In his new film His Three Daughters, Azazel Jacobs marshals an all-star trio of actresses to tell a universal story of family and grief, a tangible and relatable tale whose entry points beckon to any viewer both fortunate and cursed enough to grow up with siblings. 5e576f

Carrie Coon is Katie, the controlling older sister, Elizabeth Olsen is Christina, the conflict-mediator middle child, and Natasha Lyonne is Rachel, the unambitious stoner younger sister who, we later find out, isn’t a biological sibling to the other two. Their father’s terminal illness has forced them to gather in his tiny New York apartment to accompany him in his last days, but despite their best intentions, old conflicts resurface and the three women must finally learn to deal with one another like adults.

It’s a simple premise with great potential for classic drama, executed with brilliant sensitivity and generosity by writer-director Jacobs (French Exit, The Lovers, Terri). The film’s very first sequence introduces the sisters’ contrasting personalities; Katie tries to set ground rules for the days ahead to minimize the chances for conflict, but her fast-paced speech and fidgeting manner undermine her attempts to be assertive, and her nervousness is soon crystallized by a faux pas in which she mistakes her dad’s needs for her own. Katie’s cut off by an emotional, fragile Christina, whose quickness to mention her baby daughter reveals how much of her life is defined by her role as a mother.

Listening but not very interested in intervening is Rachel, who, unlike her rambling-prone sisters, expresses her feelings in only a few words. We assume it’s the weed that makes her so laid back, but, of course, that’s not the full story.

Through these three archetypes, we infiltrate a grieving family confined to a small space, their dad’s heart monitor providing constant rhythm to a challenging few days. The genius of Jacobs’ dialogue, and the skill with which his three stars translate it, however, articulates three sides of each character — in Jungian , their persona, or the mask they’re putting on, their shadow, or the shameful impulses they’re trying to hide, and their ego, or their sense of self.

We’re instantly challenged to think deeper than just what we’re being shown, to ascertain the meaning behind Katie’s obsession with providing food for everyone, or Christina’s lasting love for her favorite rock band from her teenage years, or Rachel’s evasion of responsibility. The answers are never entirely surprising or groundbreaking, but it’s the form, not the content, that gives His Three Daughters its shine.

The film is not trying to revolutionize the depiction of family trauma and grief. Its main objective is to provide space to sit with uncomfortable feelings. For an hour and 44 minutes, the characters trapped by their surroundings and context, as well as the spectators trapped by our commitment to finish this film, are forced to digest and understand these emotions. And while the viewer is asked to do the heavy lifting when it comes to interpretation, by the film’s end, we’re given the explanation and the catharsis we crave. Even the most ambiguous scene in His Three Daughters becomes quickly demystified.

Jacobs isn’t too concerned with surprising the audience. His tools are the human experience and the innate complexity of emotion, and he attempts at every turn to provide authenticity and realism in his depiction of both. All characters are allowed sympathy, empathy, and respite — a mission statement delivered by Coon, Olsen, and Lyonne through understated, but remarkably complete performances that capture not just the contradictions of their individual characters, but of the sibling relationship, which is defined as much by love and a shared past and sense of identity, as it is by constant competition and life-long grudges.

Jacobs reserves a couple of metatextual moments to heighten our awareness that it’s a movie we’re watching, not real life, no matter how close one attempts to come to the other. This gives him an excuse, without cheating on his realistic initial approach, to turn romantic in the film’s final moments, as being literal often proves inadequate and insufficient when you’re dealing with something as abstract as death. The characters know this, the film knows this, and the viewer does, too.

After all, we need art, representation, and the distance for reflection that both require, to help us process life’s more complicated experiences — and none are more complex than death. Olsen’s Christina reminisces about a conversation with her dad, a lover of movies who nonetheless argues that films, shows, and books never truly capture what it is to die, because translating the experience into material corrupts its true essence. The only way to convey death, he told her, is through absence.

Jacobs tests this theory, and comes close enough to a faithful depiction, by choosing to focus on the sisters, never showing their dad until one crucial point. His death is represented not by his decaying appearance, but by its effect on the three people closest to him, as well as his home, which still retains so many artifacts of his existence, but which he no longer truly inhabits — he’s bedridden in a room we never enter.

Minimal lighting, score, production, and costume design, as well as the warmth of shooting on film, add to the simplicity and comfort of His Three Daughters. Through its unpretentious story and characters, the film provides a clear, cohesive, and concise exploration of its themes. It’s a complicated topic but an easy watch, and therein lies its strength.

Its universality and the subtle strength of the leading trio’s performances, especially Lyonne’s quiet anguish, might just make His Three Daughters one of the year’s top contenders for big awards, come 2025. It’s surely one of Netflix’s best bets in the coming race. The film is currently in select theaters. It arrives on Netflix Sept. 20.

Marvel fans have been eagerly awaiting The Fantastic Four‘s big-screen debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe for years now, and the cast just got even more exciting with the addition of Natasha Lyonne.

Helmed by director Matt Shakman, who previously impressed audiences with his work on the Disney+ series WandaVision, The Fantastic Four is shaping up to be a must-see event for Marvel devotees. The film will introduce a brand-new take on the beloved comic book characters, with Pedro Pascal set to play the brilliant scientist Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic), Vanessa Kirby as the elusive Sue Storm (Invisible Woman), Joseph Quinn as the fiery Johnny Storm (Human Torch), and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as the rock-solid Ben Grimm (The Thing). Additionally, Julia Garner will take on the role of a female Silver Surfer while Ralph Ineson steps into the shoes of a token Marvel villain. (Ineson also recently sued Disney, but let’s not dwell.)

