Ed Gein Story, I’ve just got to break down some thoughts that have been swimming around my head as of late. First and foremost, I think Charlie Hunnam playing Ed Gein could be the Sons of Anarchy star’s most interesting role in a long time, and this is coming from a guy who’s all about Hunnam’s body of work.

This is the most excited I’ve been to see Hunnam in a show or movie since those early seasons of Sons of Anarchy when he was kicking all kinds of ass as Jax Teller. However, unlike the Hamlet of the biker scene and other great roles Hunnam has had over the years, this time around he’ll be playing one of the most notorious American killers of all time, a man who used the skin from his victims to make gloves, chairs, and lampshades before being caught and turned into one of the biggest figures in the world of horror movies.

The Monster: The Ed Gein Story Trailer Teases A House Of Horrors, And I Both Terrified And Intrigued

In September 2025, a little less than a month before the show’s premiere, Netflix released the first Monster: The Ed Gein Story teaser. Let me tell you, if you haven’t watched it already, this nearly two-minute video is unsettling to say the least. I was already excited for this show (it’s one of my most anticipated this fall), but hearing what appears to be Tom Hollander’s Alfred Hitchcock talking about Ed Gein over footage of police combing through his house of horrors in rural Wisconsin has turned up the intrigue, to say the least.

Utterly terrifying and fascinating, the teaser doesn’t give away any story elements or really anything outside of the fact that Gein made an assortment of masks and furniture with the skin of corpses. However, it sets the tone for the upcoming series and has me ready to dive into the mind of one of the most peculiar true crime figures in American history.

I Cannot Wait To See How The Show Explores The Mother-Son Dynamic Shared By The Gein Family

One thing I can’t wait to see be explored in Monster: The Ed Gein Story is the mother-son dynamic shared by Charlie Hunnam and Laurie Metcalf’s characters. The Academy Award-nominated actress and Roseanne/The Conners star will be playing Augusta Gein, Ed’s hyper-religious and closed-off mother who was part of the inspiration for Norma Bates in Psycho.

Though Metcalf’s version of Ed Gein’s mother isn’t shown in the first teaser trailer, you can hear her voice as she speaks with her son. Whether or not it’s from a scene where she’s still alive or one from after her death isn’t known at this time, and that honestly makes it more exciting. Will she be a voice in his head for most of the show? We’ll have to wait and see.

I’m Interested In Seeing How The Show Handles Ed Gein’s Place In American History As Well As Hollywood

In October 2024, Netflix Tudum announced that Tom Hollander would be playing Alfred Hitchcock, the filmmaker who famously made Psycho, a book-to-screen adaptation that was heavily influenced by Gein’s life and legacy. That got me wondering, how much of the next season of Monster will focus on Hitchcock and his quest to turn Robert Bloch’s Psycho novel into one of the most groundbreaking horror films of all time? This could add a fun dynamic to the series, especially if it bounces from narrative to narrative to cover Gein’s crimes and how they influenced pop culture.

With the teaser trailer highlighting Gein’s influence on Psycho, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and The Silence of the Lambs, it will be interesting to see if the series will be presented in a straightforward Point-A-to-Point-B affair, or something where it bounces back and forth between two timelines. Regardless, it’s going to be fascinating to see how Ryan Murphy’s latest true crime show handles not only Gein’s actions but also his impact.

Other Ed Gein Movies And Shows Worth Checking Out

While we wait for Monster: The Ed Gein Story, there are plenty of documentaries and movies about the serial killer who influenced pop culture in the years that followed his heinous crimes.

• Stream Psycho: The Lost Tapes of Ed Gein on MGM+
• Stream Psycho on Peacock.
• Stream The Texas Chainsaw Massacre on Prime Video
• Stream The Silence of the Lambs on HBO Max.

I’m counting down the days until Monster: The Ed Gein Story premieres on October 3, but it seems like I should also start getting excited about Ryan Murphy’s fourth Monster installment…

English actor Charlie Hunnam continues to build up the kind of varied filmography that many in the biz would love to call their own, even if his most hardcore fans will likely never fully separate him from the role that made him a household name, Sons of Anarchy’s Jax Teller. But that could all change soon, as he’s joining one of Netflix’s biggest shows for a role that will likely make Jax’s horrific actions look like mere child’s play.

The Pacific Rim vet is set to take on the starring role for the third season of Ryan Murphy’s killer thriller anthology Monster, which will soon arrive in plural form on the 2024 TV premiere schedule via Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. But Hunnam won’t be portraying a newspaper journalist or an obsessed investigator or anything so simple; no, he’ll be portraying one of the most notorious and unfortunately influential serial killers of all time, Ed Gein.

This bonkers reveal comes courtesy of mega-producer Ryan Murphy himself, who made the announcement while promoting Season 2 at an event in Los Angeles. While further details weren’t bandied about, one only has to look at Evan Peters’ take on Jeffrey Dahmer in the chart-topping first season of Monster to get an idea of what to expect.

Of course, Ed Gein’s highly disturbing history, both criminal and personal, also offers up insights into what audiences may see Hunnam doing. Known as the Butcher of Plainfield, and hailing from the noted Wisconsin town, Gein became known not so much for the murders he was convicted for, but for robbing graves and fashioning household items out of people’s corpses, such as bowls made from human skulls and furniture decorated with skin and bones.

Gein’s (reported) decade of horrifying crimes and lifestyle finally came to an end in 1957 when he was captured by the town’s deputy sheriff, whose father served as Gein’s final victim. Though he wasn’t deemed to be fit for trial for another decade, he quickly gained notoriety after his atrocities were made public, and served as the inspiration for various horror and thriller icons, specifically Psycho’s Norman Bates — Gein did indeed make something of a skin suit from his mother’s skin — Texas Chain-Saw Massacre’s Leatherface and The Silence of the Lambs’ Hannibal Lecter.

Currently, Charlie Hunnam is set to star in one of my most anticipated shows of the foreseeable future, Prime Video’s series take on Criminal, Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips’ award-winning crime noir comic book series. So to think that he’ll be jumping from that into portraying Ed Gein is wild, and will certainly test the actor’s ability to put audiences on edge in highly disturbing ways.

It’s also potentially Hunnam’s best shot yet at becoming an award-season threat, since Ryan Murphy’s anthologized series tend to shine brightly when nominations are being handed out. The first season of Monster, which remains the third most-watched series in Netflix’s history, landed star Evan Peters a Golden Globe win, while Niecy Nash took home the Emmy for her work as neighbor Glenda Cleveland.

All episodes of Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story will be available to stream with a Netflix subscription on Thursday, September 19, though it’s unclear if Season 3 will be ready to arrive within the 2025 TV lineup or not.

Legendary Entertainment is one of those companies that likes to play both sides of the aisle when it comes to comics and movies. The 2024 movie schedule saw the company stomp into theaters with Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, and to some pretty spectacular results. But there’s one potential sequel that the company and actor Charlie Hunnam have been bullish on in the past: Pacific Rim 3. Six years after the last movie hit theaters, the franchise looks to be coming back in an unexpected way.

Pacific Rim: Final Breach Is The Second Sequel We’ve Always Wanted

Over on the Kickstarter page for Legendary Comics, something amazing is happening. A new campaign has been launched to fund what’s now known as Pacific Rim: Final Breach, a three-part series that’ll debut between 2025 and 2027. Serving as the official third entry in the series, the project is already well over half funded, and I can see why with a synopsis like this in the mix:

Ok, so we need to take a minute here and just absorb the coolness of this moment. With Avatar: The Last Airbender’s Joshua Fialkov writing the story, Pacific Rim: Final Breach could make a lot of fan’s dreams come true. That starts with the fact that while Charlie Hunnam’s Pacific Rim 3 wish to bringing back Guillermo del Toro to direct hasn’t been met, the world of comics has Raleigh Becket’s return fully on tap. Like any hero that’s missed a sequel, he’s been in seclusion.

But now John Boyega’s Jake Pentecost is ready to bring him back to join up with his Pacific Rim: Uprising squadmates; which just makes this all so much more exciting. That starts with the fulfillment of this mid-credits scene, which saw the son of Idris Elba’s Stacker Pentecost taking after his old man:

Looking at the test panels for Pacific Rim 3, I noticed that some of the art looked like a four-panel flashback to that very scene between Newt (Charlie Day) and Jake. So if I’m reading this correctly, the story for this new sequel probably kicks off with young Pentacost’s threat of the Pan Pacific Defense Corps taking the fight to the realm of the Precursors. Either that, or that image of what looks like several mech suits marching into battle is one hell of a toy show.

The Bigger Promise Pacific Rim: Final Breach Could Help Make Happen

So you’re probably wondering what’s bigger than finally seeing a threequel to the series that Guillermo del Toro helped put on the ground in 2013? Well, how about the fact that actually having Pacific Rim: Final Breach in play could finally bring about that rad MonsterVerse crossover that’s also been teased in the past? Pacific Rim: Uprising director/co-writer Steven S. Denight helped put that thought into motion confirming his proposed sequel would have laid down the path to a MonsterVerse/Pacific Rim crossover.

Considering that both this rock ‘em, sock ‘em adventure and the MonsterVerse are both under the Legendary umbrella, and plenty of expanded lore comics have given Godzilla and Kong further development, this could be something that Pacific Rim: Final Breach makes all too possible. And why not? It worked for Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong!

Ok, perhaps I’m getting a bit ahead of myself. For now, we need Pacific Rim 3 to become fully funded on Kickstarter so it can make its way into the world. After which point, we can start talking about film adaptations, Godzilla becoming friends with Gypsy Destroyer, and the potential return of Hannibal Chau! His return from being eaten by a Kaiju is considered one of the best non-MCU post credits scenes, and you can't just leave man's legacy hanging on a simple Pacific Rim: Uprising reference.

Also, there are tons of additional goodies in store for those who jump in on the deal; like pins, commissioned art and even a potential recurring role in the series! So if you’re even remotely interested in having another chance to cancel the apocalypse, you have until September 4th to enlist!

But be patient, as we have to keep in mind that Volume 1 won’t be shipped until some point in the next year, with the series playing out up until its 2027 finale. So let's hope that the special add-on companion book The Pacific Rim Mechapedia happens to ship out on the same schedule as Volume 1, as that'll give us plenty to chew over in the interim.

Over seven seasons of FX’s Sons of Anarchy, Charlie Hunnam played anti-hero Jax Teller. A character who found the shadow of his father’s legacy looming over him while trying to make a name for himself in the underworld of that titular biking club, Jax’s struggles made for good TV. While it doesn't look like a project set for the 2024 TV schedule, Hunnam has been announced as returning to TV with a role that’s pretty close to home when it comes to the fictional figure that helped make his name.

Deadline has reported that the Pacific Rim veteran has been cast in Criminal, a series coming to Amazon Prime Video subscription holder, with Charlie set to take the starring role of Leo. His addition to the acting roster sees Hunnam joining the likes of Adria Arjona, Richard Jenkins and Kadeem Hardison in this new noir-flavored world of intrigue.

Which totally makes sense, as this is a crime tale adapted from the graphic novel series of the same name by writer Ed Brubaker. With that in mind, take a look at these further details that give us more insight into what’s going on in Leo’s life:

I don’t know about you, but I’m already seeing some images of Criminal’s televised potential flashing in front of my eyes. In fact, Charlie Hunnam’s performance in Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen is what comes to mind when reading that logline, and keeping his SamCro past in mind. This isn’t going to be a clean and tidy world, but the way that Leo moves about it sounds like it’s designed to minimize bloodshed and maximize the advantage in his favor.

There is another detail I’d like to discuss when it comes to Charlie and his new career as a Criminal. Ed Brubaker’s series of books using that name are actually an anthology of hard-boiled crime stories that focus on different protagonists. So unless the top brass are looking to pull a Shōgun-style expansion of the source material, we might only get one season of Charlie Hunnam in action.

Everything’s on the table obviously, as it’s still early days for Criminal. At the same time, I’m ready to get excited for Mr. Hunnam’s return to a life of crime, besting enemies left and right. Although, since this series is being produced by Legendary Television, maybe there’s some sort of long shot that Charlie’s conditions to make Pacific Rim 3 may somehow be met thanks to this promising project.

For now though, if you want to see Charlie Hunnam riding with the Sons of Anarchy, that entire series is streaming for those of you who possess a Hulu subscription. And seriously, not to invoke typecasting or anything, but if anyone involved in Criminal is thinking about casting Ron Perlman, but needs an extra nudge... consider this your nudge.

The franchise kicked off by 2013’s Pacific Rim is a firm example of a series that, despite an irregular pace of progress, still seems to be kicking around in the hearts and minds of those who love it. Actor and star Charlie Hunnam could be seen as a case study for why that is, especially with his answer to the question of whether he would do a Pacific Rim 3. Both as a journalist and a fan of this series that includes some of the best sci-fi movies, I couldn’t love his answer about doing a third film more. 

Despite the reasons Charlie Hunnam wasn’t in Pacific Rim: Uprising, there’s still a clear love for Guillermo del Toro’s process at the heart of what he had to say about a three-quel. Through Inverse’s TikTok, the Sons of Anarchy vet and current member of the Rebel Moon cast can now be seen delivering the following answer: 

That last part shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who follows del Toro’s work. Charlie Hunnam would actually reteam with his Pacific Rim helmer not too long after the 2013 sci-fi epic, in the underrated 2015 gothic horror/romance Crimson Peak. So clearly it’s not just a case of loyalty to canceling the apocalypse here; as Charlie will gladly reunite with Guillermo whenever called upon.

Personally, seeing both Hunnam and Guillermo del Toro returning for Pacific Rim 3 would be a blazing ball of excitement. Co-writer/director Steven S. DeKnight’s Pacific Rim: Uprising introduced new characters and took things in a slightly different direction. However, the 2018 sequel did have a common goal in mind with where Mr. del Toro wanted to take things for a threequel. Yes, I’m talking about that potential MonsterVerse crossover.

DeKnight admitted to structuring his version of Pacific Rim 3 to end exactly where the two worlds could collide. And in an interview during Pacific Rim’s press rounds, Guillermo del Toro’s extreme enthusiasm for a Godzilla crossover was palpable. With the MonsterVerse’s popularity in full swing, and Legendary Pictures’ stake in both series, it’s kind of surprising to see this pitch not coming to fruition just yet. 

However, if you could get Guillermo del Toro and Charlie Hunnam to sign on, you could be sure that Pacific Rim 3 would probably become a going concern rather quickly. Especially when the excitement for Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire promises a world where much bigger obstacles are going to be required to keep the party going. 

While the co-director of Netflix’s Pinocchio film seems to be content with eventually staying in the realm of stop-motion, it’d be nice to convince him to take Pacific Rim 3 as a potential live-action finale to his career of flesh and blood storytelling. Then again, maybe combining Guillermo del Toro and Steven S. DeKnight into a drift configuration of storytelling wonder could see both men pushing this series into the future for some time ahead. In which case, Mr. Hunnam's Raleigh Becket would be a very essential party.

Ok Pilots: from here you’ve got two different objectives you can pursue. If you want to go back to the world of Pacific Rim, the first film is streaming for those with a Hulu subscription at the time of this publication. However, if you want to follow Charlie Hunnam in his new role as part of Rebel Moon: Part 1 - A Child of Fire, then you’ll want to tune in with a Netflix subscription, and blast off! 

SPOILER WARNING: The following article contains major spoilers for Rebel Moon: Part 1 – A Child Of Fire. If you have not yet watched the film, proceed at your own risk!

When the protagonists in Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon: Part 1 – A Child Of Fire go off to recruit heroes to help them in their plight, Charlie Hunnam’s Kai is introduced as a Han Solo-like character who both provides transportation and facilitates the mission… but what we don’t know is that he has some ulterior motives. It’s revealed in the third act that he has been in communication with Ed Skrein’s Atticus Noble, and he willfully sets up his “friends” to be captured and killed. It’s the biggest twist in the film – and one toward which Hunnam took an interesting and specific approach.

A captured in the video above, I had the pleasure of interviewing Charlie Hunnam and co-star Michiel Huisman earlier this month during the Los Angeles press day for Rebel Moon – which is now streaming on Netflix – and I used my last question during our conversation to get into spoiler territory. I asked if Kai’s planned betrayal had a specific influence on the way that the actor approached the character, and Hunnam explained that its most significant impact was in his effort to create what seems like an on-screen love triangle between Kai, Sofia Boutella’ Kora, and Huisman’s Gunnar:

It’s a clever bit of misdirection. Stories are built on conflict, and if audiences see a love triangle between Kora, Gunnar and Kai, there is a subconscious assumption made about where their individual narratives are going. For Kai, as orchestrated by Charlie Hunnam, this is simply a distraction to keep you from noticing any red flags in his attitude or behavior.

Continuing, the actor added that he would find special ways for Kai to connect with Kora so that he could hide the character’s true intentions. Said Hunnam,

The key for the performance was subtlety, and it was important for Hunnam. While audiences may end up hating Kai for his heel turn at the end of Rebel Moon, it was his number one desire to never come across as a mustache-twirler. Instead, he views the character more like a dedicated child:

Also starring Ray Fisher, Bae Doona, Staz Nair, Djimon Hounsou, Cleopatra Colman, E. Duffy, Fra Free and Anthony Hopkins, Rebel Moon: Part One - A Child Of Fire is now available to stream for Netflix subscribers, and there is much to look forward to in the future. In addition to Rebel Moon: Part 2 – The Scargiver being scheduled for release next spring, on April 19, 2024, there are also plans for extended, unrated director’s cuts to be unveiled in the summer.

Charlie Hunnam has had quite the career and has carved out a solid lane for himself within the entertainment industry. While he’s been able to take on some great roles, he – like many other actors – has a few notable gigs that got away. He even turned down DC's Green Arrow. the latest he recalled was that of Anakin Skywalker in the Star Wars movies and possibly beyond. Hunnam apparently got close to landing the part, which eventually went to Hayden Christensen. So close that he actually had the opportunity to meet with George Lucas but, as the actor recalled, he ended up having a “very awkward” meeting with the sci-fi guru. 

George Lucas was actually looking at a few notable stars before he tapped Canadian actor Hayden Christsensen to play the Jedi destined to become Darth Vader. Leonardo DiCaprio and Paul Walker were reportedly a couple of the big names the filmmaker had on his list. One would think that at the time, Charlie Hunnam may have been anxious to be in the running for such a massive job. Today, however, he admitted that he can’t remember all that much about the casting process: 

That’s understandable, given it was so long ago, and the Pacific Rim star has had various casting experiences since then. While his memory is somewhat fuzzy on a lot of the specific details, he does remember sitting down with George Lucas to discuss the part. The leading man explained during his interview with ET that it was a “very awkward” meeting. With that, it seems like he knew even at the time that he wouldn’t get the opportunity to wield a lightsaber on camera: 

“Vibes” can definitely be important when it comes to situations like that. While it’s interesting to wonder how Charlie Hunnam would’ve performed as Skywalker, I think everything turned out just fine. Years later, he landed the role of Jax Teller on the acclaimed FX drama Sons of Anarchy. He also has notable flicks like Children of Men, Crimson Peak, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword and The Gentlemen under his belt. On the other hand, while Hayden Christensen’s performance as Anakin was originally met with tepid responses, his work has been better received by contemporary audiences. Fans even wished Christensen a happy birthday ahead of his return as Darth Vader on 2022’s Obi-Wan Kenobi. All in all, I don’t think Hunnam can really complain over his good fortune.

