There have been many great movies about war that have depicted the battles and the death and the horrors of it, but the new movie Nuremberg explores what happens next. Or, I should say what happened next, as the historical drama is set just after World War II, ahead of the real trials of 22 surviving leaders of Nazi Germany. Critics have seen the film ahead of its November 7 release on the 2025 movie calendar, and they’re calling it “an old-school Oscar movie.”

Rami Malek stars as Douglas Kelley, the chief psychiatrist in charge of determining if the German prisoners are competent to stand trial, who enters a battle of wits against Hermann Göring (Russell Crowe), Adolf Hitler’s right hand man. In CinemaBlend’s review of Nuremberg, Hugh Scott writes that while the second half of the movie carries the weight that it should, the first half is full of snappy jokes and one-liners that feel entirely out of place. He gives the movie 2 stars out of 5, writing:

Brian Truitt of USA TODAY gives it 3.5 out of 4 stars, writing that Malek and Crowe will be battling for awards for their performances in a movie that is definitely rousing but lighter than you might expect, given the subject matter. He continues:

Matthew Jackson of AV Club says there’s nothing subtle about James Vanderbilt’s movie, which urgently and earnestly screams its warning that history repeats itself. Jackson grades it a B, writing:

Rocco T. Thompson of Slant rates Nuremberg — a book-to-screen adaptation of Jack El-Hai’s The Nazi And The Psychiatrist — 2.5 out of 4 stars, writing that between James Vanderbilt’s direction and Russell Crowe’s performance, Göring is slippery, seductive and an all-too-human monster, holding a mirror up to our current world. Thompson says:

Lindsey Bahr of the AP also gives it 2.5 out of 4 stars, saying there’s a spark lacking in the conversations between Rami Malek and Russell Crowe’s characters, and we’re deprived of an unnerving descent into the mind of Hitler’s second-in-command. According to Bahr:

Owen Gleiberman of Variety writes that what the movie’s psychiatrist and the audience want is to explore the nature of evil through the eyes of Russell Crowe’s Göring. However, according to the critic, Nuremberg doesn’t quite get to the man behind the evil myth. Gleiberman says in his review:

The film has a mostly positive 72% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and is one of several highly anticipated films that will have us heading to the theater multiple weeks in a row. If you want to see one of the films that, according to some critics, we may see again on Oscar ballots, Nuremberg will be in theaters starting Friday, November 7.

The Nuremberg Trials were one of the most pivotal moments of the 20th century. On the heels of World War II, the Allies, for the first time in history, would put the aggressors of that war on trial for those aggressions, the Holocaust, and their crimes against humanity. The trials, especially the first trial that condemned the highest-ranking Nazis still living after the war, set precedents that are still in use today in international law. Nuremberg, from writer/director James Vanderbilt and starring Russell Crowe as the infamous Nazi Hermann Göring and Rami Malek as a psychiatrist studying the imprisoned war criminal, isn’t going to set any precedents.

The 2-hour and 28-minute movie really struggles to find its tone throughout. On one hand, it’s a pretty traditional courtroom drama. It’s also a psychological drama exploring the depths of humanity’s ability to be evil and justify it to oneself. It’s also, weirdly, a sort of adventure story that at times feels like it would fit into the Indiana Jones franchise.

This problem starts from the beginning. There are a lot of one-liners and snappy jokes that feel completely out of place for the subject matter. Making fun of Nazis and making them cartoonish, like Indiana Jones movies do, is great in the right context. But a study of how evil the Nazis were during the war and in implementing “The Final Solution of the Jewish Question” is not the time to slip in jokes. Yet, there are a bunch of them here, and it frankly made me squirm every time one was delivered.

The first act of Nuremberg is far too playful.

Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson, played here by Michael Shannon, was the chief prosecutor for the United States at the trial. By most accounts, Jackson was a serious man who took his duty at the trial solemnly and soberly. In Nuremberg, he’s often jokey, and that makes it difficult to take him seriously when he’s not. It’s a contrast that is impossible to reconcile. One-liners and hard cuts feel so out of place here; it makes you want to scream.

Meanwhile, Malek’s character, Dr. Douglas Kelley, seems to be off on his own separate adventure. His motivations are self-serving, as he intends to write a book about his interviews with the most notorious Nazis, especially Göring. More often, though, he’s just off on a jaunt through post-war Germany, speeding around in Jeeps and getting drunk in nightclubs with beautiful journalists. His character wouldn’t be out of place in a jaunty ‘60s war movie like The Great Escape or The Dirty Dozen. Sure, there is devastation all around us, but hey, let’s go have some fun in Europe!

Kelley’s constant bickering with the commandant of the prison holding the war criminals, Burton C. Andrus (John Slattery), borders on the absurd, with both men firing one-liners back and forth. At the same time, he’s combative in a far too self-serious way with another psychiatrist on the team, Gustave Gilbert (Colin Hanks). These two contrasting relationships again highlight how the film doesn’t strike a consistent tone. It’s enough to give any viewer whiplash.

The second half almost saves the movie.

Finally, once we arrive at the second act, the movie becomes what it should have been all along: a tense courtroom drama. When the prosecutors play films of the concentration camps, it carries the weight that it should. There are no more jokes, no more asides, and no more adventures; it’s a cold and brutal look at the Nazi atrocities and those responsible for them.

It's when Göring takes the stand that the movie finally shines. Shannon and Crowe are excellent as prosecutor and accused pitted against each other. We know from history just how this all plays out, and the movie stays true to that history, but Vanderbilt still builds the tension as the testimony unfolds. Göring is cocky at first, as he was in real life, before it all falls apart after only one question from British prosecutor Sir David Maxwell Fyfe (Richard E. Grant) in the film's best moment.

After all the uncomfortable playfulness of the first act, the movie settles into a seriousness that the subject matter demanded all along. The crowd I saw it with was completely silent for the final 45 minutes of the movie, as the jokes finally faded away, and the gravity of the crimes took hold. It’s a story most know, but that doesn’t lessen the impact of the real footage of the concentration camps, or the earnestness of the prosecutors in the trial. Even when Göring is charming, and he is at times, we aren’t allowed to forget how evil he is. That’s what was needed for the whole film, not just the final third of it.

The end of the film makes the beginning more disappointing

Nuremberg leaves the viewer asking why the whole movie didn’t strike the same tone as the trial scenes. It certainly left me wanting much more from the film. Instead, the movie misses the notes for far too long for the tense testimony of Göring to redeem it. The dramatization isn’t going to add much to the historical record, either, as the conversations between the Nazi Reichsmarschall and Kelley are truly fascinating, but ultimately fall flat.

The film makes a final point to show that the Nazis were just humans. Humanity at its worst, yes, but treating them as an anomaly discounts the possibility that something as evil as that regime could ever happen again. There is a clunky political message in there, but more than that, it's important to always remember that humans have a great capacity for wicked depravity. To forget that is to ignore the past and take the future for granted. If only the movie held that ideal throughout.

It’s impossible to make a man like Hermann Göring sympathetic, and it's probably not a great idea to try to, but Crowe does find a twisted sense of humanity in him. Unfortunately, the rest of the film doesn’t take itself seriously enough to make it stick.

After the success of A Complete Unknown, Jeremy Allen White is next in line to take on the challenge of playing a rock legend for a biopic, and fans are anxiously awaiting to see whether or not he pulls it off. The Bear star is to portray as Bruce Springsteen in a musical biopic titled Deliver Me From Nowhere, set to release in theaters October 24 on the 2025 movie schedule. However, White opted not to seek advice from his fellow actors like Timothée Chalamet and Austin Butler in this category, and I’m curious to see if his reason why pays off.

The Shameless actor recently addressed the fact that he didn’t reach out to his fellow actors for advice on making his performance stand out among the many upcoming musical biopics. While talking to the award-winning Chalamet seems like a no brainer, White told Variety there was one reason why he didn’t feel the need to:

We know from past films that preparing for a biopic role is an intense process, especially when depicting beloved musical visionaries. There’s already a fanbase that needs to be catered to, but more importantly, a real person’s life that you are honoring. Actors have gone to all lengths to get it right, like Austin Butler’s method acting, which led to him talking with an Elvis Presley accent for years following filming. Then there's Timothée Chalamet learning to sing and play guitar exactly like Bob Dylan, so much so that his castmates couldn't tell the difference.

Butler, Chalamet, and Malek (who played Queen's Freddie Mercury) have all gone through it to much success, and I’m sure they would have provided helpful tips. After talking with Butler on the set of their new A24 film Enemies, White seemingly regrets not asking.

But this isn’t the After Everything actor first foray into biopics, having portrayed one of the Von Erich brothers in The Iron Claw. Besides, I think his idea of just consulting himself and the “Thunder Road” singer for the role makes sense given the story director Scott Cooper is trying to tell.

Similar to A Complete Unknown, Deliver Me From Nowhere opts to share a specific snippet of Bruce Springsteen’s career instead of trying to tell his whole life story in two hours. The upcoming biopic centers around the making of Nebraska, an album “The Boss” made by himself, alone at home in New Jersey. Sandwiched between heightened moments in his career, Nebraska is a folkier acoustic sound with darker themes compared to Springsteen's other music, and an album he seemingly held very close to his chest.

Much like Springsteen making Nebraska, Jeremy Allen White isolated himself in a way while making this film, only consulting with the one person who could really give him insight to this role. However, the Born In The USA singer admitted to staying home when scenes were more personal.

It’s a very unexpected take for a Springsteen biopic, but much like A Complete Unknown, it should make for a captivating film. White has seemingly put in the work to nail his portrayal of Bruce Springsteen, and has even gotten the stamp of approval from “The Boss” himself, as well as fellow biopic actor Austin Butler. First looks at Deliver Me From Nowhere already have me excited, and I can’t wait to see if White’s process earns him a spot among the best musical biopics.

There are lots of upcoming action flicks set to hit the 2025 movies calendar, and many movie lovers have been looking forward to James Hawes’ The Amateur. The film stars Rami Malek as CIA cryptographer-turned-vigilante Charles Heller, who goes on a solo mission to avenge his wife’s death. Critics had the opportunity to screen it ahead of its April 11 release to theaters, so what are they saying about the revenge thriller?

The Amateur is an adaptation of the book of the same name by Robert Littell starring Rachel Brosnahan, Jon Bernthal, Laurence Fishburne and more. But in CinemaBlend’s review of The Amateur, Eric Eisenberg says it's great cast is wasted on a movie that is “an absolute snore.” He gives it 2 stars out of 5, and writes:

Amon Warmann of Empire gives it slightly more credit, rating the movie 3 stars out of 5 and saying there are flashes of promise and that it hits all the expected beats. However, there’s nothing that elevates The Amateur past that baseline. This critic agrees with CinemaBlend’s assessment that the cast is underutilized, and none more than Jon Bernthal. In Warmann’s words:

Jesse Hassenger of AV Club gives it a C+, admitting that there is some irresistible entertainment once things get going, but overall it feels like a watered-down movie that’s already been edited for your in-flight entertainment. Hassenger continues:

David Ehrlich of IndieWire also grades it a C+, saying the movie is neither fun nor dull, and while it takes itself too seriously, there is something inherently amusing about Rami Malek’s surprise at his character’s capacity for violence. The critic concludes:

Not all of the critics found The Amateur to be quite so middling. IGN’s Eric Goldman gives it a “Good” 7 out of 10. Heller is easy to cheer for, Goldman says, especially since The Amateur doesn’t rush his transformation into a skilled killer and allows him to make some pretty major mistakes. All in all, it’s an entertaining spin on a spy story, the critic says, writing:

It seems like most of the critics are mostly ranking The Amateur in the middle of the pack when it comes to action thrillers, but we know from Rami Malek’s best movies and TV series how good he is at portraying different characters. If you’re down for this take of revenge, catch this one on the big screen starting Friday, April 11.

“But what I do have are a very particular set of skills, skills I have acquired over a very long career.” That’s a line from the 2008 hit Taken, memorably performed by Liam Neeson while speaking on the phone to a man who has kidnapped his character’s daughter, and it arguably kicked off what has become a dominant subgenre in action films in the near-two decades since: the unassuming killer protagonist. In the case of Neeson’s Bryan Mills, his enemies and audiences were meant to underestimate him as an aging, loving father, but the basic premise has taken many different forms since then.

In 2025 alone, we’ve already seen two other examples of this. In February, Ke Huy Quan played the archetypal lead in Love Hurts (a lovable realtor with a dark past as a gangster), and Jack Quaid got his shot last month in Novocaine (likable assistant bank manager turns badass thanks to his inability to feel pain). Neither movie is great – the latter definitely better than the former – but what can at least be said is that both films had an interesting and unique hook to hang on. Director James Hawes’ The Amateur, on the other hand, has no hook to speak of, and the end result is that it is an absolute snore.

Academy Award-winner Rami Malek is the lead of this one, playing an introverted analyst who thirsts for revenge following the murder of his wife, and it’s a film that is lacking in both flavor and energy. It has 60 minutes of plot stuck in a 123 minute package, its action hanging on four mediocre set pieces (half of which have been heavily featured in the marketing), and it’s a persistent challenge to fend of the yawns as the protagonist slowly moves around Europe and you wait for anything interesting to happen. A great ensemble cast is wasted in a movie that has no idea what to do with any of them.

The movie based on the novel of the same name by Robert Littell, Malek plays Charlie Heller, a basement-dwelling decryption expert for the Central Intelligence Agency whose life is shattered when the woman he loves (Rachel Brosnahan) is killed by a cadre of terrorists (Michael Stuhlbarg, Barbara Probst, Marc Rissmann, Joseph Millson). Devastated and alone, he uses his resources and training to find the people responsible, but direct retaliation is ruled out by his superiors (Holt McCallany, Danny Sapani) due to larger scale operations.

Heller, determined and his life otherwise devoid of anything, opts to blackmail the CIA with evidence of a cover-up operation he conveniently discovers a couple days prior. His lone demand is permission for his vendetta and what ultimately amounts to a few hours of training with a veteran agent (Laurence Fishburne). While staying one step of his employers, who are looking for any opening to shut him down, he travels around the world hunting for vengeance.

The Amateur has nothing interesting to contribute to the underdog action thriller subgenre.

In an underdog action thriller, deception is an important ingredient. In Taken, Bryan Mills is a retired dad, but he is a consummate ass-kicker. In Love Hurts, Ke Huy Quan’s Marvin Gable is sweet and amiable, but he has a killer rage that he keeps bottled up. In Novocaine, Jack Quaid’s Nate has long lived a sheltered life because of his congenital condition, but not feeling pain means losing a key motivation to stop fighting. This important ingredient is absent in The Amateur. Charlie Heller understands and is repeatedly told that he has no killer instinct and no advanced physical skills, which render him a relatable protagonist, but there is also nothing special about him that makes him a compelling character.

It can’t be said that the guy isn’t intelligent or doesn’t have a knack for computers that allows him to access basically any information the plot requires – but that can also be said about the CIA informant with whom he connects and partners in the movie’s second act. His methods of tracking, interrogating and killing entirely lack dynamism or build, preventing the thriller from ever being effectively thrilling. A perfect example (that is heavily featured in the trailers): Heller confronts one of his wife’s killers as he swims in a rooftop pool bridging two buildings, but there is nothing clever about Heller’s plan and no tension generated with the antagonist’s fear in his precarious circumstances (neither in the script nor the cinematography); the guy denies being who Heller is looking for, a button is pressed, and the pool shatters and the guy plummets to his death.

I suppose one could say that Charlie Heller’s hook is that he is above being bloodthirsty… but that just doesn’t jibe with the entire premise of a revenge story, and it means that the movie actively avoids giving the audience what it is seeking from The Amateur.

Don’t make the same mistake I did: don’t expect The Amateur to be a spy thriller with twists.

Also helping absolutely nothing is how bizarrely linear the whole story is. Fair or unfair, there is an expectation that a movie about the world’s most famous spy agency would feature some big twists and turns that you never see coming, but that’s a spice that is left on the shelf. I kept waiting for some kind of reveal about the reason why Heller’s wife was killed and/or some extra nefarious detail about operations being run by the CIA that intersected with the plot, but those revelations never come. Everything is as it seems at all times, and the film becomes more and more underwhelming as you realize that.

The Amateur is the kind of movie that gets outfitted with pull quotes like “star-studded” and “a globetrotting adventure,” which aren’t so much positive marks as they are statements of fact. To be sure, there is a lot of talent on screen and the production did plenty of on-location shooting, but in would have been smarter to invest more of the effort in crafting an effective story. It’s neither smart nor exciting; it’s just boring.

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

Cillian Murphy

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

Joaquin Phoenix

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

Will Smith

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

Anthony Hopkins

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

Leonardo DiCaprio

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

Denzel Washington

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

Robert De Niro

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

Matthew McConaughey

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

Tom Hanks

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

Rami Malek

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

Adrien Brody

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

Jamie Foxx

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

Daniel Day-Lewis

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

Jack Nicholson

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

Marlon Brando

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

Philip Seymour Hoffman

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

Russell Crowe

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

Jean Dujardin

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

Nicolas Cage

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

Eddie Redmayne

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

Sidney Poitier

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

Sean Penn

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

Roberto Benigni

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

Al Pacino

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

Ben Kingsley

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

Humphrey Bogart

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

Forest Whitaker

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

Dustin Hoffman

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

Gary Oldman

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

Laurence Olivier

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

Casey Affleck

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

Brendan Fraser

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

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

Ben Kingsley - Gandhi

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

Margot Robbie - Tonya Harding

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

Paul Dano - Brian Wilson

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

Reese Witherspoon - June Carter Cash

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

Robert Downey, Jr - Charlie Chaplin

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

Natalie Portman - Jackie Kennedy

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

Meryl Streep - Margaret Thatcher

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

Rami Malek - Freddy Mercury

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

Val Kilmer - Jim Morrison

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

Denzel Washington - Malcolm X

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

Faye Dunaway - Joan Crawford

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

Jennifer Lopez - Selena

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

David Oyelowo - Dr, Martin Luther King, Jr.

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

Cate Blanchett - Bob Dylan

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

Daniel Day-Lewis - Abraham Lincoln

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

Cillian Murphy - J. Robert Oppenheimer

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

Cynthia Erivo - Harriet Tubman

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

Forest Whitaker - Idi Amin

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

Jessica Chastain - Tammy Faye Bakker

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

Philip Seymour Hoffman - Truman Capote

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

Daniel Kaluuya - Fred Hampton

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

Gary Oldman - Winston Churchill

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

Angela Bassett - Tina Tuner

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

Austin Butler - Elvis Presley

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

Jesse Eisenberg - Mark Zuckerberg

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

Leonardo DiCaprio - Howard Hughes

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

Charlize Theron - Aileen Wuornos

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

Sean Penn - Harvey Milk

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

George C. Scott - George Patton

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

Cate Blanchett - Katharine Hepburn

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

Robert De Niro - Jake LaMotta

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

Helen Mirren - Queen Elizabeth II

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

Across the entire history of the James Bond movies, the actors playing 007 have been as compelling as the adversaries that opposed them on screen. In the spirit of those menacing performances, we’d like to highlight 32 actors who have played the villain in the Bond canon.

Joseph Wiseman (Dr. No)

The first villain in 007 history, the titular Dr. No helped introduce the world to SPECTRE’s brand of villainy through actor Joseph Wiseman. Notable credits of the Canadian actor include a ‘50s adaptation of Les Miserables, as well as an appearance in an early season of Law & Order. 

Robert Shaw (From Russia With Love)

While most movie fans would remember Robert Shaw from films like Jaws or The Taking of Pelham One Two Three, the man was also one of the most memorable James Bond villains ever. Playing Red Grant in From Russia With Love, Shaw’s SPECTRE agent was the first, and one of the best, dark mirrors to 007 himself. 

Gert Fröbe (Goldfinger)

Though he was vocally dubbed over in his role as Goldfinger’s titular villain, Gert Fröbe’s appearance was nonetheless imposing in the early era of Sean Connery’s James Bond. Coincidentally, Fröbe would also land a part in another Ian Fleming adaptation: the Dick van Dyke-led musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. 

Adolfo Celi (Thunderball)

Adolfo Celi is one of those James Bond villains that you may do a double take upon seeing them. But rest assured, the polyglot performer was the villain in both Thunderball and Operation: Kid Brother, menacing both Sean Connery and his brother Neil during the 1960’s. 

Donald Pleasance (You Only Live Twice)

Donald Pleasance certainly needs no introduction to fans of the best horror movies of all time, thanks to his role as Dr. Loomis in the classic run of Halloween movies. But his iconic career also holds the distinction of the actor being the very first version of Ernst Stavro Blofeld we see on screen. 1967’s You Only Live Twice ushered in the character, who eventually became James Bond’s cinematic arch-nemesis. 

Telly Savalas (On Her Majesty’s Secret Service)

While Telly Savalas was the second incarnation of Ernst Stavro Blofeld in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, some would argue that he was indeed the most menacing and charming. With a career that included films such as Kelly’s Heroes, and TV series like The Twilight Zone and Kojak, his spot in George Lazenby’s lone Bond movie only further proved his versatility. 

Charles Gray (Diamonds Are Forever)

Though Charles Gray appeared as an ally to James Bond in You Only Live Twice, that didn’t stop the powers that be from casting him to be the third variant of Ernst Stavro Blofeld in the 007 legacy. His balance of smarm and campy menace would serve him well later on, as The Criminologist in the film adaptation of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. 

Yaphet Kotto (Live And Let Die)

Even American acting legends like Yaphet Kotto found their way into the James Bond ecosystem. A veteran of projects like Alien and Homicide: Life on the Streets, Kotto was also the iconic Dr. Kananga/Mr. Big in Live and Let Die, serving as the first antagonist in the era of Roger Moore’s James Bond. 

Christopher Lee (The Man With The Golden Gun)

Sir Christopher Lee’s iconic acting career had him playing roles like Dracula and Saruman in The Lord of the Rings saga. However, his role as Scaramanga in The Man with the Golden Gun is rather impressive for some other James Bond-related reasons. Not only was Lee a cousin to author Ian Fleming, but he was also one of the original actors considered for the role of 007.

Julian Glover (For Your Eyes Only)

A performer deeply canonized in the trenches of geekdom, Julian Glover has held roles in both the Star Wars and Indiana Jones movies, as well as a recurring spot in HBO’s Game of Thrones. That last connection is all the more exciting when you consider that For Your Eyes Only not only had Glover in its cast, but Tywin Lannister himself, Charles Dance, was also present. 

Christopher Walken (A View To A Kill)

While most people probably wouldn’t bat an eye at Christopher Walken playing a James Bond villain, most folks would more than likely be hard-pressed to answer the question of if he ever did. This makes Walken’s role in A View to a Kill even more exciting to behold, as the Dune: Part Two actor actually got to challenge Roger Moore in his final turn as 007.

Sean Bean (Goldeneye)

Fans of actor Sean Bean love to play an infamous game whenever they see the veteran of The Lord of the Rings and Snowpearcer on screen: “Does Sean Bean Die In This Movie?” Well, Goldeneye may have been the movie that started that craze, thanks to a string of opportunities in the decades that ensued answering that question with a resounding yes.

Jonathan Pryce (Tomorrow Never Dies)

Worldwide audiences probably best know Jonathan Pryce from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, as he played the father to Keira Knightley’s Elizabeth Swann. However, deep-fried fans of the Brazil actor’s work also know that Elliot Carver in Tomorrow Never Dies as one of the most effective Bond Villains. 

Sophie Marceau (The World Is Not Enough)

In one of the best plot twists ever, Sophie Marceau’s Elektra King goes from Bond Girl to Bond Villain in The World is Not Enough. Prior to that head-turning reveal, Marceau had been seen at the box office in the classic epic Braveheart, as well as the David Spade comedy vehicle Lost & Found. 

Toby Stephens (Die Another Day)

Toby Stephens’ Gustave Graves is another fantastic example of the “dark mirror” villain archetype at work. However, playing the eccentric Die Another Day villain seemed to allow the future star of Black Sails and Lost in Space to do something most 007 baddies don’t get to do: play James Bond through a series of BBC radio adaptations. 

Mads Mikkelsen (Casino Royale)

When he helped kick off Daniel Craig’s James Bond era, Mads Mikkelsen kind of fell into the role of Casino Royale’s sinister Le Chiffre. Of course, in the years since, he’s been seen as everything from a loving father in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story to the cannibalistic psychiatrist that gave NBC’s Hannibal its title.

Javier Bardem (Skyfall)

Striding the line between charming and chilling, Raoul Silva from Skyfall is a role that actor Javier Bardem was born to play. And that’s even after considering the fact that Bardem’s career had already seen him in projects like No Country For Old Men and Collateral. But even with that sort of clout at his disposal, one of his big scenes with Daniel Craig was almost cut.

Christoph Waltz (Spectre)

When Christoph Waltz was announced as starring in Spectre, all of the rumors pointed to the breakout star of Inglorious Basterds as the modern Ernst Stavro Blofeld. Considering he had quite a few baddies on his resume by that point, it’s kind of amusing to imagine a world where he wasn’t the Daniel Craig-era incarnation of 007’s greatest silver screen foe.

Andrew Scott (Spectre)

Andrew Scott is too good at playing a villain. Before he became Fleabag’s “hot priest” or even set eyes on the complicated figure at the heart of Netflix’s Ripley, Scott’s time as Moriarty for Steven Moffat’s Sherlock probably helped cast him as the hidden evil known as C in Spectre. 

Rami Malek (No Time To Die)

You don’t have to have won an Academy Award to play a modern James Bond villain. Though it may have helped Rami Malek land his No Time To Die role as Safin, an assassin who’s looking to wreck the world in his own special way. Malek’s casting came after years of roles like HBO’s The Pacific and the Night at the Museum movies giving him quite the shining star. 

Lotte Lenya (From Russia With Love)

A prolific singer and artist before and after her time in the James Bond series, Lotte Lenya only further entrenched herself in entertainment history in From Russia With Love. As the dominating Rosa Klebb, Lenya was one of the first lieutenants of SPECTRE seen going head-to-head with 007. 

Luciana Paluzzi (Thunderball)

Italian actress Luciana Paluzzi’s role as Fiona Volpe in Thunderball gave James Bond one of his most formidable femme fatales. Ms. Paluzzi’s portrayal would eventually win her roles on The Man from U.N.C.L.E., as well as its spinoff The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. Coincidentally, one of Luciana’s previous credits was in a film directed by Dr. No director Terrence Young. The name of that film? No Time To Die. 