The project has been highly anticipated ever since Disney’s acquisition of 21st Century Fox, which brought the Fantastic Four rights back to Marvel. Natasha Lyonne’s casting has naturally sparked speculation among fans eager to discover how her character will fit into the Fantastic Four’s new MCU world.

Do we know who Natasha Lyonne is playing in The Fantastic Four? 5y315w

While we don’t yet know exactly who Lyonne is playing in Fantastic Four, I’m willing to bet it will be a role that showcases her talents and adds some much-needed diversity to the MCU. Given her ability to blend humor with likability in the countless roles she’s already played, we can assume she’ll be following in Kat Dennings’ footsteps and lending some much-needed comedic flair to the Marvel proceedings.

Lyonne began her acting career at a young age, appearing in her first role as Opal on Pee-wee’s Playhouse. She quickly gained recognition in the late 1990s with her roles in films like Everyone Says I Love You, Slums of Beverly Hills, and particularly But I’m a Cheerleader, where her performance as Megan, a cheerleader sent to a conversion therapy camp, earned her critical acclaim for her comedic and heartfelt portrayal. Her career trajectory took a more dramatic and gritty turn with her role in American Pie, where she played the sharp-tongued Jessica. This role cemented her place in Hollywood as a go-to actress for characters that required a blend of humor and edge (though many of us knew that from Dennis the Menace, thank you very much).

Despite facing personal and health challenges in the early 2000s, Lyonne made a remarkable comeback, most notably with her role as Nicky Nichols in the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black. Her performance in this series was widely praised and earned her an Emmy nomination. Expanding her career into more creative roles, Lyonne co-created, directed, and starred in the Netflix series Russian Doll, which earned her Emmy noms for acting, writing, and Outstanding Comedy Series. She followed this up with a starring role in Poker Face, which landed her a fifth Emmy nom and immortal status as our favorite offbeat yet brilliantly quirky, frizzy-haired on-screen goofball.

It’s clear that Lyonne is at the height of her career, which means we’re in for a treat when we see her appear in Marvel’s The Fantastic Four in July 2025. This article will be updated when we discover who she’s playing!

Long before Natasha Lyonne was a smooth-talking criminal in Orange is the New Black, she was a sneaky babysitter in Dennis the Menace. But did the NYC-born actress ever make a surprise cameo in any of the Home Alone movies?

Without a doubt, the ‘90s were a soaring time for cinema — especially in regards to the first two Home Alone movies, which were undoubtedly box office successes. With child star Macaulay Culkin in the driver seat, the Christmas classics went on to become two of the most beloved holidays movies of all time and eventually catapulted Culkin to mainstream stardom. With Culkin now receiving his fresh-faced star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, folks are wondering whether Lyonne, who embraced Culkin’s recent honor, was ever in the Home Alone projects.

So, let’s dive in and explore whether or not one of the most popular working actresses today ever stood beside Kevin McCallister and battled burglars.

Did Lyonne ever appear in the Home Alone movies? 3yjo

Despite both Lyonne and Culkin being child actors around the same time period, Lyonne did not appear in any of the Home Alone movies. Because of their closeness in age and similar time frame while acting as kids, many folks were convinced that Lyonne and Culkin starred in one of the Home Alone movies together — especially since Lyonne was in attendance for Culkin receiving his star on the Walk of Fame. 

In reality, the two have remained friends years before starring in 2003’s Party Monster together, with Lyonne expressing being so proud of Culkin for his latest honor. Moviegoers have often believed that Lyonne was in Home Alone, when in reality, she made a cameo in Dennis the Menace, released just one year after the second Home Alone entry.

As you probably know by now, representation has been the hot button issue in the entertainment industry for some time now. In particular, the under-representation of the LGBT+ community has attracted no small amount of criticism. Due to a lack of ‘out’ actors playing gay characters, straight actors are frequently cast in gay roles. On the surface, it doesn’t seem like a problem; acting is acting. However, the lack of opportunities for gay actors can be galling. Some argue that it’s simply a role, while others point out that openly LGBT+ actors already have scarce acting opportunities, and even less opportunities to show off their own lived experience in fiction.

Several stars have weighed into the debate. Stanley Tucci, who is known for having played a gay character or two in the past, has commented on the matter more than once, including during a recent interview with Variety. As a straight man and an actor of great caliber, Tucci is of the opinion that sexuality is irrelevant and that actors should play whomever they’d like. Now, I know not many people are going to side with me over Stanley Tucci (come on, it’s Stanley Tucci), but I have to say: this argument misses the point.

Being gay is an invisible trait, it’s true, and a talented enough actor can portray pretty much any life experience that’s not their own. The issue is that, frankly, for an industry that considers itself to be LGBT-friendly, Hollywood has treated its LGBT+ talent – that very people that maintain its existence – like hot garbage.

How many examples can I bring up? How about the lavender marriages that flourished under the early film industry? Entire sham marriages were hastily arranged by studio heads for their gay actors and actresses, so that their audiences would not catch a whiff of ‘deviance.’ There’s the Hays Code, which mandated that any openly or even implied LGBT+ characters (what few there were) had to have a tragic ending to atone for their supposed sins and immorality.

Actors aren’t even allowed to be openly gay LGBT+ these days not unless they plan on being considered ‘niche’. How many leading men do you know that are openly gay? No, Neil Patrick Harris doesn’t count; he’s more of a character actor, anyway. In fact, Kate Winslet has even stated that she personally knows of a few A-list actors that are afraid to come out of the closet, due to the dangers it would present for them. Specifically, she points out the ironic fact that it’s very hard for a gay actor to land a straight role (funnily enough, we don’t see much commentary on that).