The British star is currently part of the Rebel Moon cast and, with that, he actually gets to enter the world of science fiction as seen through the lens of filmmaker Zack Snyder. The actor explained that he relished the opportunity to join Snyder’s budding franchise. He may not get to wield the Force, thanks to that awkward meeting with George Lucas, he’ll at least get in on some serious action through this entry on the schedule of 2023 new movie releases. 

Rebel Moon: Part One - A Child of Fire will be available for Netflix subscribers starting on December 22. Fans of Star Wars can also check out Hayden Christensen’s work as Anakin Skywalker using a Disney+ subscription.

Zack Snyder is famous for telling epic stories with impressive ensemble casts, so it’s no surprise that sci-fi fans have been eagerly anticipating Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire. That wait is almost over, as the first part of the space opera is set to hit Netflix on December 22. The story centers around a peaceful colony on the edge of the galaxy that is threatened by a tyrannical leader. The colonists turn to Kora (Sofia Boutella), a former member of the Imperium, to rally warriors against the Motherworld. Critics have had a chance to screen the film, and they’re not holding back with their thoughts.

In addition to Sofia Boutella, Rebel Moon’s cast for Part One includes a host of impressive names, including Djimon Hounsou, Charlie Hunnam, Ray Fisher, Michiel Huisman, Cary Elwes and many more. Let’s see what the critics are saying about the movie, starting with CinemaBlend’s review of Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child Of Fire. Mike Reyes rates the movie 2.5 stars out of 5, saying he can feel the potential of this franchise, but this offering for Netflix is incomplete and formulaic. He continues:  

With Rebel Moon being split into two movies, viewers are left not only with the promise of a Part Two – The Scargiver but an R-rated Zack Snyder director’s cut of Rebel Moon – Part One, which other critics agree undercuts the product that is set to hit Netflix. Neil Smith of GamesRadar gives the movie 3 stars out of 5, saying that while Rebel Moon’s ending leaves too many loose ends, fans of Snyder’s heightened brand of stern, muscular filmmaking won’t be left wanting. Smith writes: 

This project has been drawing comparisons to Star Wars from its inception, and even Zack Snyder spoke about how Star Wars influenced Rebel Moon. However, Nick Schager of the Daily Beast says inspiration doesn’t excuse A Child of Fire’s inability to fashion a single idea that’s not a dull sci-fi cliche. The lack of originality is matched by its humorlessness, per the critic, who writes: 

William Bibbiani of The Wrap notes that nothing about Rebel Moon feels fresh, though many parts of the movie are at least competent, given Zack Snyder’s expertise at epic action sequences. Bibbiani continues:  

David Ehrlich of IndieWire grades it a D-, calling Rebel Moon Zack Snyder’s worst movie so far. The critic says there’s nothing original or imaginative about the Netflix film, as the director seems determined to remix a million things you’ve seen before into something you’ll wish you’d never seen at all. Ehrlich writes: 

The criticism is pretty sharp for Zack Snyder’s first Rebel Moon offering, but as this is a project that a lot of people have been looking forward to for a long time, viewers should feel free to draw their own conclusions. Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire can be streamed with a Netflix subscription starting December 22 ahead of Part Two: The Scargiver, which will be released April 19, 2024. Be sure to check out what else is new and coming soon to Netflix. 

If you were following along with the news cycle of DC movies during the DC Extended Universe era, which is coming to an end later this month with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, then you likely saw Sons of Anarchy actor Charlie Hunnam fancast as Oliver Queen, a.k.a. Green Arrow, at least one, if not multiple times. Well, it turns out that during this period when director Zack Snyder was largely steering the DCEU ship, Hunnam was actually approached to play the Emerald Archer. However, he turned down the part for a specific reason.

Hunnam finally scored the opportunity to work with Snyder thanks to Rebel Moon, with the first half of this two-part sci-fi epic debuting to Netflix subscribers later this month. While chatting about this 2023 movie release to Comicbook, the actor clarified that he never directly talked with Snyder about the Green Arrow role back in the day, but did confirm that others had approached him about it, saying:

So Charlie Hunnam playing Green Arrow wasn’t just a pipe dream on the minds of many SnyderVerse fans; executives at Warner Bros. Pictures did indeed try to cox him into playing the character for the shared continuity that included people like Henry Cavill’s Superman, Ben Affleck’s Batman and Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman. Alas, Hunnam’s unfamiliarity with Green Arrow and not wanting to don a green spandex suit resulted in him turning down the role. So not only did the DCEU miss out on the famed superhero archer appearing, but clearly we shouldn’t expect Hunnam to play the role in the new DC Universe’s Chapter One slate.

Had Hunnam agreed to play Green Arrow, he would have been the third actor to bring the character to life, following Justin Hartley on Smallville and Stephen Amell in Arrow and various other Arrowverse shows. Pre-DCEU, David Goyer also wrote a standalone movie called Green Arrow: Escape from Supermax that would have followed Oliver Queen breaking out of a prison filled with supervillains and rogue superheroes, but this project never got off the ground. As things currently stand, while a lot of superheroes have already been announced for the DC Universe, including folks like Guy Gardner, Mr. Terrific, Hawkgirl and Metamorpho all being part of Superman: Legacy’s cast, it’s unclear whether Green Arrow will be featured as one of its crimefighters.

As for Charlie Hunnam, you can see him playing Kai in Rebel Moon: Part One - A Child of Fire on Netflix starting December 21, and Part Two: The Scargiver will follow on April 19, 2024. If you’d like to stream Green Arrow’s past live-action appearances, Arrow can also be found on Netflix, and Smallville can be accessed with a Hulu subscription.

Zack Snyder has been living in the world of Rebel Moon for the better part of 20 years. According to his recollections, he first pitched it to one of his college professors as “The Dirty Dozen in space,” which the teacher thought was a very cool launch point. The idea only grew in Snyder’s mind over the years, especially as he experimented with other forms of world-building through some of his greatest films, be it Watchmen and 300, or the movies in his DC Extended Universe. Zack’s wife and producing partner Deborah Snyder confirms that Rebel Moon was pitched to Lucasfilm as a potential Star Wars movie, though that happened before 20th Century Fox was purchased by Walt Disney Studios, and their plan for Star Wars was implemented. 

Debbie Snyder told us:

The end result is the two-part Rebel Moon, which will begin screening on Netflix on December 22, followed by the conclusion on April 19. And in an effort to start educating audiences on the amount of world building that has gone into Rebel Moon, Zack and Debbie Snyder invited CinemaBlend to the Los Angeles set, where we learned all about the different planets, ships, creatures, and characters the writer-directed created out of whole cloth for the benefit of this story. 

The film’s first trailer suggested some of the storylines, and the epic scale of the sci-fi production. It introduces Kora (Sofia Boutella), a one-time soldier for the evil Imperium who has escaped to the farmind planet of Veldt, and agrees to defend it when the Imperium comes calling. 

When breaking down Rebel Moon, and the plans he has for the two-part journey, Snyder told us:

Over the course of our day-long visit to the Rebel Moon set, we learned great detail about the story, the planets, the rich history of the wicked Imperium, the practical sets built in Santa Clarita, California… on which the Snyders perfected the art of growing wheat (a crucial element of the narrative). And we learned key information about the major players in Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon, starting with: 

Kora (Sofia Boutella)

Deborah Synder, a producer on the film, refers to Kora as “the center of the film.” She’s the main character that we will follow, first on Veldt but then on her journey through this expansive world as she grapples with her past in the Imperium, and her possible future. As Zack told us:

Zack Snyder confirms that Sofia Boutella was hired first, and the rest of the cast assembled around her. He was particularly impressed with her natural physicality, something that stems from the years she spent as a professional dancer. But that stage life, according to the Algerian actress, doesn’t compare to the work she put in for Rebel Moon. Said Boutella, during an interview on the set: 

Debbie also referred to the emotional character arc that Kora goes through, in addition to the physical demands. And in the character’s backstory, as written by Snyder, Boutella found plenty of material that connected deeply to her own past experiences. As she explained to us:

Kora will lead the heroes against the oppressive Imperium, though Snyder says that a lot of the hero’s journey in Rebel Moon will be “a lot of trying to make amends, and set things right.” 

Admiral Noble (Ed Skrein)

Noble is the heavy hand of the Imperium, personified. As the story begins, the Imperium have arrived on Veldt prepared to colonize… and leave nothing behind in their wake. He’s the bad guy of the movie. As Snyder puts it:

Kai (Charlie Hunnam)

Kai, played by Charlie Hunnam, remains a bit of a mystery, even after our extensive day on set. You see bits and pieces of him in the trailer, and he appears to be on Kora’s side in the battle. According to Snyder, he let this much slip:

That ship will be used by Kora and Kai to trave laround to different planets – including Providence, with its Japanese Samurai influences, and Daggus, a tech-based Blade Runner type of atmosphere – to recruit what Hunnam referred to as “the baddest men and women in the galaxy to help fight this fight.” We’re excited to see this uncompromising figure in action. 

Jimmy (Anthony Hopkins)

Sometimes, and maybe this is because of Star Wars, we’re trained to view robots and droids in science-fiction movies as comic relief. C-3PO and his neurosis, or K-2SO from Rogue One and his overzealous affection for rule following. This is not the case with the Jimmys. Snyder said that these combat robots are some of his favorite characters in the movie. But when I asked the director if Jimmy served as comic relief in Rebel Moon, he made it abundantly clear:

You are going to see Jimmy wearing antlers on his head. This occurs after Jimmy finds a dead deer in the forests on Veldt. And he turns those antlers into his crown. Why? We’ll find out when Rebel Moon finally arrives. 

Titus (Djimon Hounsou)

Titus is a general who used to be part of the king's regime in the Imperium. He was trained as a gladiator, and is an proficient fighter with an amazing military mind. However, once the King died, and Regent Balisarius took over, Titus realized that he no longer could fight for this new regime, because their brutality and viciousness contradicted everything he had been raised to believe. 

As Snyder explained to us: 

Speaking of his character, Djimon Hounsou described Titus as having “a compassionate heart,” which complicates matters because that emotion is in direct contrast to what his entire career has led to. We’ll see how that plays out when he helps the warriors of Veldt defend their planet against the Imperium.

Regent Balisarius (Fra Fee)

If Noble is the Darth Vader of Rebel Moon then Balisarius would be the Emperor, pulling strings from a distance but really being the driving force behind the conquests of the Imperium. He followed along with the ways of the old regime. But now that he’s in charge, things are about to get way more heinous in the galaxy. 

Snyder told us:

Something tells us that Balisarius is going to end up being a major problem for the resistance forces in Rebel Moon. And if his presence isn’t so dominant in the first chapter of this saga, Rebel Moon: A Child of Fire, then his impact might be felt in the follow up story, Rebel Moon: The Scargiver. Though the two-part story wasn’t confirmed on the Rebel Moon set, Snyder definitely was setting up that scope when he told us:

We will have plenty more from the set of Rebel Moon as we lead up the release of Rebel Moon: A Child of Fire on December 22 – on Netflix (and hopefully in theaters for a limited run).

Following his time in the DC Extended Universe helming Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and his version of Justice League (not to be confused with Joss Whedon’s theatrical version),  Zack Snyder made the jump to Netflix, first directing the zombie heist movie Army of the Dead for the platform. In addition to helping craft the prequel Army of Thieves, Snyder will helm the direct sequel Planet of the Dead, but the filmmaker isn’t just delivering tales involving the undead to Netflix subscribers. He also has a sci-fi epic out called Rebel Moon.

Originally envisioned as a Star Wars movie that Zack Snyder pitched to Lucasfilm prior to the company being purchased by Disney, Rebel Moon sees a peaceful colony at the edge of the galaxy called Veldt being threatened by the armies of the tyrannical Regent Balisarius, leader of the Mother World. In response, the colony’s citizens task a young woman with a mysterious past to recruit warriors from nearby planets to help them take a stand against Balisarius and his forces. Among the things we know about Rebel Moon is that the tale, which Snyder co-wrote with Shay Hatten and Kurt Johnstad, has been split into two movies shot back-to-back. 

An impressive collection of actors has been assembled for this story, including Sons of Anarchy’s Charlie Hunnam and Justice League’s Ray Fisher. But before we get to them, let’s talk about who’s playing the main protagonist.

Sofia Boutella

The enigmatic woman in Rebel Moon who’s seeking warriors to help protect Veldt, her adopted homeworld, is named Kora, and she's a deserter of the Imperium. Kora will be played by Sofia Boutella, who made a big splash in the mid-2010s starring in blockbusters like Kingsman: The Secret Service, Star Trek Beyond, The Mummy and Atomic Blonde. In more recent years, Boutella has appeared in Prisoners of the Ghostland, Settlers, SAS Rogue Heroes and the “The Viewing” episode of Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities, which also streams on Netflix. Since Kora is Rebel Moon’s main protagonist, it goes without saying she didn't die, so we'll see more of her in Rebel Moon Part 2.

Charlie Hunnam

As indicated earlier, Charlie Hunnam collected a lot of fans from his time playing Jax Teller in the FX series Sons of Anarchy, and he jumped back into the TV realm in 2022 to lead Shantaram, which can be streamed with an Apple TV+ subscription. Film-wise, Hunnam’s credits include Children of Men, Pacific Rim, Crimson Peak, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, Triple Frontier and The Gentlemen. The actor appears in Rebel Moon as Kai, a mercenary who pilots the Tawau-Class freighter, which is "invaluable" to Kora's quest, although there proves to be more to him than meets the eye.

Ray Fisher

It’s not exaggerating to say that Zack Snyder launched Ray Fisher’s film career, as the actor’s first cinematic credit was cameoing in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice as Victor Stone, a.k.a. Cyborg. Fisher then made his full debut as Cyborg in Justice League, and in addition to Zack Snyder’s Justice League showing off his original performance as the cybernetic superhero, the actor also came back to shoot new footage for the four-hour cut. Fisher had been set to reprise Cyborg in The Flash, but he was written out after he refused to work on any project involving then-DC Films president Walter Hamada. Post-DCEU, Fisher has starred in True Detective Season 3 and the ABC limited series Women of the Movement, and he's since re-teamed with Snyder on Rebel Moon, where he's played Darrian Bloodaxe, an insurgent who's been targeting the Imperium with guerilla attacks.

Ed Skrein

The powerful Regent Balisarius is the source of conflict in Rebel Moon’s story, and Ed Skrein will appear as his right-hand man, Admiral Atticus Noble, a nefarious Imperium enforcer and commandant of the space cruiser called The King's Gaze. Skrein is no stranger to playing villains, as evidenced by his work in Deadpool and Alita: Battle Angel. You may also recognize him from If Beale Street Could Talk, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, Midway and Naked Singularity, as well as being the first Daario Naharis on Game of Thrones. As revealed in Rebel Moon's surprise ending, Skrein will be back for Rebel Moon Part 2 despite initial appearances to the contrary.

Djimon Hounsou

Although Rebel Moon marks the first time that Djimon Hounsou and Zack Snyder have worked together, like Ray Fisher, Hounsou has some DCEU experience under his belt from playing The Wizard in Shazam!, Black Adam and the upcoming Shazam! Fury of the Gods, as well as voicing King Ricou in Aquaman. Hounsou also lent his talents to the MCU as Korath in Guardians of the Galaxy and Captain Marvel, and his other notable credits include Amistad, Gladiator, Blood Diamond, Constantine, Furious 7, A Quiet Place Part II and The King’s Man. In Rebel Moon, Hounsou plays General Titus; we got an intense portrait of the actor in character in May 2022, and it was later revealed that Titus is a "hardened gladiator" who once served the Imperium.

Anthony Hopkins

While we don't see Anthony Hopkins in Rebel Moon, we will hear him as the voice of Jimmy, “an impossibly sentient JC1435 mechanized battle robot and one-time defender of the slain King.” (Dustin Ceithamer physically portrays Jimmy.) Kora met Jimmy during her time on Veldt, where the robot surprisingly came to her aid during a tense conflict, then disappeared to parts unknown. Rebel Moon's extended cut will flesh out the character's backstory. Along with this movie, Hopkins’ recent credits include Thor: Ragnarok, The Father, The Son, Armageddon Time and HBO’s Westworld.

Jena Malone

Rebel Moon marks Jena Malone’s third collaboration with Zack Snyder, having previously played Rocket in Sucker Punch and Jenet Klyburn in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’s “Ultimate Edition.” Malone is also well known for playing Johanna Mason in the latter three Hunger Games movies, Hope Harlingen in Inherent Vice and Sage Ross in Nocturnal Animals. Along with Rebel Moon, where she plays a spider warrior named Harmada who's terrorizing the mining village of Daggus, Malone is part of the ensemble cast for Kevin Costner’s Western saga Horizon.

Cary Elwes

Although Cary Elwes is still arguably best known for starring as Westley/DreadPirate Roberts in The Princess Bride and Dr. Lawrence Gordon in the Saw movies, the man’s popped up in a fair amount of high-profile projects over the last several years. Stranger Things fans will remember him as Mayor Larry Kline in Season 3, he had a stint on the Amazon Prime Video as Gavin Hawk in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, he starred as Professor Gelson in the Black Christmas remake and also was paired with Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning. Elwes plays the Imperium king who was assassinated, allowing Balisarius to declare himself regent.

Corey Stoll

Superhero genre fans will recognize Corey Stoll as Darren Cross, a.k.a. Yellowjacket, in Ant-Man, and in 2021, he played supporting roles in The Many Saints of Newark and West Side Story. TV viewers, on the other hand, may have seen Stoll in shows like House of Cards, The Strain, Girls and Billions. Either way, Rebel Moon is the actor’s second time working on a Netflix project, having previously recurred in the first season of the One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest prequel Ratched. In Rebel Moon, he plays Sindri, a village chief on Veldt.

Cleopatra Coleman

After kicking off her acting career appearing in various Australian movies and TV shows, Cleopatra Coleman gained popularity stateside starring with Will Forte in The Last Man on Earth. Following that show’s conclusion, Coleman led the short-lived TV series White Famous with Jamie Foxx, appeared in the Netflix movie In the Shadow of the Moon and recurred in five episodes of Hulu’s Dopesick, among other projects. Rebel Moon is arguably her most blockbuster-y project yet; she plays Devra, Darrian Bloodaxe's sister who has similar powers as him and is recruited at the same time to Kora's cause.

Fra Fee

Although it was initially reported that Skrein was playing Regent Balisarius in Rebel Moon, it was later clarified that Fra Free was playing that character instead, making him the story's overarching antagonist since he's the one giving orders to Admiral Atticus Noble. In addition to boast a large number of impressive theatre credits, film fans might recognize Free for playing Courfeyrac in 2012’s Les Misérables or Hench in Amazon’s Cinderella, which came out in 2019. If you’re a Marvel Cinematic Universe fan though, you’ll certainly recognize him as Kazi from Disney+’s Hawkeye series. 

Stuart Martin

Although Rebel Moon is the first time Stuart Martin has been directed by Zack Snyder in a live-action, he is already affiliated with a franchise tied to the filmmaker. That’s because he appeared as Brad Cage, a.k.a. Alexis Broschini, in the previously-mentioned Army of Thieves, which was directed by its lead actor, Matthias Schweighöfer. Martin also starred in the entirety of the Jamestown series and has been playing Detective Inspector William Wellington in Miss Scarlet and The Duke. Additionally, Martin is voicing a role in Snyder’s upcoming animated series Twilight of the Gods. Martin stars in Rebel Moon as Den, a farmer/hunter on Veldt.