Curt Jurgens (The Spy Who Loved Me)

As the antagonist in The Spy Who Loved Me, actor Curt Jürgens terrorized Roger Moore and Barbara Bach in a caper that brought together British spy and Soviet operatives alike. A Eurpoean film star prior to his James Bond casting, Jürgens’ career in world domination came later on in his career. 

Joe Don Baker (The Living Daylights)

Charles Gray and Joe Don Baker both hold a very important distinction in the James Bond legacy: they’ve both played heroes and villains in that very same series. In Baker’s case, his appearance as heel Brad Whittaker in The Living Daylights put him in a prime position to return in the Pierce Brosnan run as 007’s American ally, CIA agent Jack Wade.

Robert Davi (License To Kill)

You’ve seen and heard Robert Davi in everything from the Halo video games to the cult classic Showgirls. And right on the man’s impressive resume is a spot in the James Bond Hall of Fame, as License to Kill’s Franz Sanchez. His approach to playing a Bond villain was so in sync with Timothy Dalton’s 007, that it remains one of the best adversaries in the series.

Louis Jourdan (Octopussy)

As the roguish villain Kamal Khan, French acting legend Louis Jourdan’s part in Octopussy only added to an already prolific career. Jourdan’s talents were also seen in TV series such as Charlie’s Angels and Columbo, as well as films like The Return of Swamp Thing. 

Mathieu Amalric (Quantum of Solace)

How’s this for a coincidence? Before he played the main villain in Quantum of Solace, actor Mathieu Amarlric actually co-starred with Daniel Craig in Steven Spielberg’s Munich. Years later, the water-focused supervillain would become a part of the Wes Anderson repertory cast, through roles in The Grand Budapest Hotel and The French Dispatch. 

Michael Lonsdale (Moonraker)

The late great Michael Lonsdale made the role of Hugo Drax a very imposing figure in the Roger Moore-led adaptation of Moonraker. Years down the line, the French thespian would find himself co-starring with two other 007 actors, thanks to 1986’s The Name of the Rose and 2005’s Munich. Lonsdale starred alongside Sean Connery and Daniel Craig, respectively.

Charles Dance (For Your Eyes Only)

Believe it or not, Charles Dance once seemed to be in line to audition to replace Roger Moore as the 007 of the ‘80s. The man who would be Game of Thrones’ Tywin Lannister seemed perfectly positioned to do so after playing a henchman in For Your Eyes Only, but eventually declined to chase that opportunity. 

Famke Janssen (Goldeneye)

Before she became one of the actors that ushered in the age of X-Men being a successful film franchise, Famke Janssen made a name for herself against Pierce Brosnan’s Commander Bond. Starring as the henchwoman to Sean Bean’s Goldeneye baddie, her darkly comic menace is as legendary as her costuming. 

Robert Carlyle (The World Is Not Enough)

Scottish actor Robert Carlyle played the functional villain in The World is Not Enough, as his heavy Renard pushed James Bond further into a web of danger, intrigue, and nuclear weapons. And yet, his performance in this movie is relatively tame, considering he made his name as the uber-violent Begbie in Danny Boyle’s Trainspotting just three years prior.

Jesper Christensen (Casino Royale)

Mr. White was always the man behind the man, through both Quantum and SPECTRE’s runs in the Daniel Craig 007 stories. And Jesper Christensen was present to play that role in three of the five entries that made up that arc, appearing in Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, and Spectre. 

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

Eddie Murphy (Vampire In Brooklyn)

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

Tom Cruise (Interview With The Vampire)

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

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

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

Evan Rachel Wood (True Blood)

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

Robert Pattinson (Twilight)

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

Chloë Grace Moretz (Let Me In)

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

Salma Hayek (From Dusk Till Dawn)

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

Taika Waititi (What We Do In The Shadows)

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

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

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

Willem Dafoe (Shadow Of The Vampire)

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

Gerard Butler (Dracula 2000)

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

Wesley Snipes (Blade)

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

Colin Farrell (Fright Night)

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

Ethan Hawke (Daybreakers)

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

Luke Evans (Dracula Untold)

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

Kate Beckinsale (Underworld)

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

Alicia Silverstone (Vamps)

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

Pedro Pascal (Bloodsucking Bastards)

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

Jim Carrey (Once Bitten)

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

Paul Reubens (Buffy The Vampire Slayer)

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

Alexander Skarsgård (True Blood)

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

David Boreanaz (Buffy, Angel)

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

Sterling K. Brown (Supernatural)

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

Kiefer Sutherland (The Lost Boys)

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

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

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

Bryce Dallas Howard (The Twilight Saga: Eclipse)

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

Tilda Swinton (Only Lovers Left Alive)

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

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

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

Gary Oldman (Bram Stoker's Dracula) 

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

Christopher Meloni (True Blood)

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

Nicolas Cage (Renfield)

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

Johnny Depp (Dark Shadows)

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

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

With Ramy Youssef blowing up in both the worlds of TV and movies, and long careers like Tony Shalhoub’s and Salma Hayek’s being considered iconic, Arab representation in the world of comedy has been getting better and better. So, with that in mind, it’s time to give out flowers to some of these amazing comedic actors by highlighting their best films and shows.

Ramy Youssef

Ramy Youssef is a prolific stand-up comedian and actor who was born in New York City, and grew up in New Jersey. The Egyptian-American is probably best known as the creator, writer, producer and star of one of A24’s best shows, Ramy. The series follows Youssef as the titular character, while he grapples with his faith while living between the worlds of his Muslim community and his group of millennial friends who think “life has no consequences,” as Hulu’s synopsis of the show states. 

After two seasons of Ramy, Youssef’s career really took off. Along with directing an episode of The Bear during Season 2,  he also executive produced the Netflix series Mo and voiced a character in Disney’s Wish. 

Notably, he was also part of the ensemble for the critically acclaimed Poor Things. The film from Yorgos Lanthimos, where Youssef plays the man Emma Stone’s Bella Baxter is betrothed to, ended up winning four Oscars and people fell in love with it.

Since that film, the comedian has released a new stand-up special – Ramy Youssef: More Feelings – and he joined the ranks of Saturday Night Live’s Season 49 hosts. 

Ramy Youssef truly is thriving. 

Stream Ramy on Hulu.
Buy Ramy on Amazon. 
Buy or rent Poor Things on Amazon.
Stream Poor Things on Hulu. 

Tony Shalhoub

Tony Shalhoub’s parents emigrated from Lebanon to the United States, and he grew up in Wisconsin before becoming an actor. These days we know him best as the beloved Adrian Monk – whom he played on Monk from 2002 to its finale in 2009, and  returned to play again in Peacock's 2023 movie, Mr. Monk’s Last Case. 

Over the course of his career, Shalhoub has received 12 Emmy nominations and won four times, three of those wins were for Monk and the other came from the acclaimed comedy, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

In the Amazon Prime comedy that tells the perfect story of a woman finding her independence, Shalhoub plays our protagonist Midge’s father, Abe. He is full of hilarious one-liners and sass, and it’s just further proof that Tony Shalhoub is a living comedy legend.  

Buy Monk on Amazon.
Stream Monk and Mr. Monk’s Last Case on Peacock.
Stream The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel on Amazon. 

Alia Shawkat

Iraqi-American actress Alia Shawkat burst onto our screens when Arrested Development premiered in 2003. Starring alongside the iconic Arrested Development cast that included Michael Cera, Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, Tony Hale and more, she played George-Michael’s cousin and crush, Maeby Fünke in both the OG series and its revival on Netflix. 

Showing off her comedy chops again, Shawkat starred in HBO’s Search Party from 2016 to 2022 playing Dory Sief, a woman who (in Season 1) sets out to find her missing college friend. Following Season 1, a new mystery unfolds with each installment, and overall, it’s a dark, creative and off-beat comedy.

Adding to her already impressive filmography, Alia Shawkat has also voiced characters in animated series like Summer Camp Island and Big Mouth, and she’s starred in films like The To Do List and Whip It. 

Stream Arrested Development on Netflix.
Buy Arrested Development on Amazon. 
Stream Search Party on Max. 
Buy Search Party on Amazon. 

Mo Amer

Mo Amer is a well-known Palestinian-American stand-up comedian, who has started taking on more scripted opportunities. Along with starring in 27 episodes of Ramy alongside Ramy Youssef, he also created, produced and led his own Netflix series, Mo. 

During an interview with CinemaBlend, Amer explained that Mo allowed him to tell his Palestinian refugee story in a way that stand-up couldn’t, as it draws from his own life growing up in Houston, Texas. 

Along with Mo and Ramy, Amer also has a stand-up special called The Vagabond, and he starred in the films Black Adam and Sweet Dreams. Overall, this comedian is just getting started!

Stream Mo on Netflix.
Stream Ramy on Hulu. 
Buy Ramy on Amazon. 

Salma Hayek 

Mexican-Lebanese actress Salma Hayek has received lots of love for her dramatic performances in movies like Frida and Desperado. However, she’s also a comedy queen.

In 2010, she starred alongside Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock and David Spade in Grown Ups, playing the Sandman’s wife, Roxanne Chase-Feder. Along with performing alongside these comedy legends in this film and its sequel, she also brought the comedy in Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard, which she led with Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson.

Overall, Hayek has proved time and time again that she can do any project, and it’s always such a treat when we get to see her comedy skills in action. 

Stream Grown Ups on Amazon.
Buy or rent Grown Ups on Amazon.
Buy or rent Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard on Amazon.

Nasim Pedrad

Nasim Pedrad, an Iranian-American actress, made a name for herself during her tenure as part of some of Saturday Night Live’s best casts. From 2009 to 2014, she starred in five seasons of the legendary sketch comedy show and it showed off her range as a brilliant comedian. 

After SNL, Pedrad went on to guest star in shows like New Girl, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Big Mouth. 

Most notable, though, is her role as the titular 14-year-old boy in the comedy she co-created, Chad. She’s made two seasons of the show so far, and she wears multiple hats in the production, serving as the co-creator, producer and writer as well as star. 

Stream Saturday Night Live on Peacock.
Buy Nasim Pedrad’s seasons of SNL on Amazon. 
Stream Chad on The Roku Channel. 
Buy Chad on YouTube.

Kathy Najimy

The Sanderson sisters will always be iconic, and so will Kathy Najimy. The Lebanese-American actress played Mary Sanderson alongside Bette Midler’s Winifred and Sarah Jessica Parker’s Sarah in Hocus Pocus and Hocus Pocus 2. To this day, it’s one of her most beloved roles and one of the best fun Halloween movies. 

Keeping the iconic roles going, Najimy also played Mary Parick alongside Whoopi Goldberg in the 1992 comedy, Sister Act, and its sequel, Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit. 

This comedic actress really left her mark on the ‘90s, and to this day her work is beloved as more and more people discover these legendary films. 

Stream Hocus Pocus on Disney+.
Buy or rent Hocus Pocus on Amazon.
Stream Sister Act on Disney+. 
Buy or rent Sister Act on Amazon Prime. 

Rami Malek

Now, I realize we know Rami Malek for movies and shows like Bohemian Rapsody and Mr. Robot. He tends to take on the more dramatic parts. However, have you ever seen the Egyptian-American actor’s episode of Saturday Night Live? It’s hilarious!

Season 47, Episode 3 of SNL was led by the Oscar winner, and it gave us wonderful sketches like “Rami Wants a Treat,” “Angelo” and “Bug Assembly.” 

On top of that, Malek’s first big movie was Night at the Museum, where he played Ahkmenrah, and he was incredibly charming and funny. 

Basically, what I’m saying is Malek is an actor with major range, and he should do more comedy!

Stream Rami Maleck’s episode of Saturday Night Live on Peacock.
Buy Rami Maleck’s episode of SNL on Amazon.
Stream Night at the Museum on Disney+.
Buy or rent Night at the Museum on Amazon.

Over the years we’ve been seeing more and more movies and TV shows with great Arab-American representation, and these actors are a big reason why. Along with all these projects, they have all had wonderful careers that are still thriving, and we can’t wait to see what they do next!

Are you ready for another high-stakes action thriller movie? Because I sure am – and that's what The Amateur will bring to theaters. This is what we know so far about it. 

When it comes to some of the best thriller films or action movies, I'm sure plenty pop up on your radar. Maybe you think of the best James Bond films, or turn to intense action films like the Fast and the Furious franchise, but I would like a movie that combines all three of those elements – high-paced action with a thrilling atmosphere that has a bit of an edge to it. 

Thankfully, we are getting something that sounds like that in the form of The Amateur, a thriller that is coming to movie theaters soon. But when can we expect this new film? Here's what we know... 

What Is The Amateur Release Date?

Get ready, thriller fans, because The Amateur, also known as Amateur, has a set release date of November 8, 2024, according to The Hollywood Reporter. 20th Century is set to release it.

While there isn't a trailer out yet for this film, if the release date is a part of the 2024 movie schedule, I have a feeling that we will be getting something soon. 

November 2024 already has plenty of releases, including the upcoming surprise sequel Moana 2, the highly anticipated Wicked: Part 1, and the next Venom film, which also releases on the same weekend as The Amateur. But this thriller film will stand out amongst the competition and blow everyone out of the water.

Rami Malek, Rachel Brosnahan, And More Will Star

With any thriller film, it's pretty essential to cast a stellar ensemble team, and The Amateur is no different. Here is who you can expect in the upcoming movie:

Rami Malek as Charles Heller

Deadline reported in February 2023 that Rami Malek had signed on to star in The Amateur. Malek is an actor who's been around for many years, including earning fame for his role in the TV show, Mr. Robot. Still, he gained even more acclaim when he starred in Bohemian Rhapsody, a biographical film about the life of Freddie Mercury. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance. 

Malek will be playing Charles Heller, the movie's main character, as reported in another Deadline article covering the addition of fellow cast member Adrian Martinez.

Aside from that, Malek has appeared in various movies, including the Night at the Museum franchise, The Little Things, and No Time to Die, and was a part of the Oppenheimer cast in 2023 – albeit just for a few scenes, but he was most certainly there. 

Rachel Brosnahan

Deadline reported in May 2023 that three more additional stars had been cast in The Amateur: Rachel Brosnahan, Caitríona Balfe, and Laurence Fishburne. 

We'll start with Rachel Brosnahan. When writing this, we don't know who she will play officially. Brosnahan is a well-known actress who made waves for her starring role in one of the best Amazon Prime shows, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, which ran for five seasons. 

Aside from that, Brosnahan also appeared in the Netflix TV series House of Cards and Manhattan. Additionally, you might recognize her from movies like The Courier, Patriots Day, Beautiful Creatures, and more. 

Caitríona Balfe

Caitríona Balfe was the second actress confirmed from that Deadline article. Her character for The Amateur is currently unknown. Balfe has gained acclaim for her role in one of the best Starz series Outlander but has also appeared in movies such as Belfast, Money Monster, and Ford V. Ferrari.  

Laurence Fishburne

Laurence Fishburne was the last confirmed by Deadline, and they also didn't know exactly who he would be playing. Fishburne is a significant actor in Hollywood and has appeared in several movies and television shows throughout his career. 

Fishburne is well known for his role as Morpheus in the Matrix franchise, and he also appeared in films such as Boyz n the Hood, Apocalypse Now, the John Wick film franchise, What's Love Got to Do with It, and several other movies. He also had a role on the TV show Hannibal, and played Pops on Black-ish. 

Adrian Martinez as Carlos

As reported above by the Deadline article confirming Malek's character name, Deadline also confirmed that Adrian Martinez would play Carlos in early May 2023. The character is a CIA tech and the main character's closest friend to Heller. 

Martinez has appeared in films such as The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and Focus, Renfield, The Stand-In, Lady and the Tramp, Army of One and many others. 

Holt McCallany as CIA Deputy Director Moore

Deadline also confirmed in late May 2023 that Holt McCallany and Julianne Nicholson had joined The Amateur. Holt McCallany will play CIA Deputy Director Moore. 

The actor is primarily known for being in one of the best shows to binge-watch on Netflix, Mindhunter (a show that was also cancelled way too soon). He's also appeared in films such as The Iron Claw, Nightmare Alley, and Fight Club. 

Julianne Nicholson

The above Deadline article also confirmed Julianne Nicholson for The Amateur. Details on her role have yet to be released. 

The actress is known for her time on the TV series, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Masters of Sex, and Eyewitness. She also won an Emmy Award for performing in the Mare of Easttown cast. The actress has also appeared in movies like Blonde, The Outsider, and I, Tonya.

The Amateur Follows A Cryptographer Who Goes After Terrorists When His Wife Is Killed

With all this CIA talk above, you might wonder what The Amateur is about. Thankfully, we have plenty of details. 

From the Deadline article confirming Malek as the star, The Amateur follows a CIA cryptographer who suffers the worst fate imaginable – his wife is killed due to a London terrorist attack that takes the lives of everyone there. 

The cryptographer, who is Charles Heller, begs the CIA to do something, but when he sees that things aren't budging on this case, he decides to get the agency to train him instead – so he can get vengeance for his wife and take the terrorists down himself. 

I'm already eager to see where this goes. This sounds awesome. 

James Hawes Is Directing The Amateur

Something else we know from the Deadline article about Malek's casting is that James Hawes is the director behind The Amateur. 

Hawes is primarily known for his TV career, where he has directed several major shows, including Doctor Who, Black Mirror, Snowpiercer, Raised by Wolves, and Slow Horses. He also directed One Life, his film directorial debut, in 2023. 

The Movie Was Filming In London In 2023

Filming for Amateur was underway in June 2023, according to KFTV, which makes sense because of all those casting announcements in May 2023. 

However, filming was paused in July 2023, according to The Wrap, because of the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Filming did resume in November 2023 once the strike was resolved, according to Deadline. 

Whether filming is ongoing as of 2024 is unknown, but with a release date later this year, we'll get an update on that soon. 

I have heard some say that the age of the movie star is dead and that audiences no longer go to the cinema just to see their favorite actor’s latest release. However, I think that the large ensemble of stunningly talented A-listers from Amsterdam — in which three friends uncover a political conspiracy while investigating a murder in 1933 — might be the perfect way to challenge that theory. 

If you were not interested in seeing writer and director David O. Russell’s latest release — a captivatingly mysterious period piece — before, just learning who is in the Amsterdam cast might be enough to change your mind. See for yourself by reading on to see who is playing who and where you might know them from.

Christian Bale (Dr. Burt Berendsen)

Following his Oscar win for 2010’s The Fighter and nomination for 2013’s American Hustle, Christian Bale re-teams with David O. Russell to play kindhearted, one-eyed war veteran-turned-surgeon Dr. Burt Berendsen in Amsterdam — his latest of many period dramas, including Empire of the Sun, Newsies, The Prestige, and Rescue Dawn, to name a few. 

The Welsh actor is better known for darker roles, such as modern horror villain Patrick Bateman in American Psycho, Trevor Reznik in The Machinist, John Connor in Terminator Salvation, or Dick Cheney in Vice. Also in 2022, the Dark Knight Trilogy’s Batman actor returned to the comic book genre to play Gorr in Thor: Love and Thunder, which his Ford v. Ferrari co-star, Matt Damon, also cameoed in.

John David Washington (Harold Woodman)

In his first collaboration with David O. Russell as lawyer and Burt’s Army buddy, Harold Woodman, we have John David Washington — who, like Bale, has also starred in a few period pieces (his film debut, Malcolm X, in 1992, and BlackKklansman and The Old Man and the Gun in 2018) and worked with Christopher Nolan (2020’s Tenet).

Denzel Washington's son really launched his acting career with the HBO series, Ballers, leading to roles in movies like the thought-provoking crime drama, Monsters and Men. Washington has also starred in a few Netflix original movies, such as when he played the title role of Beckett cast as and one of the titular duo from Malcolm & Marie in 2021.

Margot Robbie (Valerie Voze)

Also working with David O. Russell for the first time as Valerie Voze — who met Burt and Harold during World War I — is Margot Robbie, who also has a few things in common with Bale, having been in multiple DC movies (starring as Harley Quinn), made a cameo as herself in The Big Short, and once parodied one of his movies in the 2016 short, Australian Psycho. 

The Australian actor is also known for many historical/fact-based dramas, such as her breakout role in The Wolf of Wall Street, her Oscar-nominated performances in I, Tonya and Bombshell, and when she played a fictionalized version of Sharon Tate in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Audiences may also recognize Robbie as Charlotte in 2013’s About Time, as Jane in The Legend of Tarzan, or from the Australian soap opera that jump-started her career, Neighbours, which she recently appeared on again 2022. 

Rami Malek (Tom Voze)

As Valerie’s brother, Tom, we have Rami Malek, who has won an Oscar for a biographical drama (as Queen frontman Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody) and worked with John David Washington’s father in the 2021 detective thriller, The Little Things. 

After debuting with a small role on Gilmore Girls, he made his feature film debut as Ahkmenrah from the Night at the Museum movies and went on to star in acclaimed dramas like The Master and Short Term 12, and blockbusters like The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 2 before achieving Emmy-winning success with USA series, Mr. Robot. Malek furthermore played a Bond villain in No Time to Die, and joined the cast of Christopher Nolan's upcoming Oppenheimer.

Anya Taylor-Joy (Libby Voze)

With her role as Tom’s wife, Libby, Amsterdam marks Anya Taylor-Joy’s latest effort to diversify her career outside of her enduring Scream Queen status, which she established with her (credited) feature film debut in 2016’s The Witch (her first collaboration with The Northman director Robert Eggers) and maintained with starring roles in Split, Thoroughbreds, Last Night in Soho, and The Menu, most recently. Her other, less scary period pieces include her stunning lead performance in Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit cast, recurring role on the platform’s Peaky Blinders, and title role in the Jane Austen adaptation, Emma. 

Andrea Riseborough (Beatrice)

As Burt’s estranged wife, Beatrice, we have Andrea Riseborough, who has also acquired Scream Queen status in recent years from her chilling performance in one of the best Black Mirror episodes (“Crocodile”), devastating turn in the title role of 2018’s psychedelic revenge flick, Mandy, and arguably more devastating turn in Brandon Cronenberg’s Possessor in 2020. 

Amsterdam is certainly one of the British actor’s more lighthearted credits, which also include 2008’s Happy-Go-Lucky, 2014’s Best Picture Oscar winner, Birdman, 2017’s Battle of the Sexes, and Amazon’s The Electric Life of Louis Wain, but does not include the otherwise notable Oblivion from 2013, 2016’s Nocturnal Animals, or the 2018 true crime miniseries, Waco.

Chris Rock (Milton King)

Milton King — Burt and Harold’s Army buddy — seems like a major departure for comedian and former SNL star Chris Rock, until you realize he effectively steals the show in Amsterdam with his humorous social commentary. Not to mention, the actor best known for comedies on both the small screen (he created and narrated Everybody Hates Chris, for instance) and the big screen (such as Head of State, the Madagascar movies, and several collaborations with his buddy, Adam Sandler) has explored various of genres. He has done crime thrillers (New Jack City and Fargo Season 4), action (Lethal Weapon 4 and Bad Company), and even horror (Spiral: From the Book of Saw, which he also wrote the story for).

Alessandro Nivola (Detective Hiltz)

Playing the overly suspicious gumshoe, Detective Hiltz, is Alessandro Nivola, who last worked with David O. Russell in American Hustle, but broke out in 1997 as Nicolas Cage’s on-screen brother in Face/Off. This led to roles in other major releases like the third of the Jurassic Park movies in 2001 and Oscar darlings like A Most Violent Year and Selma from 2014. In more recent years, he reunited with his Inventing the Applewhites co-star, Joaquin Phoenix, for the Amazon original thriller, You Were Never Really Here in 2017, appeared in Disobedience the same year, and starred in The Sopranos prequel movie, The Many Saints of Newark, as Dickie Moltisanti.

Matthias Schoenaerts (Detective Lem Gitwiller)

As Hiltz’s partner and WWI veteran, Lem, we have Matthias Schoenaerts, who made his acting debut at 13 in the Oscar-nominated Belgian drama, Daens, years before working with director Paul Verhoeven on 2006’s Black Book, sharing the screen with Marion Cotillard in 2012’s Rust and Bone, and making his English-language debut the next year with the crime thriller Blood Ties. Also in 2014, Schoenaerts appeared in the American remake of his 2008 thriller, Loft, starred in a pair of acclaimed period dramas in 2015 (Far from the Madding Crowd and The Danish Girl), and starred in Netflix's The Old Guard cast as a badass immortal.

Michael Shannon (Henry Norcross)

As an American who comes to the main trio’s aid named Henry, we have Andrea Riseborough’s Waco and Nocturnal Animals co-star, Michael Shannon, who actually received an Oscar nomination for that 2016 film — his second after his supporting role in 2008’s Revolutionary Road. He should have received a nod, as far as I am concerned, for his performances in Take Shelter and probably every other movie he has done with director Jeff Nichols. Man of Steel's General Zod is also known for other acclaimed films like Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape of Water, Rian Johnson’s Knives Out cast in 2019, and (also in 2022) the Bullet Train cast. 

Mike Myers (Paul Canterbury)

As Paul (a character who slightly resembles his Inglourious Basterds role), we have Rami Malek’s Bohemian Rhapsody co-star and Margot Robbie’s Terminal co-star, Mike Myers — yet another SNL vet who is known for creating and portraying irreverent characters like the title role of the Wayne’s World movies, the title role of the Austin Powers movies, and most of the characters from Netflix’s The Pentaverate. His other notable credits include 1993’s So I Married an Axe Murderer, 1998’s 54, and, arguably, his definitive role as the titular ogre from the Shrek movies.

Timothy Olyphant (Milfax)

While he has played villains before (i.e. Scream 2 and Live Free or Die Hard), Chris Rock’s Fargo Season 4 co-star, Timothy Olyphant, has never played a character so menacing and physically transformative as Milfax in Amsterdam. The actor also previously starred alongside Margot Robbie in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood in a role that reflected his penchant for starring in Westerns and, often, to Emmy-nominated acclaim — such as when he led both the Deadwood cast on HBO and the Justified cast on FX, and guest-starred on the Season  2 premiere of The Mandalorian. 