It makes sense that the community would be present in large numbers — the arts have long been considered a ‘gay’ field. Actually, it’s more than a little ironic to me that our culture stereotypes the industry as a predominantly LGBT+ space, but we’re still expected to believe there’s no one in the LGBT+ community with A-list talent, charisma, and marketability out there to headline their own film. Sure, if you view gay people like a talentless monolith, you might be able to make that case. But we all know that’s just not true, no matter how much some people would want it to be.

And that’s exactly why I believe openly gay actors should be prioritized for LGBT+ roles. Is there a chance that a straight actor will land the part on the basis of being the best at their audition? Sure — and they should definitely get the role if they are the best suited to it. But if gay actors aren’t the ones being hired for gay roles, then what are they being hired for? You’re telling me James Corden’s star power is necessary to sell a Netflix comedy to the people?

To be clear, I’m not saying that a straight actor can never play gay – although I agree with Natasha Lyonne and think that, all-too-often, the discussion around it devolves into how shocking and daring it is for a straight man to have to kiss another dude for a role, and how difficult that must have been.

I’m not in the business of throwing out an entire movie just because a straight actor is playing a gay character. I’m also not saying it’s okay to harass those playing LGBT+ characters in order to out their sexualities – actors are people and deserve their privacy like anyone else. Everyone deserves to come out on their own . As the case of Kit Connor shows, forcing someone out of the closet can do real and biphobic harm to their person — being LGBT+ is not a set experience. Should a person want to stay in the closet, they should be able to do so.

But there’s definitely a case to be made that already-openly LGBT+ people (and this is the caveat, no one should have to come out for a role) should be given more chances and recognition in the industry. Nobody’s potential should be capped just because they’re open about who they are.

The film industry’s reach is massive. It categorically has an effect on how people view the world: actual murders have been carried out in the name of movies. The right blockbuster can make more than one country’s yearly GDP. And there’s a reason why American pop culture has become so pervasive worldwide.

The human capacity for empathy and tribalism means that even our fiction can become important to who we are as people. By putting openly gay actors in more prominent positions, Hollywood can help foster the fight for gay rights worldwide. Increased prominence and visibility has led us to where we are now. It’s helped win some of the equal rights that LGBT+ Americans have needed for so long.

Six openly straight men have won an Oscar for playing gay men. Zero openly gay men can say the same. All I’m saying is that the LGBT+ community deserves far more than what Hollywood is willing to give.

Back in 1999, an LGBTQ+ gem known as But I’m a Cheerleader released in theaters, effectively redefining gay cinema and silencing the homophobia that was sadly still running rampant at that time. It was a bold statement of that era to have two openly lesbian women (the characters, mind you, not the actors) kissing on-screen in front of a large audience. It had never truly been done before, not on a scale as massive as this. And so unashamedly, too, as it should. Lead actress Natasha Lyonne felt the need to readdress that cultural issue in an interview with co-star Melanie Lynskey for Variety.

At the time, we’re quite certain that Clea DuVall and Natasha Lyonne have positively no idea that their fictional chemistry would be such a powerful statement for lesbians all around the world, but even 24 years later, we’re still talking about it — so what does that tell us?

But I’m a Cheerleader follows Megan, your average all-American girl who excels at studies and cheerleading, dates a hot football-playing stud, and gets sent to gay conversion camp after her parents suspect she’s a lesbian. And the reason? She didn’t seem that “into” her boyfriend, and as it turns out, her parents were right on the money. Megan never liked kissing Jared, but she loved watching her fellow cheerleaders practice. At the gay conversion camp, Megan meets Graham, a fellow student who’s much more open about her sexuality and takes a liking to Megan.

Lynskey, mentioning that the movie felt “ahead of its time,” asked Lyonne if she felt any hesitation to tell Megan’s story. Lyonne, who went on to star as another openly lesbian character, Nicky Nichols in Orange is the New Black, assured that she was not hesitant “at all.”

“In fact, I’m consistently shocked by the things that we consider shocking. I find it very patronizing when we say something like ‘Oh, did you see this straight male actor is playing gay? Bravo.’ I find it really patronizing and very weird, and maybe in some ways times are changing, but it didn’t occur to me. My genuine answer was more like ‘Holy cow, Clea’s my best friend, she’s doing this movie, Jamie Babbit’s so cool, and this subject matter is so heavy and intense and insane and surreal.'”

Although But I’m a Cheerleader was a box-office failure, it became a cult classic in the years following. Lynskey portrayed a fellow conversion camp attendee, Hilary Vandermueller. Lynskey would then star as Kathleen, the leader of a revolutionary movement in Kansas City, Missouri, during the Cordyceps outbreak. Both DuVall and Lyonne were praised for their performances, even though the initial critical reception was sour.

It’s nice to see that even decades later, Lyonne doesn’t regret playing an openly lesbian character. In fact, she didn’t mind it so much that she did it all over again on a much bigger scale with much, much more explicit scenes. Take that, Hollywood.

After making a monumental career comeback as Nicky Nichols in Netflix’s comedy extravaganza Orange is the New Black, Natasha Lyonne skyrocketed back into Hollywood stardom. All of this attention eventually led to Lyonne writing and starring in Netflix’s Russian Doll and becoming a major player in Peacock’s Poker Face, although speculation around the talented performer ing the MCU still continues to circulate. Luckily enough, the infamous New Yorker has revealed the one condition she would need to the MCU.

