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Tag: Natasha Lyonne

Movie Review: ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’
(L to R) Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic and Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch in 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios’ ‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios. © 2025 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2025 Marvel.

‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ receives 9 out of 10 stars.

Opening in theaters on July 25th is ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’, which sees Marvel finally bringing one of their most famous comic book teams into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Directed by Matt Shakman (‘WandaVision’), the movie stars Pedro Pascal (‘The Last of Us’), Vanessa Kirby (‘The Crown’), Joseph Quinn (‘A Quiet Place: Day One’) and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (‘The Bear’).

Related Article: Marvel Boss Kevin Feige Offers Updates on ‘The Fantastic Four’ and More

Initial Thoughts

Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic in 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios’ ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’. Photo by Jay Maidment. © 2025 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2025 Marvel.

Given some recent big missteps, low box office returns for its movies and complaints about the interconnectedness of the Disney+ shows, the team behind the Marvel Cinematic Universe had its work cut out to prove that it still has what it takes to compete in the crowded comic book genre field.

Add to that the pressure to properly –– after two attempts of variable quality back when 20th Century Fox owned the rights –– introduce Marvel’s “First Family” to the MCU, and you have the recipe for one almighty stress headache.

Fortunately, in switching focus from an overloaded schedule and chaotically overstuffed character roster, the studio has found its feet again, with a movie that really works.

Script and Direction

Director Matt Shakman on the set of 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios’ ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’. Photo by Jay Maidment. © 2025 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2025 Marvel.

Taking Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s work as their inspiration, the various writers who contributed to ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ (that would be Josh Friedman, Eric Pearson, Jeff Kaplan and newcomer Ian Springer) have managed to find a tone and a style of a peppy, retro-futuristic vision that both pays tribute to the characters’ 1960s comics origins and also feels like a fresh approach unmoored (at least until the end) from the wider universe.

Keeping the focus on the leads and ditching a labored repeat of the Four’s origin story (we’re introduced to the characters having already been through their traumatic encounter with cosmic radiation, the backstory helpfully filled in via a TV show about them and montages) proves to be a strength of the new movie, allowing more time for the cast to shine.

Also, this feels like a more human group, foibles and all, even if they have superpowers.

Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch in 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios’ ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’. Photo by Jay Maidment. © 2025 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2025 Marvel.

In directing terms, this is the most confident that Marvel has been in years, ‘WandaVision’ veteran Matt Shakman delivering a movie that has the feeling of being finely tooled rather than slapped together to meet a release date deadline.

From the visuals, whose effects feel finished and work for the world the movie portrays to the performances, which all blend together, this is a truly solid effort from the company.

If there are issues to be found, it’s in the creeping influence of the wider Marvel storyline –– it’s hard to truly feel threat when you know that the main cast will be back in future movies. Yes, that’s part and parcel for introductions, and no-one truly expects the company to bring in some of its most famous icons only to slaughter them, but the tropes are tropes for a reason.

But the journey this story takes remains much more enjoyable than the clumsily drawn and edited exploits of ‘Captain America: Brave New World’.

Cast and Performances

(L to R) Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, Ada Scott as Franklin Richards and Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman in 20thin 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios’ ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’. Photo by Jay Maidment. © 2025 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2025 Marvel.

You might be feeling Pedro Pascal overload right now given the sheer amount of recent roles and pop cultural dominance, but there’s no doubting the humanity and sensitivity he brings to super-genius Reed Richards. This is a hero who, despite his incredible smarts, isn’t always as sure of himself as he might be, and impending fatherhood weighs heavy on him.

Pascal is suitably smooth when needed, but enjoyably nerdy.

He plays well off of Vanessa Kirby’s Sue Storm, who is better used than previous takes on the character and benefit from Kirby’s ability to bring life to a woman facing a big life change while embracing her abilities.

Joseph Quinn is an entertainingly endearing Johnny Storm, still a ladies’ man, but here much more well-rounded than the usual hunky version of the hero.

Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing in 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios’ ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’. Photo by Jay Maidment. © 2025 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2025 Marvel.

Ebon Moss-Bachrach, helped by some excellent effects work, is a less tortured, more assured take on The Thing.

Around the leads, the world is filled out effectively by the threats: Ralph Ineson’s rumbling tones are put to good use as Galactus, while Julia Garner brings steely menace but also real heart to the role of Shalla-Bal, the Silver Surfer who heralds the arrival of her planet-munching master.

And the likes Mark Gatiss (as an enthusiastic TV host) and Paul Walter Hauser (as a fun, different take on Harvey Elder, the Mole Man of the comics), bring quality to smaller supporting roles.