Michiel Huisman

Remember when I said that Ed Skrein was the first actor to play Daario Naharis in Game of Thrones: Well here’s a twist: the second Daario is appearing in Rebel Moon too! Aside from the HBO series, Michiel Huisman’s major TV credits include Treme, Nashville, Orphan Black, The Haunting of Hill House and The Flight Attendant Season 1. Moviegoers might remember him from the likes of World War Z, The Age of Adaline and Kate. Huisman has been cast in Rebel Moon as Gunnar, a farmer on Veldt who "knows little of the galaxy outside of his small, quiet corner of the galaxy," but agrees to accompany Kora on her mission.

Doona Bae

While the majority of Doona Bae's professional endeavors come from her home country of South Korea, as far as her English-speaking work goes, the actress has notably collaborated with The Wachowskis twice, on Cloud Atlas (playing multiple roles) and the Netflix series Sense8. Bae appears in Rebel Moon as Nemesis, "a cyborg sword master whose mechanical hands allow her to wield molten-metal weapons," so expect her to pose trouble for Kora and her allies.

Staz Nair

Yet another Game of Thrones veteran has been looped into Rebel Moon, with Staz Nair having recurred in Seasons 6-8 as Qhono. However, Nair is arguably better known for playing CatCo reporter William Dey in Supergirl’s final two seasons. Rebel Moon is Nair’s second time performing in a feature-length film, and he does so as Tarak, a "noble indentured servant" who shares a special bond with a flying creature known as a Bennu.

Alfonso Herrera

Although most of Alfonso Herrera’s work is in Spanish-language projects, but he has starred in a number of high-profile offerings from the United States. You may know him as Hernando Fuentes from Sense8, Father Tomas Ortega from the short-lived Exorcist TV series, Javier Jimenez in Queen of the South or Javi Elizondro from Ozark. Herrera also voiced Krypto the Superdog for the Latin American version of DC League of Super-Pets, but it’s safe to say that Rebel Moon is his biggest movie yet. He takes part in this sci-fi epic as Cassius, a warrior working for Atticus Noble.

E. Duffy

E. Duffy is a relative newcomer to the acting scene, with their prior credits being the short films Jeanne Alone, Sleepyhead, Lucky Me, Girlfriends and Acid Noir. Rebel Moon is their first time acting in a feature-length film; they playing Milius, a refugee who seeks justice for her home, which fell to Mother World, and does so by joining Darrian and Devra's resistance group.

Charlotte Maggi

Charlotte Maggi also has one of the lighter resumes of the Rebel Moon cast members, having previously appeared in the TV shows MaveriX and Summer Love. Maggi is reportedly playing a character named Sam, a farm girl on Veldt who befriends Jimmy and ends up being the catalyst for Kora to gather warriors to help her protect her community.

Sky Yang

Aside from a minor role in 2018’s Tomb Raider, most of you have likely seen Sky Yang either in the Irish TV series Holding or playing Ruben in two episodes of Paramount+’s Halo series. In Rebel Moon, he plays Aris, a Motherworld soldier who stands up to his comrades' brutality against Sam.

Rhian Rees

Next, we have Rhian Rees, who played Emma in five episodes of the short-lived series Disengaged and has also popped up in the likes of Halloween (the 2018 version), The Send-Off, Nope and the upcoming Damian Chazelle movie Babylon. She briefly appears in Rebel Moon as The Queen, i.e. the late wife to Cary Elwes' King.

Ray Porter

Though Ray Porter has been professionally acting for over 30 years, he gained a lot of fans from Zack Snyder’s camp when he was cast to play Darkseid in Zack Snyder’s Justice League, a role he obviously would have reprised had those Justice League sequels moved forward. For Rebel Moon, he played Hickman, a cruel farmer whom Tarak owed a debt. Porter’s other superhero media experience includes playing Brutus on the short-lived TV series Naomi and voicing additional characters on Teen Titans, and he’s also appeared on shows like Medium, Monk, Justified, Sons of Anarchy, Shameless and Modern Family.

Ingvar Sigurdsson

While the majority of Ingvar Sigurdsson’s credits hail from his native Iceland, the actor has accumulated some appearance in Hollywood productions, including K-19: The Widowmaker, Everest, Justice League (both versions), Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald and The Northman. In Rebel Moon, Sigurdsson plays Hagen, a friend of Kora’s, and it's looking like he'll be back for Part 2.

The first half of Rebel Moon, titled A Child of Fire, hit Netflix on December 22, and the second half, titled The Scargiver, will follow on April 19, 2024. Keep your eyes on CinemaBlend for more news about the follow-up movie and other additions to the franchise.

The Sons of Anarchy universe created by Kurt Sutter is still alive and thriving on FX in the form of Mayans M.C., whose most recent season even brought Kim Coates back as the magnificent Tig Trager. But for some fans, no high-octane spinoff could ever replace its predecessor, which more or less died with its main character, Jax Teller, as portrayed with fan-adored machismo by Charlie Hunnam. At this point, many SOA fans have given up on the idea of Hunnam reprising Jax for any kind of longform return, and even the idea of a Mayans cameo hasn’t seemed all that likely. But now, the actor has dropped a doozy of an update that suggests we’ll see the former SAMCRO prez again one day.

While nothing has been solidified just yet, Hunnam spoke with Access Hollywood about his upcoming drama Shantaram for Apple TV+, and when the topic of Jax Teller came up, he surprisingly responded with: 

As unpredictable as such an outcome sounds, the fact that the news is coming straight from Charlie Hunnam himself is massive, after years of responses that made it pretty clear he wasn’t intent on popping back into the role . It’s not like the guy hasn’t starred in lots of other projects in the meantime to keep him busy, either. So it makes sense that he wouldn’t have previously sounded gung ho about potentially putting Jax’s kutte back on without a logical project to apply that idea to.

But what in the world could this be? Considering Hunnam used the word “infancy,” could that have been an unintentional nod to the idea that Jax will still be a baby for the timeline of this particular project? Could this be a revised version of the First 9 prequel idea that Kurt Sutter discussed previously, or something else entirely? As excited as I already am to think about the options, it’s worth considering that this might not even be a TV project outright, and could possibly be in reference to a Sons of Anarchy video game, podcast, or something along those lines. 

Though it might have seemed like Mayans M.C. would be the ideal place for Jax to make a new appearance, considering its first season featured Katey Sagal reprising Gemma Teller. But the spinoff doesn’t exactly treat Jax with much respect, going so far as to put the words “Fuck Jax Teller” out into the universe. 

Hunnam already sparked much Sons of Anarchy fervor recently thanks to Shantaram, which featured a first look image of the actor straddling a motorcycle, though isn’t at all in the same ballpark as the biker saga. Based on the 2003 novel by author Gregory David Roberts, the drama centers on the actor as a bank robber who breaks out of confinement and flees to India, where he falls for a woman in the midst of keeping his crimes a secret. 

While waiting to see if anything happens with this idea, check out a bunch of other excellent FX dramas that are well worth the binge, and head to our 2022 TV premiere schedule to see everything that’s still heading to the small screen in the coming months, including Apple TV+’s Shantaram. 

Eight years after Sons of Anarchy brought the story of Jax Teller to a skidmark-strewn conclusion, its lead actor Charlie Hunnam is finally making his return to the small screen following years of building up his feature filmography. His new drama, Apple TV+’s Shantaram, takes place in Bombay and doesn’t sound anything like FX’s biker drama, yet spawned some favorable comparisons after the first look was released of Hunnam astride a motorcycle. But as it turns out, that pic isn’t exactly indicative of what we can expect to see from the actor’s upcoming performances.

Based on the 2003 novel by author Gregory David Roberts, Shantaram will star Hunnam as a fugitive in the 1980s who managed to successfully break out of prison, albeit in a location he’s completely unfamiliar with. But while the criminalistic aspect certainly tracks with Jax’s law-eluding lifestyle, the similarities start to run out after that. Speaking with EW, the S.O.A. vet addressed the since-gone-viral motorcycle pic by saying: 

I guess this means we’re not going to see his character Lin Ford rocking any leather jackets. Which would possibly be an uncomfortable look in Bombay anyway. 

While on the run and separating himself from his past, Lin meets a mysterious woman and is quickly wooed, making his strides for freedom all the more complex and dangerous. He eventually reaches the point where he has to choose between his emotional desires and his aim to continue life as a free man. I guess that’s not so far removed from Jax’s life in regards to his various dilemmas, though I can’t imagine Shantaram will be anywhere close to being as traumatically deadly as Sons was.

Charlie Hunnam obviously didn’t deal with Jax’s traumas himself, but it still took a lot out of the actor to play that dark role for so many years, and he talked about having to take time to shed the Sons of Anarchy character’s shadow after the show wrapped. On a somewhat similar plane, the actor took a long hiatus from television acting, and he talked about why he went that route, saying: 

TV production schedules can be a challenge even for shows that are completely free from arduous stunt work, emotionally charged scenes, and the like. So it's understandable that Hunnam was keen to take on more temporary character headspaces after spending the better part of a decade wearing Jax's skin. But check the actor out in his newest TV role in the trailer below!

Even if Shantaram doesn’t have any hardcore connections to the world of motorcycle clubs and brotherhood, Sons of Anarchy fans can certainly find that vibe in FX’s Mayans M.C., which has carried on its predecessors’ themes and tones quite grippingly. Yes, even when it comes to the traumatic deaths.

For those with Apple TV+ subscriptions, Shantaram will make its debut on Friday, October 14, with three episodes dropping at once, which will be followed by weekly eps until its December 16 finale. Head to our 2022 TV premiere schedule to see what other new and returning shows will be popping up soon.

Zack Snyder's upcoming science-fiction blockbuster Rebel Moon is starting to really get cooking. The filmmaker has already cast a number of talented actors for the Netflix movie, which is going into production soon, but today he nearly doubled the size of the ensemble by adding a Justice League star and an Academy Award-nominee, among others.

The writer/director announced the news on his official Twitter account – posting that Charlie Hunnam, Djimon Hounsou, Doona Bae, and Ray Fisher have all signed deals that will see them take parts in Rebel Moon. You can check out Zack Snyder's message on Twitter below, which also includes what we have to assume is concept art from the upcoming film:

Additionally, Netflix has revealed an official plot synopsis for the film via the Netflix Geeked Twitter account, which details Rebel Moon as being about a mysterious woman who goes planet hopping in search of warriors who will stand with her in a fight against an enemy named Regent Balisarius. You can see the full text below:

Rebel Moon will mark the first time that Charlie Hunnam, Djimon Hounsou, and Doona Bae work with Zack Snyder, but obviously Ray Fisher previously collaborated with the filmmaker on Justice League – playing the role of Victor Stone a.k.a. Cyborg. Unfortunately there aren't any official details regarding what parts the actors will be playing in the new Netflix blockbuster, but The Hollywood Reporter has some leads on a few character IDs.

According to the trade's sources, Djimon Hounsou will play a character named General Titus, and Ray Fisher is playing a hero called Blood Axe. The report doesn't mention a name for Bae Doona's role, but it says she is "a nemesis who is proficient with a sword."

If all goes according to plan, Rebel Moon may end up being Zack Snyder's most ambitious movie production yet, as it is a two-parter that will see both halves filmed this year. The current schedule will see the blockbuster start principal photography in April and come to an end in November. Release dates have not yet been announced (which is normal for Netflix), but given the scale of the project one has to wonder just how long the post-production process is going to take. If the streaming service were to announce that we won't see the finished product before 2024, I can't say I'd be all that surprised.

With nearly two months still to go before Rebel Moon starts its epic production phase, it's possible that the project still isn't done adding to its impressive cast, so stay tuned for any news or updates on that front. And while you start to calculate just how long you may have to wait for the new Zack Snyder film (as well as everything else he's working on), you can check out all of the features scheduled to hit Netflix this year with our 2022 Netflix Movie Schedule.

Whether it’s on a show like Sons of Anarchy or in a movie like Pacific Rim, Charlie Hunnam is one of those actors you can’t help but watch whenever he walks into the frame. He has this charisma and almost a certain edge that makes you love him when he’s playing a more heroic character and love to hate him when he’s taking on a more antagonistic and menacing role. 

And while it would be great to go through and talk about all the great Charlie Hunnam movies and TV shows, for the sake of brevity, today we’re just going to dive into 10 of the actor’s best performances from various points in his career that make a case for him being one of the great and underappreciated actors of our time.

Sons Of Anarchy (2008 - 2014)

The landmark FX drama series Sons of Anarchy, which is essentially Hamlet on wheels, follows the titular motorcycle club, also known as SAMCRO, based in the fictional small town of Charming, California, with a main focus on club vice president (and later president) Jax Teller (Charlie Hunnam), the son of the group’s late co-founder. Created by Kurt Sutter, the series was one of the most popular around during its seven-season run, and served as a launching pad for young actors as well as a major platform for the likes of Katey Sagal, Ron Perlman, and Taylor Sheridan before he left the show to pursue work behind the scenes that culminated with Yellowstone.

Through it all, Charlie Hunnam’s portrayal of Jax Teller, a man being pulled in every direction, is brilliant and is a good reason why so many associate the actor with the role even years after its final episode aired.

Stream Sons of Anarchy on Hulu.
Buy Sons of Anarchy on Amazon.

The Lost City Of Z (2016)

The 2016 biographical drama The Lost City of Z, written and directed by James Gray, explores the life and times of famed British adventurer Percy Fawcett (Charlie Hunnam) as he sets off on a dangerous expedition into the heart of the Amazon rainforest to find and document what he believes to be a lost civilization. Risking his family, reputation, and life, Fawcett, alongside his son Jack (Tom Holland), aims to prove everyone wrong (even his own fears and doubts) in one final attempt to track the rumored “lost city of Z” once and for all.

Though not all that successful at the box office, The Lost City of Z was a critical hit and has since become one of the best movies on Amazon for those seeking thrilling adventure and the exploration of the human spirit.

Stream The Lost City of Z on Amazon.
Rent/Buy The Lost City of Z on Amazon.

King Arthur: Legend Of The Sword (2017)

If you ever wanted to see how Guy Ritchie would handle Arthurian legends, look no further than the 2017 action-adventure film King Arthur: Legend of the Sword. In this take on the legendary tale, Arthur (Charlie Hunnam) rises through the ranks to take back his rightful throne after his uncle, Vortigern (Jude Law), claims it as his own following the death of the king, Arthur’s father. Filled with Ritchie’s trademark fast-paced action, smash mouth dialogue, and general sense of coolness, the movie is made all the better thanks to Hunnam’s charismatic portrayal of King Arthur.

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword wasn’t the biggest success at the box office and received a great deal of unfavorable reviews, but don’t let that take the wind out of this fun movie’s sails. 

Rent/Buy King Arthur: Legend of the Sword on Amazon.

Cold Mountain (2003)

One of the biggest movies of the year in 2003, the Civil War epic Cold Mountain tells the story of Confederate soldier W.P. Inman (Jude Law), as he fights like hell to get back to the love of his life, Ada (Nicole Kidman), in North Carolina. But W.P. isn’t the only one fighting battles and facing uncertainty as he works his way back home, as Ada is forced to not only keep her modest farm in working order, but also ward off the villainous Captain Teague (Ray Winstone) and his right-hand man, Bosie (Charlie Hunnam), who will do just about anything to take the land and Ada’s hand.

Charlie Hunnam’s take on the creepy and downright deranged character is brilliant here and provides for some of the more intense moments in Cold Mountain, and helps make this one of the best movies on Netflix. 

Stream Cold Mountain on Netflix.
Rent/Buy Cold Mountain on Amazon.

Nicholas Nickleby (2002)

Douglas McGrath’s 2002 adaptation of the classic Charles Dickens serial The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (shortened to Nicholas Nickleby here), follows the iconic, titular 19-year-old (Charlie Hunnam) as he goes from one situation to the next in Victorian era England, making friends and enemies while trying to make a better life for both his family and himself. In addition to Hunnam, the film’s all-star cast includes Anne Hathaway, Jamie Bell, Nathan Lane, Christopher Plummer, and more than a dozen other great acting talents, who are all top-notch here.

Already a rising star by the time he led Nicholas Nickleby, Charlie Hunnam’s career began to reach new heights from here and never really looked back.

Stream Nicholas Nickleby on Amazon.
Rent/Buy Nicholas Nickleby on Amazon.

Queer As Folk (1999 - 2000)

Not to be confused with the Showtime/Showcase co-production of the same name that became all the rage in the early 2000s, Russell T Davies’ 1999 dramedy series, Queer as Folk, follows three gay men — Stuart Allen Jones (Aidan Gillen), Vince Tyler (Craig Kelly), and Nathan Maloney (Charlie Hunnam) balancing life, love, and their various social circles. All three of the leads in the series are phenomenal throughout the show’s 10 episodes, and would all go on to have successful careers in the years following its debut.

The show itself became highly influential and is still talked about more than 20 years after it completed its two-season run in February 2000.

Stream Queer as Folk on Amazon.

Children of Men (2006)

Alfonso Cuarón’s 2006 dystopian thriller Children of Men remains not only one of the best movies to feature Charlie Hunnam in the cast, but also one of the best movies of the past decade-and-a-half. Set in a world that has been ravaged by an infertility epidemic followed by a catastrophic influenza outbreak, the movie tells the story of Theo Faron (Clive Owen), a bureaucrat and former activist who is thrown back into the chaos of his former life when he is asked by his ex-wife, Julian Taylor (Julianne Moore), to escort an asylum seeker named Kee (Clare-Hope Ashitey), who happens to be the first pregnant woman in nearly 20 years.

Along the way, Theo and Kee have to evade a group of militant radicals known as the Fishes, including two of their more prominent figures — Luke (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and Patric (Charlie Hunnam) — who aren’t as noble as they would make you believe. An absolute emotional gut-punch, Children of Men is more than deserving of a revisit or first watch.

Rent/Buy Children of Men on Amazon.

Crimson Peak (2015)

Guillermo del Toro’s 2015 gothic horror film Crimson Peak follows Edith Cushing (Mia Wasikowska) as she falls in love with Sir Thomas Sharpe (Tom Hiddleston), a charming, seductive, and mysterious man who comes in and takes her away to a sprawling estate he shares with his equally mysterious (and creepy) sister, Lady Lucille Sharpe (Jessica Chastain). Separated from her family, friends, and everyone and everything she has ever known, Edith attempts to make sense of the strange happenings (and ghost sightings) that plague the mansion, which seems to be falling apart.

While this is going on, Dr. Alan McMichael (Charlie Hunnam), one of Edith’s closest friends back home, begins to investigate the strange brother and sister on his own, leading to him traveling to the remote mansion to confront the evil that lies there once and for all. 

Stream Crimson Peak on Netflix.
Rent/Buy Crimson Peak on Amazon.

Undeclared (2001 - 2002)

Following the cancellation of Freaks and Geeks in 2000 after only one season, Judd Apatow turned his attention to college life with the short-lived comedy series, Undeclared. Over the course of the show’s first and only season, Apatow introduced audiences to a group of college freshmen, with the primary focus on Steven Karp (Jay Baruchel) and his circle of friends. This includes Ron Garner (Seth Rogen), a nerdy Canadian with a dry sense of humor, and smooth-talking Englishman Lloyd Haythe (Charlie Hunnam).

Despite it only lasting 18 episodes before Fox pulled the plug, Undeclared has since become another Judd Apatow cult classic and gave future stars like Kevin Hart, Jenna Fischer, and Jason Segel plenty of time to shine.

Buy Undeclared on Amazon.

Pacific Rim (2013)

And then there is Guillermo del Toro’s 2013 kaiju vs. giant robots action flick, Pacific Rim. Set years after the towering monsters first walked out of the ocean and destroyed countless cities and killed billions worldwide, the movie follows a ragtag group of soldiers who use Jaegers to take on the fearsome beasts.