While chatting with fellow actresses on the THR Roundtable, Lyonne revealed that she would be down to the MCU if Larry David could have his one Marvel movie. In fact, Lyonne and The Bear star Ayo Edebiri even crafted their own concept of David’s Marvel film, which would involve the two of them running around trying to catch the SNL actor.

Seeing as Edebiri has already secured a spot in Marvel’s Thunderbolts, perhaps the idea of Larry David receiving his own MCU-centric standalone film isn’t that far-fetched of an idea after all. On the other hand, ing the MCU might be a first for Lyonne, but it certainly isn’t her first test in Marvel waters — with the 44-year-old actress notably portraying Sommerfield back in 2003’s Blade: Trinity.

And yet, the possibility of Lyonne venturing out into the MCU feels like a dream come true. Now just imagine if David could actually get signed on too — that would feel like a cinematic paradise. Quick! Someone get Kevin Feige on the phone!

With Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 just days away, you would presume that all chatter would be about the intergalactic bunch of heroes embarking on their last mission. But nope. When you are in MCU land, you should be braced for debates, arguments, casting news, some tameable and some not-so-tameable misfires setting it on renewed fire out of the blue. And to this eclectic mix, also add DCU’s biggest superhero surprisingly getting side promotion thanks to Vol. 3’s only disappointment.

While the production of Fantastic Four is still months away, casting rumors never really died and have been blessed with a fresh drama, if reports of Mila Kunia being cast as The Thing is any proof. The news riled up an already-on-edge-since-Quantumania fandom as they thrashed the possibility. But the ire didn’t last long.

Back in the GotG Vol. 3 universe, the studio is doing everything it can to make the film one hell of a tear-jerker, and that involves Kevin Feige uttering a moving farewell to the one he deems MCU’s “best.” So, ready to know the who’s who of Marvel? Let’s get started!

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 gets trashed for a single point that ends up triggering DCU hype c2n43

As if it wasn’t enough that every second post by James Gunn has been adding to the already hyped DC fandom and making Superman: Legacy the most anticipated film ever, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 takes it a step forward with its Adam Warlock. 

No, no, there is no obvious promotion involved. The character is getting thrashed for a weak character story and on-screen presentation, but even though Will Poulter’s villain does little to uplift the overall plot of the film, another “aspect” of his personality is enough proof for DCU stans that Gunn will be debuting the perfect Superman with his first film as DC Films’ co-head. 

Marvel boss Kevin Feige gives a shout-out to one of MCU’s ‘best’ actors ever 2q3a2u

A big chunk of the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’s core cast will be bidding farewell to the MCU along with Gunn, and that includes Dave Bautista and his memorable turn as Drax. 

Amid accusations that the character never really got the limelight he deserved and Bautista itting that getting Drax’s make-up done throughout the GotG films and other MCU appearances was one “traumatizing” experience, Feige praised his performance in the last film. But what’s more, he crowned the Dune star as “one of the best actors that we’ve ever gotten.” 

Well, too little too late, Feige, because this ship has sailed.

Outrage over rumors of Mila Kunis as The Thing in Fantastic Four gets upstaged by the perfect actress for the role 1z3d2a

Even though Fantastic Four is months away from starting its production, the highly anticipated project has never really stopped dominating speculations and theories when it comes to casting its core . But things got a bit heated recently when a rumor of Mila Kunis being in talks for starring as Ben Grimm aka The Thing picked up pace. 

While some of the ire over the possible casting has been courtesy of comic book fans who demand authenticity and a pure adaptation from the film, others readily accepted MCU switching Grimm with Sharon Ventura aka She Thing. All the latter disliked was visualizing Kunis in the role, especially since they have a three-time Emmy-nominated wonder ready to make the role legendary with her supreme acting prowess. 

That’s all for today, but be ready to “marvel” at more MCU drama tomorrow!

It would be an understatement to say that MCU fans haven’t been taking well to the rumors of Mila Kunis being in talks to play Ben Grimm aka The Thing in the Fantastic Four film. But after airing their grievances over the possible casting, fans have established that they have no issues with Marvel gender-swapping the superhero. The problem is that they find it impossible to imagine Kunis as the hulking behemoth, especially when the perfect actress for the role is very much available. 

Though the fandom is ready to accept Kunis as Sue Storm or Alicia Masters, visualizing the actress who stands only five feet and four inches tall as the towering stone giant is something not everyone is able to digest. Many have diagnosed the displeasure as Marvel purists sticking to authentic comic book adaptation, which means needing a male actor to play the character of Ben Grimm. 

But the ongoing conversation over the rumored casting has made space for the fact that while a few do demand a loyal screen adaptation of the character, many just want an actress who is made for the role. And the best candidate? Poker Face and Russian Doll fame Natasha Lyonne, who evokes immense anger in her diehard fans whenever she loses out on a well-deserved Emmy Award. The actress was nominated for three Emmys for Russian Doll, which she created, co-wrote, and starred in.

Lyonne has more than proved her acting prowess and the ability to switch emotions within nanoseconds — imagining her as The Thing isn’t a task, it’s a dream.

Even though the source of the rumor is dicey and not backed by any solid evidence, it did kickstart the topic of presenting a female The Thing. While Kunis failed to get the fandom excited about the chances of her playing the character, it is evident that not many will hate the idea of Lyonne making her MCU debut as Grimm. 

Warning: Spoilers for Poker Face to follow.