Zoe Saldaña (Irma St. Clair)

I cannot say I have seen Chris Rock’s Death at a Funeral co-star and Christian Bale’s Out of the Furnace co-star, Zoe Saldaña, play a role quite the like the reserved yet radiant morgue nurse Irma St. Clair — save, perhaps, her characters from Drumline, The Terminal, and Guess Who, for instance. I am more used to picturing her as a fierce, ass-kicking action hero from such films as the more recent Star Trek movies as Uhura, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy movies as Gamora, and the Avatar movies as Neytiri, just to name a few.

Taylor Swift (Liz Meekins)

I also cannot say I have seen Taylor Swift — who has been acting since her first appearance on SNL, before nailing her sole hosting gig, more than a decade ago — give a performance quite as strong and convincing as when she played Liz Meekins in Amsterdam. The Grammy-winning musician’s other acting credits include a 2009 episode of CSI, 2010’s romantic ensemble comedy, Valentine’s Day, the animated Dr. Seuss adaptation The Lorax, the 2014 Lois Lowry adaptation, The Giver, and Tom Hooper’s 2019 adaptation of Broadway’s Cats.

Robert De Niro (General Gil Dillenbeck)

Last, but certainly not least, as respected military general Gil Dillenbeck, we have frequent David O. Russell collaborator Robert De Niro, who is also known for his collaborations with Martin Scorsese — such as Taxi Driver, Raging Bull (which earned him his second Oscar) and Goodfellas — and plenty of other gangster movies, like The Godfather Part II (which earned him his second Oscar). The living legend is certainly not one to shy away from all kinds of genres, having done horror with Angel Heart, various comedies (one of the best being Meet the Parents), heist thrillers like Heat, and a comic book flick (2019’s Joker).

It is always a pleasure to see an ensemble as stacked and as stellar as the Amsterdam cast and, luckily, the film — now in theaters — is also worthy of their talent.

The way that Elvis co-star Tom Hanks described it when appearing on CinemaBlend’s official podcast ReelBlend, Austin Butler essentially is playing Jesus, in a movie titled Jesus. The full focus falls on Butler as he attempts to play The King for Baz Luhrmann’s rewarding biopic Elvis, now in theaters. And while the movie has earned incredibly valuable praise from the Presley family regarding his performance (really, it’s the best review he could have gotten), the actor admits to being very nervous while diving into specific scenes during the production, and they involve his need to sing live in front of an audience. 

One of the coolest aspects of Elvis is that Baz Luhrmann stages actual concerts that signify the different stages of Elvis Presley’s career. They begin around Memphis, when the upstart singer was dragging himself away from screaming female fans. They continue through a major, televised Christmas concert (that ruffled the singer’s feathers), and ends up in Las Vegas in the fading days of the star’s career. Butler ended up hospitalized after filming wrapped, but that had nothing to do with his fears, which came from singing. During press days for Elvis, Butler told CinemaBlend that to get over their fears, he leaned on a very famous friend, explaining:

Austin Butler learned from Rami Malek’s experience playing Freddie Mercury in the Queen biopic, Bohemian Rhapsody. There were stories that Malek insisted the Live Aid scene for that movie be filmed in one take, which definitely contributed to the overall energy of the sequence. And a similar approach helps Butler command the screen in Elvis. He talks in our interview above about how the girls in the audience gave him so much emotion to play off of while filming the singing scenes in Elvis, so that if they were swooning or screaming or crying, it helped add to the atmosphere of the scene… as Rami Malek no doubt could have told him. 

Of course, Rami Malek went on to win the Oscar for playing Freddie Mercury on the screen, and many have similar hopes for Butler. He definitely stood out in CinemaBlend’s review of the film, and Oscar analysts are already making statements about penciling Butler’s name onto the Oscar ballot for next year. We shall see how that all pans out, but of Butler thanks Rami Malek from the stage at the Oscars, now you know why. 

Over time, a name that I’ve been seeing a lot more often in both movies and television is Rami Malek. From some of his first roles in film to his starring parts in huge hit TV shows, Malek has constantly proven how skilled of an actor he is. And if you’ve been wondering where to watch some of his best roles, you’re in exactly the right place. While there are some awesome things to know about Rami Malek, we’re here to talk about some of his best films. 

If you’ve been on the lookout for the best Rami Malek movies and TV shows that are streaming or available to rent right now, this is the place for you, starting off with a huge hit of his. 

Mr. Robot (2015 - 2019)

You knew this one would be on the list. Mr. Robot is an awesome drama show telling the story of Elliot, a seemingly normal programmer who works as a cybersecurity engineer during the day, but at night, he turns into a hacker, acting as a vigilante to takedown a major corporation. 

While Rami Malek worked prior to taking on the lead role in Mr. Robot, this was his breakout performance. His performance Elliot was well-loved and Malek received several accolades and nominations, showing just how amazing of an actor he truly is. It’s a shame the show had to come to an end, but all good things do, and i don’t think we’ll ever quite forget our favorite hacker. 

Stream Mr. Robot on Amazon Prime.

Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)

Freddie Mercury was one of my idols growing up, and Rami Malek was stellar as him in Bohemian Rhapsody. This biopic tells the story of Freddie Mercury and the band Queen, them becoming hitmakers overnight and him turning into the icon that he is now, as well as his personal struggles to get there. 

Rami Malek actually won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Bohemian Rhapsody, so if that wasn’t enough to get you to watch this film, I don’t know what is. He perfectly captures the essence that was Freddie Mercury and adds even more personality to the already iconic man. Truly, Rami Malek was amazing in this role. 

Rent Bohemian Rhapsody on Amazon.

The Pacific (2010)

Next up, we have the miniseries, The Pacific, from HBO. This series based on the true stories of soldiers in WWII follows the U.S. Marines who were fighting against the Japanese during WWII, capturing their lives, struggles, and so much more. 

For those who don’t know, HBO has made some really awesome shows, some of which include stories of WWII, including the legendary Band of Brothers that acts as a predecessor to this miniseries. Rami Malek was the perfect pick to play Cpl. Merriell “Snafu” Shelton, a character based on a real-life Marine, and Malek does him justice with his excellent acting performance alongside his co-stars. If realistic war movies and movies about real-life situations are some of your favorite genres, you need to give this a shot, especially if you’re a fan of Malek, as he stands out amongst the rest. 

Stream The Pacific on HBO Max.

Night At The Museum Trilogy (2006-2014)

Ever wonder what would happen if a museum came to life at night? That’s what Night at the Museum is all about, mainly following the adventures of Larry Daley (played by Ben Stiller), a night shift security guard who ends up discovering that the American Museum of Natural History in New York comes to life at night. 

Fun fact - the first Night at the Museum was actually Rami Malek’s first film ever, and what a movie to start out on, because he is great as Ahkmenrah, the owner of the tablet that allows the exhibits to come to life. I can’t get over how funny he is and his chemistry with Ben Stiller is super. While the film series is only a trilogy, Malek makes an appearance in each one, and further proves my hypothesis that he would make a great ancient pharaoh.

Stream The Night At The Museum Trilogy on Disney+.
Rent The Night At The Museum Trilogy on Amazon.

The Little Things (2021)

Next up, we have The Little Things. In this neo-noir crime film, Rami Malek stars as a detective alongside Denzel Washington, who are both on the case as a string of murders starts to connect to each other - all of which lead to them meeting a person that just might be the problem. 

What really makes The Little Things one of Malek’s best movies is his chemistry with Denzel Washington. I love re-watching their scenes as detectives because you really believe that they’re actively trying to solve a case and show just how hard they are working. Even so, The Little Things is filled with great surprises, and you’ll find yourself twisting your head often just to keep up with all the changes in plot, making it a fun time. 

Stream The Little Things on HBO Max.
Rent The Little Things on Amazon.

No Time To Die (2021)

I’m sure at some point in 2021 you heard of Daniel Craig’s last James Bond film, No Time To Die. In this film, we follow Bond, who is attempting to live out a normal life after retiring from MI6. But that retirement comes to a close when a former contact reaches out to him for help, pushing him back into the life of an international spy. 

Rami Malek played a Bond villain in No Time To Die, Lyutsifer Safin, who is a terrorist and trying to get revenge on Spectre, and honestly, he plays the villain really well. Like, scarily well. Watching him in this Bond film makes me wonder why Malek doesn’t play more villains, because he surprisingly pulls it off and had some really amazing scenes with Craig. Rami Malek might have fallen in love with his Bond villain, but I think I have, too. Someone help me. 

Rent No Time To Die on Amazon.

BoJack Horseman (2017-2018)

I bet you didn’t think you’d see a voice role on here. BoJack Horseman is an iconic adult animated series on Netflix, telling the story of the titular character who is trying to get back into the limelight after several years in obscurity by writing a tell-all novel using a ghost writer. 

While Rami Malek has done voiceover work (as well as motion capture work) for video games before, like Until Dawn and The Legend of Korra, I wanted to point out his role as Flip McVicker, as I feel that’s some of his best voiceover work. His portrayal of the insecure yet pretentious creator of Philbert and the way he clashes with BoJack really makes the show during Seasons 4 and 5. I wish we had gotten to see more of him. 

Stream BoJack Horseman on Netflix.

Da Sweet Blood Of Jesus (2014)

Next up, we have Da Sweet Blood of Jesus. This Spike Lee film tells the story of an anthropologist whose life changes when he is suddenly stabbed by a dagger, which turns out to be a magical weapon from ancient Africa that turns him into a terrifying creature - a vampire. 

I know, the premise itself sounds like any old vampire film, but I have to say that Da Sweet Blood of Jesus is unique in every way. From how vampires work to the ending, that shows Rami Malek giving a compelling performance as Seneschal Higginbottom, working as a servant and having some really awesome scenes alongside Stephen Tyrion Williams as Dr. Green. It’s not your typical vampire film, but thanks to the brilliant acting from both Malek and his co-stars, it’s an intriguing entree into the fantasy genre. 

Stream Da Sweet Blood of Jesus on Showtime.
Rent Da Sweet Blood of Jesus on Apple TV.

Papillon (2017)

Last but not least, we have Papillon. This biographical drama starring Charlie Hunnam and Rami Malek follows the true story of French convict Henri Charrière - who was called Papillon, and escaped with fellow convict, Louis Dega, from Devil’s Island in the 1940s. 

The movie itself is really great, with a lot of thrilling action moments. But, what makes this movie one of Rami Malek’s best is his overall performance as Louis Dega, as well as his partnership with Charlie Hunnam as Henri Charrière. They truly make such an outstanding duo.

Stream Papillon on Hulu.
Rent Papillon on Amazon.

Rami Malek is only going to continue to give us intriguing roles, considering he already has two films set to come out - one called Amsterdam, and the other is Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, so you’re sure to see more of him. Until those release, enjoy some of his best films and TV shows now - you might just find a new favorite re-watch.  

Having previously explored World War II for 2017’s Dunkirk, Christopher Nolan will delve into a different aspect of that conflict for his follow-up to the time-twisty Tenet. The filmmaker is making a biopic about J. Robert Oppenheimer, the theoretical physicist who played an integral role in developing the atomic bomb for the Manhattan Project. Based on the book American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin, this will be Nolan’s first movie since Insomnia that’s not being housed at Warner Bros., with Universal Pictures instead financing and distributing the biopic.

We are closely approaching the highly-anticipated release of Oppenheimer on the big screen, for which Nolan and his team have assembled a top-notch cast. Let’s go over the actors who have been brought aboard for the biopic, starting with the man who was selected to play the title character.

Cillian Murphy (J. Robert Oppenheimer)

Cillian Murphy and Christopher Nolan go way back, with the former starring as Jonathan Crane, a.k.a. Scarecrow, in 2005’s Batman Begins. In addition to Murphy briefly reprising Crane in The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises, he also appeared in Inception as Robert Michael Fischer, followed by Dunkirk as a shell-shocked shivering soldier. Now he gets to take center stage for a Nolan movie by playing J. Robert Oppenheimer, who’s been called the “father of the atomic bomb.” Outside of Nolan’s sphere, along with leading the TV series Peaky Blinders, Murphy was also recently seen as Emmett in A Quiet Place Part II, which is where he worked with the next actor on this list.

Emily Blunt (Katherine Puening)

In the role of Oppenheimer’s wife, Katherine Puening, we have the second actor announced to star in the biopic, Emily Blunt, who previously played a woman heavily involved in a war in the classic time loop movie, Edge of Tomorrow. Her character of Evelyn Abbott and her children crossed paths with Murphy’s character during the chaotic events of A Quiet Place Part II, but if horror isn’t your thing, maybe you’ve seen the actress in Disney flicks like Mary Poppins Returns and Jungle Cruise, or in 2006 in her breakout performance in The Devil Wears Prada. 

Robert Downey Jr. (Lewis Strauss)

While it was initially unclear whom Robert Downey Jr. would play when his casting was reported, we’ve since learned he scored the role of Lewis Strauss – the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission Chairman who frequently clashed with Oppenheimer post-World War II over a number of issues to the point where he questioned the scientist’s patriotism and got his security clearance revoked in 1954. Anyone who follows along with the Marvel Cinematic Universe and is a fan of Iron Man, especially, doesn’t need to be told who this Oscar nominee (for Chaplin) is, but others may recognize him from Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes movies and should keep an eye out for his upcoming Max original series, The Sympathizer. 

Matt Damon (Lt. General Leslie Groves)

At the same time Downey’s casting was announced, Matt Damon (who had a surprise role in Interstellar) was revealed to be joining the Oppenheimer cast and eventually confirmed to play Manhattan Project director, Lt. General Leslie Groves, who was one of the few people confident in the titular scientist’s abilities. The Academy Award winner (for co-writing Good Will Hunting) has kept a steady presence on the film front in recent years with Ford V. Ferrari, No Sudden Move, Stillwater, The Last Duel, Jay and Silent Bob Reboot (the latter of which saw him reprising his Dogma character Loki), and Amazon Prime’s Air.

Florence Pugh (Jean Tatlock)

Cast in the role of Jean Tatlock – a Communist Party member Oppenheimer had a romantic connection to – is Florence Pugh. In recent years, the Midsommar actress has been getting more on-screen attention than ever as Amy March in Greta Gerwig’s Little Women (which earned her an Oscar nomination), Yelena Belova in the MCU, and leading the Don’t Worry Darling cast alongside Harry Styles.

Benny Safdie (Edward Teller)

According to Deadline, acclaimed writer and director Benny Safdie stars in Oppenheimer as Edward Teller – a theoretical physicist who worked on the Manhattan Project and is known as the “father of the hydrogen bomb.” Arguably best known for making movies like Uncut Gems with his brother, Josh, he’s also been assembling an acting resume that includes playing opposite Robert Pattinson in Good Time (which he and Josh also co-wrote and helmed), Licorice Pizza as politician Joel Sachs, and Disney+’s Obi-Wan Kenobi cast in the brief role of a Jedi in hiding.

Dylan Arnold (Frank Oppenheimer)

Playing Robert’s younger brother, Frank Oppenheimer, is Dylan Arnold. If that name doesn’t ring a bell, maybe you’ll recognize him as Cameron Elam in 2018’s Halloween and its sequel, Halloween Kills, or from his recurring stints in the short-lived The Purge series and Nashville, or his starring role in the You Season 3 cast for Netflix. 

Michael Angarano (Robert Serber)

Playing Robert Serber, another member of the Manhattan Project, in his biggest movie in a long time (or, arguably, ever) is Michael Angarano. Those of you who were kids/teens in the 2000s likely remember him as Will Stronghold from Disney's non-Marvel or DC superhero movie, Sky High. Others may remember him better in his younger years recurring as Elliot on Will & Grace or from his more recent work, which includes starring in Cinemax’s The Knick and Showtime’s I’m Dying Up Here, along with recurring on This is Us. 

Danny Deferrari (Enrico Fermi)

Another important member of the Manhattan Project who will be present in Oppenheimer is Enrico Fermi – creator of the world’s first nuclear reactor and nicknamed “the architect of the nuclear age” – whom Danny Deferrari has been tapped to play. Some may remember him as Andrew Madoff in ABC’s 2016 miniseries, Madoff, the acclaimed 2021 indie Shiva Baby, or appearances on Chicago Med, Blue Bloods, and Ray Donovan: The Movie.

Josh Peck (Kenneth Bainbridge)

In Oppenheimer, Peck will play Kenneth Bainbridge, who worked on cyclotron research and directed the Manhattan Project’s Trinity nuclear test in 1945, which was the first detonation of a nuclear weapon. A good chunk of you reading this likely grew up watching him on The Amanda Show and/or Drake & Josh on Nickelodeon in the 2000s or remember him as the voice of Eddie in the Ice Age movies. He more recently starred in short-lived shows Grandfathered and Turner & Hooch, landed a recurring role alongside Hulu’s How I Met Your Father cast, and other big and small screen projects. 

Emma Dumont (Jackie Oppenheimer)

Emma Dumont will appear in Oppenheimer as Jackie Oppenheimer, a UC Berkeley economics student and Communist Party member who marries Frank Oppenheimer, despite the protests of his older brother. If you’re an X-Men fan, you might have seen the actor bring Lorna Dane, a.k.a. Polaris, to life in the short-lived Marvel TV show, The Gifted, or play Brenda in Paul Thomas Anderson’s Licorice Pizza. 

Gustaf Skarsgård (Hans Bethe)

Another scientist who will be represented in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer is Hans Bethe, who was head of the Theoretical Division at the Los Alamos laboratory, where he helped in calculating the critical mass of the atomic weapons and developed the implosion method used at the Trinity test and the “Fat Man” bomb dropped on Nagasaki. Bethe will be played by Gustaf Skarsgård, whom Vikings fans will recognize as Floki. Skarsgård also recurred on five episodes of Westworld and played Merlin in the short-lived Netflix series, Cursed.

Devon Bostick (Seth Neddermeyer)

Devon Bostick is slated to appear in Oppenheimer as Seth Neddermeyer, the physicist from the Manhattan Project who discovered the muon elementary particle and later championed for the Implosion-type nuclear weapon. In his younger years, Bostick starred in three of the live-action Diary of a Wimpy Kid movies as Rodrick Heffley and, on TV, he chiefly impressed as Jasper Jordan four seasons on The CW’s The 100. 

Rami Malek (David Hill)

Working  with Nolan for this first time is Rami Malek as physicist David Hill in Oppenheimer. Along with having starred as Eliot Anderson in the TV series Mr. Robot, Malek has impressed with his Academy Award-winning performance as Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody, as well as for antagonizing Daniel Craig’s James Bond as Lyutsifer Safin in No Time to Die.

Josh Hartnett (Ernest Lawrence)

Playing Nobel Prize-winning nuclear physicist and close friend of Oppenheimer, Ernest Lawrence (according to The Daily Mail), finally gives Josh Hartnett the opportunity to work with Nolan after he turned down the role of Bruce Wayne in Batman Begins. The actor is no stranger to war movies, having appeared with Ben Affleck in 2001’s Pearl Harbor and led the cast of Black Hawk Down, but film fans may also recognize him from Halloween H20: 20 Years Later, the Sin City cast, or as Ethan Chandler/The Wolf Man in Penny Dreadful. 

Dane DeHaan (Kenneth Nichols)

As Kenneth Nichols -- District engineer of the Manhattan Project -- we have Dane DeHaan, who first broke out as Andrew Detmer in the acclaimed found footage thriller, Chronicle, before playing Harry Osborn/The Green Goblin in The Amazing Spider-Man 2. The actor would more recently build up a crime and horror following thanks to projects like A Cure for Wellness, The Stranger, and Lisey’s Story. DeHaan more recently starred in Max’s The Staircase cast, but Oppenheimer marks his first movie since starring as Billy the Kid in the 2019 Western, The Kid. 

Jack Quaid (Richard Feynman)

Jack Quaid confirmed on his Instagram that he is playing theoretical physicist Richard Feynman in his first Nolan Project. The son of Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan, who got his start in the first Hunger Games movie cast, is another Oppenheimer star with superhero cred thanks to playing Hughie Campbell in The Boys, as well as a Scream King for playing Richie Kirsch in the fifth Scream movie, and a sci-fi veteran having voiced Brad Boimler in Star Trek: Lower Decks.

Matthew Modine (Vannevar Bush)

According to ScreenRant, Matthew Modine is playing the head of the U.S. Department of Research and Development, Vannevar Bush, in his first collaboration with Nolan since playing Peter Foley in The Dark Knight Rises. He rose to fame by starring in movies like Full Metal Jacket and Pacific Heights, but fans of Netflix’s Stranger Things cast will recognize him as Dr. Martin Brenner.

Olli Haaskivi (Edward Condon)

If you didn’t catch Olli Haaskivi’s recurring roles on shows like The Sinner, The Deuce and Manifest, maybe you’ll know him as the face of Dr. Wilfred Nagel, the man who recreated the Super Soldier Serum, in the MCU series, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Haaskivi is also set to play Phil Knight in HBO’s Winning Time, but fingers crossed that his role as Edward Condon in Oppenheimer paves the way for him to appear in more high-profile movies.

Alden Ehrenreich (Senate Aide)

Alden Ehrenreich made his first big splash in Hollywood as Hobie Doyle in 2016’s Hail, Caesar!, but more people undoubtedly know him as young Han Solo in 2018’s Solo: A Star Wars Story. Since then, Aldenreich has starred in Peacock’s Brave New World series, appeared in Elizabeth Banks’ 2023 horror-comedy, Cocaine Bear, and is, sort of, taking a cue from his Oppenheimer co-star, Robert Downey Jr., by joining the Ironheart cast for Disney+'s upcoming Marvel TV show. 

David Krumholtz (Isidor Isaac Rabi)

David Krumholtz shared an Oppenheimer still of himself with the caption “Isidor Isaac Rabi” on Instagram, indicating that he is playing the Nobel Prize-winning physicist known for discovering nuclear magnetic resonance. Some of you may know the actor best as Head Elf Bernard from the first two Santa Clause movies, while others may be more familiar with him as Charlie Eppes on CBS’ Numb3rs or remember him fondly as Goldstein from the Harold & Kumar movies. Regardless, these are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the man’s resume, with some of his other notable TV credits including Serenity, This Is The End, The Good Wife, The Deuce and The Plot Against America.

Kenneth Branagh (Niels Bohr)

For his third time working with Christopher Nolan, having previously starred in Dunkirk and Tenet, Kenneth Branagh stars as Danish, Nobel Prize-winning physicist, Niels Bohr. From early work like Henry V to his outings as Hercule Poirot in Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile, Branagh has taken part in all sorts of cinematic endeavors, both in front of and behind the camera. Regarding the latter, he won the 2022 Best Original Screenplay Oscar for his semi-autobiographical coming-of-age drama, Belfast. 

David Dastmalchian (William L. Borden)

Christopher Nolan is an especially important person in the professional life of David Dastmalchian, who plays executive director of the United States Congress Joint Committee on Atomic Energy, William L. Borden, in Oppenheimer. The director cast him as Thomas Schiff in The Dark Knight, his first movie, where he shared screen time with Christian Bale’s Batman and Aaron Eckhardt’s Harvey Dent. Since then, Dastmalchian has racked up major credits like Prisoners, the first two Ant-Man movies, Blade Runner 2049, The Suicide Squad, and Dune.

Jason Clarke (Roger Robb)

As Roger Robb -- an attorney who participated in a hearing regarding Oppenheimer's security clearance -- we have another person who’s working with  Nolan for the first time: Jason Clarke. You’ll recognize him from movies like Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Terminator Genisys, Mudbound, Chappaquiddick, First Man, the Pet Sematary remake, Netflix’s The Devil All the Time, and HBO’s fact-based basketball drama, Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty.

Louise Lombard (Ruth Tolman)

As American psychologist Ruth Tolman, we have Louise Lombard, who was arguably best known film-wise for 2004’s Hidalgo, but now fans of the After movies are well acquainted with her as Trish Daniels from the last three installments. Her TV resume, on the other hand, is much longer, with some of the bigger shows including the BBC’s The House of Eliott, CSI, Grimm, and Lethal Weapon. Now she’s taking part in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, which is unquestionably her biggest cinematic appearance yet.

James D'Arcy (Patrick Blackett)

As British physicist Patrick Blackett, we have James D'Arcy,  whom Marvel fans will remember as Edwin Jarvis in the Agent Carter TV series and Avengers: Endgame, while others may know him better from shows like Broadchurch, Secret Diary of a Call Girl, and The Hot Zone. Oppenheimer marks the actor’s second time being paired with  Nolan, with the two of them first working together on Dunkirk, in a career that also includes movies like Cloud Atlas, Hitchcock, Jupiter Ascending, and The Snowman.

David Rysdahl (Donald Hornig)

Starring as chemist and explosives expert Donald Hornig is David Rysdahl, whom fans of the Hulu horror movie No Exit will recognize as Lars -- one of the four suspects at the rest lodge. Rysdahl also made a name for himself in the independent film world with appearances in Nine Days and Dead Pigs, the latter hailing from Cathy Yan, who would go on to direct Birds of Prey. Oppenheimer is a major cinematic credit to add to his filmography and, perhaps, will open the door to him appearing in more mainstream fare.

Guy Burnet (George Eltenton)

Fans of the Chicago Fire cast might remember Oppenheimer's George Eltenton actor, Guy Burnet, for his recurring role as Grant back in Season 5, while others might know him from multiple episodes of shows like Hand of God and Counterpart. On the film side of things, Burnet has appeared in Asher, Mortdecai, Pitch Perfect 3, and the 2022 horror flick, Bed Rest, starring Scream’s Melissa Barrerra.

Harrison Gilbertson (Philip Morrison)

Looking over the resume of Harrison Gilbertson -- a student of Oppenheimer's whom he recruited onto the Manhattan Project -- among the big things that pop out are his role as Pete Coleman in 2014’s Need for Speed, as well as playing Travis McKean in Netflix’s adaptation of the Stephen King/Joe Hill story, In The Tall Grass. Also prior to being brought into the Oppenheimer family, Gilbertson recurred alongside The Peripheral cast for Amazon’s sci-fi series hailed from Westworld creators Jonathan Nolan (Christopher’s brother) and Lisa Joy. 