After years of endless fighting having put humanity on the brink of extinction, it all comes down to one final shot at survival, when Raleigh Becket (Charlie Hunnam) and Mako Mori (Rinko Kikuchi) attempt to impossible: connect through the neural bridge to bring an old Jaeger into one final fight before it’s too late.

Rent/Buy Pacific Rim on Amazon.

This is just a small portion of all the great Charlie Hunnam movies and TV shows worth checking out. And, with an actor with his charisma and talented, expect to see even more great performances out of him as the years go on.

Charlie Hunnam is a notable name on the small screen thanks to his career-making turn as Jax Teller on Sons of Anarchy. (Although shoutout to starring in Undeclared before that.). He’s had a lot of notable big screen roles as well, starring in Pacific Rim and the Netflix retelling of the famous book The Lost City of Z opposite none other than Robert Pattnson. But there’s one big budget movie I still feel did not get its due when it came out back in 2017. That movie would be King Arthur: Legend of the Sword. 

The good news? If you haven’t checked it out yet, it’s coming to Netflix. Even better? It’s coming to Netflix soon. The subscription streaming service announced earlier this month that King Arthur: Legend of The Sword will be available starting on October 25th. It’s not the perfect type of movie to typically get a Halloween release, but I will say it could be the perfect excuse to curl up with a movie while waiting for trick or treaters to show up.  

The Guy Ritchie movie initially hit theaters in 2017 and while it made $148 million at the box office, it wasn’t exactly cheap to produce. In fact, it allegedly had a $175 million budget before marketing, making the flick a flop in theaters. But Guy Ritchie clearly had bigger plans for the characters. The price tag was seemingly expected to lead to a franchise, as the end of the flick --without spoilers-- sets up for more to come from Charlie Hunnam and co. 

It’s a shame the Warner Bros. film didn’t live up to its full potential. We’re always talking about new and fun IPs coming to theaters and that's what King Arthur offered: it had great comedy and wild appearance from Jude Law as a villain, all tied together with that Guy Ritchie flair. While King Arthur is a character from legend and has been around in varying projects for a long time, this could have been the start of an action adventure series that would have been a new franchise beyond what Warner Bros. has been bringing to the table in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter or within the DCEU. 

Regardless, Netflix has been a great place for this sort of underrated movie to thrive in the past. Past projects that have followed this trajectory include the Mark Wahlberg starrer Patriots Day, which hit Netflix over the Fourth of July weekend and totally dominated.  Another time, an underrated Liam Neeson action film Unknown, which came out in the wake of the actor’s Taken success, also did extremely well during its Netflix run, landing in the Top 10 for a period. 

Granted, Hunnam has kind of shied away from franchise runs in general, saying no to Fifty Shades of Grey (which he totally does not regret) and missing out on the Pacific Rim sequel in favor of filming Papillon. When it comes to playing King Arthur, however, Hunnam has been open that some things happened during the making of the 2017 movie that led to it not coming out exactly as the team wanted. He’s said before he’d be game to try again, if the opportunity presented itself, noting, 

You mean the type of creative freedom that Netflix allegedly gives its projects? I’m just sayin.’ Obviously, it’s a little early to know whether or not King Arthur: Legend of the Sword will attract enough notice to make Netflix’s coveted Top 10 list. However, as a fan myself, I’m just jazzed that the movie will have an easy opportunity to be watched by a slew of eyeballs at the end of the month. In some ways, if it hits on Netflix it will be a little bittersweet, however, to think of what Charlie Hunnam could have done as Arthur if the movie had popped in the way he had hoped.

Spoiler warning for anyone who hasn't yet watched the Mayans MC episode titled "Overreaching Don't Pay."

While the old saying goes, "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em," it would appear as if Mayans M.C. showrunner Elgin James follows the modified adage "If you can't beat 'em, just keep on swinging until they join you." Season 3 is something of a crossroads for the FX biker drama, which is sidestepping its way out of Sons of Anarchy's bloody shadows all while putting SAMCRO's characters in the crosshairs. Oh, and also by hilariously blaspheming against Charlie Hunnam's Jax Teller.

In the episode "Overreaching Don't Pay," SAMCRO's Happy (David Labrava) and Montez (Jacob Vargas) showed up to pass on the overtly stern "advice" that the Mayans need to give the Sons a heads up when they're passing through. When Montez mentioned not wanting to disrespect Jax Teller's last wishes, it sparked the following exchange between new prospect Steve (Momo Rodriguez) and Gilly (Vincent Vargas).

That the scene went right back into Bishop and Happy's tense exchange makes this epic bit of trolling all the more enjoyable and hilarious, especially since the pratfall-centric Steve remains clueless about what is arguably this franchise's most important character. There's a rare beauty in the way Elgin James& Co. are able to approach spotlight callbacks like that, in that off-screen respect is paid through on-screen disrespect. And can you bet that even without Kurt Sutter around for Season 3, showrunner Elgin James absolutely still has a lot of love and admiration for Sons of Anarchy's characters and creator. When I recently spoke with James, I brought up how much fun it was to hear such a barbed Jax Teller name-drop, and here's how he responded:

I love that reasoning, both because of its general boldness, since TV spinoffs very seldom get to take shots at flagship series, and because of how practical it is. It's not like Jax, Chibs, Tig and the rest of SAMCRO only ever spoke highly of Marcus Alvarez when his name came up on Sons of Anarchy, so it would be weird if the current Mayans members only ever talked about Jax like he was an angel martyr that hadn't totally fucked with the motorcycle club scene in huge ways. I'm sure the stipulations surrounding his death make a ton of charter members angry in various ways, and Gilly's "Who the fuck cares?" is a perfectly catty distillation of that viewpoint.

Mayans M.C.'s separation from Jax Teller isn't just about the always appreciated Sons of Anarchy crossover scenes, either. It's also about making damned sure audience know that J.D. Pardo's EZ Reyes isn't just a re-skinned version of Charlie Hunnam's character. While there are obviously comparisons to be made on a macro level, as well as on a "boyish grin that can make anyone swoon" level, EZ has definitely become his own character at this point. Elgin James wants everyone to know that's not going to change, either, as Season 3 will take EZ down some dark and personal roads. Just in case his happiness in the Season 3 premiere had anyone fooled, here's how the showrunner described EZ's current arc.

Hearing that kind of talk makes me feel very worried about Edward James Olmos' Felipé Reyes, especially since he's been in such a funk over learning the truth about his wife's murder, and with EZ having killed Ada Maris' Dita Galindo. Sure, it would be heartbreaking if he lost Gaby in some way, considering how well they've bonded thus far, and EZ would definitely be devastated if something awful happened to Clayton Cardenas' Angel. But if we're talking about souls being on the line, I don't think there's a more direct way to EZ's soul than through his father. I really don't want to have to say "R.I.P. Felipé" at any point this season, or any other season.

So remember, even though things aren't looking so grim for EZ at the moment, Season 3 is still only getting started, and there are many bumps in the road yet to come. (And I'm sure it won't just be EZ paying the mental and physical costs.) Be sure to tune in Tuesday nights on FX at 10:00 p.m. ET, with episodes hitting Hulu the next day.

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It's no secret that comic book movies are everywhere. The genre has become a powerful force in the film world, with various cinematic universes regularly occupying theaters. When Disney acquired 20th Century Fox and its properties, it opened up the possibility for beloved heroes like the Fantastic Four and the X-Men to finally join the greater Marvel Cinematic Universe. Fans are eager to see if/when this might happen, and which actors will take on the mantle of the mutants. And new fan art imagines what actor Charlie Hunnam might look like as the new Wolverine.

Charlie Hunnam became a household name thanks to his acclaimed work on FX's Sons of Anarchy. He's since gone to various film roles, although he's yet to take on a comic book role. Some Marvel fans think he'd be a badass new version of Wolverine, taking on the mantle (and claws) from Hugh Jackman. Fan art has imagined what this might look like, and it's a striking image. Check it out below.

I mean, how cool is that? Charlie Hunnam's badassery was already been proven through projects like The Gentlemen and King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, but seeing him in full Wolverine regalia is another matter entirely. We'll just have to wait and see if/when the X-Men finally are brought into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The above image comes to us from the Instagram of aspiring digital artist Mizuri. They've managed to amass an online following by posting imagery from various beloved franchises. This includes the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the possible replacements for Wolverine being thrown around online. Charlie Hunnam is far from the only one being considered by the court of public opinion, but the fan art makes a strong case for the Sons of Anarchy alum.

A number of X-Men movies and shows are currently available on Disney+. You can use this link to sign up for the streaming service.

In the piece of fan art Charlie Hunnam is nearly unrecognizable as Wolverine. This is partly because of the lighting, but also due to rocking Logan's signature hair and beard. Rather than being toned down or realistic, the Wolverine hair points are on full display, in a move that would no doubt delight comic fans if it shakes out IRL.

Obviously Logan's signature claws are also on full display in the image of Charlie Hunnam as the character. While Hugh Jackman's tenure as the character saw him utilize both adamantium and the character's old school bone claws. Adamantium hasn't been utilized in the entire MCU thus far, and adding Wolverine into the mix could presumably introduce that iconic material.

The MCU is set to continue with Black Widow on May 7th, 2021. As for Charlie Hunnam, he's staying busy with both TV and film projects coming down the line. In the meantime, check out our 2021 release list to plan your trips to the movies next year.

Charlie Hunnam’s film with Jonathan Majors and Jack O’Connell was extremely buzzy when it premiered during TIFF last year. However, given the wild fluctuations of the movie schedule in 2020, it was only recently that most of us gotten to see Charlie Hunnam in the new role, and we have to say he’s way less jacked -- or should I say "Jaxed" -- than he was for gigs like Sons of Anarchy, and with good reason.

Jungleland director has spoken out a lot about the physicality needed for the new boxing movie to work. In particular, Charlie Hunnam changed his physique for the movie in a way you may not expect, losing weight and simply trying to look more down-and-out than we’d seen the actor in other gigs to give the character an edge. Max Winkler said that Hunnam is a lead actor in Sons of Anarchy and other roles, but in his heart he’s more of a character actor, telling Variety he really felt confident in Hunnam jumping into the role wholeheartedly.

In general, Charlie Hunnam has made a career out of staying fit, but there have been times in the past he’s lost weight for roles. The most notable other time I can remember this happening was in The Lost City of Z, the movie Hunnam starred in opposite Robert Pattinson in which they were both basically hungry the entire time. The “surviving in the jungle” tale meant neither were “much fun” to be around and even argued over who had eaten fewer eggs before filming each day, per Hunnam.

Still, in the majority of Charlie Hunnam’s roles he’s been impressively fit, including but not limited to Sons of Anarchy, Pacific Rim, and King Arthur: Legend of the Sword. For Jungleland, things may have been different, but director Max Winkler still says Hunnam is not as far removed from playing Jax as you’d expect. This is mostly because Sons of Anarchy fans pop up everywhere -- including filming -- to show their love for the FX character.

It’s amazing to think this is still going on six years after Sons of Anarchy ended on FX, though Hunnam has been clear he doesn’t have the ability to ever play Jax Teller again. Meanwhile, Charlie Hunnam has taken on plenty of varied roles from Pappilon to The Gentlemen and now Jungleland. Catch him next in Last Looks opposite Mel Gibson and Morena Baccarin.

It’s still going to be a while before we get to see Daniel Craig’s swan song performance as James Bond (Thanks, COVID). But that sad fact hasn’t put a stop to speculation about who will take the reins as the new 007 when the beloved franchise begins its next phase. One name that gets thrown around a lot is Charlie Hunnam -- so much so, in fact, that the actor has actually addressed the rumors that he could be the next James Bond.

Being cast as James Bond is the kind of career moment that changes your whole life, there’s no denying that. So it’s understandable why any actor whose name gets thrown into the ring would be on high alert. However, it sounds like Charlie Hunnam may be taking a realistic approach to the speculation that’s named him a leading contender to portray Britain’s most infamous spy. He recently told People:

It seems like he’s taking both a humble and a healthy approach to the rumors -- acknowledging how cool it would be to play James Bond, while also recognizing the reality of the situation. Although we have no real way of knowing who the Bond bigwigs are seriously considering, there’s one thing we do know: there’s a lot riding on the decision.

Charlie Hunnam has a lot of qualities that would make him a great 007. He has a commanding presence on screen, and we learned from his performances in films like The Gentlemen and TV series like Sons of Anarchy that he’s capable of being both charming and ruthless.

However, James Bond has seen a lot of incarnations over the years, with each new star bringing a different flavor to the role. Ultimately, who ends up being the next James Bond will depend on a lot of factors, including what direction the Bond creative team wants to take the franchise in next.

Some actors, like Idris Elba, have long been considered top contenders. We know that at one point, Henry Cavill was considered to take over as Bond, but he was deemed too young at the time. Others including Chris Hemsworth, Jude Law and of course Tom Hardy still seem to be fan favorites -- and of course, we can’t rule out someone like Lashana Lynch, either.

There is, of course, still a large chance that MGM and Universal will surprise us all when they unveil the new James Bond. No one saw Daniel Craig coming, after all.

Who do you think should play the next James Bond? Let us know in the comments!

The cinematic triumph of the underdog will never go out of style, as everyone wants to cheer for the downtrodden getting their moment in the spotlight. Of course, just because this time tested storyline feels evergreen doesn’t mean it’s not easy to screw up. Max Winkler's Jungleland is the latest movie to take a tale of two brothers trying to make it big in hard times, and spin gold out of the results. Thankfully, the formula is revived with enough genuine concern for its characters that it makes for a fresh entry in a legendary genre.

By day, Jungleland’s protagonists Lion (Jack O’Connell) and Stanley (Charlie Hunnam) make a meager living working in a garment factory, but their true passions are boxing and men’s fashion, respectively – both of which are funded by Lion’s career as a bare knuckle boxer. The main action of our story kicks off when Stanley’s gambling ways lead to debts with a local gangster (Jonathan Majors) that can only be cleared by delivering a young woman (Jessica Barden) across the country while the brothers make their way to the titular title fight.

In the great tradition of American drama, Jungleland is a touching examination of a family on the edge.

Naming your movie after a song from someone as iconic as Bruce Springsteen feels like a shot that, if called, absolutely has to hit. Co-writer/director Max Winkler absolutely had this in mind when crafting Jungleland, as this story harkens back to a tragedy you’d hear throughout the entire discography that The Boss has given to the world. Watching Jack O’Connell and Charlie Hunnam eking out a meager existence while running towards the next big dream or scheme that’ll put them on the map is familiar territory that needs a hook in order to survive.

Maybe it’s the times we live in, or maybe it’s just the conviction that O’Connell and Hunnam put into their characters, but Jungleland manages to take a classic American drama and bring it back to life. Never pummeling its characters so hard with tragedy that the audience falls into a depression, the movie does allow its protagonists some joy, especially when teaming the brothers Kaminski with their female companion. What could have been a simple family drama turns into a road trip where this fraternal relationship could change forever, adding another new frontier to the textured brotherhood.

Brotherly love fuels the story of Jungleland to a heartbreaking extent.

A pair of brothers striking it out in the world is a trope so well worn in films similar to Jungleland that some might have it pegged as merely an exercise in old hat storytelling to try and tell that sort of story again. As individual characters, Jack O’Connell’s Lion and Charlie Hunnam’s Stanley each have their own pitfalls to overcome. With Lion being the brawn of the operation, sacrificing his body in the name of winning family glory, O’Connell’s meeker brother starts to come out of his shell. Whereas Hunnam’s half of the equation is always out of his shell, but still hiding the fact that everything he does is truly for his brother’s benefit.

Both halves come together in Jungleland as a portrait of brothers who, while caring dearly for each other, can’t really figure out the best way to go about expressing that love. The push and pull between their methods and motivations makes for a powerful battleground, with both Jack O’Connell and Charlie Hunnam delivering some of their best work. That’s not the full extent of Jungleland’s acting talent though, as Jessica Barden’s Sky is the perfect challenge to force these siblings to grow, and her vibrantly unpredictable energy keeps both of them in the fight for keeps. While the stakes are pretty huge on the outside, the internal environment is where the movie’s focus lies, right down to the nail biting finale.

Even when it walks down some very familiar paths, Jungleland manages to feel unique.

Jungleland possesses a rather interesting cocktail of influences, as everything from the populist tragedies of Bruce Springsteen and John Steinbeck to some plot elements that feel very similar to The Fighter are in play. There’s even a slight detour that feels like it’s ever so slightly borrowing a plot point from Mad Max: Fury Road, with an execution more grounded in reality. But with all of those sources in its blueprint, Jungleland uses unique characters and true to heart drama to weave a tale of struggle and triumph, as two brothers and the woman they’re trusted with make their way from coast to coast.

Co-writer/director Max Winkler has delivered an emotional tale that doesn’t take shortcuts, and manages to pack some surprises up its sleeve. With a strong core trio of performances in Charlie Hunnam, Jack O’Connell, and Jessica Bardem, Jungleland goes for the knock out, and it absolutely wins when the decision comes down. It will warm your heart in some places, and it’ll tear it down in others, but the end result is something that’s absolutely worth experiencing every single moment of.

FX returned to motorcycle mayhem in 2018 with Mayans M.C., and while the gritty drama really found its narrative legs during Season 2, there's still nothing on TV quite like Sons of Anarchy. Nobody knows that better than Sons' fanbase, which remains eager to see more stories from the flagship MC hitting our televisions at some point in the future. It could very well happen by way of the long-discussed First 9 prequel, or some kind of direct sequel following Chibs, Tig, & Co., but anyone expecting to see Charlie Hunnam's Jax Teller again should probably give those hopes up.

While Charlie Hunnam hasn't ever sounded very keen on potentially reprising the role of Jax Teller, the actor appears to have built up his resolve over keeping his distance from portraying Jax again. He delivered quite the blunt response when asked about it in an interview with People, saying:

Not a lot of wiggle room in that answer for any blind hopes that Charlie Hunnam will return to the role of Jax Teller. Technically – technically – the first part of his answer does allow the potential for Jax to return in such a way where he doesn't need to wear either his cut or his rings. It could feasibly happen in some kind of a flashback or a dream sequence – on Mayans M.C. or any future projects – where Jax is seen donning a signature white T-shirt (or is just plain shirtless) and wears nothing on his hands.

Of course, that's just looking at Charlie Hunnam's answer wholly semantically, as opposed to focusing on the emotional truth he offered up. As he's said in the past, playing Jax Teller and living the SAMCRO life for seven seasons took its mental toll, with Jax factoring into at least 75% of all the hyper-violent, destructive and traumatic situations that went down. Especially in Season 7, with Jax mourning his lover's brutal death before discovering some very troublesome family truths that threatened to make him lose it. Even though Sons of Anarchy got pegged as a macho soap opera some of the time, that doesn't mean the series was lacking dark and damaging moments that weigh heavily on the psyche.

Charlie Hunnam seemed to legitimately put the idea to rest by bringing up the notion that Jax himself was already put to rest in the Season 7 finale. In his words:

Now, one could always argue that a good way to hide a killer surprise is to just lie about it to anyone who asks. But to be fair, Charlie Hunnam's thoughts definitely don't sound like he was trying to distract anyone from the "real" truth about a secret Jax Teller cameo on the way. It just sounds like he really doesn't feel comfortable returning to Jax's headspace, even if it's just for a cosplay purposes.

Even if we never get to see Charlie Hunnam reprising the role of Jax Teller, fans can still watch all seven seasons of Sons of Anarchy on Hulu while waiting for Mayans M.C. Season 3 to arrive on FX. Be sure to keep current with our Fall TV 2020 premiere schedule to see all the new and returning shows on the way soon.