When the news came out that Knives Out writer and director Rian Johnson was working with Russian Doll star and co-creator Natasha Lyonne on a mystery series, it was always bound to create some hype. And unsurprisingly, their creation — the Peacock series Poker Face — has delivered on that promise and more. Currently (April 5 2023) the show has a 99% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and there are plenty of fans calling for the series (and Lyonne) to be showered with Emmy nominations. Considering the king of horror himself is a fan, it’s hard to disagree with the sentiment.

Poker Face is a murder mystery series, where each episode focuses on a different crime being solved by Charlie Cale — a former casino worker with an innate ability to detect when people are lying — who’s also on the run from her criminal former boss. With influences from Agatha Christie to Columbo, the show has plenty of modern twists but will be a hit with anybody who loves the classics of the genre. The series has a wide cast of memorable characters played by all sorts of famous names, from Chloë Sevigny to Oscar nominee Stephanie Hsu.

While the episodes all follow the same format and have an overarching plot of Charlie running from her boss, each one is its own self-contained mystery, which means some fans will prefer certain ones while not vibing with others. And, while every episode of the show is engaging (helped massively by Lyonne’s excellent acting, and the performances of her various co-stars) there are certainly some that hit higher notes. Here are the best Poker Face episodes, ranked.

The best Poker Face episodes, ranked 3g6s6l

10. Episode 7 – “The Future of the Sport” 3d5p3

Aging race car driver Keith (Tim Blake Nelson) competes with Davis (Charles Melton) for what should be his final championship, only to lose in the dying moments. After going back on his retirement, he later sneaks into Davis’ garage and sabotages the car, which leads to it smashing into a wall and bursting into flames. In a twist of fate, the driver in the car ends up being Keith’s daughter.

A few days before the murder, Charlie befriends Davis’ mother, making Davis aware of Charlie’s abilities. She soon uncovers his plan to kill Katy, and although he doesn’t end up being charged, his guilt leads to tremors in his hands, thus stunting his burgeoning racing career.

9. Episode 6 – “Exit Stage Death” 6r5947

Kathleen (Ellen Barkin) and Michael (Tim Meadows) are former co-stars who despise each other, but Kathleen is desperate to have Michael involved in a one-night-only performance of a play. Michael is eventually convinced to help after his wealthy wife, Ava (Jameela Jamil) asks him to reconsider. However, during rehearsals a tragic accident occurs, and Ava ends up falling through a faulty trap door to her death.

A few weeks prior to that incident, Charlie had taken on a job at the dinner theater in which the performance was due to take place. Ava tips Charlie heavily, while Kathleen scolds her. Charlie realizes Michael and Kathleen planned Ava’s murder when her abilities signal to her that Kathleen is telling the truth during a scene in which she professes her love for Michael. She attempts to get to the bottom of the mystery and get justice for Ava.

8. Episode 4 – “Rest in Metal” 4d2032

Episode 4 has a bit of a meta element to it as it includes a fictionalized true crime podcast with a host that helps Charlie to solve the week’s mystery. The show begins with Ruby Ruin (Chloë Sevigny) — the former lead singer of a metal band named Doxxxology — organizing a reunion tour. The band, plus a new drummer named Gavin (Nicholas Cirillo) clash, until Gavin writes a hit song. The rest of the band conspire to kill Gavin and claim the song, doing so by modifying an amp to electricute him on stage.

A few days before, we see Charlie being hired by Ruby to sell merch at the show. Charlie befriends Gavin, and after his death is suspicious about the circumstances surrounding it. She meets the host of a true crime podcast, who she later gives all the evidence of Doxxxology’s crimes to.

7. Episode 3 – “The Stall” 1n3w52

After George (Larry Brown) watches Okja, he tells his brother Taffy (Lil Rel Howery) he can no longer be the chef at their BBQ business. Later that evening, Taffy kills his brother by suffocating him with the gas from a meat smoker.

A few days earlier, Charlie befriends an unruly dog that then goes on to damage Taffy and George’s BBQ t. She offers to work for George to pay back the damages. They bond, and when his death is ruled a suicide Charlie is left feeling suspicious. After Taffy threatens her, she breaks into George’s house where she finds his widow (Danielle Macdonald), and over conversation begins to suspect she might have been involved in her husband’s death.

6. Episode 2 – “The Night Shift” 2l5n2x

The first episode where Charlie is on the run, “The Night Shift” sets the scene for the rest of the show. It begins with Subway worker Damian (Brandon Michael Hall) flirting with cashier Sara (Megan Suri), who in turn spurns the advances of creepy mechanic Jed (Colton Ryan). After Damian confronts Jed about his behavior, Jed kills him and steals what turns out to be a winning lottery ticket. He stashes the body in a truck, which ends up belonging to Marge (Hong Chau), who he then frames for the murder.

A week prior, Charlie is forced to leave her Plymouth at an autoshop as she doesn’t have the money to pay for it, where it’s left in the care of Jed. She runs into Marge — from episode 1 — who treats her wound and gives her some advice. She later stumbles across the crime scene, and, sensing something is off, begins to investigate.

5. Episode 10 – “The Hook” 1r365t

A topsy turvy final episode that’s well worthy of this incredible show, “The Hook” keeps viewers guessing right until the very end. Beginning with Charlie’s former boss Sterling Sr. ordering his security guard Cliff to kill Charlie, we see the hitman eventually arrive at the hospital Charlie is in after the events of episode 9, where he collects her. They drive across the country and end up in a meeting with Sterling Sr., who reveals he no longer wants to kill Charlie, and instead offers her half a million dollars and her freedom if she sits in on a meeting between him and crime boss Beatrix Hasp — played by Rhea Perlman — and use her powers to determine if Beatrix is lying.