Final Thoughts

Julia Garner as Shalla-Bal/Silver Surfer in 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios’ ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’. Photo by Jay Maidment. © 2025 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2025 Marvel.

Though the mid-credits scene feels the strain of setting up the next step in the Four’s adventures, it’s a minor issue for a movie that is well thought-out, purposefully designed and truly fun to watch.

If Marvel can keep up this level of quality over quantity going forward, the prospects are bright, as this is the most purely satisfying MCU effort since the heady days of ‘Avengers: Endgame’.
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What’s the story of ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’?

Set against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ introduces Marvel’s First Family — Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) and Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Joseph Quinn) as they face their most daunting challenge yet.

Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, they must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). And if Galactus’ plan to devour the entire planet and everyone on it weren’t bad enough, it suddenly gets very personal…

Who is in the cast of ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’?
- Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic
- Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/The Invisible Woman
- Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/The Human Torch
- Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing
- Ralph Ineson as Galactus
- Julia Garner as the Silver Surfer
- Mark Gatiss as Ted Gilbert
- Sarah Niles as Lynne Nichols
- Paul Walter Hauser as Harvey Elder/Mole Man
Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman in 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios’ ‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios. © 2025 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2025 Marvel.

List of ‘Fantastic Four’ Movies and TV Shows:
- ‘Fantastic Four‘ (1967 – 1968)
- ‘The Fantastic Four‘ (1978)
- ‘The Fantastic Four‘ (1994)
- ‘Fantastic Four‘ (1994 – 1996)
- ‘Fantastic Four‘ (2005)
- ‘Fantastic Four: World’s Greatest Heroes‘ (2006 – 2007)
- ‘Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer‘ (2007)
- ‘Fantastic Four‘ (2015)
- ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps‘ (2025)
Buy Tickets: ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Movie Showtimes

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July 22, 2025
Movie Review: ‘Smurfs’
(L to R) Hefty Smurf (Alex Winter), Vanity Smurf (Maya Erskine), Worry Smurf (Billie Lourd, Ken (Nick Offerman), Smurfette (Rihanna), No Name (James Corden), and Brainy Smurf (Xolo Mariduena) in ‘Smurfs’ from Paramount Animation. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

‘Smurfs’ receives a 4 out of 10 stars.

Coming exclusively to theaters on July 18th, it should come as no surprise to anyone that ‘Smurfs‘ is geared towards a much younger audience.

Directed by Chris Miller, and featuring the voices of many talented actors including Rihanna (Smurfette), James Corden (No Name), Nick Offerman (Ken), and John Goodman (Papa Smurf), ‘Smurfs’ is designed to capture the hearts of its target audience, which is young children.

Related Article: ‘Mission Impossible’ and ‘The Running Man’ Lead the Paramount Presentation

Initial Thoughts

(L to R) No Name (James Corden) and Smurfette (Rihanna) in ‘Smurfs’ from Paramount Animation. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

‘Smurfs’ was made to introduce a whole new generation to to the lovable blue creatures that sometimes go up against evil wizards. On paper this concept might sound silly, but many of us grew up with our own version of the Smurfs, and it is nice that the younger generation has theirs now, as well.

Director Chris Miller knows his way around an animated feature, having worked on many including ‘Puss in Boots‘ and ‘Shrek the Third‘, so expectations were high going into this one.

Script and Direction

Director Chris Miller on the set of ‘Smurfs’ from Paramount Animation. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

One thing that every parent knows is that little kids do not have a long attention span. Because of that, animated features need to be able to keep their attention with bright colors, humor geared towards them, and action sequences. There needs to be something going on at all times or they will start to lose interest.

Something that ‘Smurfs’ does is keep moving, that is for sure, but because of this, it loses a lot of the explanation and exposition that is needed to properly tell the story. For those that do not know (or remember) the lore of Smurfs, some key plot points will not hit as hard – or even make sense.

Papa Smurf (John Goodman) in ‘Smurfs’ from Paramount Animation. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

The main message of the movie is taking the time to find your thing, and what you bring to the table. Smurfs have names based on their personality traits. For example, Brainy Smurf, Hefty Smurf, and Grouchy Smurf. No Name has tried thousands of things, but has not yet discovered what he is good at, which is why he is nameless at the start of the film.

The confusion comes with other Smurfs having names like Ron and Ken, so why doesn’t No Name at least have a regular name until he finds his thing? This is never explained and while kids probably will not pick up on it, parents are sure to be perplexed.