Most people probably know Charlie Hunnam from his work in Sons of Anarchy as Jax Teller, but before he dived into serious roles both in TV and movies, he appeared in comedies, primarily Judd Apatow’s Undeclared. During that time, he had become good friends with Undeclared co-star Jason Segel, making him a prime candidate for a major role in Segel’s Forgetting Sarah Marshall. But as it so happens, Charlie Hunnam bailed on it, even though he had the role in the bag.

Back when Jason Segel was writing Forgetting Sarah Marshall, he had Charlie Hunnam in mind to play Aldous Snow, the character Russell Brand ended up playing. Recently Charlie Hunnam told Collider he almost got the role, but decided to walk away from it, even though he knew it would rub people the wrong way. Here’s what he said:

At first glance, Charlie Hunnam might seem like the wrong actor for this role considering the work he’s done up to this point. However, it made a lot more sense back then because Charlie Hunnam played a similar role to Aldous Snow on Undeclared. Clearly though, Hunnam knew he wasn’t right for it and wanted something else for himself.

Since then, Charlie Hunnam has carved out a much different path, working mostly on dramas and action movies, like Pacific Rim, Triple Frontier and his latest movie, Jungleland. It doesn’t sound like he has any regrets either, mentioning later that he thinks Russell Brand was the best person to play Aldous Snow.

Charlie Hunnam obviously has maintained a very specific vision for his career, as this isn’t the only time he’s passed on a big acting gig before. He famously said no to a lead role in the steamy romance Fifty Shades of Grey. Looking back, he admits he’d be much wealthier if he had taken that job, but he doesn’t regret passing on it because he always wants to do projects that excite him rather than just for the money.

Perhaps one thing fans are eager for Charlie Hunnam to do next is take on a superhero role. Since he’s done genre movies in the past, he seems like a shoo-in for various superhero roles. However, it’s unlikely this would ever happen, as he’s said in the past he’s not interested.

One has to wonder what things would have been like if Charlie Hunnam had caved and decided to take the Forgetting Sarah Marshall role. It’s hard to imagine that movie, or Charlie Hunnam’s career, being the same. Feel free to speculate on how things might have unfolded differently in the comments below.

Charlie Hunnam has gone on the record in the past saying that he has never had a desire to play a superhero, but that shouldn't stop anyone from playing around with the idea of having the Sons of Anarchy star, or any other his co-stars from the FX biker series, show up in any number of Marvel movies in the future. With names like Katey Sagal, Ron Perlmen, and countless others on the large ensemble cast over the years, there's a lot to work with.

Just imagine seeing Charlie Hunnam or Ryan Hurst showing up in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (or Sony Pictures Universe of Marvel Characters) as either a hero or villain stealing the show. And in this day and age of multiple comic book movies spanning different universes popping up left and right, there will probably come a time when some of the stars of Sons of Anarchy trading their "colors" for a superhero/supervillain costume.

Wolverine (Charlie Hunnam)

It's only a matter of time before Wolverine and the rest of the X-Men make their long-awaited debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and what better person to usher in the new era than Charlie Hunnam. Despite his classic good looks, Hunnam has proved time and time again that he is both a competent brawler (both in SOA and films like Green Street Hooligans) and a natural-born leader, even if he doesn't feel like he's up to the task. Add his quiet, raspy voice and you have the perfect recipe for the most famous mutant.

Doctor Octopus (Katey Sagal)

Doctor Octopus was traditionally portrayed by male actors in films like Spider-Man 2 and shows like Spider-Man: The Animated Series, but Into The Spider-Verse changed things by having a female Doc Ock by Kathryn Hahn. If the Marvel or Sony universes follow that path when the character is eventually introduced in a live-action film, there's no better person than Katey Sagal. For seven seasons on Sons of Anarchy, Sagal played Gemma Teller Morrow and proved to be one of the most despicable villains on television, but you still liked her despite it all. She could channel that energy to pull off one of the most evil members of the Sinister Six.

Rhino (Ron Perlman)

Ron Perlman has already appeared in a Marvel Comics movie with his portrayal of Reinhardt in Blade II, but that shouldn't stop the talented actor and former Hellboy star from jumping into the MCU. While we don't know if his character will play into the upcoming Blade reboot, it's fun to imagine seeing the man who brought Clay Morrow to life in Sons of Anarchy do the same for Rhino in a future Spider-Man movie. Perlman has the physicality to faithfully pull off such a strong and imposing member of the Sinister Six and could have some fun back-and-forth interactions with Tom Holland's friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. I would have said Perlman would have been great to play Cable, but Josh Brolin has that one covered for now.

Kraven The Hunter (Ryan Hurst)

Since we're still on the topic of Spider-Man's Sinister Six, let's go ahead and keep it going with considering the idea of having Ryan Hurst portray Kraven the Hunter. Though not as well-known as some of the more prominent Spidey villains, Kraven has proven time and time again to be a formidable foe for the web-slinger. And although Hurst portrayed the gentle giant and tragic character Opie in the first few seasons of Sons of Anarchy, the actor has gone on to be one of the most crazed and interesting characters on The Walking Dead. If he were able to channel the energy of Beta with the physical strength of Opie into his portrayal of Kraven, we would have quite a movie on our hands.

Purple Man (Kim Coates)

David Tennant gave one of the best performances of his career with his portrayal of Kilgrave, also known as Purple Man, on the Netflix series Jessica Jones, but if he isn't able to return if the character is brought into a future Marvel film, then Kim Coates would be an ideal replacement. Coates played Tig Trager on Sons of Anarchy for the show's entire run, and proved time and time again to be one of the most manipulative and vicious members of SAMCRO, but it was hard to hate him. With his charisma, cool-as-a-cucumber demeanor (despite being a maniac), and acting resume, Coates could take a different approach to one of Marvel's most sinister puppet-masters.

Ghost Rider (Tommy Flanagan)

We have already seen Tommy Flanagan appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with his performance as one of the Ravagers who met a dark and desolate fate after standing up for Yondu in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, but that shouldn't stop the former Sons of Anarchy actor from showing up as a completely different, and more well-known character. One like Ghost Rider. Best known for playing Chibs Telford in all but a few episodes of Sons of Anarchy, the Scottish actor can handle his own on a motorcycle, looks pretty badass in leather, and has some pretty gnarly facial scars that could be worked into the story.

Lady Deathstrike (Maggie Siff)

Remember how I said that Charlie Hunnam could play a convincing Wolverine if given the chance up above? Well, if he were to be cast in the role, imagine how great it would be to see him square off with Lady Deathstrike portrayed by Maggie Siff who played his love interest Tara Knowles for much of Sons of Anarchy. As we saw on FX's biker show, as well as other performances before and since, Siff is capable of pulling off a capable fighter and exceptional actress that could handle the demands of the role. We haven't seen Lady Deathstrike in a Marvel movie since she was underutilized as a mute henchman for William Stryker in X2 back in 2003, so the character is due another, more fleshed-out appearance.

Gambit (Theo Rossi)

Just like Tommy Flanagan, Sons of Anarchy alum Theo Rossi already appeared in a Marvel property with his portrayal of Shades on the Netflix series Luke Cage, but that shouldn't prevent the actor best known for his turn as Juice from appearing again in some shape or form. And what better role than Gambit when the character eventually makes his debut in the MCU. He doesn't have the star power of some of the other names attached to the character over the years, but what Rossi lacks in name recognition he makes up for it with his quiet intensity and million-dollar smile that just reeks of the Ragin' Cajun (just as long as he doesn't butcher the accent).

Bullseye (David Labrava)

David Labrava's Happy Lowman will go down as one of the most feared and ruthless killers on Sons of Anarchy thanks in part to his habit of getting a smiley face tattooed on his body every time he kills another man. With behaviors like that I can't think of a better person to play the psychopathic assassin Bullseye. The character has shown up from time to time in a number of different movies and television series, but I think Labrava and his ability to portray pure evil would take the character to the next level.

Blob (Mark Boone Junior)

After the way Blob was treated in 2009's X-Men Origins: Wolverine, the character is due for a redemption. You could go with any number of actors here, but Mark Boone Junior who played Robert Munson on Sons of Anarchy could pull it off. I know, I know, he's 65 years old and doesn't have the physical size of Blob from the comics, but with motion-capture technology being what it is today, the veteran actor could add another dimension to the criminally underrated comic book character.

Cyclops (Taylor Sheridan)

Taylor Sheridan doesn't do as much acting as he used to thanks to his successful career behind the camera with movies like Wind River and shows like Yellowstone. If the actor who brought Deputy Chief David Hale to life before being run over in the Season 3 premiere wanted to step in front of the camera again, he could do a great job of pulling off an older Cyclops when the character is brought into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With the boy scout appearance (even at 50 years old) and sneaky good acting ability, Sheridan could bring a lot to the project. Hey, he could even pull double-duty and serve as the movie's director. I mean, Sheridan does know how to shoot and write explosive action sequences.

Norman Osborn (Ray McKinnon)

Ray McKinnon's portrayal of Assistant U.S. Attorney Lincoln James Potter on Sons of Anarchy (and again later in Mayans M.C.) was one of the most well-written and well-acted performances throughout the show's entire run. At times, it was hard to see where he stood on things and or if he could even be trusted. These qualities would make McKinnon the perfect choice for Norman Osborn, even if the character doesn't turn into the Green Goblin (though that would be pretty cool). McKinnon is recognizable coming off his appearance in Ford v Ferrari, so this could take him from bit player to leading baddie in no time. Plus, he has that smirk that just gives off the evil billionaire's energy.

Emma Frost (Ally Walker)

Sons of Anarchy featured some of the most-hated characters in the history of the cable television and Ally Walker's portrayal of June Stahl is at the top of that list. The vindictive Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agent introduced in Season 2 became the cold as ice thorn in the side of SAMCRO until she was shot down at the end of the following season. Going off her character's actions in SOA, Walker would be ideal to play another ice queen, Emma Frost if the character were ever brought back into the fold. The mutant has telepathic and shape-shifting abilities (much like the psychotic Agent Stahl), which would be a walk in the park for someone known for such a cold and sinister role.

Those are just some of the cast members of Sons of Anarchy that would be able to pull off characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Do you agree with this list or is there another SOA alum that would be better for any one of these roles? Let me know in the comments below and make sure to check back for all the latest Marvel news here on CinemaBlend.

With his chiseled physique, rugged charm, and uncanny ability to hide his British accent (over time, at least), Charlie Hunnam seems tailor-made for superhero movies. And yet something seems to be keeping him from joining that world, be it through a role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the DC Extended Universe, or even beyond either of those massive franchises.

There were rumors that Marvel was eyeing him for a role in the upcoming Eternals movie, but, of course, that turned out to be all talk and nothing more. Plus, there have been a few fans who have voiced their support of him as a picture perfect ideal casting choice for a certain DC character whom I'll mention later. Unfortunately, seeing the 40-year-old U.K. native and star of Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen as that character does not look likely, as superhero movies evidently do not land on his list of aspirations – a sentiment he has shared on record. That being said, is there anything wrong with using our imaginations to have a little fun imagining Charlie Hunnam in other superhero roles anyway? Seven heroic characters come to mind, which you can find below.

Ghost Rider

It may sound like the obvious choice to cast Charlie Hunnam, best known for playing Jax Teller on Sons of Anarchy, as one of Marvel's most badass bikers, but if you bear with me you will see I have an idea to give this idea some unique flair. Two incarnations of the Ghost Rider, a skeletal, incendiary demon hunter, have been given the live-action treatment, including twice on the big screen (both times with Nicolas Cage as Johnny Blaze) and once on the small screen (Gabriel Luna as Robbie Reyes on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.). Perhaps the MCU should consider reinventing the Sprit of Vengeance once again for a new film by casting Hunnam as the second person to hold the mantle, Danny Ketch – who actually fought Johnny Blaze at one time. It could be a fun idea if Cage were down.

John Constantine

If Charlie Hunnam would prefer to not just play bikers all his life, fighting demons is still an option, and DC has the perfect role for him. Originating from the Hellblazer comic, John Constantine, an expert in the mystic arts and occult activity, has also been adapted both for cinema (played by Keanu Reeves) and TV (more accurately portrayed by Welsh actor Matt Ryan on his own series, guest appearances on the Arrowverse, and even two animated Justice League Dark movies). With no word at the moment of Ryan reprising the role for J.J. Abrams' upcoming Justice League Dark adaptation, Hunnam could be the perfect choice to succeed him, which would also give him a great chance to use his natural accent.

Captain Britain

An even more suitable choice of comic book hero for the British Charlie Hunnam would be this Marvel character, whose patriotism is a big part of his whole existence. Captain Britain (whose otherworldly powers actually set him well above his American equivalent, Steve Rogers) is the alter ego of adventurer Brian Braddock, who was actually subtly name-dropped in Avengers: Endgame, but still has yet to receive a proper introduction into the MCU. This is despite the likes of fellow Brits Simon Pegg and Orlando Bloom voicing interest in the role. As exciting as either of those actors would be in the role, Hunnam would have it in the bag just thanks to build and appearance alone.

Max Damage

Speaking of appearance, all Charlie Hunnam might have to do is dye his hair in order to look like the spitting image of this Boom! Studios original character. Mark Waid's comic book series Incorruptible depicts superhuman Max Damage's transition from a villain into a hero after witnessing the destructive acts of The Plutonian, whose transition from superhero to supervillain iss chronicled in Waid's sister series Irredeemable. Together, the two titles make up a powerful story of redemption (from Max's end, at least) about two complex characters on both sides of the law, which might make for a great TV series, especially if Max were portrayed by an actor with Hunnam's range.

Adam Warlock

Speaking of range, clearly Charlie Hunnam is the kind of guy who likes to take challenges, always looking for something new to try, and one environment he has yet to try on for size is outer space. Coincidentally, the cosmic regions of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, despite some mid-credits teasing in the past, have yet to see the proper introduction of Adam Warlock, even though he was actually a major player of the comic that inspired the story in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Why not kill two birds with one stone here and bring the golden-haired Hunnam into the MCU as legendary golden warrior?

Green Arrow

And now for the moment most of you were all waiting for: yes, Charlie Hunnam is a solid dead ringer for orphaned billionaire Oliver Queen, otherwise known as the hawkeyed Green Arrow. Following the success of The CW series titled simply Arrow (on which the vigilante archer was played by Stephen Amell for eight seasons) and its countless spin-offs, fans have been demanding a cinematic adaptation with Hunnam as the top choice, not just for being striking mirror image to the DC hero, but for the reputation of playing badass characters he has acquired throughout his career. With the right story, the right vision, and a miraculous newfound motivation in Hunnam to say yes to such a role, this would be heavenly match.

The Goon

One of Charlie Hunnam's first blockbuster film roles was in Guillermo del Toro's Pacific Rim, as a soldier tasked with fighting building-sized monsters, but all from the comfort of an equally large robot he co-piloted. Perhaps he might have returned for the sequel if he was given the chance to fight such creatures up close and personally, just as the title character of the Dark Horse comic book series The Goon does. Leading the long-awaited adaptation of this tongue-in-cheek horror noir would not only be groundbreaking for the comic book movie genre, but would give Hunnam an opportunity to bring out his humorous side, rarely seen since his American breakout role on Judd Apatow's short-lived series Undeclared, while still being a total badass.

What do you think? Are these the superhero roles you would like to see Charlie Hunnam take on, or does his disinterest in playing a costumed vigilante render this entire list pointless? Let us know in the comments and be sure to check back for more updates on the former Sons of Anarchy star, as well as more purely hypothetical superhero movie casting sessions, here on CinemaBlend.

When you’re watching a Guy Ritchie-directed film like The Gentlemen, the fashion is something that always sticks out. The keen sense of how characters are dressed is something that’s followed Ritchie through landmark films like Lock, Stock, and Two Smokin’ Barrels and Snatch, as well as in recent entries such as The Man From U.N.C.L.E. And when it comes to the secrets of making men like Charlie Hunnam and Matthew McConaughey looking so good on screen, you can thank one crucial member of the production: the costume designer.

Storied designer Michael Wilkinson, who’s worked on movies like Justice League, American Hustle and Tron: Legacy, designed the looks that The Gentlemen’s all-star cast wore on screen. And when it came to dressing both Charlie Hunnam and Matthew McConaughey for the screen, there were certain aspects that Wilkinson had kept in mind with how he put their characters together.

As I was recently invited to submit questions for an interview via email, I was keen to learn more about the Academy Award-nominated artist’s approach. Specifically, I was wondering what sort of influences and challenges that Michael Wilkinson had faced on his second collaboration with Guy Ritchie, after their previous work together on the Disney smash-hit Aladdin.

Michael Wilkinson was, naturally, a font of knowledge when it came to The Gentlemen’s specific clothing needs. Starting with his commentary on Matthew McConaughey’s look, you can begin to see how the film got its one-of-a-kind look.

The Unique Challenge Matthew McConaughey Posed For The Gentlemen’s Costume Designer

Mickey Pearson, as played by Matthew McConaughey, is an enterprising young man who started dealing the green stuff at Oxford University, eventually dropping out to become a marijuana magnate, and who’s looking to sell his stakes and retire to a more peaceful life. His youthful vibe is crossed with the height of British fashion, as Michael Wilkinson when tackling the challenges that Mickey’s threads posed:

Rather than taking a tight and rigid feel to Matthew McConaughey’s Mickey, the character calls for a refined but more confident air. Another great advantage to the loosening of Mickey’s style is the fact that when he’s in action throughout The Gentlemen’s plot of action and criminal intrigue, he can move freely when he’s aiming his pistol at an offending party.

Of course, not everyone’s style can be a relaxed and new age as Mickey’s, which leads us to Charlie Hunnam’s character and his special look. And in the case of Raymond Smith, Hunnam’s well-suited gentleman, Michael Wilkinson used a very special inspiration to set him apart.

How Charlie Hunnam’s Costumes In The Gentlemen Set Him Apart From The Rest Of The Cast

As the loyal associate to Matthew McConaughey’s Mickey, Charlie Hunnam’s Raymond is a man that isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty, while looking good in the process. This isn’t the only honor that Hunnam’s character has been bestowed, as Michael Wilkinson admits that when it comes to his personal aesthetic, Raymond is the closest to his own dress sense:

Raymond’s flashy outfits look at home while having peaceful discussions with those who would threaten Mickey Pearson’s empire, as well as when he’s holding a semi-automatic to threaten people with incriminating cell phone information.

Let’s face it, those are the two modes one finds themselves in within the criminal underbelly of the Guy Ritchie universe. Though Michael Wilkinson’s comments about Raymond seeming pretty cut out to design the costumes for the movies, they do make him sound like an unlikely bedfellow for another character in The Gentlemen’s hierarchy.

Why Hugh Grant’s Creepy Character From The Gentlemen Was So Much Fun To Dress

While he might not be as fashion forward as Mickey or Ray, Hugh Grant’s paparazzi/wannabe filmmaker Fletcher has a slick style of his own that invokes his directing desires. Michael Wilkinson’s commentary on Grant’s look in the film sounds totally on brand for the sort of outfit both the character, and a Guy Ritchie villain, would wear:

Looking at Grant’s style as Fletcher, the first person that comes to mind is a darker version of legendary producer Robert Evans. The Wayfarers really go a long way, as Evans’ trademark tinted glasses and stylish jacket combo give off a different vibe when that grayish-purple coloring comes into play.