Just as things appear to be looking up for Charlie, the lights go off and Sterling Sr. is shot. Charlie flees, which leads to a chase that culminates in Cliff confronting her and Beatrix threatening her. The episode ends with Charlie once again deciding to go on the road to try to escape the unsavoury characters who seem to be a perennial part of her life.

4. Episode 8 – “The Orpheus Syndrome” 57476s

Although Poker Face is full of flashbacks and time jumps, none of the episodes take us as far back as “The Orpheus Syndrome,” which was directed by Lyonne. The episode starts with an argument between two film industry veterans — Max (Tim Russ) and Laura (Cherry Jones) — which culminates in Max jumping off a building head first. Laura, claiming to be grieving, visits a mutual friend of hers and Max’s named Arthur (Nick Nolte) and asks for a realistic bust of Max’s head for supposedly therapeutic reasons. When she receives it, she uses it to unlock Max’s laptop and delete evidence of a decades-old crime she was involved in – which it turns out was the source of their argument at the beginning of the episode.

A few weeks earlier, we see Charlie working for a barber, where she’s tasked with delivering a bag of hair to a man who ends up being Arthur. They drink together and bond, and Arthur reveals he was involved in the accidental drowning of a young actress in what was to be his directorial debut, an incident at which both Max and Laura were present. Charlie then s a film archivist named Raoul (Luis Guzmán), and using old footage discovers Laura was actually responsible for the death of the young actress. The pair then try to bring her to justice, with some hairy results.

3. Episode 5 – “Time of the Monkey” 24264q

Cults, tasers, and a pair of unlikely serial killers, episode 5 of Poker Face has it all. The story begins in a retirement home, with Irene (Judith Light) and Joyce (S. Epatha Merkerson) noticing new resident Ben (Reed Birney) checking in. The pair realize they know him, and conclude that he has to die. They inject him with sodium nitrate, then steal his medical wearable and take a trip to the zoo, where Joyce tasers Irene while she’s wearing Ben’s monitoring bracelet to make it look like he’s had a heart attack.

We then flash back to a few weeks earlier and see Charlie working at the retirement home. She bonds with Irene and Joyce, who reveal that they were once in a cult but were betrayed by the leader – a man called Gabriel. This is soon revealed to be Ben, who asks Joyce and Irene for forgiveness, a request that isn’t granted. After Ben’s funeral, Charlie realizes things aren’t what they seem. Once she begins to investigate, she quickly becomes the target of Irene and Joyce’s murderous urges.

2. Episode 1 – “Dead Man’s Hand” 533f4h

The best shows don’t always have strong pilot episodes (we’re looking at you, Parks and Recreation), but the first episode of Poker Face is on par with iconic shows like Cheers when it comes to setting the scene for the rest of the series. The episode begins with the murder of a housekeeper in a casino after she finds troubling evidence of a crime on a high-flying patron’s laptop. The housekeeper’s death is made to look like a murder-suicide by the casino’s head of security Cliff (Benjamin Bratt), on the orders of casino owner Sterling Jr. (Adrien Brody).

Charlie suspects something isn’t right, and sneaks into the waitress’ home to find evidence. She reports her findings to Sterling, who fobs her off, telling her to focus on a plan they have to fleece a high flying patron in an illegal poker game using Charlie’s lie-detecting abilities. Charlie then reveals she recorded this conversation and sent it to the patron, causing him and several other wealthy casino goers to blackball Sterling’s casino, which leads to his suicide. Cliff shoots Charlie but she escapes, only to receive a phone call from Sterling’s father (Sterling Sr, played by Ron Perlman), in which he tells her he will track her down and kill her. She throws away her phone and drives off in her blue Plymouth Barracuda.

1. Episode 9 – “Escape from Shit Mountain” 27v6e

Considering this episode guest stars Stephanie Hsu and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, it was always bound to be a memorable one, but their performances elevate an already intriguing plot into something truly incredible. The story starts with Trey Nelson (Gordon-Levitt), a criminal charged with insider trading who currently lives a monotonous life under house arrest. Thanks to an snow storm, Trey’s ankle monitor stops working, and he takes the opportunity to go on a mad drive with his needlessly flashy Lambo, which he then hits a woman with.

Panicking, he places the body in his trunk and drives to a nearby hotel owned by his friend Jimmy (David Castañeda), and they decide to throw it into a place they’ve named “the spot” – a hole under a tree in the nearby forest. The two men return and have a drink, only to hear a knock at the door: the still-alive woman, desperate for help. Trey grabs his gun to finish the job, but before he can, another woman drives up to the motel to ask for help.

We flash back to Charlie a few months back and follow her in a failed romance. While trying to earn enough money to get away, she runs into Morty (Hsu) – a kleptomaniac who tries to steal Charlie’s wallet. The two form an uneasy truce, leading to Morty offering to pay for Charlie’s gas if she can catch a ride out of the area. It soon is revealed that Charlie was the woman Trey hit with his car, and Morty is the lady who turns up and accidentally saves Charlie’s life. What follows is a tense standoff and plenty of murder – as well as a twist ending that would surprise even the best amateur sleuths.

Now that Rian Johnson’s latest project, the hit “murder of the week” series Poker Face has finally wrapped up its first 10-episode season, the director can get cracking on his next installment to the Knives Out movie franchise featuring his other idiosyncratic master detective, Benoit Blanc. And this time he may have an even deeper talent pool than the already prodigious one he was working with for Knives Out and its sequel, Glass Onion, thanks to the jaw-dropping array of special guests he assembled to star in Poker Face.