Matthias Schweighöfer (Werner Heisenberg)

As influential German theoretical physicist Werner Heisenberg, we have Matthias Schweighöfer, who popped up in the Tom Cruise-led political thriller Valkyrie back in 2008, but it wasn’t until 2021 that a lot of American moviegoers got to know him. Schweighöfer starred as Ludwig Dieter in Netflix’s Army of the Dead cast for writer and director Zack Snyder, and months later, reprised that role for the prequel, Army of Thieves, which he also directed. He is keeping his run with the streaming platform going with Gal Gadot’s 2023 Netflix movie, Heart of Stone. 

Alex Wolff (Luis Walter Alvarez)

Prior to being cast in Oppenheimer as Nobel Prize-winning physicist, Luis Walter Alvarez, Alex Wolff hit the entertainment scene in his youth as one of the leads of Nickelodeon’s The Naked Brothers Band, and younger moviegoers will recognize him as Spencer Gilpin from the recent Jumanji movies. As far as Wolff’s more “adult” work goes, his film appearances include, Hereditary (one of the best A24 horror movies), The Cat and the Moon, Bad Education, Pig with Nicolas Cage, and M. Night Shyamalan’s Old. 

Gary Oldman (Harry S. Truman)

The Dark Knight Trilogy’s James Gordon actor, Gary Oldman, is reuniting with  Christopher Nolan to play President Harry S. Truman in Oppenheimer, according to Esquire. This will be the second time the chameleonic actor has portrayed a notable WWII-era political figure after his Academy Award-winning turn as Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour. 

Trond Fausa (George Kistiakowsky)

Playing Ukrainian chemist George Kistiakowsky is Trond Fausa, whose credits largely consist of Norwegian productions, but some might know him from Lilyhammer -- the Norwegian-American TV series Netflix provided as its first exclusive offering in North America. Fausa also lent his talents to the later Netflix series, The Innocents, which only lasted a season.

Christopher Denham (Klaus Fuchs)

According to The Digital Fix, Klaus Fuchs – a German scientist who shared information from the research effort with the Soviet Union as a spy, as a New York Times article recalls – will be portrayed in Oppenheimer by Christopher Denham. Fans of the Showtime series Billions will recognize the actor for playing Oliver Dake, while on the movies side of things, he’s popped up in Shutter Island, Argo, and, most recently, the Being the Ricardos cast, to name a few. Coincidentally, Oppenheimer won’t be Denham’s first time acting in a project focused on the Manhattan Project, as he played Jim Meeks in the short-lived WGN series, Manhattan. 

Josh Zuckerman (Giovanni Rossi Lomanitz)

The majority of Josh Zuckerman’s acting work before playing American physicist Giovanni Rossi Lomanitz in Oppenheimer has been on TV, from guest stints on series like House and The Big Bang Theory, to recurring on shows like Desperate Housewives and 90210. That being said, you might recall Zuckerman appearing in Austin Powers in Goldmember as a young Dr. Evil, the independent sci-fi horror comedy, Useless Humans, or Paramount+’s The Offer cast (which chronicles the making of The Godfather).

Olivia Thirlby (Lilli Hornig)

As Czech-American scientist and feminist Lilli Hornig, we have Olivia Thirlby, whom some may also recognize as Judge Anderson in Dredd. In more recent years, the Juno star appeared on TV in shows like Goliath and The L Word: Generation Q, had role in the Y: The Last Man cast for its short time on FX, and starred alongside Oppenheimer co-star Jason Clarke in another historical drama called Chappaquiddick.

Tom Conti (Albert Einstein)

We know from a recent teaser for Oppenheimer that Albert Einstein will be depicted in the film and we know from a Variety article that the influential German scientist is portrayed by Tom Conti. The Academy Award-nominated actor (for 1983’s Reuben, Reuben) previously worked with Nolan when he played one of Bruce Wayne’s fellow prisoners of the Pit in The Dark Knight Rises.

Casey Affleck (Boris Pash)

Reuniting with Nolan on Oppenheimer for the first time since he appeared in Interstellar is Casey Affleck as Boris Pash, who was put in charge of security at Los Alamos. The actor is best known for starring alongside his brother, Ben -- whose marriage to J. Lo he missed, unfortunately -- and fellow Oppenheimer star, Matt Damon, in Good Will Hunting and his Academy Award-winning performance in the 2016 drama, Manchester by the Sea.

Can you recall another movie with an ensemble this large and exploding with renowned, high-profile names? The stacked Oppenheimer cast is just one of the many reasons why Nolan’s latest became one of the biggest 2023 movies. 

Over the years, Saturday Night Live hosts like Tom Hanks or Melissa McCarthy and musical guests like Paul Simon or Lady Gaga have taken the stage at 30 Rockefeller Plaza’s Studio 8H to create some of the most iconic moments in live television. The sketch comedy series’ 47th season saw its fair share of memorable moments, courtesy of hosts like Jason Sudeikis and musicians like Billie Eilish, who also made her hosting debut this year. 

There are plenty more memories to relive from Saturday Night Live Season 47 through streaming on Peacock. The following is a list of who joined the cast for a night of laughs and tunes during the 2021-2022 season. 

October 2, 2021 - Owen Wilson With Musical Guest Kacey Musgraves

The latest season of Saturday Night Live kicked off with an episode hosted by Loki and The French Dispatch star Owen Wilson, who finally led the show for the first time in his career. And, even though he has admitted in the past that his nervousness has stopped him from doing something like this in the past, Wilson did a tremendous job with his hosting duties, especially the sketch that saw him reprise his Cars character, Lightning McQueen. The SNL Season 47 premiere also featured Kacey Musgraves making history with her instant-classic performance.

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October 9, 2021 - Kim Kardashian West With Musical Guest Halsey

On October 9, Kim Kardashian West hosted Saturday Night Live for the first time, and proved that she actually had great comedic timing. The episode, which was watched by millions of viewers, saw the reality TV star poke fun at her ex-husband Kanye West, multiple members of her family, and even O.J. Simpson to make her mark. The second episode of the season also featured musical guest Halsey, who performed on the very popular show for the fourth time throughout her career.

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October 16, 2021 - Rami Malek With Musical Guest Young Thug

On October 16, Rami Malek, hot off the long-awaited release of No Time to Die, hosted Saturday Night Live for the first time in his career. One of the highlights of the episode was the sketch that saw Malek share the screen with his 007 co-star Daniel Craig, and SNL mainstay Kenan Thompson, in an audition for a Prince biopic. The third episode of the season also featured musical guest Young Thug, who made his SNL debut with a pair of electric performances.

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October 23, 2021 - Jason Sudeikis With Musical Guest Brandi Carlile

On October 23, Saturday Night Live alum Jason Sudeikis returned to his old stomping grounds to host the long running series for the first time since departing the cast in 2013, although he has made multiple cameos during the years since then. The Ted Lasso star was featured in the majority of the sketches, including the cold open that saw three different versions of Joe Biden conversing in the Oval Office. Sudeikis also gave an impassioned opening monologue about the show’s history and what it means to him. Musical guest Brandi Carlile made her SNL debut in spectacular fashion.

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November 6, 2021 - Kieran Culkin With Musical Guest Ed Sheeran

On November 6, Kieran Culkin hosted Saturday Night Live for the very first time and became the second Culkin brother to take the stage (Macaulay Culkin had the honor of hosting during the 1991 season). In the years since making his acting debut as the soda-loving Fuller McCallister in Home Alone, Culkin has appeared in movies ranging from Father of the Bride to Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. He has also been one of the major players on the HBO drama series Succession, for which he has received both Golden Globe and Primetime Emmy Award nominations for his portrayal of Roman Roy.

Filling the role of musical guest on SNL on November 6 was Ed Sheeran, who took the stage for the third time in his career. Sheeran previously appeared on SNL in April 2014 and February 2017.

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November 13, 2021 - Jonathan Majors With Musical Guest Taylor Swift

On November 13, Jonathan Majors hosted Saturday Night Live for the first time in his young, yet highly-successful career, delivering an impressive opening monologue and showing off his comedy chops in many of the night's best sketches. This probably won’t be the last SNL appearance by Majors, whose career reached new heights following his portrayal of He Who Remains on Loki in Summer 2021, especially with his continued involvement in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Stepping in as the musical guest on November 13 was Miss Americana herself, Taylor Swift, who broke from tradition and gave a single ten-minute performance of "All Too Well." This marked the fifth time Swift has taken to the SNL stage since she made her first appearance on the show in November 2009. Now, we just need to get T. Swift back on hosting duties.

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November 20, 2021 - Simu Liu With Musical Guest Saweetie

On November 20, Simu Liu added Saturday Night Live host to his list of 2021 achievements when he appeared on the long-running sketch comedy program. Liu made waves earlier in the year when he portrayed the titular hero in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, making him the third Marvel star (so far) to host SNL this season. Liu is also no stranger when it comes to comedy, as he was a fixture of the sitcom Kim’s Convenience and also made guest appearances on Fresh Off the Boat and Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens.

Rap sensation Saweetie served as the Saturday Night Live musical guest for the first time in her career on November 20. In addition to her successful music career, the MTV Video Music Award-winning performer has also been featured on Grown-ish, Wild ’n Out, and Cooking with Paris.

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December 11, 2021 - Billie Eilish

On December 11, Billie Eilish followed in the footsteps of Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, and a few dozen other famous singers who have pulled double-duty as Saturday Night Live host and musical guest. Hot off the July 2021 release of her sophomore effort Happier Than Ever and the long-awaited release of No Time to Die (which features the Grammy-winning title track), Eilish showed off her comedy chops in multiple skits and the impressive opening monologue.

Billie Eilish also took care of the musical duties with renditions of "Happier Than Ever" and "Male Fantasy" alongside her brother and musical partner Finneas.

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December 18, 2021 - Paul Rudd With Musical Guest Charli XCX

Paul Rudd officially became a member of the prestigious 5-Timers Club when he hosted Saturday Night Live on December 18, but not in the way in which everyone hoped. Due to an increase in COVID-19 cases in New York City, Saturday Night Live's Christmas episode became a collection of pre-shot segments filmed throughout the week and classic skits from holidays past. Rudd was joined by fellow 5-Timers Tom Hanks and Tina Fey in studio, as well as Steve Martin and Martin Sheen via video. Fey even stuck around to appear alongside Michael Che in the Weekend Update segment.

Charli XCX was originally scheduled to be the episode's musical guest, but her performance was cancelled due to the decision by Saturday Night Live producers to have a limited cast and crew and no live audience due to the uptick in COVID-19 cases, according to a Tweet the singer made.

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January 15, 2022 - Ariana DeBose With Musical Guest Bleachers

On January 15, Golden Globe winner Ariana DeBose made her Saturday Night Live debut when she hosted the first episode of 2022. DeBose became the second member of the Hamilton cast to serve as SNL host, and first since the Broadway hit’s creator Lin-Manuel Miranda hosted back in October 2016. To star things off, the West Side Story star was joined by SNL mainstay Kate McKinnon to perform a medley of numbers from Steven Spielberg's 2021 adaptation of the iconic Broadway musical.

Several days before Saturday Night Live was set to air, Roddy Ricch was replaced by Bleachers as that week's musical guest. The Jack Antonoff-led group performed the hit songs "How Dare You Want More" and "Chinatown."

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January 22, 2022 - Will Forte With Musical Guest Måneskin

On January 22, Saturday Night Live alum Will Forte returned to 30 Rockefeller Plaza’s Studio 8H, and became the latest in a long line of SNL greats to host the show for the first time (even if he was the last of the core 2000s group to do so). Forte was joined by Kristen Wiig and the two went to town with some of their most iconic characters and tons of laughs throughout the night.

Italian rock outfit Måneskin served as the Saturday Night Live musical guest, performing their hits “Beggin” and “I Wanna Be Your Slave.”

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January 29, 2022 - Willem Dafoe With Musical Guest Katy Perry

Willem Dafoe took to Studio 8H for the first time in his legendary career when he hosted Saturday Night Live on January 29. During his hilarious and endearing monologue, the Spider-Man: No Way Home star touched on everything from his over-the-top facial expressions to comparisons with the Joker.

Serving as musical guest was Katy Perry, who performed “When I’m Gone” and “Never Really Over during her fourth appearance on the long-running sketch comedy program.

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February 26, 2022 - John Mulaney With Musical Guest LCD Soundsystem

Former Saturday Night Live writer John Mulaney joined the “Five-Timers Club” in a sketch during his February 26 hosting gig with cameos by Steve Martin, Candace Bergen, Paul Rudd, Tina Fey, Elliott Gould, and, most surprisingly, fellow former writer Conan O’Brien. Following a moving, choral tribute to Ukraine, the comedian gave a very personal, but thoroughly hilarious monologue and, later, kept tradition with a new musical sketch that pokes fun at New York’s subway system.

Also appearing in said sketch was musical guest LCD Soundsystem, the Grammy Award-winning rock outfit led by singer James Murphy. For their first appearance on Saturday Night Live since May 2017, the band performed two songs off of their self-titled, 2005 debut album - namely “Thrills” and “Yr City’s a Sucker.”

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March 5, 2022 - Oscar Isaac With Musical Guest Charli XCX

Just in time for the Disney+ premiere of his Marvel TV show, Moon Knight, later in the month, Oscar Isaac made his Saturday Night Live hosting debut on March 5. During his opening monologue, the actor mentioned his MCU induction as a segue into showing clips from his childhood home movie - coincidentally called The Avenger - and capping it off with some encouragement for kids to be “weirdos” on the chance that they might host SNL one day.

Performing some tunes from her latest album, Crash, in between the humor was  Grammy winner Charli XCX.  This was the British singer’s second time on SNL, which was supposed to happen the night Paul Rudd hosted on December 18 before her appearance was canceled in response to the Omicron variant in New York.

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March 12, 2022 - Zoë Kravitz With Musical Guest Rosalía

Making her SNL debut on March 12 was Zoë Kravitz, whose role as Catwoman in The Batman became a point of conversation that night. Her monologue saw the return of past Catwomen (Kate McKinnon as Batman Returns’ Michelle Pfieffer and Ego Nwodim as Eartha Kitt from the 1960s TV Series) as well as Aidy Bryant as a “Cat Lady” and Chris Redd as comedian Katt Williams. The actress also starred in a Please Don’t Destroy video (featuring a cameo by Riddler actor Paul Dano) in which the titular trio attempt to give their host a cat.

That night’s musical guest was Rosalía, who became the first in the show’s history to sing entirely in Spanish for both performances. This was also the first Saturday Night Live appearance ever for the singer-songwriter whose sophomore album El Mal Querer won the Latin Grammy for Album of the Year in 2019.

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April 2, 2022 - Jerrod Carmichael With Musical Guest Gunna

It was actually surprising to learn that Neighbors cast member Jerrod Carmichael had never hosted SNL before he hit the stage when the show returned on April 2, 2022. In his monologue, the actor, writer, comedian, and filmmaker commented on recently coming out as gay on his new HBO Max stand-up special, Rothaniel, and his unwillingness to talk about a certain Oscars ceremony incident before later starring in a sketch about it.

The audience was also treated to a pair of performances by Gunna, who released his third and most recent studio album, DS4Ever, in January. The Georgia-based rapper also starred in a music video with Pete Davidson about some people’s preferences for watching “short-ass movies” depending on the time of day.

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April 9, 2022 - Jake Gyllenhaal With Musical Guest Camila Cabello

The last time Jake Gyllenhaal hosted Saturday Night Live was 15 years earlier, followed by a few memorable cameos - most recently in February 2020 as a “guy who travels in pajamas” at LaGuardia Airport. The Academy Award nominee and Ambulance star actually mentioned his Dreamgirls song performance in drag at that first 2007 gig when he re-entered the Studio 8H spotlight, front-and-center, on April 9.

Also celebrating her sophomore SNL gig was Camila Cabello, who previously appeared as the show’s musical guest during Season 45 in 2019. The Cuban-American Grammy nominee, who made her acting debut with Amazon Prime’s Cinderella cast in 2021, was also joined by Willow Smith for the first live performance of their new song, “Psychofreak.”

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April 16, 2022 - Lizzo

After making her Saturday Night Live debut as a musical guest on the night Eddie Murphy returned in Season 45, Lizzo made her hosting debut on April 16, 2022, with an opening monologue that she promised would break the record for the most times “bitch” has been said on live TV, and she just might have achieved it. The Grammy-winning artist had previously admitted to being nervous about breaking out in laughter, which did happen often, but actually leant to the appeal of the show and solidified Lizzo as one of this season’s most charming and enthusiastic hosts yet.

The Hustlers cast member also served as musical guest, performing two songs from her new album, About Damn Time (first introduced by herself and secondly by her mother). She also collaborated on a funny track with Please Don’t Destroy and demonstrated her masterful skills with a flute in a sketch that also utilized her twerking talent.

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May 7, 2022 -  Benedict Cumberbatch With Musical Guest Arcade Fire

For the second time, Benedict Cumberbatch hosted Saturday Night Live while promoting his lead performance in a Marvel movie - namely Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, this time. This being Season 47’s Mother’s Day show, the Oscar nominee paid tribute to his mother and his wife in his hilarious monologue and later shared the screen with his MCU co-star, Elizabeth Olsen, for a funny moment from a later sketch.

Joining the Five-Timers Club on May 7, 2022 (if the membership rules also apply to musicians) was the episode’s musical guest, Arcade Fire, who also once performed on the show as special guests with then-host Mick Jagger in 2012.  The Grammy-winning, Canadian indie rock group played the two-part song “The Lightning” and “Unconditional (Lookout Kid)” off of their latest album, We.

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May 14, 2022 -  Selena Gomez With Musical Guest Post Malone

Former Disney Channel star Selena Gomez, who previously performed on Saturday Night Live as a musical guest in Season 41, made her debut as a host  on May 14, 2022. In her monologue, the Only Murders in the Building cast member made fun of her co-star, Steve Martin (before also appearing in a sketch with him), and paid homage to her days on the children’s program, Barney.

While Gomez did not perform any music that night in Studio 8H, as that gig was secured by Post Malone. This was the first SNL appearance for the Grammy-nominated rapper and Wrath of Man cast member, who was also joined on stage by Roddy Rich and Fleet Foxes.

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May 21, 2022 - Natasha Lyonne With Musical Guest Japanese Breakfast

Closing out Season 47 of Saturday Night Live on May 21, 2022 was Natasha Lyonne - the former Orange is the New Black cast member and star and co-creator of Russian Doll on Netflix. The actor made her hosting debut on what would also be the last episode for cast members Kate McKinnon, Pete Davidson, Aidy Bryant, and Kyle Mooney.

Also making their SNL debut as musical guest was Japanese Breakfast. The Grammy-nominated indie rock group, headed by Korean-American singer Michelle Zauner, performed two tracks from their third studio album, Jubilee, called “Be Sweet” and “Paprika.”

Stream it on Peacock.

As someone who thought that Season 47 was, overall, a success, I am excited to see what they have in store with Saturday Night Live Season 48.

There are some iconic roles in film that many actors can only dream of getting to play. James Bond is one of those roles, but so is playing a James Bond villain, and while the role of Bond himself is tough to get, the role of the villain is at least more available to more actors. Some of the greats have played Bond foes past and Rami Malek was the latest to join that club in No Time to Die. And it’s a role he truly loved to play. 

Director Guillermo del Toro recently hosted a roundtable discussion on No Time to Die that included Rami Malek, and the actor explained that the reason he particularly loved his villain character of Safin was because he loves the villains that are mysterious and quiet. Safin always looks like he could snap at any moment, but you can’t be sure when it will happen, which makes characters like his scarier. Malek explained in his own words,…

James Bond has certainly met with all manner of bad guys. Some have been crazed and violent and others have been quiet and cruel. Safin was certainly one in this latter category, though the actor says he took no particular influence from previous Bond villains. Rami Malek’s right that we never really get to understand him.

If there was any major criticism of Rami Malek’s role in No Time to Die it was exactly this. The fact is that we never really got to know Safin in the same way that we often get to understand other Bond villains. No Time To Die drilled deep into James Bond as a man in a way that most previous films really hadn’t, and as such, even with it’s extended run time, there just wasn’t a lot of space for Safin to become a fully realized villain. Also, his plot was sort of convoluted, but that’s par for the course with James Bond villains.

At the same time, if we had understood him better, perhaps Safin wouldn’t have been quite as menacing a villain. Perhaps leaving him as this external force we don’t understand was the best choice. Safin may not go down as one of the all-time great James Bond villains, but he works very well for the role he needs to play in No Time to Die. In that regard maybe he will be seen as a classic Bond villain after time has been the judge. 

Biopics are a tried and true genre in the film world, usually resulting in Awards Season attention. Case in point: 2018’s Bohemian Rhapsody, which told the story of Queen icon Freddie Mercury. Rami Malek ultimately won an Academy Award for his performance, but he wasn’t the only actor who auditioned for the role. Now Queen’s Roger Taylor has slammed actor Sacha Baron Cohen years after he almost landed the role of Freddie in the movie.

Roger Taylor is the acclaimed drummer of Queen, who was played by actor Ben Hardy in Bohemian Rhapsody. The award winning biopic clearly meant a great deal to members of the band, and those who knew Freddie Mercury in his life. And it seems he wouldn’t have been happy if Borat actor Sacha Baron Cohen landed the role over Rami Malek. As she recently shared,

Shots fired. It seems that Roger Taylor doesn’t appreciate the talents of Sacha Baron Cohen, who was seen in serious acting roles like The Trial of the Chicago Seven. In fact, he thinks the 50 year-old Oscar nominee is “utter shit” as a performer, and wouldn’t have gone well in Bohemian Rhapsody. Tell us how you really feel, Roger.

Roger Taylor’s comments to Metro UK are sure to turn a few heads, despite Bohemian Rhapsody arriving in theaters a few years ago. While Rami Malek put a ton of heart (and teeth) into his performance as Freddie Mercury, it was a coveted role that other actors would have killed for. That includes Sacha Baron Cohen, who was originally attached to the role when the movie was developing back in 2010. The Borat icon would eventually depart due to creative differences, making room for Malek to take on the mantle… and eventually an Academy Award.

While Queen’s Brian May reportedly approved of Sacha Baron Cohen’s casting at the time, it’s clear that the rest of the band didn’t quite agree. Roger Taylor doesn’t seem to think he’s a very strong factor, despite his years of experience. One can only imagine how different Bohemian Rhapsody might have been with a different leading actor.

Rami Malek’s performance in Bohemian Rhapsody was acclaimed, but there’s one way Sacha Baron Cohen might have had an advantage over the No Time to Die star. Namely because Cohen has a strong singing voice, as proven from performances in Sweeney Todd and Les Miserables. By comparison, Malek lip synched throughout his performance as Freddie Mercury. Regardless, that’s what Roger Taylor seems to prefer.

Bohemian Rhapsody is available to own now, with some fans hoping a sequel happens. Be sure to check out the 2021 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

Up until a few months ago, we had no idea what movie Christopher Nolan would tackle next after giving Tenet to the masses. Now that’s no longer a secret; the filmmaker is putting together a biopic about theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer and his work on the atomic bomb. Since the project’s existence was revealed in December, Nolan and the Oppenheimer team have recruited some top-notch talent for its cast, and now one of the lead stars of the Black Widow movie has been recruited into the lineup, along with two other notable names.

Fresh off her return as Yelena Belova in the Disney+ series Hawkeye, it’s been revealed that Florence Pugh will appear in Oppenheimer as Jean Tatlock, a member of the Communist Party in the United States who had an on-and-off relationship with Robert Oppenheimer and was caused many security concerns for the U.S. government. Per THR, Pugh will be joined in the movie by No Time to Die’s Rami Malek and Licorice Pizza’s Benny Safdie. The former will play a yet-to-be-identified scientist and the latter will play Edward Teller, a Hungarian physicist who worked with Oppenheimer on that Manhattan Project.

These three will act opposite Cillian Murphy, who’s been cast as Robert Oppenheimer and previously worked with Christopher Nolan on the Dark Knight trilogy, Inception and Dunkirk. A few weeks after Murphy’s casting was revealed, word came in that Emily Blunt was brought aboard to play Oppenheimer’s wife, Katherine Oppenheimer. Then by early November, it was reported that Robert Downey Jr. and Matt Damon will appear in the biopic respectively as Lewis Strauss, chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission who questioned Oppenheimer’s loyalty to the United States and revoked his security clearance, and Lieutenant General Leslie Groves, the director of the Manhattan Project.

Along with her time as Yelena Belova in the MCU, Florence Pugh has scored attention in recent years for her performances in movies like Midsommar and Little Women, and she’s next set to appear in Olivia Wilde’s Don’t Worry Darling. Rami Malek was most recently seen playing Lyutsifer Safin, No Time to Die’s main antagonist, and he’s attached to the ensemble cast for David O. Russell’s next movie, which hasn’t been titled yet. As for Benny Safdie, although he’s chiefly known as a filmmaker alongside his brother Joshua, his acting credits besides Licorice Pizza include Good Time (which he also co-directed), Pieces of a Woman and the upcoming Obi-Wan Kenobi series.

In addition to directing Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan wrote the biopic’s script, which is based off the Pulitzer Prize-winning book American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin. Unlike the majority of Nolan’s movies, Warner Bros. will not be involved in Oppenheimer’s release. Instead, Universal Pictures is financing and distributing it, and here’s how the studio is reportedly describing the biopic:

Oppenheimer is expected to begin filming in early 2022 and is slated to drop in theaters on July 21, 2023. While we wait for more casting news and other updates on its progress, learn what movies will come out next year with our 2022 release schedule.

Warning: massive SPOILERS for No Time To Die are about to be dropped. If you haven’t seen the epic conclusion to the Daniel Craig era of James Bond, this is your warning to turn back and avoid the gritty details. 

In comparing himself to a reflection of James Bond (Daniel Craig,) No Time To Die villain Lyutsifer Safin (Rami Malek) couldn’t be more correct. Orphaned by Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Christoph Waltz), in love with Madeleine Swann (Léa Seydoux) and possessing an overdeveloped trigger finger of his own, this adversary of SPECTRE will do whatever it takes to best his enemies. And in his fight against all who oppose him, Safin has a weapon of great destruction in his arsenal: Project Heracles.

The only thing scarier than what Project Heracles can do is its origins. And in order to dissect No Time To Die’s central Macguffin, we’ll have to trace a decade’s worth of history to the bitter truth. Consider this your last warning for spoilers, as Safin’s evil plot is about to be explained, right down to the last detail. If you’re comfortable moving forward, let’s begin by breaking down just what Rami Malek’s chilling baddie set out to do in the 25th James Bond movie.