As Fletcher and Raymond have a fair share of interactions throughout their time together in The Gentlemen, the contrast of Hugh Grant’s morally compromised character and Charlie Hunnam’s more upstanding associate is drawn at a regular interval throughout the film’s action. In the dialogue-heavy context that rules the interactions with those characters, this sort of clash in wardrobes is as visually exciting as any sequence of gunplay and fisticuffs.

This is only a sampling of the skill and aplomb that Michael Wilkinson brought to The Gentlemen’s fashion landscape. As his eye helped make everyone from Henry Golding to Michelle Dockery, and all other cast members in-between, look sharp as anything, it’s certainly one of the best dressed films of this still early year. Even more impressive is that thanks to Wilkinson’s efforts, The Gentlemen is a movie that also sticks out in the well suited filmography of Guy Ritchie’s madcap filmography.

The Gentlemen is now available on Digital HD, as well as 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD. And if you’re looking for a special #GentlemansNightIn, you can enter our giveaway for a special kit that’ll help you get into the headspace of Guy Ritchie’s colorful characters.

Not a lot of people are riding through this world right now, but there are indeed many who are all alone, thanks to social restrictions made in response to the rampant spread of COVID-19. Thankfully, the CRO will forever fly straight on Sons of Anarchy, which has gotten a new wave of fan love on Hulu, where all seven seasons are available to stream. Star Katey Sagal, who plays the standout matriarch Gemma Teller, put this question out on social media to get fans in the S.O.A. mood:

To be expected, a ton of Sons of Anarchy fans spoke up and offered an answer to Katey Sagal's inquiry, and as a fully dedicated SAMCRO fanatic from the jump, I am fully on board with everyone's answers, because they're (just about) all perfectly correct.

First up is the trio offered up by the official Hulu page, suitably enough.

Yep, yep, yep. I can fully agree with all three of those. Ryan Hurst's Opie is arguably the show's biggest sympathy magnet, and Hurst plays him as close to a human teddy bear (with a mean streak) as it gets. Tommy Flanagan's Chibs, meanwhile, is like Sons of Anarchy's version of The Joker, in that he has a dark sense of humor that is only ever a split-second away from turning violent. And then there's Kim Coates' Tig, who never met a sexual fetish he didn't try at least three times, on three different kinds of intoxicants.

While we're already on the Opie train – every train is the Opie train – there were quite a few fans who basically shared this exact sentiment, eschewing the opportunity to bring three characters along.

And since once good turn deserved another post about Opie being all we need in life...

Okay, okay, I can feel everyone getting a little weirded out by the fact that we haven't discussed Charlie Hunnam's Jax Teller yet. But fear not. Charming's most sensitive journal-keeper definitely made the rounds with a lot of fans, and I'm not thinking that they'd be willing to share him.

If only this were a Beetlejuice situation, where if you say his name three times, he appears. But not like, with Michael Keaton playing a weird, tiny-headed version of Jax. Just good ol' Charlie Hunnam. It appears the fan above digs Jax when the mid-length, slicked-back 'do, as opposed to his other two hairstyles.

On the flip(curl) side, the fan below is willing to go for characters beyond just long-haired Jax, but still isn't willing to share him with his longtime Sons of Anarchy love, Tara.

For what it's worth, a lot of fans DID choose Tara specifically for her doctor skills, since medical advice is indeed the most important thing to worry about when self-isolating for coronavirus.

For all the fans that were hot for Jax, Chibs, & Co., there were obviously also quite a few people who wanted nothing more than to spend quality time with some of Sons of Anarchy's badass women, including Gemma herself.

An amused shout-out, also, to the fan who requested the game use Married with Children characters rather than Sons of Anarchy leads. I would have LOVED to see Bud Bundy becoming a SAMCRO prospect at some point, as non-sensical as that would be.

Even after all that, there are still more opinions to agree with here. Such as this fan's two cents about how Mark Boone Junior's Bobby was sorely missing from the majority of people's requests. The actor's take on "House of the Rising Sun" would be fantastic.

In the end, this fan probably had the best idea by just ignoring all the rules, as SAMCRO is wont to do, and inviting most of the core crew, complete with Gemma and her doobie snacks.

For those who need a big more to think about, in terms of Sons of Anarchy, check out the mind-warping answer Kurt Sutter supplied a fan with when asked to explain the recurring Homeless Woman who appears throughout the series' run. And then when that's done, go back and relive the pre-Mayans M.C. glory days on Hulu, where all seven season of S.O.A. are available.

Sons of Anarchy gave audiences a lot to think about over the course of its seven seasons on FX, from the history of the First 9 to Tig's relationship with Venus to how horribly Abel and Thomas' lives would probably be as they aged into adulthood. Rarely did the ever-vocal creator Kurt Sutter and his creative team strive to deliver outright mysteries within the violent chaos, but that was definitely the case with the explanation-defying character simply known as "Homeless Woman." Until now, that is. Sort of.

Kurt Sutter took the time to answer a fan questions during an Instagram Q&A, and somewhat surprisingly took the bait when someone asked him to give "a definite answer" on what Homeless Woman (portrayed by Olivia Burnette) was meant to represent. Of course, Sutter's answer provided slightly less clarity than any fans might have expected. Check it out!

"I didn't even know I had an Uncle Murray!" is probably the most sensible response I have after reading through that answer. It is something else, isn't it?

Clearly, Kurt Sutter was having some fun with contrasting thoughts here, saying that the Homeless woman represents the light and the dark, life and death, mothers and fathers, binging and purging. Should our takeaway be that the Homeless Woman truly is some kind of a deity? It's often been theorized that she was a guardian angle of sorts for Jax, albeit one that can affect physical reality. And Sutter himself has hinted at her being Jesus Christ in human form. Of course, she would also have to some Satan in her if she was Jesus Christ, going by the above logic.

Really, after having the Homeless Woman appear as often as she did throughout Sons of Anarchy's run, sometimes enigmatically and sometimes not, there probably isn't a more direct answer that Kurt Sutter could provide at this point after the show has been gone for so long. For those who want to see it as Sutter put it, check out the post below.

The Homeless Character is also perceived to be Brooke Portner's mother, Emily Portner, who was killed during the same traffic crash that killed John Teller. That explanation came later, with Brooke showing up nearer the end of Sons' run, though Brooke didn't even pay her any mind when passing her on the street during one episode. As such, it's quite possible that the woman took that particular form only when appearing to Jax and others who were affected by J.T.'s death. Which would lend itself to the whole "mother and the father" nothing that Sutter shared.

Now the biggest Sons of Anarchy mystery I can think of is "When will we see Jimmy Smits' Nero again?"

Sons of Anarchy is currently available to stream in full on Hulu, thanks to corporate synergy between FX and Disney. And even though Kurt Sutter isn't involved anymore, Mayans M.C. will have Season 3 coming to fans at some point in the future.

When Daniel Craig made his first appearance as James Bond in 2006’s Casino Royale, it was a bigger, badder, and bulkier take on cinema’s favorite spy unlike anything we had seen before. Now, his reign will end this April with his final performance as 007 in No Time to Die.

The big question now, and long-discussed even before, is who is next in line to be the seventh (or eighth, if you count David Niven) actor to play James Bond on the big screen? There is nothing set in stone as of now, but I have a few suggestions.

Henry Cavill

Playing Superman may have made him a household name, but it is clear that who Henry Cavill really wants to be is James Bond. The 36-year-old British star of Netflix’s series adaptation of video game The Witcher has practically spent most of his career outside of DC movies auditioning for the role of the famed spy.

His debonair performance as CIA agent Napoleon Solo in Guy Ritchie’s The Man From U.N.C.L.E. was essentially an American Bond and he nearly usurped Tom Cruise as the ultimate badass of the IMF in Mission: Impossible - Fallout’s epic restroom fight that saw him breaking mirrors and sinks as well as bones. Few things are as clear as the fact that Henry Cavill is tailor-made, head-to-toe and inside out, to play 007.

Benedict Cumberbatch

However, after the grittier edge that Daniel Craig brought to the role, perhaps it might be time to switch gears to a 007 who is, while still a master of espionage, a bit softer? Benedict Cumberbatch is not the first name, if not the among the very last, that comes to mind when the word “badass” is spoken, but I just might be willing to trust him with my life anyway on the sheer chance that he can outrun, and especially outwit, any obstacle that would come our way.

The 43-year-old London native is the go-to guy for playing the most brilliant minds imaginable, from his Oscar-nominated role as Alan Turning in The Imitation Game to the MCU’s expert surgeon-turned-Sorcerer Supreme Dr. Stephen Strange, and, of course, a modern-day iteration of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous detective in Stephen Moffat’s long-running Sherlock. If there is anything that the James Bond franchise could use, I would bet on a little more brains over brawn, and Benedict Cumberbatch would effortlessly bring the intelligence out of cinema’s most famous intelligence agent.

Tom Hardy

On the other hand, 007’s newfound grittiness is what reignited people’s interest in the franchise and who does not love seeing the MI6 agent take on death-defying stunts? A guy who knows a thing or two about grit and probably had a few near-death experiences on the set of Mad Max: Fury Road is the incomparable Tom Hardy.

The 42-year-old Oscar-nominee (The Revenant) has opted not to comment on any of his rumored chances to take over for his Layer Cake co-star Daniel Craig (despite recommending his Inception and Dunkirk director Christopher Nolan to helm an installment), but that is most likely to help protect his chances, which are not bad. Tom Hardy has the English origin, the imposing physicality, and more than enough spy movie credits to be a lock for the new James Bond.

Tom Hiddleston

There is also another British Tom in Hollywood who has some pretty good chances, and for many of the same reasons as Tom Hardy. Tom Hiddleston has had many fans backing him to be next in line to play James Bond, and not just for his Golden Globe-winning role as a hotel employee recruited by British Intelligence in the John Le Carré novel-inspired miniseries The Night Manager.

While he may not be as physically imposing, Tom Hiddleston most definitely possesses a charming suaveness and delectable intimidation that made his portrayal of Loki one of the best things about the MCU in its infancy. All he would have to do is switch that persona over to the good side and you have yourself the most classic appearance of 007 in decades.

Nicholas Hoult

It has been a while since we have seen the Bond franchise take 007 in a younger direction (a decision that is not without its advantages). The top name I have in mind to make that a reality is this accomplished 30-year-old, British actor who earned acclaim in his home and in the States when he was barely a teenager for his role opposite Hugh Grant in About a Boy… Not that that’s a role we really want to refer to when talking about his merits to play James Bond.

Nicholas Hoult has proven himself as an exceptional leading man in films like the romantic zombie comedy Warm Bodies or apocalyptic drama Young Ones, has endured the franchise machine for nearly a decade as Hank “Beast” McCoy since X-Men: Days Of Future Past, and, like his Mad Max: Fury Road co-star Tom Hardy, can pull off car chases and crazy action stunts, but might rather perform them in some more formal attire. It also appears that he is set to star in the upcoming seventh installment of the Mission: Impossible series, so it looks like Hollywood already sees his potential for 007.

Charlie Hunnam

OK, let’s talk about how much of Charlie Hunnam’s potential has been wasted in the years since playing the troubled Jax Teller on FX’s Sons of Anarchy. The British actor had a subtle taste of franchise glory as the lead of the modestly successful robo-smash-a-thon Pacific Rim, only to opt out of the dismal sequel, and when Guy Ritchie cast him as King Arthur, it was a critical and commercial misfire.

It is clear that this charming 39-year-old can act, as evidenced by his performances in recent turns such as The Gentlemen or the well-received Papillon remake. But he has yet to find a real cinematic sweet spot and I think that the character of James Bond is just asking to be the role that gives it to him. He has the voice, the physicality, and the revered stoicism right for the part that it is hard to believe, as he has claimed, that no one has called him about it yet.

Jude Law

Say, why has no one called Jude Law about playing James Bond either? He has been among the rumored candidates to replace Daniel Craig (without the best odds to land the role), but I mean, earlier in his career around the time that Pierce Brosnan was retiring from his stint, why was Law passed over then, too?

In Hollywood’s defense, the London-born star of the Barbara Broccoli-produced spy thriller The Rhythm Section was barely 30 when Die Another Day came out. Still, since then, they have to have taken note of his ability to be a ladies man in A.I.: Artificial Intelligence and Alfie, his heroic charm in Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, and skills in hand-to-combat as Watson in Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes movies, right? Jude Law has also starred in movies called Spy and Sleuth. What more does he need to do to be 007?

James McAvoy

He has proven his chameleonic performing skills as a superhuman DID patient in M. Night Shyamalan’s Split and Glass, has experience inheriting a character from a previous actor after playing a younger version of Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men franchise, and dabbled in espionage alongside Charlize Theron in Atomic Blonde. However, I think I have to name only one movie to prove 40-year-old James McAvoy’s 007 potential: Wanted.

As a trainee to a fraternity of assassins with extraordinary abilities in Timur Bekmambetov’s adaptation of the Mark Millar comic book, James McAvoy made it clear he was primed for the action star life with every glorious pistol whip and the devilish grin he sported with it. Furthermore, he is Scottish, just like the man most often credited as the greatest actor to play James Bond, Sean Connery. So, there’s that.

David Oyelowo

You probably did not realize that David Oyelowo was British, did you? I cannot really blame you there. An actor whose most famous role to date is that of American icon Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Ava Duvernay’s Selma (having played several American roles since) is bound to be mistaken for a man of the States.

That is just one reason why it would be a treat to see the 43-year-old, two-time Golden Globe nominee fill the shoes of the British secret agent, in addition to his experience in action thrillers such as Captive and Jack Reacher. The bottom line is that David Oyelowo is simply a fantastic actor, one of the most acclaimed of his time, yet he has not received household name status yet. Picking him to be 007 would mark the end of his obscurity.

Simon Pegg

Am I the only one who is just a little tired of seeing Simon Pegg resorted to the Mission: Impossible franchise’s comic relief? His role of Benji Dunn went from goofy side character, to bumbling field agent, to far more experienced agent who is still the butt of the joke most of the time.

I believe the British, nearly 50-year-old star of Shaun of the Dead and Scotty of J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek franchise deserves to be given a spy movie role that would allow him to be taken more seriously, so why not go the full mile and cast him as James Bond? Simon Pegg, in his geektastic glory, has already had a taste of every franchise from George A. Romero’s Dead series to Star Wars, so filling in for Daniel Craig is more than just a natural fit, but would finally make him the leading action star that Hot Fuzz proved he deserves to be.

Idris Elba

Of course, I had to save the best choice for last. Rarely have I seen an actor receive as much support to land a role like Idris Elba has been rooted for to be the next James Bond. Quite frankly, despite my obvious support of the other aforementioned British actors, I do not believe there is a single person at the moment who deserves the honor more.

The 47-year-old Golden Globe-winner has played every kind of character imaginable, from a charismatic ship captain in Prometheus, an inspirational military official in Pacific Rim, and an unparalleled sharpshooting gunslinger in The Dark Tower. If you are keeping score here, you will notice that he is widely credited as the single best thing about each of those films, but has rarely been given the chance to lead a film that lives up to his talents. Give Idris Elba 007 and he will finally fulfill his destiny.

Daniel Craig will surely be missed for playing James Bond, but, luckily, there are plenty who can accept the torch with ease. For more updates on the upcoming No Time to Die and other 007 casting rumors, be sure to check back here at CinemaBlend.

Before he climbed into the cockpit of franchise starters like Sherlock Holmes and The Man From U.N.C.L.E., or even Disney’s live-action remake of Aladdin, director Guy Ritchie was known for a particular brand of film. The purveyor of chaotic cockney crime capers like Lock, Stock, and Two Smokin’ Barrels and Snatch, Ritchie gained notoriety for being able to spin a yarn with a good mix of blood, profanity, and sick needle drops.

This makes his return to that sort of filmmaking in The Gentlemen a curiosity at best, and a reason to panic at worst. After all, going back to the well is sometimes seen as a sign of a filmmaker concerned about losing their touch. That’s not the case with this latest film, however, as Ritchie’s reloaded his wit and has fired a blast of irreverent comedy and violence into theaters that reminds us why he became popular in the first place.

The first original film from Guy Ritchie in over 10 years, the story finds weed magnate Michael “Mickey” Pearson (Matthew McConaughey) looking to get out of the game with a tidy sum of cash and a simple life to fall back on. Of course, that proposition is easier said than done, as a timid buyer (Jeremy Strong) and a boisterous competitor (Henry Golding) gum up the works of what was supposed to be an easy sale.

As associates (Charlie Hunnam), enemies (Eddie Marsan), and other agents of chaos (Colin Farrell and Hugh Grant) go to work, The Gentlemen takes a winding, and sometimes surprising cruise to the finish line at breakneck speed.

Guy Ritchie’s back to his old tricks, but in a more restrained execution.

For the most part, The Gentlemen is a film that slides on a greased rail, much like many of Guy Ritchie’s other films. Serving as both writer and director of original material again, the filmmaker has a particular and singular clarity of vision.

Interestingly enough, while The Gentlemen does move pretty fast, as any good Ritchie film does, there’s a fair amount of restraint when it comes to the speed and execution of the plot. The movie takes its time weaving its story, especially in an exposition heavy first act, with the narrative device of Hugh Grant’s character, Fletcher, spinning this tale taking some getting used to.

Once the film finds its groove, it doesn’t take long for Guy Ritchie’s charm to sink in, as The Gentlemen finds its rhythm and proceeds to conduct its own symphony of action, comedy, and choice swearing.

Hugh Grant almost steals The Gentlemen from an expansive cast of winners.

The best part about a Guy Ritchie ensemble is the fact that while the entire bench may be stacked with players able to provide a tight game, there’s always one or two that sneak in front of the rest of the crew to steal some extra glory. And oh boy is Hugh Grant really digging in as The Gentlemen’s resident investigative journalist/blackmailer.

Not to put down the contributions of everyone else – from the taciturn, and occasionally chilling Matthew McConaughey, to the loose and confident shenanigans of Colin Farrell – but Grant plays his part with such relish you’d think this movie was sponsored by Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs. The most beautiful part is that Hugh Grant does it in such a way that it doesn’t make the whole movie about him.

Fletcher’s role isn’t to steal the spotlight, but rather to bind the players of The Gentlemen together, which he totally does. It’s still easy to recognize Hugh Grant as the MVP of this stacked cast, while also enjoying Michelle Dockery pulling a "paperweight" on random thugs, and swearing in a Cockney accent, or watching Henry Golding try to thrill and kill his way to the top of the heap.

The Gentlemen**'s plot is mildly convoluted, but you’ll still be able to keep up.**

Alas, the only real problem with The Gentlemen is the fact that Guy Ritchie’s plot is, at times, a little too convoluted for its own good. It almost wouldn’t be a Ritchie caper if there wasn’t some note about the reality of what’s going on being a little hard to follow.

Even with the extra steps and red herrings included in this particular criminal chess game, The Gentlemen is still pretty easy to track. In fact, you might call out some of the twists and turns long before they wind up on screen. It doesn’t ruin the experience of the sum total of this particular narrative, but it’s still noticeable enough to pick out when going over everything at the end.

As a return to form, Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen isn’t a home run, but it loads the bases and has fun doing so in the process. It’s a confident homecoming that it feels even Ritchie himself knew he needed to make, and should he continue down the path of his traditional brand of mayhem, we could see a true home run in the very near future.

While the end of January can often be a slow time at the movies, director Guy Ritchie's next movie will soon arrive in theaters to kickstart the post-Holiday moviegoing season. I'm talking about The Gentlemen, the filmmaker's latest crime drama that is featuring a killer cast (pun intended). The movie follows Matthew McConaughey's Mickey Pearson, as he decides what to do with his marijuana selling empire in the U.K.. Plenty of characters want in on the action, and all types of backstabbing and murder ensues. The Gentlemen earns its R-rating due its violence and language, including the ample use of the C-word. And the cast had a hilarious reaction to using that particular word so often throughout the course of filming.