Poker Face‘s “case-of-the-week” format, which finds a new cast for each episode to interact with series star Natasha Lyonne, allowed Johnson to accumulate an array of talent that reads more like the invitation list to an awards gala than a television series call sheet. And while it seems that Johnson’s s list is one of the most impressive sets of numbers in Hollywood, here are ten actors that appeared in season one of Poker Face that seem like they’d be a perfect fit for the next Benoit Blanc whodunnit.

Chloë Sevigny 394d6e

As one of Natasha Lyonne‘s longtime BFFs, Sevigny was a natural to appear on Poker Face and she knocked it out of the park with her portrayal of Ruby Ruin, lead singer of the all but washed-up ‘90s metal act Doxxxology. While she was utterly convincing as the hard-boiled Ruby, who’s willing to do anything to get back to the top of the charts, Sevigny has proven her expansive range a dozen times over in projects like Big Love, American Psycho, The Girl from Plainville, Bones and All, and even Lyonne’s other series, Russian Doll. She could play nearly any part Rian could come up with and do it with style.

Adrien Brody 452t11

Brody has been a very busy man this year with no less than four films in post-production, including Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City. He’s also been carving out a new niche as a seasoned quality television performer, appearing in Peaky Blinders, Succession, and Winning Time over the last few years. Brody and Johnson worked together in 2008’s criminally-underrated The Brothers Bloom, and they should keep their reunion momentum going. Brody’s eccentric energy is always a perfect fit for Johnson’s classic silver screen-style mysteries.

Cherry Jones 6uu3i

Nearly every Poker Face guest star came with an extensive pedigree, but Jones is probably the one best-known as an actor’s actor. She’s one of Hollywood’s best utility players and can make even a small appearance on the screen pop with award-winner intensity. In addition to her extensive and acclaimed stage work, Jones has had memorable appearances in films like Erin Brockovich, Signs, and The Eyes of Tammy Faye, and in series including Transparent, Black Mirror, and The Handmaid’s Tale. Seeing her go up against Nick Nolte was a highlight of Poker Face season one, and it would be nice to see her get a chance to do so against Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc.

Jameela Jamil 5m461n

Not to put too fine a point on it but frankly, Jameela Jamil was robbed and we were all robbed of her being onscreen longer in Poker Face. Jamil has been bringing great energy to her roles since her breakout role as Tahani in The Good Place, and Johnson should do her a solid and get her onto the cast list for the next Knives Out.

Ellen Barkin 2i6k3c

One of the hardest jobs to do as an actor is acting like you’re not a very good actor. Barkin nails that task in episode six and it couldn’t have been an easy feat, given the huge list of films she’s played in successfully over the years, including Tender Mercies, The Big Easy, and Sea of Love. Both Barkin and her co-star Tim Meadows carried heavy lifting for this episode, which probably features less Lyonne than any of the other nine. Johnson would do well to make Barkin an ensemble member of his next Blanc sequel.

Luis Guzman 4s18i

It almost seems silly to have to recommend Guzman for anything given that he’s been one of Hollywood’s finest and hardest-working character actors for decades. But now might be the perfect time to add him to any cast, since his turn as Gomez Addams has raised his star a bit higher in the sky. Guzman has formed incredible relationships with directors such as Paul Thomas Anderson who directed Guzman in Boogie Nights, Magnolia, and Punch-Drunk Love, and Steven Soderbergh, who directed him in  Out of Sight, The Limey, and Traffic. Johnson would do well to form a similar tie.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt 4l4u3e

Levitt seems like another crossover no-brainer as a potential crossover franchise star. Johnson and Levitt’s working relationship is one of the director’s longest, with the actor having played the lead in Johnson’s debut Brick in 2005, and his breakout movie, Looper. If anything, it’s a surprise the actor didn’t appear in Knives Out or Glass Onion, considering Brick helped Levitt break out of his child star typecasting. Levittt has appeared in cameo roles in several other Johnson films so it’s probably just a matter of time before he’s interrogated by Benoit Blanc.

Lil Rel Howery 5l3b3s

Howery may have been the greatest thing about Get Out, his big-screen debut. Poker Face proves he’s no one-trick pony and Howery owns every scene he’s in, even when he’s glad-handing. Johnson should arrange a role for him before the actor goes on to do yet another character-driven sitcom.

Stephanie Hsu 6i54t

Johnson might do well just to develop another series where Stephanie Hsu appears as a different character in each episode (crime-solving optional). Her chameleon-like abilities earned her an Oscar nod for Everything Everywhere All at Once (playing both Joy Wang and Jobu Tupaki) and are on full display in her Poker Face appearance as “Mortimer Bernstein.” It goes without saying she could play anything Johnson would care to write for the next Glass Onion franchise entry. She might even be able to play all the roles.

Natasha Lyonne 6v1827

Okay, technically, Lyonne did already appear in Glass Onion on a Zoom Call with Blanc where the pair are playing the game Among Us with basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and the now sadly deceased Angela Lansbury and Stephen Sondheim. But she could definitely stand to play a meatier role — even if it just as herself (Lyonne’s real-life personality is idiosyncratic enough to fit right in as a character). However, the ultimate wish fulfillment would be Lyonne playing Poker Face‘s Charlie Cale in an ultimate detecting team-up with Benoit Blanc. It probably will never happen, but we can dream.