Lyutsifer Safin’s Evil Plot, Explained

No Time To Die wastes no time getting the wheels in motion for Lyutsifer Safin’s master plan. Working with MI6 scientist/defector Valdo Obruchev (David Dencik), the first step in the game was to let the enemy make the first move. In this case, the enemy is SPECTRE, and that opening gambit is to steal Project Heracles from an MI6 black site, along with Obruchev himself. Though SPECTRE and Safin have very different uses for this weapon.

It all comes to a head in Cuba, as James Bond and CIA agent Paloma (Ana de Armas) infiltrate a secret birthday party for Ernst Stavro Blofeld. With SPECTRE in possession of Project Heracles, Blofeld intends on killing James Bond with this mysterious DNA-targeting weapon. But as planned by Safin, Valdo Obruchev double crosses SPECTRE and kills almost their entire organization on his behalf.

The last loose end in Safin’s revenge plot, spurred by the fact that Blofeld sent Mr. White (Jesper Christensen) to kill his family, is the man himself. No Time To Die soon sees that tied up, thanks to the cold blooded killer recruiting the young woman he spared decades prior, Dr. Madeleine Swann (Léa Seydoux.) Once Blofeld is out of the picture, all that remains is for Safin to kidnap Dr. Swann and ship out a new version of Project Heracles that will make the world a little tidier. Of course, by "tider," what Safin really means is he intends to wipe out his enemies, their bloodlines and a whole bunch of other people on a worldwide scale. 

The Origins Of Project Heracles

How did such a weapon of mass genocide come to be? As in quite a few cases in world history, No Time To Die’s secret weapon was developed by the people we’re supposed to trust with our lives. Under the watchful eye of current “M” Gareth Mallory (Ralph Fiennes), Project Heracles was developed over the last decade. Its existence was kept “off the books” in order to make sure it didn’t get into the wrong hands. The intent, as M himself put it, was to provide “a clean accurate shot, every time.” 

Through the use of cutting edge technology, Project Heracles was supposed to be an efficient killer. Its development thrived thanks to the assistance from Valdo Obruchev after his defection. But somewhere along the line, James Bond thought the project was shut down, or at least he felt that it should have been. Five years after the events of Spectre, and Commander Bond’s retirement from active service, Project Heracles was stolen. What’s worse is that thanks to the disgruntled Obruchev’s work, the destructive capability of this clandestine project was scaled to a much higher yield.

How Project Heracles Was Intended To Work

In its original design, No Time To Die’s Project Heracles is a deadly simple weapon. Using a DNA sample from the target intended, Heracles uses a swarm of microscopic nanobots to take out only the person that sample is sequenced to. Project Heracles harmless to whomever isn’t identified by the DNA profile used when sequencing the weapon, which was what Blofeld intended when trying to kill James Bond at his surprise birthday party. However, once Valdo Obruchev switched the target sample with everyone on SPECTRE's roster, the results were less than ideal for the imprisoned maniac. 

The downsides to this tech are even greater, as Q (Ben Whishaw) himself proclaimed with the rather funny quip of, “Nanobots aren’t just for Christmas.” Project Heracles is permanently a part of any exposed subject’s bloodstream. One touch will transfer those replicating nanobots to another person until they hit their intended target. We saw this in action with the death of Blofeld, as Madeleine’s bespoke fragrance of death in No Time To Die went from her to Bond, and from Bond to Blofeld upon our hero trying to choke out his adopted brother. It’s a personal form of revenge in its original conception, but thanks to the combined imagination of Lyutsifer Safin and Valdo Obruchev, it becomes the largest threat in the Daniel Craig era of James Bond.

Safin’s Variant Of Project Heracles

What happens when you team a racist, disgruntled scientist with a megalomaniac who's a dark version of James Bond? You get a terror plot that sounds a little bit like the classic ploy Blofeld tried to carry out in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Only instead of a handful of “angels of death,” Safin plans to use a modified version of Project Heracles to tidy up the world. This variant of Project Heracles can wipe out entire family lines, ethnic groups and any genetic traits the person wielding it wants to target. We see this through the deaths of a family that were related to a fallen SPECTRE lieutenan after the events of the Cuban showdown in No Time To Die. 

But also, Valdo Obruchev himself threatens Nomi (Lashana Lynch) with his ability to now target very specific ethnicities. What was once a genetic sniper rifle has now become a potential weapon of mass destruction for any crackpot with a grudge; which is why James Bond ordered the destruction of Safin’s poison garden. Sadly, it’s also what forced him to sacrifice himself, thanks to his infection with a final, twisted Heracles variant that would have killed Madeleine and Mathilde upon contact.

How Project Heracles May Have Shown Up In James Bond's Past

Crazily enough, a running thread through Daniel Craig’s run as James Bond may have provided a piece of foreshadowing that signaled this very threat. Whether it’s coincidental or by design, the usage of tracking devices on Bond has been a recurring device throughout most of the films. Ever since Casino Royale injected a smart tracker into James Bond, keeping tabs on his whereabouts through better chemistry has been trotted out time and again.

However, the greatest usage of such a technology, and the prospect that MI6 has been working with genetic toys for some time now, has to be Q’s “smart blood,” which was introduced in Spectre. Described as ”cutting edge nanotechnology” that could track Bond and monitor his vitals, as well as his location, this smart blood feels like a cousin to, if not a direct result of Project Heracles.; right down to M's orders to use it on 007 after his explosive trip to Mexico. 

This tracks with the timing of Heracles development, as according to No Time To Die, this project has been in development for a decade. So presumably at some point between Quantum of Solace and Skyfall, Valdo Obruchev defected to MI6 and Project Heracles was born. Sadly, since Q was left out of the loop, Safin and Obruchev were able to create a menace not even his know how could neutralize.

Project Heracles went from a secret only few knew about in the halls of MI6 into the largest threat that 007 himself would ever face down. It would be the weapon that Lyutsifer Safin almost decimated the world with, if it wasn’t for the fact that James Bond stopped him in the nick of time. While there’s certainly a degree of intimidation when it comes to whomever takes up the mantles of either James Bond or his next adversary, the next evil plot to be foiled by 007 is a subject of just as much scrutiny.

No Time To Die is in theaters now, or heading there shortly, depending on where you are in the world. So if you happen to have read this rundown without seeing the film, you can check your local listings and be ready to experience Daniel Craig’s final mission for yourself. And if you're all James Bond'ed out, head over to the 2021 release schedule and find yourself a nice movie to retire to.

Any franchise that becomes as ubiquitous to pop culture as the James Bond series has will find itself subject to some degree of parody. Even in Daniel Craig’s era of Bond, which comes to an end in the climactic conclusion known as No Time To Die, there are still plenty of jokes made at the expense of the classic stereotypes of Bond girls and over-the-top villains. But when preparing to become the final baddie in the Craig run, actor Rami Malek avoided watching any of the villains that came before him. Instead, he wanted to focus on making Safin the most bespoke villain for Daniel Craig’s James Bond.

Rami Malek honed in squarely on the continuity of the Daniel Craig arc in his No Time To Die research, as well as Craig's performance as James Bond throughout his four previous films, for inspiration. Revealing this fact as I spoke with him to promote the film, Malek had his reasons for potentially shying away from any viewings of Goldfinger, Moonraker or, most importantly, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Here's how Mr. Malek described the rationale behind his process: 

Rami Malek definitely had a unique position to work from when getting into character, as he got to shape Safin with co-writer/director Cary Joji Fukunaga before he even signed on for No Time To Die. This led to the collaborators speaking over an extended period of time before shooting, which built the role into what it is today. And the path to Safin’s final form was a more difficult prospect than normal, because of the parody factor.

When Cary Joji Fukunaga previously talked about creating No Time To Die’s villain, he mentioned the pop culture imprint of past Bond villains was part of what concerned him. So it was even better that Rami Malek didn’t look back on classic villains, especially the infamous Dr. No, when putting together his own vision of Safin. Of course, that didn’t stop the public from thinking Safin was a newly remodeled version of the first James Bond villain to ever grace the screen. 

That notion of "the new Dr. No" finally sees itself resolved in No Time To Die, but by the time those answers sink in, the comparisons are forgotten. Safin, if anything, is a newer spin on a different James Bond trope that the new era of 007 films has dug pretty deep trenches in: dark reflections of Bond himself. It's a concept that makes Rami Malek's focus on James Bond in his preparation all the more apt, especially considering some of the villains he was veering away from.

Particularly through antagonists like Skyfall’s Silva, and most recently Spectre’s Blofeld, we’ve seen the psyche of Daniel Craig’s James Bond examined in rather unique ways. Now with Rami Malek’s final boss in the Craig run of films, Safin is arguably the darkest inversion of Bond we’ve ever seen. It's all because Malek studied Daniel Craig's James Bond, rather than his enemies, with care; which is exactly what a true Bond villain would do.

Questions still surround Safin, especially for audiences who haven’t seen No Time To Die just yet. Whether you’re in a market that’s already showing the movie, or you happen to be gearing up its future opening weekend, there will be a lot to talk about when dissecting this ultimate Daniel Craig villain. And if you want to learn what else is coming to movie theaters throughout the year, head to the 2021 release schedule and take a look at what other villainy may be hiding in plain sight.

No Time To Die stars Daniel Craig, Rami Malek, Lashana Lynch, Jeffrey Wright, Billy Magnussen, Léa Seydoux and director/writer Cary Joji Fukunaga discuss their new James Bond film in this interview with CinemaBlend's Mike Reyes. They talk about Craig’s legacy as 007, what sets this era apart from Bonds of the past, how they constructed his final sendoff with No Time To Die and more.

Video Interview Chapters

• 00:00 - Intro 
• 00:35 - Rami Malek on what makes Safin the deadliest Bond villain 
• 01:45 - How Cary Joji Fukunaga borrowed from On Her Majesty’s Secret Service for No Time To Die
• 03:05 - Daniel Craig and Lashana Lynch on having two 007s in No Time To Die
• 05:03 - The No Time To Die cast reflects on Daniel Craig’s Bond legacy 
• 07:30 - Rami Malek on the rumors that he is the new Dr. No 
• 08:22 - Jeffrey Wright on the honor of being the longest incarnation of Felix Leiter 
• 09:20 - Léa Seydoux on why Dr. Madeleine Swann is unlike any other Bond girl 
• 10:34 - What Daniel Craig drank to celebrate his last wrap as Bond 
• 11:10 - Would Lashana Lynch come back for a Nomi spinoff? 
• 12:00 - How A View To A Kill inspired Cary Joji Fukunaga for No Time To Die
• 12:52 - Léa Seydoux on shooting the dramatic conclusion of No Time To Die

American James Bond fans still have to wait a few days to see Daniel Craig's final adventure as the super spy. However, No Time To Die had its world premiere last week, and that means that a lot of people got a first look. This includes the stars of the film, as well as the royal family. Because what good is being royalty if you can’t see movies early?

Rami Malek, who plays No Time To Die’s villain, was, of course, in attendance at the premiere, as was Prince William, Kate Middleton, and Prince Charles. Meeting the trio might seem initially as a really amazing thing, but Malek tells E! It was like meeting old friends, because he’d met them before. Malek explained… 

It’s got to be a somewhat weird existence where meeting members of the royal family is like meeting old friends. But since Rami Malek does sort of see them that way, it makes it all the more important, potentially, to know what they thought of the movie itself.

Certainly Rami Malek wants his friends to like the movie he made. And as far as that goes, while Malek didn’t speak to them directly about their thoughts, he feels confident that Prince William at least really enjoyed No Time to Die. He explains... 

It’s a safe bet at this point that Prince William probably really did like No Time to Die, because most people do. The critical response has been overall positive and while we don’t have a widespread crowd response quite yet, if there was a very loud contingent of international fans who hated the movie, we’d probably know that. 

It’s got to feel good for all involved that most people seem to like No Time to Die. Daniel Crag’s tenure as James Bond has been something of a roller coaster ride with some amazing highs and some equally disappointing lows. Craig seems to be going out a high note, which is good news for everybody.

North America will finally see how this phase of James Bond’s big screen world will come to an end this Friday when No Time to Die arrives in theaters.  

Some fan theories are so popular that not even the truth will stand in their way. So while No Time To Die director Cary Joji Fukunaga has finally addressed that long-standing rumor that Rami Malek’s Safin is secretly Dr. No, don’t expect that to turn fans off of that potential trail. Though, for the record, Fukunaga’s reason why that classic Bond villain hasn’t returned sounds pretty legit.

In an interview with SFX Magazine, Cary Fukunaga supposedly cleared the air about Safin and the persistent need to connect him to that first classic James Bond villain. What’s more, No Time To Die’s villain was apparently so difficult to create that Fukunaga, along with Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, all got a little frustrated during the process. As you can see from the filmmaker's below comment, creating a new villain in a world like the James Bond franchise has some very unique ups and downs:

While Rami Malek has enjoyed the ambiguity that surrounds his No Time To Die villain, he’s definitely fed into the sort of baddie Cary Joji Fukunaga is hoping to land. Given the opportunity to help craft his antagonist, even before accepting the role, Malek feels as close to Safin as Fukunaga is. And thanks to their efforts, the Academy Award-winning actor claims that his No Time To Die character is certainly, “a nasty piece of work.”

But again, that sort of villain isn’t easy to create, even in the world of 007. Just look at Spectre’s reintroduction of Blofeld, which, quite frankly, rubbed some fans the wrong way. More specifically, the twist where James Bond and his classic arch-nemesis are revealed to be adopted brothers had some series loyalists crying foul, as that same twist was deployed in Austin Powers in Goldmember. Which, strangely enough, seems to be a touchstone that Cary Joji Fukunaga kept in mind when crafting Safin for No Time To Die:

There’s an established pedigree of James Bond villains, and films like The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard have absolutely played to the sillier side of that formula. But as Daniel Craig’s serious era of rebooted continuity comes to a close in No Time To Die, times call for a menace that’s more complicated, while remaining severely deadly. But even with all of the talk of serious Bond villains, could Safin be another Franz Oberhauser situation? This fall will see the truth about Rami Malek’s Safin revealed to the public at large when No Time To Die heads to theaters on October 8.

The world of James Bond has always been one of mystery, with culprits hiding in the shadows and waiting for the right moment to strike. Upholding that tradition is No Time To Die, as Daniel Craig’s big Bond finale is raising a lot of questions when it comes to loyalty on both sides. In terms of the good guys, Léa Seydoux’s Dr. Madeleine Swann is the person who remains a mystery when it comes to how her secrets could destroy James Bond. In the world of the villains though, it’s Rami Malek’s Safin who poses the most questions. So let’s run down what we do know about the latest Bond baddie and see what we can’t piece together in the process.

His Full Name Is Lyutsyfer Safin

It may seem silly, but multiple reports have seen No Time To Die’s antagonist being given the full name of Lyutsyfer Safin. While the James Bond series has never been above giving their characters weird or punny names, Taschen’s The James Bond Archives confirms this in some of the pages they’ve shown off in the latest updated edition. Then again, once upon a time, we were told that Franz Oberhauser was the name of Spectre’s villain, only for Ernst Stavro Blofeld to be revealed in the long run. So Safin could find himself revealing his true nature once we see him on the big screen.

Rumors Have Pointed To Safin Actually Being Dr. No, Or A Modern Reinvention

The issue with Lyutsyfer Safin’s name is a big one, because there’s been a persistent rumor that Rami Malek is actually playing a modern version of the classic Bond villain Dr. No. While Malek himself would certainly never dissuade people from thinking that, No Time To Die has shown the world enough evidence that could allow the matter to play out either way. Rumors and names aside, there are some cold hard details that have given us something to truly sink our teeth into when discussing Safin, his plot and motivations.

Safin Once Belonged To SPECTRE, Working As An Assassin

By the end of Spectre, James Bond had unmasked the worldwide syndicate that has been behind every act of treachery since 2006’s Casino Royale. Even with Blofeld in custody by the end of the film, it felt like we’d be seeing that organization a lot in the future, as those sorts of places tend to have backup plans for when this sort of thing happens. Safin definitely once belonged to the ranks of SPECTRE, working as an assassin for their cause. That doesn’t appear to be the case any more; in fact, in No Time To Die, it looks like he’s crossed them in a massive way.

Even Ernst Stavro Blofeld Considers Safin An Enemy

When you’re a criminal mastermind with an axe to grind against your adopted brother, as well as aspirations to be a maniacal power broker like Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Christoph Waltz), you tend to make quite a few enemies. However, you’d expect those people to come from the side of good, and not from your own office pool of hired killers. No Time To Die has Safin most definitely on the bad side of the imprisoned Blofeld, as he considers him a common enemy that he and James Bond share. When you can share a nemesis with the man who's historically been your greatest foe, something has to be up.

His Main Goal Seems To Involve Targeted Biological Warfare

What could have possibly made Ernst Stavro Blofeld and Lyutsyfer Safin enemies? Well, when you look at their ultimate goals, it might not be hard to suss out. In Spectre, Blofeld was all about infiltrating the world’s intelligence organizations, with some money laundering, terrorism and human trafficking on the side. But apparently even SPECTRE has to draw the line somewhere, and if the new details about No Time To Die are to be believed, Safin is dabbling very heavily in selective genetic warfare. Counter-intelligence, terrorism, revenge and extortion are well and good for the modern Blofeld, but this sort of plot might be something only the classic, unhinged variant of the character may be into.

Killing Madeleine Swann’s Mother Was Part Of Safin’s Work With SPECTRE

One last note about Safin’s previous employment with SPECTRE seems to be a pretty big sticking point in No Time To Die’s pre-release campaign. As we learned from an interview with director Cary Joji Fukunaga himself, the 25th James Bond film will be opening with an atypical flashback sequence, depicting the death of Madeleine Swann’s mother. This was apparently an act at the hands of one Lyutsyfer Safin, and prompted the young Swann to use a gun to protect herself. That day seems to have forged a bond between Safin and Swann, with his resulting fixation potentially being explained in one, simple explanation.

Lyutsyfer Safin May Be In Love With Madeleine Swann

Independent of his extracurricular activities involving targeted DNA attacks, Lyutsyfer Safin may have found a bit of a romantic interest in his life. As heard in the final trailer for No Time To Die, Rami Malek’s big bad makes particular note of James Bond’s love affair with Dr. Madeleine Swann when likening him to his own reflection. That line wasn’t present in earlier trailers, and the inclusion this late in the game seems to suggest that on top of world domination, Safin may have some romantic jealousy issues he’s trying to work through. It’s just a shame that he had to kidnap a scientist and steal some technology pertaining to genetic warfare to do so.

What you see above is a profile of the man we’ve come to know as Lyutsyfer Safin, the main antagonist of No Time To Die. Any of this could change, remain true or evolve into something greater once the story of the film begins to unfold. September 30 is when our UK readers will be able to learn the truth, while October 8 is the opening day for US readers to take that plunge. Whatever the end result may be, the Daniel Craig era of James Bond could end with its finest hour.

Excitement is ramping up yet again in the weeks leading to the arrival of No Time To Die. With Daniel Craig’s final James Bond adventure set to finally debut for the viewing public, the mysteries of this new adventure will unravel in due time. Though if some new official details are to be believed, Rami Malek’s evil plot is as massive as we’d previously heard.

Even the latest trailer for No Time To Die has danced around exactly what Safin has planned to “make the world a better place.” But if you head over to the official site for Universal Pictures Korea, a roughly translated synopsis holds what feels like a huge confirmation that’s been all but spelled out in the marketing for this 007 adventure. Apparently this is the reason James Bond is brought back into active duty:

Previously, the vague answer as to why Daniel Craig’s Bond was brought out of service has been that Jeffrey Wright’s Felix Leither has specifically requested his help. Though initial reports stated this mission was to locate missing scientist, Valdo Obruchev (David Dencik), we now seem to know the dangerous technology that he was working on. No Time To Die appears to have Safin making the biggest threat in modern Bond history, putting him in the same league as the old school SPECTRE.

Already this key seems to unlock a lot of doors when it comes to No Time To Die. Much like Mr. White before him, Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Christoph Waltz) seems to have found a villain that’s taken things a bit too far for his liking. This would explain why he’d actually aid James Bond in trying to foil Safin, who Blofeld sees as a common enemy.

We’ve seen the genetic/biological warfare angle teased through vague dialogue in No Time To Die’s trailers so far. Lashana Lynch’s Nomi tells us as much when she utters the line, “He’s going to kill millions,” and even the final trailer for the film has Ben Whishaw and Daniel Craig piecing together the potential legacy that Rami Malek’s baddie is looking to leave with the world. Maybe the reason his skills will survive his death is because this new “selective DNA attack” is something that can’t be stopped once it’s in the field.

Even with Safin’s potential Bond villain plot out in the open, No Time To Die still has some intriguing mysteries to be solved. Specifically, what exactly is the dark secret being harbored by Léa Seydoux’s Dr. Madeleine Swann, and how does it tie into the film’s overall story? September 30 is the day the UK will find out those answers, with the US being slated to catch up on October 8, as No Time To Die will see James Bond return to theaters for the first time in almost six years.

Here’s something about the Twilight saga we don’t talk about nearly enough: Rami Malek was in it. The Oscar winner known best for playing Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody, along with his critically-acclaimed TV role in Mr. Robot, once played a vampire named Benjamin in the final Twilight film, Breaking Dawn Part 2. Nearly a decade later, he attended the same star-studded party as Kristen Stewart. What an odd Twilight reunion!

Both Rami Malek and Kristen Stewart were part of celebrating Taika Waititi's 46th birthday this week. The director behind Jojo Rabbit and Thor: Ragnarok had a private party with his singer girlfriend Rita Ora, and the two Twilight stars happened to be involved. Check out some of the pictures shared on Instagram:

Did you know Kristen Stewart and Rami Malek were tight with Taika Waititi? Yeah, me neither, but it’s great to see the actors having a blast with the New Zealand-born filmmaker and actor. Ora did not share a picture of Stewart and Malek together, but we imagine the pair running into each other by the snack and wine table and reminiscing about that time they got to play vampires together for the final Twilight film.

Rami Malek was not a household name when he put on those red contacts as a member of the Egyptian coven that helps the Cullens fight the Volturi in the final installment. He had starred in the Night at the Museum movies with Owen Wilson, Robin Williams and Ben Stiller as the Egyptian pharaoh Ahkmenrah. Kristen Stewart was, of course, a big star as the face of the Twilight franchise, and these days they both have even more exciting careers and apparently party in mutual circles.

Also among Taika Waititi’s pictured guests were actors Kate Beckinsale, Paris Jackson, Jodie Turner Smith, Ashley Benson and pop singer Charli XCX. It looks like the couple paired their friends from the Hollywood and music world as the house party celebrated Waititi’s birthday.

Taika Waititi and Rita Ora have been seen together throughout the year, most memorably doing some PDA with Tessa Thompson, which had the internet theorizing they were in a throuple. Waititi has spent 2021 filming Thor: Love and Thunder with Chris Hemsworth and an incredibly stacked cast that includes Natalie Portman, Christian Bale and Russell Crowe.

Taika Waititi currently stars in Free Guy with Ryan Reynolds, which is currently playing in theaters. The filmmaker is also developing a Star Wars movie among other projects, making him a particularly great person for an actor to be friends with right about now. We’d love to see more of Waititi, Kristen Stewart and Rami Malek, but for now we’ll settle for this mini-reunion that brought together two majorly talented Twilight stars.

Legendary actors like Denzel Washington have nothing but stories to tell when asked about their rise to fame. With movies like Glory, Malcolm X and Crimson Tide making up the earlier era of his career, Washington has shifted into parts like the one he played in his latest film, The Little Things. Once the mentee, Denzel Washington is now the mentor, and even he noticed it during a scene he filmed with Rami Malek and Jared Leto for that project.

Promoting the murder mystery thriller that’s currently available in theaters and on HBO Max, Washington spoke with Reel Chicago and provided his reflections of filming The Little Things. Those thoughts came to him during a big interrogation scene, which required Denzel Washington to watch the action from behind a two-way mirror before entering the scene. Memories of those films gone by came into the forefront as the scene progressed, leading to this exchange between Washington and his interviewer:

One day, you’re standing on the bridge of a nuclear submarine with Gene Hackman, trying to avert World War III in Crimson Tide, and before you know it, you’re letting Rami Malek tease Jared Leto into a potential confession. My, how time flies by, though Denzel Washington’s experience on The Little Things wasn’t a passive recollection of glory days past. Rather, reading his words above shows how he appreciates the texture of the authoritative role that he once played against in the beginning of his career. Not to mention that Washington got to watch two talented actors go head to head, and he didn’t have to pay a subscription fee to do so!

Though one could only imagine how nervous Denzel Washington’s co-stars were on the other end of that glass. Imagine you’re Rami Malek or Jared Leto, both Academy Award winners, and you have to play out your scenes with the promise that Denzel will burst in and shake things up. But before he does, he gets to watch and note your performance on the set of The Little Things. It's a good thing Leto refused to wear a wig for the movie, as that might have led to some unexpected sweating under the circumstances.

The Little Things might seem like another in a long line of Denzel Washington movies that house roles only he could play, but that’s because he was once an actor starting out on the other side of the glass. It only makes whatever projects are yet to come in Washington’s career all the more exciting, as future films will make for interesting comparisons to what he’s done before, and what new challenges still await. Though we here at CinemaBlend wish Denzel Washington’s younger co-stars the best of luck standing up to that man’s kind, but authoritative presence on set.

What do St. Elsewhere, Free Willy, and Mr. Mom have in common? Well, it’s The Little Things that connect them. John Lee Hancock’s gritty crime thriller about two detectives who will stop at nothing to track down a sadistic serial killer has one of the most stacked casts from top to bottom, including a few examples of “Hey, that guy was on The Wire.” Besides the trio of Oscar winners — Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, and Jared Leto — The Little Things cast features some of film and television’s greatest character actors who make this haunting cat-and-mouse game all the more enjoyable.

But, when watching The Little Things, you may be asking yourself where, exactly, you’ve seen all of the different actors who fill up the screen through the film’s two-hour runtime. From former child actors to a few of HBO’s resident players, this tense drama has a little bit of everything. Say what you will about the movie and its trappings, but The Little Things cast is something to behold.