Since The Gentlemen is set across the pond, it has a unique relationship to the C-bomb. It's simply not as taboo of a word in the U.K., and as a result the word "cunt" is said and read consistently throughout the movie's runtime-- often to hilarious results. I had the chance to speak with the cast of The Gentlemen, when I asked the actors what their relationship was to the C-word during filming. They were charming and hilarious, so check out the comments from Hugh Grant, Matthew McConaughey, Henry Golding, Charlie Hunnam, and Michelle Dockery below.

Clearly this was a subject of conversation for the cast. While some of the Brits were phased by The Gentlemen's use of the C-word, it was definitely a shift in perspective for others. Especially considering that they'd be screaming that word with hate at each other throughout Guy Ritchie's newest blockbuster.

I asked both rooms of cast members about how The Gentlemen uses the C-word, got some unique perspectives on what it was like to curse for months straight while filming such a major blockbuster. Crazy Rich Asians actor Henry Golding has mostly been seen onscreen as charming nice guys, while his character Dry Eye is noticeably rougher around the edges. Golding actually found his character's speech pattern to be "therapeutic", as it was so different from the way Golding normally speaks. Michelle Dockery seemed to agree, which made the cursing in The Gentlemen a fun challenge of the movie.

But as Matthew McConaughey points out, The Gentlemen doesn't always use the c-word during conflicts. The movie also throws it away consistently as well. Because it's simply not that big of a deal in the U.K., Guy Ritchie includes said word in just about every scene.

Charlie Hunnam and Hugh Grant also answered the same question, with the latter actor joking that he used the C-word so much around his home that it's all his children are saying nowadays. Hunnam hammered down the fact that this movie starred proper English gentlemen, and as such the street slang had to be appropriate. Indeed, while the first "cunt" might be alarming, The Gentlemen holds nothing back regarding language, and it uses said curse consistently throughout its 113-minute runtime.

As the trailers have been teasing, The Gentlemen is an ultra-stylized movie by Guy Ritchie. The filmmaker is methodical about his approach, and that includes the film's dialogue, which he wrote. Curses and all.

The Gentlemen will arrive in theaters on January 24th. In the meantime, check out our 2020 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

The goal for 2017’s King Arthur: Legend of the Sword was not just, as is the case with any movie, was for it to be well-received by the public, but to also spawn a new Warner Bros franchise. However, the Guy Ritchie movie ended up being a critical and commercial flop, resulting in those sequel plans being scrapped. Almost three full years later, Charlie Hunnam, who starred as King Arthur, says he’s interested in redoing Legend of the Sword due to how so many things went wrong when making it. He explained:

Charlie Hunnam addressed his time on King Arthur: Legend of the Sword while plugging his latest movie, The Gentleman, alongside costars Hugh Grant and Matthew McConaughey on Sirius XM Radio Andy. Granted, the chances of Hunnam’s request being fulfilled are extremely slim, because even if Warner Bros decides one day to go back into the Arthurian well, it’ll likely start from scratch with a brand-new cast. You know, the traditional reboot approach.

Still, should King Arthur: Legend of the Sword ever get the redo that Charlie Hunnam would like, the actor is confident that things would work better the second time around, namely because of one specific element. When Andy Cohen inquired about if there was “one thing” that went wrong, Hunnam answered:

I can only imagine how frustrating that is. It’s one thing if there’s an aspect of a movie that ends up messing with the entire product, but it’s still kept in. But for King Arthur: Legend of the Sword to, as Charlie Hunnam sees it, miscast someone, removed said individual and then the storyline still ends up being negatively affected is even worse.

Charlie Hunnam didn’t identity who he was referring to with this “miscasting,” and representatives for the actor, Warner Bros and Guy Ritchie did not respond to Entertainment Weekly’s request for comment. In any case, this isn’t the first time we’ve heard about King Arthur: Legend of the Sword going through significant cuts, as director Guy Ritchie acknowledged that at one point that movie clocked in at over three hours, but it ended up being just a little over two hours. So yeah, quite a bit of material was removed by the time the final edit was complete, including the opening scene being drastically shortened.

Ultimately, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword was met with mostly negative reviews, ranking at 31% among critics on Rotten Tomatoes. It also only made $148.7 million worldwide off a budget of around $175 million, resulting in Warner Bros and Village Roadshow Pictures reportedly losing approximately $150 million. So it’s not surprising whatsoever that Legend of the Sword didn’t launch a franchise, but if Charlie Hunnam had his way, he’d go back and give it another shot to ensure that the Arthurian legend was properly depicted.

You can see Charlie Hunnam back on the big screen when The Gentleman is released on January 24. Don’t forget to look through our 2020 release schedule to plan your visits to the theater this year accordingly.

It has been nearly five years since Sons of Anarchy rode its motorcycle into the FX sunset, and in the time since, all the main cast members such as Charlie Hunnam and Ron Perlman have moved on to different projects. Naturally, some have found more success than others in transitioning away from their fan-favored roles in the acclaimed crime drama.

What has the cast of Sons of Anarchy been up to since the show's series finale in 2014? Let's take a look!

Charlie Hunnam (Jackson "Jax" Teller)

In the role that introduced the actor to a wider audience than prior shows like Undeclared and Queer as Folk, Charlie Hunnam earned a lot of notice and praise for his leading-man portrayal of SAMCRO's eventual president Jax Teller in Sons of Anarchy. And since the show's conclusion, Hunnam has been looking for a movie role that matches the brooding intensity of the morally flippant Jax.

While Charlie Hunnam earned acclaim for his work in Children of Men and Green Street Hooligans, the actor's leading roles have mostly faced mixed success. For as much as people love Pacific Rim, there is often less acclaim for his specific performance, and Deadfall wasn't the compelling and nuanced drama that it should've been. In any case, since Sons of Anarchy left the air back in 2014, Hunnam has begun to find some roles that play to his favor — even if 50 Shades of Grey's Christian Grey wasn't one of them. Alas, for all his successes (at least from a critical standpoint), Hunnam was recently met with a big flop.

Specifically, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword wasn't exactly the franchise starter that both Warner Bros. and director Guy Ritchie were hoping they would be. The film is one of the biggest box office disasters in recent years, and the reviews were generally unkind. In the indie-to-mid-budget side of moviemaking, however, Charlie Hunnam has earned good praises for his work in Guillermo Del Toro's Crimson Peak and particularly for James Gray's The Lost City of Z. Hunnam was also lauded for his performances in Papillon and Netflix's Triple Frontier. On the festival circuit, Hunnam has quite a few movies which recently premiered, including A Million Little Pieces, True History of the Kelly Gang, and Jungleland.

Additionally, Charlie Hunnam has some other upcoming and/or in-the-works projects, including The Gentlemen, which reunites him with Guy Ritchie, and the action-thriller Waldo (which might or might not have something to do with finding him). He will also appear in the new Apple TV+ series Shantaram. It appears Hunnam found his niche in smaller, more character-driven projects, which makes sense.

Katey Sagal (Gemma Teller Morrow)

In her Golden Globe-winning performance, Katey Sagal expanded from comedy veteran to serious dramatic talent as Gemma Teller Morrow. While Sagal was also well-known for playing Peggy Bundy on Married ... With Children and Cate Hennessy in 8 Simple Rules, as well as providing the voice of Leela on Futurama, Sons of Anarchy allowed the multi-talented actress to work in her dramatic and comedic flair in equal fashion — though unfortunately, Sagal hasn't found a follow-up role that's equaled the work she did on Sons of Anarchy. At least, in terms of screen-time and a weighted prominence.

Since Sons of Anarchy's conclusion, Katey Sagal has primarily done supporting roles and guest work on other shows, including (but not limited to), Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Big Bang Theory, This Is Us, Grand Hotel, Shameless, and Regular Show. She did, however, reunite to work with husband Kurt Sutter, the creator of Sons of Anarchy, for the short-lived historical drama The Bastard Executioner, and she also reprised the role of Gamma Teller Marrow in the S.O.A. spinoff series, Mayans M.C. Sagal did have a role in the now-cancelled CBS sitcom Superior Donuts, and she's now heading for a larger recurring role on ABC's hit The Conners.

Mark Boone Junior (Bobby Munson)

A hard-working character actor who got the critical recognition he always deserves through this series, Mark Boone Junior will likely always continue finding exciting, engaging roles he can sink his teeth into. Alas, the TV actor hasn't landed a role on equal footing with Sons of Anarchy's Bobby Munson just yet, but it could still happen.

On the small screen, Mark Boone Junior made an impression on shows like Patriot, Flaked, Elementary and even The Last Man on Earth. He's also appeared in some smaller, and often noteworthy, movies like Let Me Make You a Martyr and The Birth of a Nation. Evidently, these roles don't really showcase his dynamic range from Sons of Anarchy. But hopefully, his upcoming work in the new series Paradise City will allow him to again live up to his proven potential.

Kim Coates (Alex "Tig" Trager)

A highly dependable working actor with a nice dynamic range, Kim Coates has continued to find steady work since leaving the envelope-pushing role of Tig Trager on Sons of Anarchy. Of course, fans would love it if Kurt Sutter put together a spinoff based entirely on Tig's daily comings and goings, pun intended.

Most notably, Kim Coates has played recurring roles in Netflix's Godless and Syfy's Ghost Wars. When it comes to making films, Coates played the title role in 2016's action comedy Officer Downe, and the actor played supporting parts in True Memoirs of An International Assassin and Goon: Last of the Enforcers. Currently, Coates plays one of the lead roles in the Canadian crime drama series, Bad Blood, for which he has won the Canadian Screen Award for Best Actor in a Lead Dramatic Role.

Tommy Flanagan (Filip "Chibs" Telford)

As one of only six actors who appeared throughout the entire series, Tommy Flanagan was a welcomed mainstay for Sons of Anarchy. The actor had appeared in a variety of noteworthy projects, including Gladiator and Braveheart, but the role of Filip "Chibs" Telford remains one of his most prominent, and yes, the scars played a part. Since his time on the FX drama series, Flanagan has kept himself busy with both movies and television shows — as well as projects both big and small in scale.

On television, Tommy Flanagan has appeared on Revenge, Motive, and Gotham, and he currently plays a role in Netflix's Wu Assassins. He's also set to make an appearance during Westworld's much-anticipated third season. Additionally, Flanagan appeared in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and The Ballad of Lefty Brown, which earned a wealth of acclaim upon its release. He also appeared in Papillon alongside his Sons of Anarchy co-star Charlie Hunnam.

Ron Perlman (Clarence "Clay" Morrow)

When Sons of Anarchy first made its way onto television, there was no denying that Ron Perlman was the biggest name in the cast. The experienced actor has been working hard for several decades, often in intensive genre movies and TV shows, and he continues to provide exceptional performance in all of his projects. That's no exception with Sons of Anarchy, where he played the often conniving and ruthless Clay Morrow. And sure enough, the Hellboy actor remains very busy.

After leaving Sons of Anarchy after its sixth season, Ron Perlman starred at the front of Amazon's Hand of God, which didn't quite earn the same high acclaim as his previous show, and was cancelled in 2017. But Perlman kept at it, starring in Crackle's StartUp, the miniseries The Truth About Harry Quebert Affair, and, most recently, the miniseries The Capture. Ron Perlman has also appeared in movies like Moonwalkers, Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them, Pottersville, and Asher, to name a mere handful, in the years since he left the FX series. No matter what, the actor keeps active, even if he wasn't part of the arguably ill-advised Hellboy remake.

Maggie Siff (Tara Knowles)

As the tragic love of Jax Teller, among other things, Maggie Siff played a pivotal role in Sons of Anarchy, serving as the sometimes polar opposite female lead to Katey Sagal's Gemma. Unfortunately, that played a part in why her character didn't last the entirety of the series, as it goes for some others on this list.

In the time since she appeared on Sons of Anarchy, Maggie Siff doesn't appear to be hurting for work. Specifically, she landed a key role in Showtime's Billions in 2016, and she'll be back for Season 5. The former Mad Men actress has also been in movies like Concussion and The 5th Wave since her departure from Sons of Anarchy.

Theo Rossi (Juan Carlos "Juice" Ortiz)

Having been around since the pilot, Juan Carlos Ortiz, i.e. Ortiz, is a character who has grown in status throughout the series, playing a bigger and bigger hand in the proceedings until the second-to-final episode of the series. Thankfully, his status on the popular FX series has helped his career grow and expand in the years since Sons of Anarchy' series finale. Specifically, Theo Rossi played a sizable role in Netflix's Marvel show, Luke Cage.

Beyond that, Theo Rossi also played one of the main roles in the 2016 crime drama Lowriders, and he also played a part in that year's horror-drama When the Bough Breaks. Rossi will next be seen in the mystery drama Rattlesnake, and he's currently filming a role in Zack Snyder's Netflix film Army of the Dead, which is expected to be released sometime next year on the streaming service. Suffice to say, Rossi is keeping himself busy as an actor.

These are not the only main cast members of Sons of Anarchy, but these are the actors and actresses who were there at the beginning (if maybe not at the end). Let us know your favorite actor from Sons of Anarchy in the comments below. And don't forget to tune into Mayans M.C. every Tuesday night on FX at 10:00 p.m. ET.

Landing the lead role in FX's big Sons of Anarchy spinoff had to be a daunting one for actor JD Pardo, previously best known for Revolution and East Los High. In taking the part of Mayans M.C.'s EZ Reyes, Pardo was essentially being set up for and endless line of comparisons to Charlie Hunnam's Sons of Anarchy badass Jax Teller. The actor doesn't take the responsibility lightly, and aims to respect Jax's legacy without any carbon copy performances.

The Mayans M.C. star spoke with CinemaBlend during the Television Critics Association's 2019 summer press tour, and I asked JD Pardo if he thought EZ was filling his own boots this season, as opposed to walking in someone else's. The actor's answer:

His point is entirely germane, even for anyone out there who self-identifies as a karaoke fanatic. There are lots of songs out there that comprise all the right elements for a killer karaoke performance, but that doesn't necessitate an audience of listeners who readily want to hear only the amateur version. There's generally a reason why big-named entertainers rake in the moolah, while second- and third-rate singers are relegated to bars and shower stalls.

Also, is everyone else also now picturing Charlie Hunnam and JD Pardo facing off in a literal karaoke contest? Perhaps with each singing Curtis Stigers' "This Life," which served as the Sons of Anarchy theme song.

Moving away from the musical side of things, JD Pardo spoke to how he was able to approach the role of EZ Reyes from a different place than where Charlie Hunnam was coming from when entering Jax Teller's life. Pardo sees EZ's life as perhaps a part of Jax's history that went unseen on Sons of Anarchy's TV show, given its lack of flashbacks. Here's how the Mayans M.C. star put it:

With his time on Mayans M.C., JD Pardo aims to give viewers an insight into how how hard certain club members, especially those with dark skeletons in their closets, have to work in order to rise up the ranks. The prospect life is not just about washing and waxing Bishop's bike, or making sure the clubhouse is cleaned up. (As much as those things can suck in general.) It's about EZ proving both to his brothers and to himself that he's got what it takes to wear the Mayans cut, among other goals.

Mayans M.C. Star On Charlie Hunnam Appearing As Sons Of Anarchy's Jax: 'I Don't See Why' Not

JD Pardo spoke to that point in our conversation, saying that Season 2 is where EZ gets to really start proving himself to the MC, without Kevin Jimenez's DEA agent on his back anymore. Sure, Lincoln Potter's chaos is no doubt imminent, but he won't specifically be EZ's biggest headache, so the younger Reyes brother will have time to think about getting back in Angel's good graces as they unravel their mother's murder. Here's Pardo talking about EZ's journey, and his hopes for it.

JD Pardo was definitely referring to Charlie Hunnam's Jax Teller there, at least in part. Even though Jax was already the Vice President of SAMCRO whenever Sons of Anarchy started, and even though he was led by Ron Perlman's less-than-virtuous Clay Morrow, he was only a shadow of what he would become. Jax was more of an organized criminal in those early days, and only later (d)evolved into someone capable of permanently clipping the family tree's most poisoned branches.

In contrast, EZ has only gotten his feet wet within the Mayans' criminal dealings. (Granted, they're completely soaked and bloated and will never be dry again.) So fans will get to watch his complete immersion into the club life, and that's exactly the kind of thing that JD Pardo is excited to dive into with Mayans M.C. In his words:

It's a ride that a lot of audience members are pumped to go on, too. Mayans M.C. earned some solid ratings in its first season, often doubling its viewership numbers when going from Live + Same Day stats to Live + 3 and Live +7 tallies. It was often a top performer in cable in delayed viewing, and its live airings were also in the Top 5 cable telecasts for each night new episodes went live. And if Mayans is anything like Sons of Anarchy, that crowd is only going to get bigger with each season.

Law And Order: SVU Vet Danny Pino Compares Nick Amaro To Mayans M.C. Baddie Miguel Galindo

Tune in to watch JD Pardo's EZ Reyes continue making his mark on Mayans M.C. when Season 2 kicks off on FX on (Teller) Tuesday, September 3, at 10:00 p.m. ET. While waiting, check out what another Mayans M.C. star had to say about filling the shoes of former Sons of Anarchy characters.

Charlie Hunnam has successfully transitioned from TV to the big screen following his lead gig on FX’s Sons of Anarchy, but while appearing ahead of the release of his new Guy Ritchie collaboration The Gentlemen, the actor revealed that it was only thanks to a Sons of Anarchy hiatus that he had the opportunity to work with the longtime director.

Speaking at an STX panel at CinemaCon 2019, Charlie Hunnam and fellow The Gentlemen star Henry Golding both revealed how their respective first meetings with longtime director Guy Ritchie went. While Golding was taking meetings for The Gentlemen just ahead of the premiere for his massive global hit Crazy Rich Asians, Hunnam previously worked with Guy Ritchie on King Arthur: Legend of The Sword.

Charlie Hunnam then revealed that although Guy Ritchie wasn’t actually interested in him for the King Arthur role, he talked his way into a 3 ½ hour meeting that ended up working out for both parties involved.

Sons of Anarchy finished out its epic run on FX back in 2014, so Charlie Hunnam was certainly looking around for a new gig around the time that project was ending. It’s just lucky the show happened to be on hiatus the week Guy Ritchie was meeting potential actors for the role.

It took a few more years for King Arthur: Legend of the Sword to actually premiere in theaters in 2017, but even though that movie only went on to make a little over $148 million worldwide (on a reportedly $175 million budget), it led the actor and director to consider working together again, this time on the STX production The Gentlemen. (Previously this project was known as Toff Guys or Bush.)

As for Henry Golding, the whole process of both meeting and filming with Guy Ritchie ended up being very different, as that actor shot The Gentlemen simultaneously while filming a holiday movie. He said of the experience:

That movie is about drug lords, drugs and (sometimes comedic) moments of violence and it sports an all-star cast, including Charlie Hunnam and Henry Golding, but also previous collaborator Hugh Grant, Matthew McConaughey, Colin Farrell, Michelle Dockery and Jeremy Strong.

The Gentlemen doesn’t have a release date yet, but if you missed or weren’t fond of King Arthur, the footage looks to be a very different type of movie, yet still with Ritchie’s signature pacing and style. We’ll bring you the trailer as soon as it drops, but for now the very least you can do is throw on episode of Sons of Anarchy or throw on your own "cup of tea" to toast Jax.