Infused with the essence of Jim Jarmusch and Quentin Tarantino, Peacock original Poker Face may prove to be another home run for prolific writer and director Rian Johnson.

Coming on like Columbo with better hair and hygiene, Natasha Lyonne (Russan Doll) plays reformed card shark Charlie Cale. An essential piece of this anthology hybrid, which effortlessly combines quirky character studies with murder mystery segues, as our anti-hero finds herself pursued across America.  

Liberally lifting from the disheveled detective show, Poker Face sets up the circumstances and earmarks those responsible early on, before revealing how Charlie features in flashback. This not only makes audiences complicit, but gives each guest star ample time to make their mark. A fact which allows Adrien Brody (Chapelwaite) an opportunity to flesh out casino owner Sterling Frost Jr, with enough flaws and foibles to make his failures all the more tangible in a glorious first episode. 

With a concise and considered backstory connecting Sterling and Charlie, Johnson revels in revealing how all the puzzle pieces come together. Dascha Polanco (Samaritan) plays Charlie’s best friend Natalie, who starts the ball rolling by stumbling on something which could jeopardize the Frost casino, which Sterling manages for his overbearing father. 

Roped into a rigged game for high rollers by Frost Jr, Charlie’s innate ability to tell when someone is lying gets alerted following Natalie’s disappearance. What follows amongst the mayhem of dead bodies and high-rise suicides, amounts to an opener which finds Ms. Cale speeding away from the scene as police cruisers make haste to investigate. 

What follows is a run of episodes shaped around everything rest stop she makes, where foul play is afoot and an assortment of colorful characters make good with murderous intent. Besides the polished structure and solid story choices, Johnson clearly has a love of detective shows which goes beyond his celebrated Knives Out films. With not-so-subtle hints at homage through the inclusion of Pulp Fiction footage he also hints at structural inspiration, even if the visual aesthetic of Poker Face might drift towards dated.  

In of Charlie, this goes beyond the disorganized persona which Lyonne has implemented numerous times before, as this character genuinely seems to evolve. That distinctive voice, mane of hair and inquisitive expression which verges towards confusion, really fits Poker Face like a glove. In fact, it only takes three episodes before the formula itself feels established and by extension the show, meaning that this series could quite easily run up multiple seasons. 

Much of that comes down to the performance of Lyonne, which is deceptively disarming from the off. By channeling a persona she perfected in Russian Doll, Charlie slowly morphs into a contemporary detective, only ever moments away from being caught. With the shadow of Frost Sr. haunting her every move, Poker Face also maintains an internal momentum which keeps this show ticking over. 

As a linchpin for everything which follows, Brody puts in another polished performance as Sterling Frost Jr, which yet again demonstrates the innate versatility of this Oscar-winning actor. Both as a confidant to Charlie in that opening episode, as well as an affluent turncoat shortly before the end, Poker Face owes much to his presence in this pivotal role.  

Elsewhere, Hong Chau makes a memorable impression as long-distance truck driver Marg, who patches up Charlie following a firearms encounter, before hightailing it out of town following the discovery of a dead body. Down the road a piece, Lil Rel Howery imbues BBQ businessman Taffy Boyle with a silver-tongued turn of phrase, as he fights to prevent his brother from derailing everything he holds dear.

Sporting Armani spectacles and the silky tones of a small-town disc jockey, this pint-sized entrepreneur comes unstuck when Charlie rolls into town. Looking to make amends for the behavior of her unwanted dog, Cale decides to stick around and help out. Not only shaping this character into an “everywoman” in the eyes of audiences, but imbuing her with hints of humanity which add depth beneath the cocksure facade. 

All of these elements add up to a show which once again confirms the storytelling prowess of creator Johnson, who yet again delivers something unique in this Peacock original, which showcases Lyonne and finally gives her a character which hits all the right notes.  

When it comes to murder mysteries, no one has spoiled us quite as densely as Rian Johnson. After immediately etching himself into the genre’s history back in 2019 with Knives Out, the entire world was reminded just a few weeks ago that’s he’s the uncontested murder mystery master of the modern era with Glass Onion, the second film in his Benoit Blanc-centric franchise that continuously flips the formula to the point of pure, delectable liquification.

But, apparently, it’s not enough for Johnson to stick Daniel Craig’s delightful gumshoe in the middle of a group of deplorables every three years, because Peacock has gone ahead and dropped the trailer for his next foray into murder mysteries, this time in the form of Poker Face, an original, ten-episode Peacock series whose all-star cast easily rivals what we’ve seen from the Knives Out films thus far.

Poker Face stars the Emmy-nominated Natasha Lyonne as Charlie Cale, an on-the-run casino employee armed with her trusty Plymouth Barracuda and the unusual ability to immediately know if someone is lying. As she drives across the country in her Barracuda, she encounters a string of mysterious, deadly crimes at seemingly every other town she stops at; crimes that she can’t help but employ her built-in lie detector to help solve.

A case-of-the-week comedy-drama, Lyonne’s Charlie is set to encounter a new group of characters with every ing episode, and filling those shoes are the likes of Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Stephanie Hsu (Everything Everywhere All at Once), David Castañeda (The Umbrella Academy), Adrien Brody, Jameela Jamil, Ron Perlman, Hong Chau, and Tim Blake Nelson. Indeed, Poker Face looks set to introduce the feminine answer to Benoit Blanc, with just as many amusing, if harrowing, shenanigans that rocketed Knives Out and Glass Onion to such acclaim.

Poker Face will begin streaming on Peacock on Jan. 26.