Denzel Washington (Joe “Deke” Deacon)

Denzel Washington, an actor with one of the most successful (from a financial and cultural standpoint) careers in the history of Hollywood, and his portrayal of embattled Kern County Sheriff’s deputy Joe “Deke” Deacon is latest in a series of roles that prove why the two-time Oscar winner has remained such a dominant force since breaking out in the ‘80s medical drama, St. Elsewhere. With award-winning performances in Glory and Training Day, Washington's characters have found themselves on both sides of the law (and sometimes in-between) on multiple occasions over the years. Over time, we’ve watched the young and explosive newcomer become a seasoned pro with a command of the screen and ability to pull greatness out of thin air.

Rami Malek (Jim Baxter)

There is a certain quality about Rami Malek that prevents you from looking away whenever he’s on screen, and that’s the case for his character, Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department detective Jim Baxter, in The Little Things. The Oscar winner (Best Actor in a Lead Role for Bohemian Rhapsody) has this look his eyes and manner of speaking in roles like Elliot Alderson in Mr. Robot, Louis Dega in Papillon, and and even Pharaoh Ahkmenrah in the Night at the Museum franchise, that draws you in and never lets go. With Malek appearing as the unsettling and villainous Safin in the upcoming James Bond film No Time to Die, we’ll be seeing much more of this talented and versatile actor.

Jared Leto (Albert Sparma)

During the middle of The Little Things, when Jared Leto’s (who was nominated for a Golden Globe) Albert Sparma is at his weirdest and most unsettling state, it’s easy to forget that those sunken eyes, sharp cheeks, and off-putting body language belong to the same actor who took home an Oscar for his portrayal of Rayon in Dallas Buyers Club, or even heartthrob Jordan Catalano on the ‘90s teen drama My So Called Life. But yes, that is the same man who gave emotionally-driven performances in Requiem for a Dream, showed up in American Psycho as the detestable Paul Allen, and didn’t get enough screen-time in Suicide Squad (something that Zach Snyder looks to remedy in the new Justice League).

Chris Bauer (Sal Rizoli)

Fans of HBO classics like The Wire and True Blood were, undoubtedly, stoked to see Chris Bauer get plenty of time on the screen in The Little Things as detective Sal Rizoli, and for good reason. Over the years, Bauer, who has also had lead roles on everything from The Deuce to The Third Watch, has become one of the most prolific character actors in any number of television shows, with credits for appearances on everything from The Good Wife to Law and Order and even comedies like Parks and Recreation. But, to some of us out there, Bauer will always be Frank Sobotka, the ill-fated union leader on The Wire Season 2, a plot that helped the show expand its reach in the early goings.

Michael Hyatt (Flo Dunigan)

Michael Hyatt, who portrays Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department pathologist Flo Dunigan, is another member of The Little Things cast who has appeared on The Wire, where she played Brianna Barksdale, the older sister of the show’s main drug lord. Since then, Hyatt has gone on to appear on shows like The West Wing, 24, and Law and Order on multiple occasions. More recently, Hyatt has had main roles on Snowfall, The Comey Rule, and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, to name only a few.

Terry Kinney (Carl Farris)

One of the biggest surprises to see in The Little Things was the presence of Terry Kinney’s Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department captain Carl Farris, whose history with Denzel Washington’s Deke Deacon unfolds over the course of the movie. The longtime director of productions at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre, Kinney is probably best known for his take on Tim McManus, the mastermind behind the Emerald City Unit on the HBO prison drama Oz, but his career doesn’t begin or end there. Over the years, Kinney has shown up in movies like The Firm and Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile and countless TV shows like Elementary, Fargo, and Billions.

Natalie Morales (Jamie Estrada)

Another actor in The Little Things with an impressive list of credits is Natalie Morales, who plays detective Jamie Estrada. Prior to becoming a presence in the serial killer thriller, Morales made a name for herself with runs on shows like Parks and Recreation, White Collar, and Girls. Morales has also served in supporting roles in everything from the buddy cop comedy Stuber, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, and even in 2010’s Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps. More recently, Morales joined the cast of Dead to Me, so, hopefully, we’ll see more of her in the Netflix dark comedy’s third and final season.

Frederick Koehler (Stan Peters)

Remember Stan Peters, one of the suspects brought in for interrogation in The Little Things? He’s the one that ends up having a rough go of things after Deke plays some head games regrading an old case. The actor who played the nervous character is Frederick Koehler, who is probably best known for his role as Alex Butler, the Michael Keaton’s onscreen son in the 1983 comedy Mr. Mom. Over the years, Koehler has shown up on Oz (like just about everyone), the Death Race franchise, and even American Horror Story: Roanoke, where he appeared in four episodes as Lot Polk.

Isabel Arraiza (Ana Baxter)

One of the fresher faces in the cast of The Little Things is Isabel Arraiza, who portrays Ana Baxter, the wife of Rami Malek’s Jim. Prior to landing the role in John Lee Hancock’s crime thriller, Arraiza appeared on the USA series Pearson as well the Crackle original The Oath. She has also had smaller roles on Prodigal Son and Elementary.

Glenn Morshower (Henry Davis)

One of the members of the supporting cast of The Little Things that will make you shout, “Hey, it’s that guy,” is Glenn Morshower, who plays Kern County Sheriff’s Department captain Henry Davis, the man who essentially sets Deke’s journey into motion. Just look up Morshower and you’ll find shows like The West Wing, 24, The X-Files, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and Supergirl. And that doesn’t even include his film credits for movies like X-Men: First Class, Moneyball, the Transformers franchise, and Air Force One.

Jason James Richter (Detective Dennis Williams)

There is more than one former child actor in The Little Things, as Jason James Richter, who played Jesse in Free Willy and its two sequels, plays detective Dennis Williams. Over the years, Richter has appeared in movies like Tekken and The Brawler, as well as TV shows like Bones and Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior, but he will always be remembered for his bond with the lovable killer whale in the 1993 family-friendly classic.

John Harlan Kim (Officer Henderson)

John Harlan Kim appears as Officer Henderson, the member of the Los Angeles Police Department on the receiving end of Jim Baxter’s anger in The Little Things’ first crime scene. Kim, who first got his start in the HBO miniseries The Pacific (which also featured Rami Malek, oddly enough) has gone on to have main roles in The Librarians and 9-1-1, as well as recurring roles in shows like Hawaii Five-0.

Lee Garlington (Landlady)

And then there is Lee Garlington’s character, Landlady, in The Little Things. Despite only being in the movie for one scene (the one involving Deke going back to the scene of the crime to look for more evidence), Garlington makes the most of her time and runs with it. Over the years, the veteran film and television actress has appeared in everything from Field of Dreams to Cobra and shows like Roseanne, Six Feet Under, and The West Wing. Garlington’s biggest claim to fame, however, is playing Claire the waitress in the Seinfeld pilot, a character that was ultimately dropped.

That is just a portion of the impressive cast in The Little Things. Did you spot everyone who was listed? If not, you might want to go back and watch it again before it leaves HBO Max on February 28.

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More so than ever before, we are presented with a great deal of challenges when it comes to seeing the latest movies. Luckily, film studios, like Warner Bros. who introduced a remarkable yet controversial release plan for its 2021 releases, there are modern solutions to these very modern problems. Over the course of the next year, we’ll be able to watch more than a dozen theatrical releases from the comfort of our homes or anywhere else with a stable internet connection. The upcoming crime thriller starring Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, and Jared Leto, will soon be the first of many 2021 movies to try out this revolutionary release approach and we’ll be watching The Little Things streaming with little to no trouble at all.

Where Is The Little Things Available Streaming

Starting Friday, January 29, everyone with an HBO Max subscription will be able to follow Kern County Deputy Sheriff Joe “Dek” Deacon (Denzel Washington) and Los Angeles Police Department detective Jim “Jimmy” Baxter (Rami Malek) attempt to pin the crimes of vicious serial killer preying on the residents of the Greater Los Angeles metropolitan area on Albert Sparma (Jared Leto), a strange man who seems to be the perfect match for the focus of the manhunt.

If you have an active HBO Max account, all you will need to do is sign in and then click on The Little Things banner and before you know it, you’ll be following two dogged detectives, one of which has a checkered past, as they get to the bottom of the mystery at hand, even if the results will upend their lives and reputations. But don’t waste any time because The Little Things will only be streaming on HBO Max for 30 days.

Watch The Little Things on HBO Max here.

If you're not an HBO Max subscriber, you can sign up here.

Have you considered using a VPN? You may already use one as a way to keep your internet access secure when using public wi-fi, but did you know you can use a VPN to watch your favorite streaming content when you're traveling out of region? If you're traveling out of the U.S. area and still want to catch The Little Things on HBO Max, consider using a VPN.

Will The Little Things Be On Netflix?

Chances are, whenever you recommend a movie to someone, the first question out of their mouth is “Can I watch that on Netflix?” You can’t fault them for it because Netflix was the first streamer for most of us out there. But not every movie is on Netflix, which happens to be the case for The Little Things. And since The Little Things is streaming exclusively on HBO Max until the end of February (remember, it’s part of those Warner Bros. plans), we won’t see the crime thriller on Netflix for quite some time, if ever at all.

If You’ve Seen The Little Things, Here Are Some Other Under-The-Radar Movies To Get Excited For

Despite having a cast that features not one, not two, but three Academy Award winners, The Little Things was one of those movies that wasn’t getting talked about a whole lot leading up to its January 29 release. Sure, there was a TV spot released in the weeks leading up to its premiere, but you would think that a serial killer thriller with Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, and Jared Leto would have been all over the place. But The Little Things isn’t alone in this regard.

If you’ve seen The Little Things and want to read about other under-the-radar movies that are scheduled to be released throughout 2021 then CinemaBlend has you covered. From Breaking Bad alum Bob Odenkirk proving he’s a total badass in Nobody to the Will Smith-led Richard Williams biopic King Richard (which also comes out on HBO Max), there’s a lot coming out this year that you may not have heard of.

Remember, this is just the beginning of the Warner Bros. rollout of 2021 theatrical releases that will drop on HBO Max the same they open at your local movie house. With at least one movie coming out every month for the rest of the year, it looks like we’re going to be quite busy this year.

Denzel Washington returns to the big screen with fellow Academy Award winners Rami Malek and Jared Leto in their new thriller The Little Things. Written and directed by John Lee Hancock, the film focuses on Denzel Washington's Deputy Sheriff Joe "Deke" Deacon and Rami Malek's Sergeant Jim Baxter teaming up to track a serial killer who has been terrorizing the city of Los Angeles. Jared Leto plays the prime suspect, and he has spoken about the similarities between his character, Albert Sparma, and the DC supervillain The Joker from David Ayer's Suicide Squad.

The Little Things debuts in theaters and on HBO Max this Friday, and critiques have started to roll in.

CinemaBlend’s own Eric Eisenberg saw the film, and his official review is mostly negative. He argues that The Little Things leaves something to be desired, and that even Denzel Washington and Rami Malek’s star power wasn’t enough to save this “blah thriller.” He writes in his review,

A lack of originality has been noted in other critics' reviews, as well. Owen Gleiberman of Variety pointed out that The Little Things feels like a rerun. He notes that Jared Leto anchors the best sequence in the film, but says that the rest of the movie simply can’t catch up to the standard that that scene raised:

Alonso Duralde of The Wrap had similar critiques of The Little Things, referring to it as a TV series that has been “roughly chopped into an ungainly two-hour feature.” Though Duralde does point out that Denzel Washington’s “quietly-intense mode” is always worth watching, he critiques the characters, saying:

Chris Evangelista of Slashfilm seemed intrigued by Denzel Washington’s performance as well, noting that he is “predictably captivating.” But he notes that the premise of two polar opposite cops who team up to stop a lunatic is also predictable. John Lee Hancock penned the script for The Little Things back in 1993, and Evangelista points out that:

The Little Things critiques are not negative across the board, as David Rooney from The Hollywood Reporter was captivated by Denzel Washington and Rami Malek’s performances. Rooney notes that the addition of Jared Leto’s “taunting weirdo” makes the film “suspenseful… with a dark allure.” He continues:

The critical response to The Little Things so far has been somewhat negative, so it will be interesting to see how moviegoers react to the film. The release of the film on HBO Max in addition to a theatrical release should allow for more people to see the movie, so we'll have to wait and see.

The Little Things will be available on HBO Max and in theaters this Friday, and in the meantime, check out our full list of every movie coming out in 2021.

A film’s capacity to surprise is always going to be one of its strongest weapons. As frequently as movies are made and released, one can never underappreciate the value in showing an audience something that they’ve never seen before. Clever plotting and smart twists can make or break an experience – otherwise viewers may find themselves questioning why they spent two hours watching something that they feel like they’ve watched 100 times before (possibly with better execution). If what’s delivered is only what’s expected, the result is going to be boredom.

This is the trap ensnared around the leg of John Lee Hancock’s The Little Things. Harkening back to the post-Silence of the Lambs era and gritty serial killer thrillers like Se7en, Summer Of Sam, and Kalifornia, the film has a firm foundation to build on in the genre, three above-the-title stars as leads, and it envelops the audience in the proper seedy aesthetic, but what it’s lacking is a screenplay with punch or originality. It winds up trapped in its own plotting, and though there are exciting sequences built in, it struggles to overcome its inherent issues.

The film stars Denzel Washington as Joe “Deke” Deacon, an aging patrol deputy in a small county two hours north of Los Angeles who is all but running out the clock on his career in law enforcement. With a dark history and a bad attitude, he’s not precisely loved by his colleagues, and partially by extension of this he finds himself at the start of the story being forced to travel down to the Southland so that he can pick up some evidence. It’s a job that he is reticent about at first, as that aforementioned dark history played out in L.A., but he begrudgingly takes the assignment.

He is quick to find frustration in the task, as he is told by the lab that he has to wait 24 hours before his evidence will be made available, but he is also quick to find a distraction: his old precinct is teeming with activity due to an on-going case involving a serial killer who specifically targets women. He doesn’t exactly make a prime first impression on the officer running the investigation, Sgt. Jim Baxter (Rami Malek), as Deke double parks and blocks him in during his initial visit, but the two men eventually get to talking, and Baxter makes the call to let Deke tag along to the murderer’s latest crime scene as a pair of fresh eyes.

Deke is not only helpful, as he is able to discover a hideaway from which the killer watched the victim, but he also becomes convinced that the criminal at work is the same one who he was hunting at the end of his time in Los Angeles – a.k.a. it’s the case that essentially broke him. Though he is warned against it, Baxter makes that call to have the patrol deputy work alongside him, and it takes no time at all for the new partner to become obsessive. Following leads, Deke becomes totally convinced that a creepy appliance deliveryman named Albert Sparma (Jared Leto) is responsible for the crimes, but the duo struggle to uncover hard evidence to prove their theory, and find themselves going to deeper and deeper depths to discover the truth.

The Little Things traps itself in a box story-wise, and can never find a way to escape.

The Little Things chugs along well enough in its first act, laying down all of the necessary exposition, providing a sense of the characters, and setting the general mood, but where it breaks down is when it pinholes its focus of Jared Leto’s Albert Sparma, sapping the movie of its compelling mystery. To use one of the examples given earlier, it’s like if Se7en kept Kevin Spacey floating around for the majority of the story. As soon as Sparma shows up, the whole plot narrows down to “is this oily creep the killer or not?” and that idea proves too basic to keep up any kind of momentum. Either he is the murderer in question, which is the automatic assumption given the stunt casting; or he’s not the murderer, which is the more inventive direction, but also totally hampered by the fact that the movie provides zero alternative avenues for a proper ending.

I won’t spoil here which way it goes, but I can tell you that it leads to a deeply unsatisfying conclusion.

It’s legitimately peculiar how generic and on-the-nose The Little Things can be.

There are some smart and well-crafted sequences that emerge, such as a bit of freeway cat-and-mouse played by Deke and Sparma that has you questioning who is following who, and an interesting corruption of witness testimony. Mostly, though, it’s odd how The Little Things seems to commit itself to cliché. Cinema would be better as an art form if we never hear a villain say, “You and I are a lot alike” to a protagonist ever again, but this is the exact kind of movie that just keeps on delivering it, and lo and behold Sparma makes that precise connection with Baxter while they ride together in a car.

From an illegal, clandestine search of Sparma’s apartment, to emotional eruptions in an interrogation room, recycled material plays throughout, and even the music choices are eye-roll inducing – with picks like “I Will Follow Him” by Little Peggy March, and Tommy Tutone’s “867-5309 (Jenny)” playing behind a scene with a discussion of a phone call.

Denzel Washington and Rami Malek make a solid pair, while Jared Leto is an effective creepazoid.

The tropes clearly extend to the characters as well, with Deke and Baxter making a traditional haunted veteran/young hot shot duo – but with The Little Things the material is put into the hands of some of the finest actors working today. Seeing Denzel Washington and Rami Malek together here certainly makes one want to see them pair up again on something with more meat on its bones, and the two actors do what they can with the material. As hokey as it can be to see a grizzled cop pin crime reports to his wall and stare at them for hours, Washington has the gravitas to prevent you from snickering; and Malek has the slick attitude and determination that the role of Baxter requires.

Once again letting his physicality do a lot of the character work for him, Jared Leto also delivers everything that’s required of playing Albert Sparma – the principal element being the ability to make you snarl at his greasy grossness when he enters the frame. He seems to go for a clash of Aileen Wuornos and Hannibal Lecter, and while it’s far too much at times as the script demands (I’ll refer you back to the “You and I are a lot alike” moment), he certainly makes an impression.

John Lee Hancock first wrote the script for The Little Things back in the 1990s, and knowing that provides a kind of “a ha” moment post-viewing. Beyond it’s mediocre plotting explaining why nobody was in a rush to make it, had it been made and released back then its blandness would have stood out prominently in an era in which the genre was being redefined. That being said, watching it in 2021, decades after it was first conceived, it’s clear that was something the movie just couldn’t outrun.

When a movie like The Little Things looks to shop itself out to the market, getting an Academy Award winner certainly helps. Landing someone like Denzel Washington helps even more, as his intensity is a natural fit for a murder mystery of this ilk. But writer/director John Lee Hancock went for the hat trick, and he nabbed himself a stacked lineup of three Oscar winners. Because Washington is joined by Rami Malek and Jared Leto in this crime thriller about a methodical killer and those dedicated to catching them.

From what’s shown in the trailer to The Little Things, Denzel Washington’s Deputy Sheriff Joe Deacon is a law enforcement professional who used to be part of the police department itself. Though he may have left one badge for another, his sense of duty still pervades; and it comes back stronger than ever when a series of murders starts to lure him back into the game. With his instincts sharp, and his sense of justice unwavering, Deputy Sheriff Deacon is going to do what he has to in order to make sure that justice is served; which could lead to some dangerous undertakings.

Seeing Denzel Washington go back into detective mode is something that’ll never stop feeling cozy. The legendary actor’s resume is chock full of movies like Devil In A Blue Dress, Out of Time, Déjà Vu, and of course Training Day; so it’s hard not to sit here and name all the times Washington has been on the case on the big screen. But with The Little Things, it feels like he’s crossing over into David Fincher-style territory, as the look and feel of this particular string of cases invokes memories of Zodiac and Mindhunter; which should make the lack of a third season sting a little less.

Even more exciting is the fact that Jared Leto is a potential suspect in The Little Things’ central mystery, which is going to lead to him and Denzel Washington going on a cat and mouse spree through the heart of this moody suspense tale. With Leto and Washington going head to head, and Rami Malek being included in the overall endgame, there’s sure to be flaring tempers, and more than a couple surprises in what already looks like an early 2021 hit.

In the vein of modern crime stories like the ones we’ve mentioned above, The Little Things absolutely looks like it’s going to, at the very least, present a mystery that should keep everyone guessing. And with Oscar season being extended into the new year, this movie could net some of its already prestigious cast some potential future wins. We’ll see what happens when The Little Things debuts on January 29th, both in theaters and on HBO Max. Though if you want to see what other movies are looking to crack the case of box office success in the new year, there’s plenty of suspects listed on our 2021 release schedule.

The James Bond franchise is one the longest running in film history, with Eon Productions showing no signs of slowing down. Daniel Craig's tenure as 007 will come to an end with Cary Joji Fukunaga's No Time to Die, which was delayed a full year amid global health issues. The highly anticipated 25th Bond movie will feature the debut of Rami Malek as the mysterious villain Safin, and the Oscar-winning actor seems to be having fun dodging questions about one particular fan theory.

Not much is known about No Time to Die, but the movie's cast will feature an intriguing mix of new and returning characters. Rami Malek looks menacing in the movie's trailers as Safin, but the cast and crew hav been keeping the events of Cary Joji Fukunaga's' film under wraps. One popular theory is that Safin will be revealed to be iconic villain Dr. No, similar to the way Blofeld's origin played out in Spectre. He's been asked about this possibility before, and Malek most recently responded by saying:

How delightfully cryptic. While not actually giving any concrete answers, Rami Malek seems to be interested in the ongoing fan theory that he's actually playing Dr. No. Given the precedent of previous movies, this doesn't seem completely out of the question.

Rami Malek's comments to GQ are sure to add momentum to the ongoing conversation about his No Time to Die character. While not revealing any of the movie's contents, Malek has spoken to the unsettling nature of Safin. Additionally, he spoke to the psychological toll it took to portray the villain in the mysterious Bond sequel.

Daniel Craig's tenure as Bond will reach its swan song for No Time to Die, and it's been a wild ride thus far. The franchise embraced serialized storytelling during this time, with recurring characters and 007's actions being informed by previous movies. And when Blofeld was revealed to be the architect of Bond's pain, it should be interesting to see exactly what Safin's origin is.

No Time to Die was Rami Malek's first project after winning the Academy Award for his work playing Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody. The stakes are obviously high, and it looks like Malek is going to bring a terrifying presence to the Bond franchise. And he also seems to share a connection to Léa Seydoux's Dr. Madeleine Swann.

Unfortunately, No Time to Die is one of the many movies to be delayed when theaters were shut down and people stopped congregating in large groups. Bond 25 will now arrive next April, where it can hopefully make the box office numbers that the franchise is known for. And in the process, moviegoers will say goodbye to Daniel Craig's hulking James.

No Time to Die is currently set to arrive in theaters April 2nd, 2021. In the meantime, check out our 2021 release list to plan your trips to the movies next year.

When you’re wading in the waters of the 007 legacy, playing the Blofeld card like 2015’s Spectre did is a pretty big move. Once you’ve established James Bond’s most notable arch-nemesis, and the crime organization he’s most famous for organizing, it’s a pretty tight spot you’ve put yourself in when you have to dream up a villain like Rami Malek’s Safin. However, if No Time To Die co-writer/director Cary Joji Fukunaga is to be believed, the adversary of the 25th James Bond film is going to make Ernst Stavro Blofeld quite obsolete.

As No Time To Die has been pushed to April 2021’s release window, there’s still plenty of press coverage coming from the hype machine surrounding the film. Just as Rami Malek has been talking up the presence of Safin, Cary Joji Fukunaga threw in his two cents about how much of a big deal Daniel Craig’s final cinematic opposition actually is. That led Fukunaga to tell GQ the following about Safin:

This pretty much tracks with what we’ve both seen and heard about No Time To Die, as even Rami Malek went on record as saying that Safin is quite the unsettling character to play. For a man who's tackled projects like the USA thriller series Mr. Robot, that’s saying something. Though, of course, the more we learn about the mystery surrounding Safin’s plot and personal backstory, it becomes easier to see just what makes him so frightening.

Not only is Safin personally responsible for murdering the mother of Dr. Madeleine Swann, but he’s also a former assassin coming from the ranks of Ernst Stavro Blofeld’s SPECTRE. Now, Rami Malek’s No Time To Die baddie is calling the shots, making himself an adversary for Christoph Waltz’s currently captive madman. And while we don’t know the exact details of what his evil plot pertains to, everything from genetic manipulation to biological warfare seems to be on the table, as millions of lives are on the line.

No Time To Die had to come up with a big villain who could walk right behind Christoph Waltz’s Blofeld, but easily overtake him without diving back into the more ridiculous end of the James Bond pool of villainy. All of the clues we’ve seen in interviews and footage surrounding Rami Malek’s Safin seem to confirm that not only has this task been accomplished, but the results will truly be something worth waiting for. No Time To Die plans to end that wait, in theaters thank you very much, on April 2, 2021. But should that change in either direction of the calendar, CinemaBlend will be there to break the news. James Bond will return.

Eon Production's James Bond movies make up one of the most popular film franchises of all time. Generations of moviegoers grew up watching 007's big screen adventures, and the property is showing no signs of slowing. Daniel Craig's tenure as the MI6 agent is coming to an end with the recently delayed No Time to Die, which will feature Rami Malek as new villain Safin. And the Oscar winning actor has shared what makes Safin so "unsettling."

Rami Malek's star power has been growing steadily over the past few years, especially after winning an Academy Award for playing Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody. No Time to Die is the first project he took after snagging that honor, and he'll seemingly be the primary antagonist. Malek recently described Safin in a chilling way, saying:

Well, this is intriguing. It looks like Safin has a true creepiness about him, one that is sure to be an unnerving experience for both audiences and the characters of No Time to Die. And considering how many iconic villains have populated the property over the decades, this sounds like a great way to stand out among the rest.

Rami Malek's comments to GQ will likely make the extra wait for No Time to Die's release all the more painful. Cary Joji Fukunaga's upcoming Bond movie was originally meant to hit theaters back in April, before it was eventually pushed back a full calendar year. Malek's role is one of the many enticing aspects of the blockbuster, although we'll have to wait a number of months before finally meeting his character Safin.

Of course, Rami Malek's character won't be the only villain that James Bond will have to contend with in No Time to Die. Christoph Waltz will be reprising his role as the nemesis Blofeld, and it should be interesting to see if he shares a connection with Safin. Regardless, there's sure to be a ton of insane action in 007's future.

Narratively, it feels like Cary Joji Fukunaga could go seemingly anywhere with No Time to Die. Daniel Craig's tenure as Bond has seen the franchise embrace serialized storytelling, with 007's actions informed by his preceding appearances. Bond 25's cast shows this continued to trend, as it'll feature the return of Léa Seydoux's as Dr. Madeleine Swann and Jeffrey Wright's Felix Leiter.