Warning: spoilers for Netflix's Triple Frontier are present. If you haven't seen the film yet, bookmark this page and come back once you've done so.

At the end of J.C. Chandor's Triple Frontier, the events that transpired during the film are brought to a seemingly tidy end. But during that ending, there are a couple of key pieces of information that stand out as potential threads for a sequel. While any film can leave the door open for another installment of adventure, it's not always the best course of action to follow up with another escapade.

It's a complicated matter, because while Triple Frontier doesn't seem like the type of film to get a sequel, there's enough left hanging that would make for an intriguing follow up if it was done correctly. With that in mind, it's time to start delving into whether or not this action-drama should continue, or if stolen cash is best left where it lies. Let's start things off by discussing the ending of the film.

What Happens At The End Of Triple Frontier

After the heist that Oscar Isaac's Santiago, and the rest of his Triple Frontier team have undertaken, the film puts them through the ringer. A series of troubles and tribulations pressures the team into some bad decisions involving an overloaded helicopter, a farming community in the Andes, and a trek through a treacherous mountain range that leads to the ultimate run for the coast. In the end, only one member of the team is killed – Ben Affleck's Tom.

As a result, the surviving teammates donate their shares of the remaining money that didn't get lost in the Andes to Tom's family. Feeling guilty for his death, and wanting to provide for his family, each man tears up his paperwork to deposit their shares, and allows their banker to deposit it all into the same account. After which, everyone goes their separate ways, saying a somber but heartfelt goodbye.

Just as the film is ready to let Isaac and Charlie Hunnam's William ride off into their respective sunsets, with Santiago ready to reunite with his girlfriend / intel source Yovanna in Australia, William slips him a piece of paper with important information. That info happens to be the GPS co-ordinates to a spot where the team dumped a ton of cash in order to lighten their load. As Santiago walks into the crowd on a warm, tropical day, the film fades to black.

The Case For A Sequel

The continued adventures of the Triple Frontier team have two key components on their side: the fact that Santiago was given the co-ordinates with the express purpose of possibly recovering the money, and his intended reunion with Yovanna after the heist went sideways. So, with a potential second act in the saga that J.C. Chandor co-wrote and directed, there's already enough components here to make for a basic sequel.

What makes a second excursion to the Triple Frontier even more exciting is something that Yovanna said to Santiago as they parted mid-way through the film. After stealing the money from the infamous drug dealer that they were robbing, she tells Santiago that it's not just that particular dealer's money in their hands. There are others who threw their funds in with his, and they're going to come looking for every penny missing.

Keeping all of this in mind, there's one of two ways this could go. One scenario is that the Triple Frontier survivors could recover the money for their own needs, as it's tucked away in a nice and secret spot for them to make a lovely retirement fund out of. The other, more probable scenario, would see those other drug dealers coming back to demand their money be returned; leaving the crew to figure out how to score the remaining $5 million that was donated to Tom's family. Both sound good, but are they enough to go forward? Let's look at the other side of the coin.

The Case Against A Sequel

While there's two good concepts for a Triple Frontier followup, there's still a solid case for not going ahead with any sort of return trips to the danger visited upon its protagonists. And that case comes from the fact that after all of the action that Santiago and his team had seen in Triple Frontier, it's not very likely that they would want to live through that sort of thing again. It all comes down to the approach to the original film, and how well it would mesh with any potential sequel.

Honestly, the grounded approach that J.C. Chandor and co-writer Mark Boal took in telling the story of Triple Frontier feels like it'd be at home with the ambiguity in the film's final reel. It's a movie that doesn't absolutely need to prolong itself beyond where it's already been, because the overriding lesson seems to be that if these soldiers hadn't pushed their luck as far as they had, they'd all be alive and richer than their wildest dreams.

In service of that message, another round of Triple Frontier action would seem like a slap in the face of that first round's overarching message. And as any fan of '80s action dramas will tell you, not every series has the luck that Rambo did; and even if it did, there's always the chance that things will devolve into mindless propaganda before all is said and done.

Where We Stand

Triple Frontier is a film that could very easily lend itself to a sequel, and that sequel could be really good. There's room for improvement with the foundation of the original, and the hooks are clear enough to bring the series into a reasonable future. But, even with the ideas presented, there's a risk that such a sequel would be a really bad idea. The result of this whole exercise is a pro sequel outcome, so long as those involved keep their heads on straight during development. In fact, bringing in J.C. Chandor and Mark Boal would be required at this point, as Chandor knows the characters and Boal knows how to bring the action.

But, of course, we'd like to know what you, the audience, think about this proposition. Using the poll below, and the comments section as well, let us know if you'd want another round of Triple Frontier in your Netflix queue. And, if you're looking for another movie to scratch that action itch, take a look at 2019's release schedule and see what's on the horizon!

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One notorious casting that ultimately led to an actor leaving a popular movie occurred just before Fifty Shades of Grey started shooting. The role was supposed to have gone to Triple Frontier actor Charlie Hunnam; however, Hunnam left the project and Jamie Dornan was signed on in his stead.

Since news broke that it could have been Charlie Hunnam who played Christian Grey, there’s been sort of a fascination in terms of the “what if” factor. Ultimately, however, Hunnam still doesn’t regret quitting the role. He said in a recent interview:

According to Charlie Hunnam, the actor has no interest in watching Fifty Shades of Grey or its two follow-ups, also revealing he really doesn’t “want to have an opinion” on Jamie Dornan’s performance or how the movie turned out during his interview with Newsweek. I don’t really blame him, considering more than a year after the final movie in the franchise came out he’s still getting asked about the decision.

As for why he quit Fifty Shades of Grey, Charlie Hunnam said:

Previously, Charlie Hunnam has had varying accounts for why he quit Fifty Shades of Grey. This time, he’s saying the character fans love from the books was at odds with how he wanted to play it. He’s also said that he is aware he would be a “lot wealthier” if he had said yes to the gig that eventually went to Jamie Dornan, noting,

He’s said before he was just really busy at the time the first movie was going to start filming, revealing he was also doing Crimson Peak and Sons of Anarchy and it all just felt like a lot at the time.

So, it sounds as if there were myriad reasons to say no and the money wasn’t enough to say yes. (Although, he really did give up on quite a bit of money.) Interestingly, Charlie Hunnam is known for intense workouts and even being shirtless on both the big and small screen. That's something that Jamie Dornan has come out and really worked on after he wasn't able to get super into shape for the first movie, given the limitations of the timeline after he was cast in Fifty Shades of Grey.

In fact, in some ways Charlie Hunnam may have dodged a bullet. Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson have had to really work to take on different types of roles in the wake of the popular franchise movie. (Although they likely increased their visibility as well.) In addition, while filming Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed seemingly went off without too much of a hitch, filming Fifty Shades of Grey ultimately ended up being a bit of a different situation. Specifically, the director of that movie Sam Taylor-Johnson has come out and said that things were so bad she wouldn’t do it again.

She also ultimately left the franchise, leaving leads Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson to navigate the rest of the franchise with new director James Foley. All in all, though, fans of E.L. James’ books seem at least fairly satisfied with how the movies played out on the big screen.

While we have no real gauge for how Charlie Hunnam would have played Christian Grey, it’s still fun to think about how the universe would have been with a totally different actor in the role. Ultimately, it made Jamie Dornan a household name and went on to be a financial success with that actor.

You can catch Charlie Hunnam in the new Netflix movie Triple Frontier, which has already hit the streaming service. Or take a look at what else Netflix has coming this month with our full guide.

In the new Netflix action thriller Triple Frontier, there’s a serious montage of scenes where, as part of said montage, actors Charlie Hunnam and Garrett Hedlund are seen shepherding a couple of donkeys across a river in the South American jungle. So leave it to their animal co-stars to make things interesting when it came time to actually shoot those scenes, as the actors recently spoke with CinemaBlend about a particularly hilarious day on set involving donkeys, water, and bathroom humor. Here’s how the actors described the scenario, when asked what day on set made them most feel like an action hero:

While the finished product is a sobering experience, when the heroes at the center of Triple Frontier are at a particularly difficult time in their heist, the story above is anything but. And watching Hunnam and Hedlund laughing it up during the telling of said story only makes the tale that much more interesting.

This is only compounded by the fact that, of course, this story involving animal actors contains a moment where the donkeys involved had to relieve themselves. It's a classic trope in humor that has legs, and for very good reason. At this point, the story gets even more interesting as this old saw gets a new spin through some colorful descriptions from Charlie Hunnam and Garrett Hedlund. The Triple Frontier co-stars elaborated on this story with the following:

It’s certainly not the easiest thing in the world to work with an animal actor on a set such as the one for Triple Frontier. Considering they’re one of the two types of performers that have historically been on the list of collaborators not to work with, you can kind of see why. Just imagining two actors such as Charlie Hunnam and Garrett Hedlund, trying to get through the day of shooting with a donkey that really had to go is enough to break even the most stoic spectator into a fit of laughter.

Of course, describing their humorous reactions to filming this particular stretch of Triple Frontier is one thing. But if you want to watch Hunnam and Hedlund really delight in the reveal of this story, you can see it all for yourself below.

Don't let that story about the donkeys fool you, as the behind the scenes story you've just experienced doesn't sour the Triple Frontier experience at all. If anything, it proves that all involved, particularly Charlie Hunnam and Garrett Hedlund in this specific instance, are total professionals. It takes an extremely focused actor to portray a dramatic scene of crime and consequences, while wading through donkey dung; and this cast passes that test with flying colors.

Triple Frontier is in theaters now, with its Netflix streaming debut set for March 13th.

With Steven Spielberg's intentions to discuss a rule change possibly disqualifying streaming films with the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, there have been a lot of reactions as to how the Netflix, Amazon and other original films should be seen when measured up to their big studio competition. But if you ask Ben Affleck, star of Netflix's new film Triple Frontier, you'll find that not everyone is adverse to treating such films as equals. His reasoning, as you'll read below, is because the same amount of work goes into either side of the aisle. Affleck recently told CinemaBlend:

While Ben Affleck is only a star in the cast of co-writer/director J.C. Chandor's Triple Frontier, it's not hard to hear him speaking with his director's cap on during that response. If anything, Affleck's answer to why Netflix movies should be treated as equals is a very easy one: Netflix movies are only different from a standard theatrical release in their distribution method.

Other than that, the same headaches and heartaches are present in completing a film like Triple Frontier. You're still working with talent, co-ordinating shoots, and putting big-ticket finishing touches on the final product in the edit room. Surely, a director such as Ben Affleck understands this subject all too well. So why is there such a pushback from people such as Steven Spielberg?

As it turns out, Affleck's Triple Frontier co-star Charlie Hunnam had something to say about that subject, as well. We posed the same question to both Affleck and Hunnam during their recent press day for the Netflix film, and the Pacific Rim star added the following nuance to the argument in favor of Netflix:

You can't blame filmmakers like Steven Spielberg for seeing Netflix the way they do, especially when it comes to metrics of success that are as entrenched as their way of working. Netflix doesn't work on the same sort of comparative scale as a traditional theatrical release, and most aren't privy to how they consider a project a flop or a hit. But whether you agree with Spielberg or Affleck's take on the subject, one thing is certain: things are changing very fast, and we could see a day where Netflix stands tall, with full support, among its would-be peers.

If you're interested in watching both Ben Affleck and Charlie Hunnam discussing the subject of how Netflix films are treated, feel free to watch the clip below from our recent talks:

Triple Frontier opens in theaters on March 6th, with its streaming debut on Netflix set to drop on March 13th. Stay tuned to CinemaBlend, as we'll have more coverage for the film coming in the near future. In the meantime, if you're looking to see what's headed to Netflix in the month of March, check out our full rundown of the latest additions and when they're set to hit your streaming queue.

As fans are sadly aware, Mr. Robot is winding down. The series will end with its fourth season. This puts Mr. Robot's star in a position many actors have been before: on the verge of saying goodbye. Rami Malek revealed that he reached out to Sons of Anarchy's Charlie Hunnam regarding his exit. Malek said:

Talk about a wise move! Rami Malek opened up about chatting with Charlie Hunnam in an interview with IndieWire. Picking Hunnam's brain was a good choice because Hunnam knows all about saying goodbye to a long-running character. Hunnam bid adieu to Jax Teller four years ago in 2014, when Sons of Anarchy came to an end. Hunnam played the mega-popular character for seven seasons.

Based on what Rami Malek said, it sounds like it was difficult to imagine leaving the character behind. Mr. Robot premiered in the summer of 2015. A year after, Sons of Anarchy came to an end. Rami Malek has had a taste of what it has been like without Mr. Robot. The show last aired in 2017. He has remained busy though.

He plays Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody, the new biopic of the Queen frontman. Speaking of movies, Rami Malek and Charlie Hunnam have something else in common. Along with saying goodbye to long-running characters, the two co-starred in the 2017 film Papillon.

Rami Malek also discussed the impending end of his time on Mr. Robot with Aaron Paul. The Breaking Bad star said goodbye to Jesse Pinkman in 2013. Paul played Jesse for five seasons. Out of the group, Charlie Hunnam played his Sons of Anarchy character the longest.

There is positive news for Rami Malek fans hoping Mr. Robot will not be his last television show. In his interview, Malek expressed his affinity for the television medium. He also shared that the producers of Bohemian Rhapsody watching him in Mr. Robot led to him landing the role. So, while his days as Mr. Robot are running out, his time on TV sounds far from over.

A lot of shows are getting ready to come to an end. So, Rami Malek will not be alone in sifting through his feelings. At this point, actors may want to consider setting up some sort of support group to help them work through it. Mr. Robot is one of many series that will be over by the time 2019 ends.

Game of Thrones and The Big Bang Theory are among other series that will be bidding farewell to their devoted audience. Like most things, it will take time to move on. The fourth and final season of Mr. Robot will premiere sometime in 2019. While fans await the bittersweet end in sight, there is lots of new fall television to keep them occupied.

While details are disputed, the story of Henri 'Papillon' Charrière is unquestionably one of the most remarkable "true" tales of all time - stunningly showcasing what the human spirit can endure if the will is strong enough. This was immediately understood when the thief and former prisoner had his autobiography published in 1969, and there is no further proof needed of its acceptance than the cinematic adaptation that hit theaters four years later. Directed by Planet of the Apes' Franklin J. Schaffner, and starring Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman, Papillon is a stunning and epic journey of torture, courage, and escape, brought to life with perfect lead performances, beautiful cinematography, and a heralded score. It's one of those perfect examples of a classic adventure with little need of an update so long as the original is still available - but yet here we are.

Upfront, it's clear that director Michael Noer's new take does not exist to try and break the wheel. While the new Papillon is nearly 20 minutes shorter than its predecessor, it hits all the same big beats, and given the story and setting, it's not exactly the kind of feature you improve visually with cutting edge visual effects. The main drive to make the movie seems like it's just an opportunity to retell a brilliant tale with fresh faces... and in a vacuum, it does mostly work. This time around it's Charlie Hunnam and Rami Malek in the parts played by Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman, respectively, and it's particularly the success of the duo and their on-screen chemistry that drives the film and fully engages you in the incredible narrative.

Beginning in the early 1930s, Papillon stars with its titular protagonist (Charlie Hunnam) living his life as a low-level but notorious burglar in France with aspirations of escaping with his love (Eve Hewson). Unfortunately, he winds up stealing from the wrong man, and quickly finds himself the center of a frame job - arrested and found guilty for the murder of a local pimp. Rather than standard imprisonment, the safecracker is instead sent to a South American penal colony - specifically a mine on Devil's Island in French Guiana - where he is expected to break and cart rocks for the rest of his life. It's not a life that Papillon is willing to lead, however, and even before his arrival to the island, he begins to plan his escape.

Papillon's first most crucial move is acquiring resources in order to get the things he needs - and he finds a perfect target for this in Louis Dega (Rami Malek). A bookish, bespectacled, weakling convicted of counterfeiting, Dega is recognized among the prisoners as being rich, but has no way to protect himself and his money (stored in the ol' prison wallet). Our protagonist sees an opportunity here, and makes his fellow inmate a deal: in exchange for protection, Dega will fund Papillon's way off the island. As he winds up learning the hard way, the punishment for attempting to escape is not days, weeks, or months, but instead years spent in silent solitary confinement - but the resilient thief is able to power through in large part because of the friendship that grows between himself and Dega.

Because of the nature of a story centering on confirmed criminals, Papillon does have to work a bit to get you on the side of its two leads, but that's exactly why you hire two actors the caliber of Charlie Hunnam and Rami Malek - with Hunnam carrying most of the weight as the titular lead. The British star is all charm and charisma up front, getting you on his side with flashy smiles, cool wit, and dreams of more, and you appreciate his determination as he is planning his big exit on the high seas. Where it really becomes a great performance, however, is after the experience of confinement really starts to weigh on Papillon. Benefited with a tough, on-location production and an in-sequence shooting schedule, Hunnam does a tremendous job projecting the intense emotional toll while always shining a bright light through it.

On the other side, Louis Dega may not sound like a terribly complex role to portray (the nerdy money man), but Rami Malek brings wonderful layers to him that might otherwise go unplayed. The start of his arc comes with introversion, fear, and a touch of desperation, but there is a great evolution discovered through Dega's relationship with Papillon. The former ultimately inspires the latter to keep fighting - to a remarkable extent - and it very much turns back around, as the third act finds Malek delivering confidence, passion, and strength that is very much missing from first.

There is a strange contrast to occasionally be found as the beauty of the landscape is sometimes oddly juxtaposed with the harshness of the prison colony experience, but it should be recognized that Michael Noer also doesn't undersell the brutality of it all. There are many toe-curling scenes of violence shot in nightmarish darkness, and the scenes with Papillon in solitary - the hero sometimes driven to hallucination - are haunting. The movie marks the first title made by Noer outside of his native Denmark, and it's a solid start to a Hollywood career with potential.

With the 1973 original not going anywhere, this remake has to be called the second best Papillon film - but it has its merits. Both Charlie Hunnam and Rami Malek are evolving into fantastic performers with excellent careers ahead of them, and there is a lot here that showcases what they can do. And if it takes their work to potentially get a new audience to discover this story, that's a plus as well.

When it comes to transformative roles, there are some actors who are known to take it to the extreme. Robert De Niro famously gained 60 pounds to star in Raging Bull; and Christian Bale lost approximately that amount to star in The Machinist. It takes a serious dedication to craft putting your body through all that, but for some performers it's entirely worth it. This includes actor Charlie Hunnam, who recently spoke about losing 40 pounds playing the lead role in Michael Noer's Papillion, as well as losing weight in other roles.

It isn't terribly good for your body to lose and gain a lot of weight quickly, but it's a sacrifice that Charlie Hunnam was willing to make not once but twice in recent years. While speaking with the Boston Herald he revealed the hell he's put his body through, but also honestly explained why he was willing to do it.

Of course, those familiar with Charlie Hunnam's work know that he isn't regularly playing scrawny, ill characters - which is what the work called for in the making of both Papillon and the Lost City of Z. He's also been known to take on parts in action movies and tough guy roles, which means that he has to put on weight and muscle. Referencing the upcoming film Triple Frontier and two other projects he's been working on, Hunnam said,

There are only a few actors out there who are willing to go to such extremes - and it is admirable. After all, anyone who has tried to lose weight knows that it's not always the easiest thing. Naturally, there is hope that none of them take things to unsafe levels, and that there are no long-term side effects - but for now, we can definitely appreciate the work.

Those interested in seeing the end result of Charlie Hunnam's work can see Papillon in theaters now, and for those who missed it last year, The Lost City of Z is now available for Digital Download, and on Blu-ray and DVD.