Unfortunately, No Time to Die ended up being pushed back a full year as a result of the ongoing pandemic. This isn't the only blockbuster to go this route, with projects like F9 and Halloween Kills making year-long jumps as well. Daniel Craig and company are going to have to keep the movie's secrets for another year as well, which should present its own set of challenges.

No Time to Die is currently set to arrive in theaters on April 2nd, 2021. In the meantime, check out our 2021 release list to plan your trips to the movies in the new year.

Daniel Craig is going to be James Bond for a little bit longer. While No Time to Die is set to be the swan song for the James Bond actor, at this point, it's anybody's guess when we'll actually see the movie in question. Originally set to release in April of this year, the film has now seen two significant delays due to the pandemic, resulting in it now being set to come out a full year later. One assumes that Craig is looking forward to seeing the end of the road, but it's possible that another No Time to Die actor might even more ready to be done with this movie even more as Rami Malek says his character was not one that was easy for him to deal with.

Not a great deal is known about the character being called Safin, who will be James Bond's primary antagonist in No Time to Die. Rami Malek actually gave GQ a bit of detail that starts to give us a look inside the head of the movie's big bad. But according to the actor, being in the character's head was a bit rough. It apparently wasn't easy for Malek to play a character that was quite so evil. According to the actor...

James Bond villains have all sorts of motivations. Some just want to make themselves rich and/or powerful. Other's are looking to just burn everything down. It sounds like Safin falls more into this second category. And while there is apparently a reason why Safin has become the person that he is in the film, it doesn't necessarily make him more sympathetic. He's still very evil.

Rami Malek says tapping into that evil wasn't easy for him, but in the trailers for No Time to Die, he looks like he's done a pretty good job with it. Of course, there are a lot of questions we won't get answered until we actually see No Time to Die. While there was apparently a chance at one point that could have happened sooner than next spring, as the producers did investigate the possibility of moving the film to a streaming platform, those talks didn't really go anywhere, and now we just have to hope that the theatrical exhibition business is in better shape in sex more months.

As mysterious as Rami Malek’s villain Safin is in the world of No Time To Die, we surely aren’t hurting for a good look at who he is and what he’s capable of. Though the specific details of his plot are still in the shadows, we’ve got a bead on just why the villain of the 25th James Bond film is so threatening. What’s more, we’ve got a new video discussing Safin-- loaded with new footage to ponder over in the weeks to come. For now though, let’s meet Safin in this new reel promoting No Time To Die:

On top of some moments that we’ve already seen glimpse of in No Time To Die, quite a bit of context is given into some of those snippets from the past. In particular, this new set of scenes from the official 007 channel Safin threatens to kill everyone that Dr. Madeleine Swann loves. Played once more by Lea Seydoux, she swears that she’s already lost everyone she cares about and has defiant tears in her eyes. But then Rami Malek gives her this look that totally calls her out without saying anything.

We’ve seen Safin firing guns into ice, presumably playing a big mind game by giving Madeleine that broken mask that he wears in various scenes of No Time To Die’s various footage montages, and he even calls Daniel Craig’s James Bond obsolete in another scene. Malek’s villain is no stranger to villainy and the clapbacks that come with it. But that look? It’s both chilling, and in a way amusing, as if to say “Liar” to Dr. Swann’s face, with venom dripping from each syllable. Recent rumors may have the answer to just why Safin wears that expression on his face, but it’s still a cold glare you need to see for yourself, and so now you shall:

It’s the crux of what Rami Malek even admits to aiming for in his role as No Time To Die’s big bad, and the first classic world domination plot villain in the Daniel Craig run. As he wants to unsettle the audience, Malek’s Safin looks primed to do just that. Between comparing himself to James Bond in almost glowing terms, and employing a bunch of people in ominous red hazmat suits to harvest something in his evil lair, it’s all adding up to another landmark chapter in the modern reboot of the 007 canon. A landmark which can be best summed up in a quote Rami Malek gives in this very video:

A new world of espionage and evil will continue to unfold in No Time To Die, which as of this moment, is still slated to open on November 12th in the UK and November 20th in the US. Whether that changes or remains the course, James Bond will return to CinemaBlend; and you’ll want to keep up with the latest updates as they break.

This morning, No Time To Die gave the world one hell of a wakeup call with its latest trailer. Teased throughout the week, the 25th film in the storied James Bond franchise showed the world a little more about what Daniel Craig’s final adventure will be all about. Furthermore, it also gave us some more details about Rami Malek’s villain in the movie, the mysterious Safin, and what his evil plot may be trying to carry out.

While there’s no confirmation or denial about some of those Dr. No rumors, what we’ve seen in the new trailer is enough to start piecing together the following points of order.

Part Of Safin’s Plot Is Revenge Against Dr. Madeleine Swann

As with any good Bond villain, there’s something that James Bond’s temporary nemesis has to be seeking in the world. Part of what Safin wants in No Time To Die is apparently some good old fashioned revenge, with Dr. Madeleine Swann (Lea Seydoux) taking her place in his crosshairs. Hammering home this point is an interesting revision of the moment where Dr. Swann receives that broken mask that hints to her own shadowy past, as Safin is apparently revealed to be in the room when she opens it up.

So Safin’s going to get pretty close to Madeleine with his plot of vengeance, and the possibilities for why this grudge exists are far and wide in potential. Anything from his grudge with Dr. Swann reaching back to a particular event in her childhood, to something she may have done pre-Spectre as a practicing psychologist, are up for grabs. Whatever it is, it’s really personal, and Safin isn’t afraid to take his rage out on the world at large in No Time To Die.

Safin Has No Qualms About Committing Genocide

Rami Malek’s Safin has been shown as a cold hearted killer who likes to think of himself as someone similarly aligned with James Bond’s philosophies in life. However, No Time To Die had to throw in some major differences, and the one that separates the villain from the hero is a classic motivation: selective genocide. That's something that even Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Christoph Waltz) wouldn't even dream of, as he's declared Safin a mutual enemy between himself and his adopted stepbrother. This is even more clearly drawn when Safin drops the following line in the latest trailer:

As if his grudge against Dr. Madeleine Swann wasn’t enough to put him on the wrong side of James’ trigger finger, those god-like aspirations will definitely keep No Time To Die in some very interesting waters. As Bond himself previously pointed out, “History isn’t kind to men who play God,” and 007 is pretty good at making his competition history. Though Safin does look like he's testing his weapon out in the field in this trailer, as a quick glimpse at that nightclub scene with Bond and Ana de Armas' Paloma shows people falling down in the presence of some mysterious smoke. Maybe that's why they both had to quickly down some sort of shot later on in the trailer.

Whatever Technology Safin Has On His Hands, It’s Seriously Bad News

We still don’t know what mysterious technology Safin has stolen, which prompts James Bond’s un-retirement in No Time To Die. But there are still a lot of clues as to what this weapon is and what it can do. As we’ve seen in both the previous trailer and this new batch of footage, some sort of material is being harvested in Safin’s lair and lab; something that yields a bunch of red vials that, thanks to Nomi’s reaction, signaling that “he’s going to kill millions” should it ever get out. Again, the scene with people appearing to drop dead in a club of some sort hints towards this being some sort of biological agent that's dispersed through aerosols.

And then there's Daniel Craig’s pretty huge line which he says towards the end of the trailer: “If we don’t do this, there’ll be nothing left to save.” Whatever Safin is using is a huge enough threat that 007 even sounds concerned in No Time To Die. Depending on the yield of the red vials, the fact that there are tons of them could indicate that you need a lot of whatever weapon this is to take down millions of people in one go. Which could explain those rockets fired from that mysterious ship at sea, though, as always, there’s room for interpretation and surprise.

Safin Is The First Bond Villain In The Craig Run To Act Like A Classic Baddie

We may finally know why No Time To Die is being touted as the Bond film that will “change everything.” Up until now, Daniel Craig’s variant of James Bond has dealt with nothing but criminals grounded in reality, financial terrorists and heinous power players. While the threats have escalated and the scope of those operations along with them, Safin looks like he’s about to push the modern Bond franchise into some new, yet familiar territory.

World domination just became part of the Bond villain menu once again, as Rami Malek’s character not only invokes some seriously strong Dr. No vibes in his costuming, but the production design of his lair is very much a throwback as well. With huge aspirations for global cleansing, and a hidden laboratory/living space to launch those plans from, the classic playbook of 007 villains looks to have been dusted off and revised for today’s modern adversary.

A huge cloud of mystery still surrounds Rami Malek and the figure known as Safin, even after piecing together the further details that have come out of this new look at No Time To Die. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, as to give away all the secrets now would be a horrific crime, especially with a little over two months to go until showtime. At the very least, we now have even more of an indication that Safin is a potential hall of fame villain, as his mean streak is only outdone by the aspirations he may or may not have been revealed to be carrying out.

No Time To Die still has its secrets to keep, and we’ll have to wait until November 20th before we find out what they really are. From what we’re seeing on this end, that wait is definitely going to be worth it, and you’ll want to keep up with us in the interim, as we’ll be running coverage and analysis on the franchise that will celebrate its 25th entry. As always, James Bond will return to CinemaBlend.

If 2020 had any decency whatever we would have seen No Time to Die months ago and we'd probably already be deep in an all-new debate about who should play James Bond next. However, that's not the world we live in and so instead we're sitting around waiting for November in hopes that when we get there the world will have calmed down enough that we can all go see a James Bond movie in theaters again. Until then we have to gaze longingly at pictures of Rami Malek, which, I mean, isn't the worst thing, even if he looks a little worse for wear in No Time to Die.

The official James Bond Instagram page dropped a new image that shows off Rami Malek's character. His name is Safin, and for the most part that's really all we know about the character. No Time to Die is teasing a movie that will change everything about James Bond and will be full of secrets to be revealed, but exactly how this guy fits into it all, we'll have to wait and see.

Originally set for an April release, No Time to Die was one of the first major releases to get pushed back, even before American theaters were closed, due to the fact that closures were already happening in other nations, and the international box office is of greater importance to the James Bond franchise than it is to many other releases. The film was rescheduled for November, and while it seems likely now that at least some theaters will be open in November, it's unclear how widespread that will be.

This is all the more important because the closure of theaters came at exactly the wrong time for No Time to Die. The film was in the middle of its pre-release marketing blitz to get people hyped to see the movie when everything had to stop. That means that the movie will need to do all that again in the fall, which means the film will need to be that much more successful from a financial standpoint, something that may be tough if theaters aren't widely open around the world.

One way or another, Daniel Craig's final outing as James Bond will make it to the public, and then we really can move on to the question of what comes next. James Bond is second to maybe only Godzilla when it comes to franchise longevity on the big screen. There will be more Bond movies, that's not even a question. We just don't know what they will look like.

Hopefully, No Time to Die will open this November as planned in a world that has moved on at least enough that the theatrical experience will be widely available and we can all enjoy it together.

It’s hard to believe it has been four years since Spectre came out in theaters and it will be five years before No Time To Die comes out. For a short while we were on a fairly steady diet of Daniel Craig movies, with Skyfall and Spectre coming out three years apart and Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace coming out two years apart.

However, there was a four-year gap between Quantum of Solace and Skyfall, so I suppose we shouldn’t fret too much about No Time To Die and how long it is taking to come together. On that note, casting is finally a reality for the new movie, which will bring Daniel Craig back, presumably for the last time.

If you are as pumped as we are for the film we previously had to call Bond 25, be sure to check out our updated cast list below and check back for new add-ons to the cast and more.

Daniel Craig as James Bond

Yes, Daniel Craig is game for at least one more round as the famous British agent 007. The actor was confirmed to be returning in July of 2017 and has been allegedly working out like a fiend since then in order to whip himself into shape for his final hurrah. No Time To Die does indeed mark the final return of Daniel Craig in the James Bond franchise, with an opportunity the actor feels lucky to be participating in.

Rami Malek as Safin

Following his star-making turn as Freddie Mercury, the Mr. Robot actor will be joining the Bond franchise as Safin, a mysterious villain who is apparently playing God in a rather dangerous way. The No Time To Die role was one that the studio was hot on casting him into, and as such, Malek actually got to help shape wherever it is Safin’s character is going in the new film.

Due to the fact the movie will be filming in Jamaica like Dr. No, some have speculated that Safin will be somehow related to that character or flick, but this has currently in no way, shape or form been confirmed. Considering the shell game the 007 brass played surrounding Christoph Waltz's Ernst Stavro Blofeld, we wouldn't throw this possibility out just yet.

Jeffrey Wright as Felix Leiter

That’s “Wright,” the fan-favorite Westworld actor is returning to the Bond fold to play Felix Leiter in No Time To Die. Like Rami Malek, this had been speculated for a while. James Bond’s friend is mentioned in Spectre and he’ll be back in this next film, bringing the supposedly retired 007 out of seclusion to retrieve a missing scientist.

Ralph Fiennes as M

Taking over for the former M played by Judi Dench, this M’s full name is Lieutenant Colonel Gareth Mallory. We know this because he was originally introduced in Skyfall as the head of the Intelligence and Security Committee. He’ll be back in No Time To Die, although he previously said he still didn’t have any details on the movie. That has more than likely changed by now, but good luck getting those details out of Fiennes, even with the film being pushed to a November release date. Ultimately, M won’t be the only MI6 character to be returning, either.

Naomie Harris as Moneypenny

Miss Moneypenny is an iconic Bond character. In Daniel Craig’s version, she’s been given the first name Eve, and has been played by Naomie Harris since 2012’s Skyfall. Her version was given some backstory in which she was once a field agent.

She messes up royally in Skyfall during a mission in Istanbul and later is given desk work, but has occasionally taken on field work since. When last we saw her she was back in the office, so we’ll have to wait and see where No Time To Die goes. Though Naomie Harris has promised that Moneypenny has grown up somewhat in the years between Spectre and this new Bond film.

Lea Seydoux as Dr. Madeleine Swann

Madeleine Swann, or rather Dr. Madeleine Swann, is the daughter of Mr. White, a member of SPECTRE. She had grown up resenting her father for his criminal dealings and it was those dealings that led James Bond to her.

She first pops up in – you likely guessed it – Spectre, and although she shares some “moments” with Bond, she has said in interviews that she doesn’t really feel like a stereotypical Bond girl. This is likely one of the reasons she’ll be back for another round, and why the newer films have dumped the previous nomenclature for the more modern “Bond Woman.”

Ben Whishaw as Q

Q and Daniel Craig’s Bond meeting for the first time is a highlight of Skyfall as the older British Agent realizes he will be dealing with a veritable youngster as his new quartermaster. These days, Whishaw is nearing 40 (!) and is very much a major part of the Bond franchise popping in to confirm pieces of information and more. He’ll be a welcome face when he comes back for No Time To Die.

Rory Kinnear as Bill Tanner

Rory Kinnear’s big claim to fame in this franchise is playing the youngest version of Bill Tanner to exist. Previously played by actor Michael Kitchen during the Pierce Brosnan run of films, the character’s first introduction as M’s chief of staff took place in 1974’s The Man with the Golden Gun. These days, Bill Tanner is a regular fixture in Bond films, ever since Kinnear’s version first popped up in 2008’s Quantum of Solace. With his return in No Time To Die, Rory Kinnear ‘s Tanner has had the most consistent appearances, over the longest span of time, in the history of the Bond films.

Dali Benssalah

A French actor known for the Nox miniseries and Interrail, Dali Benssalah was initially announced as joining the franchise during the big press event in Jamaica that kicked off No Time To Die’s production. We now know that he'll be playing a character named Primo. We currently do not have details on who exactly Primo is working for in No Time To Die, but looking at his official poster photo, we can tell he’s someone we wouldn’t want to be on the bad side of.

Ana De Armas as Paloma

Like Dali Benssalah, Ana De Armas will be a newcomer in the Bond universe. The Cuban actress has been an actress for the past decade, previously appearing in Hollywood movie projects like Blade Runner 2049 and War Dogs. One of her most recent claims to fame was starring alongside her No Time To Die costar Daniel Craig in the Rian Johnson comedy whodunnit Knives Out.

In No Time To Die, De Armas plays CIA agent Paloma, despite her initial reservations on taking the role. Handling her fair share of weapons in advanced marketing for the film, Paloma looks like she'll be another trailblazer in the modern age of Bond Women.

Lashana Lynch as Nomi

Captain Marvel’s Lashana Lynch is also joining No Time To Die, and she just might be playing the next 007 if the rumors are true. What we know for sure at this point is she’ll be playing an MI6 operative named Nomi, who’s been climbing the ranks and fighting the good fight in the wake of James Bond’s absence from her majesty’s secret service.

Looks like jumping from Marvel to Bond is not a bad franchise hop, and there's always the potential that her new character could be the one that finally lands their own spinoff from the 007 series.

Billy Magnussen as Logan Ash

Game Night’s Billy Magnussen hops genres and projects all the time. He’s done comedy, as evidenced. He’s also played princes in the likes of Into The Woods and the upcoming Aladdin and he’s been involved in plenty of TV projects from Black Mirror to Tell Me A Story. Now, he’ll be joining No Time To Die as another CIA agent, named Logan Ash. Based on the recent rumors pertaining to his character, it looks like he’ll definitely be an adversary of some sort to James Bond, as he’s allegedly set to pursue him during the film’s course of events.

David Dencik as Valdo Obruchev

Another crucial entry into No Time To Die's cast is David Dencik, a Swedish character actor known for roles in films like Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and The Snowman, as well as TV projects such as Rig 45 and Quicksand.

He’ll be joining No Time To Die as Valdo Obruchev, the character who seems most likely to be that kidnapped scientist James Bond was brought to find in the first place. Whether it’s against his will, or as a true believer, Valdo is probably a crucial piece to Safin’s evil plans.

Christoph Waltz as Ernst Stavro Blofeld

The ultimate nemesis to James Bond throughout his long and storied history, No Time To Die will indeed see the return of Christoph Waltz’s Ernst Stavro Blofeld. Previously the head of SPECTRE, his villainous enterprise was disbanded in his initial appearance, and he is currently in captivity, courtesy of the fine folks at MI6.

Though, as past history has told us, sometimes a comfy jail cell is exactly where the villain wants to be. It was previously uncertain if Waltz would return to his Bond franchise role, but all it took was one trailer to confirm that his taunts towards his adopted brother are far from over.

As for rumors about No Time To Die's story, there have been some suggestions the movie will be making some major revelations that will help to wrap up this era of 007. We’ll be sure to confirm these suspicions as soon as Barbara Broccoli and the studio release any more information, as well as on the November 20th release date that No Time To Die has been currently settled into.

Anticipation for the release of No Time To Die is pretty high, as the film’s delay into November has only given James Bond fans more time to ponder just what sort of mysteries are waiting past the title song. But another, greater mystery that awaits for 007 loyalists is who exactly will take over the post of the franchise lead once Daniel Craig turns in his Walther PPK for the last time. In uncertain times like these, there’s only one place we can turn to get a hint as to what the answer to that question might be: the oddsmakers!

James Bond is known to be a gambler from time to time, so why wouldn’t we consult the data from oddsmakers like US-Bookies to see where the smart money is supposedly going? And believe it or not, fans aren’t over the concept of a female Bond, despite official statements basically writing this concept off. We’ll start with going over the top 10 placings in terms of the odds-on favorites, after which we’ll be running through the long shots that have some interesting names attached to their standings. It all adds up to a pretty exciting pack, mixing the expected with the shocking!

Damian Lewis (25/1)

Currently known for his leading role on the Showtime drama Billions, Damian Lewis’ past history with both Homeland and Band of Brothers also could have put the English drama star in the running for James Bond. The one factor that might keep him from landing the gig is age, as Lewis is currently 49, which is around the time a 007 actor would see themselves on their way out. For reference, Roger Moore was 58 when he left the franchise, and Daniel Craig is currently 52.

Chris Hemsworth/Paul Mescal (20/1)

On the other end of the spectrum, the 36-year-old Extraction star Chris Hemsworth and 24-year-old Paul Mescal, known for his role in Hulu’s Normal People, are both younger candidates tied for 9th place. Were the producers running the franchise, Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, hoping to go with a popular, yet relative unknown, Mescal is the way to go, especially as the youngest candidate in the field. Hemsworth, on the other hand, almost feels like an instant disqualification in this pair, as his Marvel experience has probably driven up his salary demands, and the potential Extraction franchise is probably his Bond gig for the time being.

Henry Cavill (16/1)

A past favorite of fans and oddsmakers alike, Henry Cavill was previously touted as a strong candidate back in the days that saw Daniel Craig take the crown for Casino Royale. Those who saw and enjoyed The Man From U.N.C.L.E. are probably still holding out hope for this prospect, and to be certain, it could still happen if Justice League's Superman willed it so. Those of you looking for an age check, Cavill is currently 37, which keeps him in the game.

Jamie Bell (12/1)

Rocketman’s Jamie Bell would be a fine pick for James Bond, as he has the cred from both TV projects like Turn: Washington’s Spies, as well as his extensive film career stemming back to his debut as young Billy Elliot. His relative youth among these 007 candidates also plays rather well. However, there’s just one potentially big catch: he’s already signed on to be a potentially important part of Paramount’s budding franchise stemming from Michael B. Jordan’s Without Remorse. Bell may already have a pre-emptive clause in his contract from that Tom Clancy adaptation that’ll keep him in that particular wheelhouse, which would be less than ideal for his potential tuxedo fitting.

Idris Elba/Cillian Murphy (10/1)

If Idris Elba and Cillian Murphy aren’t perfect examples of actors who have been suggested to play James Bond for quite some time, then such a concept doesn’t exist. The 47-year-old Elba and 44-year-old Murphy are mainstays, Elba particularly, in the race to find the next Bond. But as an expert has written the Thor actor out of the part due to his age, and Cillian Murphy isn’t too far from that mark himself, their potential casting may sadly be too late.

Aidan Turner (9/1)

Best known for his role on the TV series Poldark, Aidan Turner has had experience playing a lovelorn warrior of great speed himself in Peter Jackson’s Hobbit trilogy. Perhaps this, along with his handsome looks, is what has landed Turner in the fifth place showing amongst these other potential James Bond actors. He can be seen next in the TV series Leonardo, in which Aidan Turner will be playing Da Vinci himself; but if that doesn’t pan out, this could mean some good things for a potential opening on her majesty’s secret service.

Tom Hardy/Michael Fassbender (8/1)

At 42 and 43, respectively, Tom Hardy and Michael Fassbender are two more people that, while being familiar and bankable names, are a little on the older side of the James Bond dream casting spectrum. Their familiarity and potential franchise gigs probably put them further out of the realm of possibility, but fans seem to be willing to bet they’ll get the gig. So if I had to choose, Fassbender would have the advantage, as not only is the Alien franchise’s future in question, he basically played the role as Magneto in X-Men: First Class.

Tom Hiddleston/Richard Madden (6/1)

Having a familiar face certainly helps when it comes to James Bond fans looking into potential hires. While a producer might be motivated to avoid Tom Hiddleston and Richard Madden in the casting game, both occupy a sweet spot where they’re still in their 30s and are recognizable enough to draw a crowd, but still primed to take their stars further. The edge goes to Madden in this case, as he’s 33 to Hiddleston’s 39, and the latter actor’s commitment to Disney+’s Loki series will probably get in the way of any more immediate talks.

Sam Heughan (5/1)

As fast as you can say the word Outlander, Sam Heughan’s name seems to come up in any sort of talk surrounding any potential future 007 action. Part of that is because the man himself has been pushing for the throne himself, but honestly, it’s hard to not see him as a high ranking contender. Even in the higher age range at 40 years old, the man has the looks and the attitude needed to play James Bond, and he is very comfortable with action and emotion as Scottish heartthrob Jamie Fraser. Plus, it helps that the idea kind of took shape in people’s heads after his tuxedoed appearance in The Spy Who Dumped Me, so this isn’t a total surprise.

James Norton (2/1)

At 34 years old, with a resume that includes parts in TV shows like Doctor Who and McMafia, as well as films such as Rush and Little Women, James Norton has an interesting balance of anonymity and familiarity. All of those facors have probably led to him being the odds-on favorite for James Bond at this particular moment in time. While this could change drastically between now and the time of a formal announcement, it’s probably still a good idea to keep an eye on where Mr. Norton’s career takes him in the near future.

Other Notable Candidates

Towards the back of the James Bond candidate pack is a rather interesting assortment of players. With some pretty wild picks, a couple of veterans to the Bond franchise and a previous contender who got pretty close to the job in the running up to Daniel Craig’s hiring, all of these actors are too good to leave out. So let’s get started, moving through three distinct groupings:

The 50/1 Gang

There are six candidates who sit just outside of the top 10 standings, with 50/1 odds tipping them as the next 007:

This is where those Bond franchise veterans we discussed earlier lie, as both Spectre’s Andrew Scott and No Time To Die’s Rami Malek are both suggested as sitting in this category. Should either of them be cast, it’d be the first time a Bond villain would go on to play the lead role in film. Though it should be noted that Die Another Day villain Toby Stephens eventually went on to play James Bond in a series of BBC radio adaptations. So never say never on this concept!

In the younger end of the pack, both John Boyega and Timothee Chalamet are in the 50/1 range of landing the role. If I to pick a favorite in this subsection, I would say that Boyega would be the victor, as his Star Wars franchise experience gives him the functional advantage. Rounding out this group are Ewan McGregor and Benedict Cumberbatch, with McGregor returning to potential contention and Cumberbatch riding the wave he’s recently become accustomed to. McGregor is the clear favorite out of these two.

The 00-Women Gang

Betting fans of the James Bond franchise haven’t given up hope on a female Bond being cast in the future. Though as you can see, most have heeded the words of Barbara Broccoli, by not putting too much stock into this prospect. Still, with candidates like these, it’s hard not to get excited about this big “what if”:

Now, if anyone in this pack was going to get the gig, I side with the betters in Killing Eve’s Jodie Comer landing the post. Between the cultural success of that show, as well as her upcoming appearance in the Ryan Reynolds film Free Guy, it’s a potent martini of qualifications that would make history in its own right. Provided, of course, there’s some sort of in-house reversal over at EON Productions.

The Long Shot Gang

Last, but not least, are two contenders that, while being qualified in their own ways, are less than likely to become the next Bond:

Even in such an unlikely grouping, the favorite is clear as Harry Styles is an acting talent tested enough to be considered a possibility, and he’s young enough to do a longer stint in the franchise than Will Smith could potentially. Also, Smith’s an American, so that probably docks some additional points off the top.

Again, all of these odds could change at the drop of a hat, and fans shouldn’t count any of those top candidates out too early on in the race to become the next James Bond. Until that would-be successor has been named, Daniel Craig is still our 007 for the moment, and we’ll get to see him in his final franchise outing on November 20, when No Time To Die sets its sights on the box office.

I am sure that you probably recognize Milo Ventimiglia from his Emmy-nominated work on This Is Us, or you know Melissa McCarthy from her Oscar-nominated work on Bridesmaids. Yet, unless you still stream repeats of the series on a loop, you may have forgotten what show was responsible for essentially kickstarting their careers: Gilmore Girls.

The one-hour dramedy about single mother Lorelai Gilmore (Lauren Graham), her teenage daughter, Rory (Alexis Bledel), and the eccentric townsfolk they endure on a daily basis in Stars Hollow, Connecticut, ran for seven seasons on The WB (later The CW). For having a simple premise and an almost entirely dialogue-driven structure, its clever narratives and wonderful cast ensured it would be popular enough to garner a four-part sequel on Netflix almost a decade after it ended in 2007.

By then, much of the cast, from one-episode wonders to regulars from the beginning and behind-the scenes personalities had already gone onto bigger things. For some, much bigger. The following are just 10 stars whose resumes prove that Gilmore Girls was a fruitful breeding ground for celebrities in the making.

Alexis Bledel (Rory Gilmore)

From playing a young, but spunky, prostitute in Sin City, joining a sisterhood based on a pair of very durable jeans, and a college professor turned resistance agent on Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale (for which she won a Primetime Emmy) Alexis Bledel is one of the most versatile and charming actresses of her generation. Of course, the former teen model’s most recognizable character remains her first ever credited role in Gilmore Girls, on which she made the social, romantic, and career-based aspirations of Rory Gilmore just as important to us as our own daily struggles.

Sean Gunn (Kirk Gleason)

Earlier, when I spoke of “eccentric individuals,” I was mostly referring to Kirk Gleason: a socially inept mama’s boy who held many jobs in Stars Hollow, and was played by Sean Gunn. Kirk is widely considered the actor’s best known character, which could be because his A-lister co-stars in the Marvel Cinematic Universe often get the bigger pieces of the spotlight despite his dual roles in the MCU (Kraglin and Rocket Raccoon’s body double). He is also frequently cast by his brother, a little filmmaker you might have heard of named James Gunn.

Jared Padalecki (Dean Forester)

I must say, I find it hilariously ironic how Jared Padalecki initially rose to heartthrob prominence on Gilmore Girls as Rory’s first love, Dean Forester, and would later be cast in his defining role on Supernatural as Sam Winchester, who snuffs out paranormal activity with his brother, Dean. Now, with the fantastic fellow CW series nearing its end after 15 seasons, the 37-year-old “scream king” will star in the title role of Walker which is - you guessed it - a reboot of the Walker, Texas Ranger crime series originally headlined by Chuck Norris.

Melissa McCarthy (Sookie St. James)

Despite being a series regular for the entire run of Gilmore Girls as Independence Inn chef (and later co-owner of the Dragonfly Inn) Sookie St. James, Melissa McCarthy did not become much of a TV star until her Emmy-winning turn on CBS sitcom Mike & Molly. It was the following year, after earning her first Academy Award nomination for her supporting role in 2011’s Bridesmaids, when she became a movie star and one of the most sought after comedic actresses in Hollywood, leading to her casting as Ursula in Disney’s upcoming live action remake of The Little Mermaid.

Milo Ventimiglia (Jess Mariano)

After several years of one small movie appearance or ill-fated TV role after another, Milo Ventimiglia’s career finally got a taste of stability after he joined the cast of Gilmore Girls in Season 2 as the troubled Jess Mariano, who was the nephew to Luke (Scott Patterson) and rival to Rory’s jealous boyfriend, Dean. After leaving the show in 2006, Ventimiglia was cast as a flying paramedic on NBC’s sci-fi cult favorite Heroes and, currently stars on one of the network’s biggest modern hits, This Is Us, in the three-time Emmy-nominated role of devoted late father Jack Pearson.

Adam Brody (Dave Rygalski)

After playing Lane Kim’s (Keiko Agena) love interest Dave Rygalski, a well-natured nerd, on Gilmore Girls for nine episodes, Adam Brody left the series to play Seth Cohen, a well-natured nerd, on the Fox teen drama The O.C. Fortunately, the 40-year-old actor has since avoided being typecast too often, taking roles such as a hard-partying fantasy football participant in The League, a grief-stricken, alcoholic descendant of a murderous family in Ready or Not, and The Flash in George Miller’s ill-fated Justice League project.

Krysten Ritter (Lucy)

Despite her short stint on Gilmore Girls, Krysten Ritter played a crucial part in one of the juiciest story arcs of Rory’s college years as Lucy, a fellow Yalie and friend who unwittingly dated a past unrequited admirer of Rory's named Marty (Wayne Wilcox). The actress would go on to have another short-lived yet memorable role as a tragic lover of Jesse Pinkman on Breaking Bad before landing the lead on the ABC sitcom Don’t Trust the B---- in Apartment 23, followed by nabbing the title role on the gritty Netflix crime drama based on Marvel hero Jessica Jones.

Danny Pudi (Raj)

In yet another instance of short stints on Gilmore Girls, Danny Pudi starred as Raj, a fellow staffworker at the Yale Daily News, who worked alongside Rory for a total of four episodes. The actor’s more memorable college-set role would come in the form of Abed Nadir, the self-aware walking encyclopedia of sci-fi knowledge, on Dan Harmon’s much-worshipped NBC comedy Community.

Rami Malek (Andy)

One of the most acclaimed actors in the world right now is Rami Malek. The Egyptian-American is the Emmy-winning star of Mr. Robot, Oscar-winning star of Bohemian Rhapsody, and scar-faced antagonist of the latest James Bond film No Time to Die. However, this remarkable actor debuted with a brief, single episode appearance in the fourth season of Gilmore Girls as Andy, a member of Lane’s bible study group, with three lines.

Amy Sherman-Palladino (Creator)

After getting her start as part of the writing staff of various comedies and dramas, none more successful than Roseanne, Amy Sherman-Palladino made a name for herself by creating her own show that incorporated both humor and true-life drama, which turned out to be Gilmore Girls. She would later find the biggest success of her career yet in creating The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, an Amazon Prime original series that follows a Jewish woman who pursues a career in comedy in the 1960s. The series is currently in its third season has earned Sherman-Palladino five Emmys thus far.

What do you think? Are these the greatest careers to come out of Gilmore Girls or, for my next article, do you think I should lead where you follow instead? Let us know in the comments and be sure to check back for more information on this beloved series or updates on other television favorites here on CinemaBlend.

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Since winning the 2019 Academy Award for Best Actor, Bohemian Rhapsody star Rami Malek has been on the up and up as one of Hollywood's most reliable performers, yet, despite his steady rise in popularity, there is still much to be learned about the man. For instance, did you know that he was in a Twilight movie? Totally took me by surprise to learn that.

All joking aside, there truly are plenty of fascinating things to learn about 39-year-old Los Angeles native in his life off screen. For instance, what inspired the ominous scarring of his Bond villain in the upcoming No Time to Die, did he do his own stunts in the mobile gas tank filling scene from Need for Speed, and just how far did he go in order to so convincingly play a morphine addict on Mr. Robot?

To be honest, we are not going to answer any of those questions here. However, I have five other facts about Rami Malek that I assure you are just as informative and intriguing.

Rami Malek Pretended To Be His Identical Twin Brother, Per His Request

Like his debut film role as Ahkmerah in Night at the Museum and his vampiric character, Benjamin, in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2, Rami Malek is of Egyptian descent. His father, Cairo tour guide and travel agent turned insurance salesman Said, and mother, accountant Nelly, immigrated to the United States in the late 1970s. Soon, they would give birth to their eldest daughter Yasmine and, in 1981, twins Rami and Sami, who would use their identical appearance to start trouble, even into adulthood.

In 2015, while promoting Mr. Robot, Rami Malek appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live, where he told a story in which Sami asked him to perform a Greek monologue for his college acting class... as him. The recent Evansville Theatre grad agreed to it and the performance he gave was almost too impressive to his brother's professor to get away with it. Fortunately, Sami got the points he needed to graduate, all thanks to Rami.

Rami Malek Went To High School With Other Future Stars

Speaking of education, while attending high school at Notre Dame in Sherman Oaks, California, Rami Malek already got to have a taste of what it is like to have famous friends prior to landing a career in acting. However, not all of them had been touched by fame yet.

As she proved by a throwback Instagram post, Rachel Bilson, star of the The OC and Hart of Dixie, was a classmate and good buddy of the future star of film and television. Just one grade below Rami Malek at Notre Dame, but already a Golden Globe-nominated child actress, was future Spider-Man star Kirsten Dunst, whom Malek revealed that he used to have a crush on when speaking to E! on the red carpet for the 2016 Golden Globes. However, his Hollywood connections in high school do not stop there...

Rami Malek Had A Previous Connection To Mr. Robot Co-star Christian Slater

Prior to leading the Queen biopic as Freddie freaking Mercury, Rami Malek's biggest role to date was on the monstrously acclaimed USA series Mr. Robot, for which he won an Emmy playing a morphine-addicted vigilante computer hacker mentored by the mysterious titular character, played by Golden Globe-winning '80s hero Christian Slater. However, when the actors were first cast on the show, which ended after four years in 2019, they were not exactly strangers.

On an interview with Chris Hardwick on his podcast Id1ot, Rami Malek recalled back in high school when he went on a date with a classmate named Emily, who just happened to be his future Mr. Robot co-star's stepsister. In retrospect, it actually makes the eventual reveal of Christian Slater's true identity on the show much creepier than it already was...

Rami Malek Has Voiced Many Video Game Characters

Speaking of creepy, Rami Malek starred in the cinematic adaptation of popular video game series Need for Speed, in which he plays mechanic turned office worker Finn, who, when he learns his motorhead buddies are reuniting, quits his job by publicly stripping naked in majestic defiance of the corporate hell scape he has been suffering. Needless to say, that was not the performance that led him to Oscar-winning glory, but, the 2013 racing film was not his first experience lending his talents to gaming either.

In the same year that he made his screen debut on Gilmore Girls, Rami Malek had an uncredited gig voicing various characters in the 2004 sequel to the blockbuster Xbox exclusive Halo. A decade later, he reprised his role as Tahno from the Avatar: The Last Airbender spin-off The Legend of Korra in the video game adaptation of the popular animated series and voiced a central character of the single-player horror thriller for Playstation 4, Until Dawn, the following year.

How False Teeth Helped Rami Malek Transform Into Freddie Mercury

At first, Rami Malek never expected that he would never have what it takes to play Queen frontman Freddie Mercury in the 2018 blockbuster biopic Bohemian Rhapsody. Fortunately, all it took was a some rigorous physical training and some very big teeth.

Before the singer-songwriter became Freddie Mercury, he had a more cruel nickname: Bucky, due to his distinct chompers that British tooth-making company Fangs FX re-created for Rami Malek to wear on set. During an interview with Jimmy Kimmel, the actor revealed that he kept the teeth for himself after shooting wrapped up. By managing to perfect the musician's accent whilst wearing them, Malek's performance led him to become only the second person of Arab ancestry to win the Oscar for Best Actor, second to F. Murray Abraham.

So, do you believe these facts have efficiently given you a deeper perspective into the life of Rami Malek, or does it still feel like fantasy? Let us know in the comments and be sure to check back for more information and updates on the highly talented actor here on CinemaBlend.

The James Bond franchise is a beloved and long-running film property that has never been far from theaters. Bond's journey on the big screen spans decades, with multiple actors taking on the mantle of 007. Cary Joji Fukunaga's No Time to Die will mark Daniel Craig's fifth and final movie in the franchise, featuring a mixture of new and returning actors. One of the newcomers is Rami Malek's mysterious villain Safin-- although there is a popular fan theory that he's actually playing iconic Bond foe Dr. No. And Malek has no problem giving cryptic responses to this rumor.

Security on the James Bond franchise is notoriously tight, so Eon Productions can keep its secrets and ensure a full theatrical experience for the generations of 007 fans. And given No Time to Die's recent delay to worldwide health concerns, Rami Malek and company are going to have to keep their cards close to the chest for another set of months. Malek was recently asked about the popular Dr. No theory, and he responded with:

Well, done Rami Malek. He clearly knows his way around an interview, and found way to respond to the Dr. No rumors without actually confirming or denying the possibility. But there are months of interviews before No Time to Die hits theaters, so he'll likely be asked this same question a few more times before the long gestating blockbuster arrives in theaters.

Rami Malek's comments come from his recent conversation with Total Film magazine, and has the potential to fan the flames of those Dr. No rumors. Especially since he also admits that the movie Dr. No was the only one he watched in preparation for No Time to Die. Daniel Craig's tenure as James Bond saw the long running franchise embraced serialized storytelling for the first time. Spectre brought iconic villain Blofeld back to the property, played by Christoph Waltz. So it's not out of the question that No Time to Die could include another franchise favorite in Craig's swan song performance.

This actually isn't the first time that Rami Malek has been asked about the Dr. No fan theory. It first was brought to his attention a few weeks ago, and he seemed positively thrilled about the conversations happening online. It's for that reason that he refuses to shoot down that rumor. Instead, he's happy to stir the pot and build up anticipation until No Time to Die finally arrives in theaters.

It's been an interesting week for No Time to Die and James Bond fans. Due to global concerns about the coronavirus, the film has been delayed a number of months. This was likely in order to keep the global launch at one date, and allow for the full potential of the movie's international sales. Bond 25 has already been a long time coming, so this delay is certainly not ideal.

No Time to Die will now arrive in theaters on November 25th, in a more traditional release date for the franchise. In the meantime, check out our 2020 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

In the early phases of what we’ve come to know as No Time To Die, the interest in casting Academy Award winner Rami Malek as the film’s villain was pretty heated. What looked like a pipe dream eventually became an example of persistence paying off, as Malek was eventually won over by the film’s promise. Something that, as we’ve now discovered, may have come from the actor getting to work on the story before he was even confirmed as part of the cast.

During a recent interview, Rami Malek and several other members of the No Time To Die company sat down to discuss some of the intricacies of the 25th James Bond movie. In that conversation, Malek revealed this telling detail about how Safin was eventually developed:

The time frame of almost a year ago would put Rami Malek’s involvement with his character’s background square between the period where he was being courted for No Time To Die and his eventual confirmation as part of the cast. For those of you keeping score, that huge announcement was part of the big kick off event in Jamaica, in celebration of principal photography starting on the film last April.

As if this discussion wasn’t informative enough, Fandango All Access managed to get a little more information about what sort of work Rami Malek put into his No Time To Die baddie. Specifically, the following personality traits:

While there were previous stories told about how Rami Malek put his own stamp on Safin, particularly in his insistence on not playing a religiously motivated terrorist, it sounds like there was a lot more work put into No Time To Die’s nefarious presence.

Perhaps the most exciting aspect of Rami Malek’s Safin is the fact that, in his own words, his plot could benefit 007 himself. There’s no concrete evidence as to what he’s doing, or how that plot will tie into the secret that Lea Seydoux’s Madeleine Swann is hiding from the world.

However, if the cracks about Bond’s age and Safin’s ominous promise of his abilities surpassing the boundaries of typical humanity are on the same page, there might be some sort of genetic enhancement/longevity at play. We don’t know for sure, but Rami Malek is one of the few people that does, and it seems that he’s been hiding it for much longer than we thought.

It won’t be long until the truth is revealed, as No Time To Die closes the era of Daniel Craig’s James Bond on April 10.

Daniel Craig’s final James Bond adventure, No Time To Die, promises to be a most extreme and most fitting finale to his tenure as the legendary superspy. To get to that level of hype and excitement, you kind of need a villain who can really put the screws to 007, and Rami Malek’s mysterious presence seems like just the type to do so. However, not only did a recent behind-the-scenes video fail to name Malek’s character (again) it also introduced a rather interesting implication: it's possible he might not be part of SPECTRE at all.

In a clip narrated by writer/director Cary Joji Fukunaga, the intent of No Time To Die is described in great detail. Set to an exciting reel of footage from the film itself, as well as the extensive production process, Fukunaga lays down what he’s looking to do with the 25th James Bond movie. When it comes to Rami Malek, whose character has previously been referred to as “Safin,” this is what the writer/director has to say:

With this statement above, there are some interesting things to consider when trying to figure out where Malek fits into the James Bond canon.

Cary Joji Fukunaga Won’t Even Name His No Time To Die Villain

As mentioned before, Cary Joji Fukunaga didn’t drop the name of whoever the villain for No Time To Die is supposed to be. We’ve seen the name “Safin” come up in previous announcements, but in this behind-the-scenes look at the next Bond adventure, Fukunaga didn’t even use that name.

With a lot of vagueness surrounding this character, and rumors swirling that Rami Malek is actually playing a rebooted version of classic Ian Fleming villain Dr. No, this tactic doesn’t feel like a random card in the deck. Rather, it feels like Cary Joji Fukunaga is trying to potentially avoid another case of fans unmasking a villain way before the appropriate time and Malek’s apparent confusion on his character’s name is only fuel to this particular fire.

As was the case with Christoph Waltz’s Blofeld, the alternate name of Franz Oberhauser was released in connection to Spectre, and any inquiries as to whether or not Oberhauser was really Blofeld were shut down pretty quickly. So if no name is given for your film’s villain, surely that means fans can’t be disappointed/shocked when they turn out to be someone else, right?

If Rami Malek’s Villain Is Dr. No, He Could Still Be Part Of SPECTRE

If we’re playing by the classic 007 franchise rules, should Rami Malek be confirmed to be Dr. No, he’d automatically be a member of SPECTRE. As introduced in the first James Bond film back in 1962, the titular villain was the first enemy agent we saw in connection with the organization that would eventually become, for a period, James Bond’s greatest foe.

With precedent now set for introducing classic villains like Blofeld, there’s a possibility that should Dr. No be in play, he could be swimming in the same villainous circles he’s always been a part of. Though most of the organization has been killed or captured, SPECTRE could still be operating, and our new baddie maybe isn’t a part of the gang just yet.

Cary Joji Fukunaga might be laying down some misdirection after all, vaguely stating that this new menace in No Time To Die isn’t a part of the group to the public. So rather, the twist now would be that instead of Rami Malek being revealed as Dr. No, we’re actually going to see how that character joins SPECTRE’s ranks to begin with.

The final adventure of Daniel Craig’s James Bond would be a hell of a place to start a new era in SPECTRE, as this film seems poised to cement the modern run of Bond’s character for whomever picks up the tuxedo in the future. Of course, there’s another explanation that is equally compelling.

Rami Malek Might Not Be Playing Dr. No, Or Might Not Be Part Of SPECTRE

It might feel like Rami Malek playing Dr. No is a sure thing to some, but there’s still a distinct possibility that he is actually representing a fresh adversary in No Time To Die. While it would be interesting to see this theory confirmed, it would be playing a very similar card to that of Blofeld in Spectre. Considering how much Cary Joji Fukunaga talks about rediscovering Bond, and wanting to tie up Daniel Craig’s time in the role, this might be a bit counterintuitive.

Whether Dr. No is or isn’t in play, there is a chance that instead of just folding him into SPECTRE’s operation, the character could be used as a more vicious and worthy adversary than the man with the white cat ever could be. Which totally fits with what we know about “Safin” so far.

The first teaser to No Time To Die set up our mysterious bad guy as, essentially, a dark mirror of James Bond himself. It’s a concept that’s more fitting for this grand finale, one that some would say runs counter to the concept of Dr. No himself. In this instance, the rumor mill might just be a tad out of control, and Safin could indeed be Safin.

You can watch the behind the scenes for No Time To Die, and judge for yourself whether Rami Malek is Safin, Dr. No, or some other shadowy figure we don’t know about yet:

No matter the result, No Time To Die closes the Daniel Craig run of James Bond films in its release on April 10th.

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As far as movie properties go, there are few quite as iconic as the James Bond franchise. 007's adventures have captivated moviegoers for decades, and Eon Productions is showing no signs of slowing down. The next installment is Cary Joji Fukunaga's No Time to Die, which will be Daniel Craig's fifth and final movie playing Bond. Rami Malek will be making his debut as the mysterious scarred villain Safin in the upcoming blockbuster, although there's a new fan theory that he might actually be the infamous Bond villain Dr. No.

1962' Dr. No was the very first James Bond movie, and it was named after movie's primary antagonist. Actor Joseph Wiseman played the OG Bond villain, a brilliant science with a napoleon complex. No apart of the criminal organization SPECTRE, which has became a major entity during Daniel Craig's tenure as 007. Rami Malek was recently asked about the popular fan theory that his character Safin might end up being Dr. No, to which he said:

Well, that's certainly cryptic. It looks like Rami Malek is indeed familiar with the rumors about his No Time to Die villain having another identity entirely. But obviously he can't comment or give any real answer until the highly anticipated blockbuster is released.

Rami Malek's comments to Esquire will likely only fan the fuels of his No Time to Die fan theories. The movie's plot is being thoroughly kept under wraps, although it looks like it'll be an accumulation of the last four movies. Daniel Craig's tenure as Bond as seen the embrace of serialized storytelling, so smart money says Malek's Safin has an even more significant role than we realize.

During his same interview Rami Malek did tease that "there is a resurgence of an Ian Fleming influence on this film", meaning that No Time to Die will have a deeper connection to the original novels. Bringing Dr. No in would be a great way to do that, and would no doubt thrill the hardcore fandom.

Bringing Dr. No into the story would actually make a great deal of sense, especially considering how Spectre went down. Obviously the last Bond movie introduced the criminal enterprise of the same name, possibly offering a connection for Dr. No to make his big entrance. What's more, the last movie also brought another iconic Bond villain back to the big screen: Christoph Waltz's Blofeld. Adding another big name would definitely be an epic way to send Daniel Craig off.

All will be revealed when No Time to Die hits theaters on April 10th. In the meantime, check out our 2020 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

The final chapter of the Daniel Craig James Bond era is almost here, and for this momentous occasion, 007 will find himself clashing with the mysterious Safin, played by Mr. Robot and Bohemian Rhapsody star Rami Malek. There’s still a lot we don’t know about Safin and his involvement in No Time to Die, but he’s definitely physically distinguishable by the scarring on his face, to the point that he often wears a Japanese Noh mask.

Lest you think this disfigurement is a gimmick for No Time to Die, Rami Malek is assuring fans that this aspect of the character is “important to have,” adding:

As with any major motion picture, obviously key details about No Time to Die are still being kept under wraps, including background on Safin. That being said, it sounds like the creative team on the latest James Bond movie didn’t decide to have Safin be scarred just because it looked cool. Neither was the mask he wears that gives off major Phantom of the Opera vibes

In fact, for director Cary Fukunaga, Safin’s Japanese aesthetics are a combination of both the filmmaker’s personal tastes and speaking to where Safin came from. Also speaking with Total Film, Fukunaga said:

Other things we’ve heard about Safin in No Time to Die is that, as producer Barbara Broccoli put it, he’s “the one that really gets under Bond's skin,” and Broccoli also called him a “real piece of work.” Conversely, Rami Malek has said that Safin is one of those characters who sees himself as the hero, while Craig noted that the antagonist believes he’s a "savior of humanity."

So clearly there’s a lot of layers to peel back where Satin is concerned, but judging by what we’ve seen from him in No Time to Die advertising so far, he seems quite intimidating. It’ll be interesting to see how he ends up ranking compared to other Bond franchise villains from years past. If he’s good enough to pit against Daniel Craig’s James Bond in his last outing, evidently he has something going for him.

Following the events of Spectre, James Bond retired from the spy life, but he’s drawn back into action by his CIA friend Felix Leiter, reprised by Jeffrey Wright. Bond is enlisted to find an abducted scientist, which puts our esteemed spy on Safin’s trail, and he’ll have to contend with the villain’s dangerous new technology. It’s also worth remembering that Safin won’t be the only prominent baddie in No Time to Die, as Christoph Waltz is also back as Blofeld.

No Time to Die opens in theaters on April 10, so keep checking back with CinemaBlend for more coverage. For now, learn when the rest of this year’s movies hit the silver screen with our 2020 release schedule.

As far as movie franchises go, there are quite as iconic as James Bond. Audiences have been following 007's adventures for decades, with various U.K. actors playing taking on the mantle throughout the years. Daniel Craig will make his fifth and final appearance in Cary Joji Fukunaga's No Time to Die, which will see him collide with Rami Malek's new villain Safin. But is the Bohemian Rhapsody actor actually confused about his character's name?

Security on big blockbusters is notoriously tight, as the filmmakers and crew attempt to keep secrets and plot points until the theatrical release. This applies to Star Wars, superhero movies, and of course the James Bond franchise. Rami Malek's role as Safin has been largely kept under wraps, with only a few brief appearances in the upcoming blockbuster's trailers. While promoting No Time to Die's upcoming release, Malek seemed to put his character's identity into question, saying:

Well, this is interesting. The James Bond franchise has always had plenty of twists and turns, and it looks like No Time to Die will be no exception. Especially where Safin is concerned, as he may have multiple or transformative identities. Either that, or they never refer to him by name during the course of the 25th Bond movie.

Rami Malek's comments come from his recent conversation with EW alongside his No Time to Die co-stars. Promoting a movie within the Bond franchise must be especially challenging, as he can't reveal any spoilers. And considering how limited the footage has been thus far, most of the movie's contents are a complete mystery. And given how it's the swan song for Daniel Craig's 007, smart money says the new villain will be a significant one.

Daniel Craig's tenure as Bond has seen the beloved spy property embrace serialized storytelling. While the franchise is typically an anthology that allows for the constant replacement of its star, Casino Royale through No Time to Die have told one long story. James' actions are informed by his previous experience, with characters recurring throughout Craig's five appearances. But I have to wonder what the end game is.

Rami Malek has been billed as the primary villain of No Time to Die, getting second billing below Daniel Craig. But Christoph Waltz's Blofeld will also be returning, so smart money says the Spectre villain is the real puppet master. The last movie revealed Blofeld to be the architect of Bond's pain, although he was eventually taken into custody.

No Time to Die will hit theaters on April 10th. In the meantime, check out our 2020 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.