Director Chris Miller on the set of ‘Smurfs’ from Paramount Animation. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

The animation itself is simple enough, but looks great on the big screen. ‘Smurfs’ is bright, colorful, and vibrant. Even when scenes take place in the evil Gargamel and Razamel’s lairs, it never gets too dark or scary. Later in the film, the plot points find a way to let the animators explore a few different styles. This is the best scene in the movie. It’s equal parts fun and creative.

While adults are sure to be rolling their eyes at many of the corny dad jokes being told, kids will be cracking up. This movie leans into the type of humor that it knows its audience wants, for better or worse.

Cast and Performances

Ken (Nick Offerman) in ‘Smurfs’ from Paramount Animation. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

‘Smurfs’ has a star-studded cast that includes many of the greatest actors working today. With so many Smurfs in the village, some of them only have a line or two to deliver, but they all still bring their A-game.

John Goodman voices the beloved Papa Smurf. This character is very well known, which you would think would add some pressure to the role, but he voices him perfectly. John Goodman’s voice is soothing and very fatherly that it instantly works.

James Corden does a great job as No Name, who is struggling throughout most of the movie. He brings a timidness to him that is needed to believe his journey. One of the most memorable characters is Mama Poot, voiced by the always hilarious Natasha Lyonne. She knows how to deliver a punchline, even if the line written is silly.

Rihanna in “Friend Of Mine” music video from ‘Smurfs’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

The trailers teased that this movie was going to be a musical, going so far as to cast the incredibly talented Rihanna in the lead as Smurfette. From the start, it was clear that music was going to be the main focus, and while there are some songs kids will be singing on repeat, none of them standout as the hits of the summer.

Rihanna does a decent job as Smurfette, making her a likable enough character who encourages No Name throughout the film. That said, the script she is given does the character no favors, causing her backstory to feel rushed and come out of nowhere. Still, Rihanna does what she can with what she is given.

Final Thoughts

(L to R) Papa Smurf (John Goodman), No Name (James Corden), Smurfette (Rihanna) and Brainy Smurf (Xolo Mariduena) in ‘Smurfs’ from Paramount Animation. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

‘Smurfs’ is a good introduction to these characters for a new generation, but it is also lacking so much of what older generations love about them. The story is rushed and lacks a lot of explanation that is needed in order for it to make sense. It isn’t all bad though as the animation is pretty, Rihanna can sing (we all know that), and the messages of never giving up on yourself are important.

Despite a script filled with dad jokes that will land with the kids and leave adults rolling their eyes, it has its moments. If there were to be more movies in the franchise, kids will surely gobble them right up.

Say what you will, ‘Smurfs’ certainly knows what its target audience wants, and delivers on it.
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What’s the story of ‘Smurfs’?

When Papa Smurf (John Goodman) is mysteriously taken by evil wizards, Razamel and Gargamel, Smurfette (Rihanna) leads the Smurfs on a mission into the real world to save him. With the help of new friends, the Smurfs must discover what defines their destiny to save the universe.

Who is the cast of ‘Smurfs’?
- Rihanna (Smurfette)
- James Corden (No Name)
- Nick Offerman (Ken)
- John Goodman (Papa Smurf)
- JP Karliak (Gargamel / Razamel)
- Sandra Oh (Moxie Smurf)
- Dan Levy (Joel)
- Natasha Lyonne (Mama Poot)
- Xolo Mariduena (Brainy Smurf)
(L to R) Papa Smurf (John Goodman) and No Name (James Corden) in ‘Smurfs’ from Paramount Animation. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

List of Movies featuring the Smurfs:
- The Smurfs (2011)
- The Smurfs: A Christmas Carol (2011)
- The Smurfs 2 (2013)
- The Smurfs: The Legend of Smurfy Hollow (2013)
- Smurfs: The Lost Village (2017)
Buy Tickets: ‘Smurfs’ Movie Showtimes

Buy Smurfs Movies On Amazon
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July 16, 2025
TV Review: ‘Poker Face’ Season 2
Natasha Lyonne as Charlie Cale in ‘Poker Face’ season 2. Photo: Peacock.

‘Poker Face’ Season 2 receives 8 out of 10 stars.

Arriving on Peacock on May 8th with its first three episodes (followed by one weekly), ‘Poker Face’ sees the welcome return of Natasha Lyonne’s gravelly voiced, mystery-prone human lie-detector Charlie Cale for more mysteries.

And in keeping with the first season, this new run of episodes features a murderer’s row (sometimes literally, at least in story terms) of guest stars who play a fun, fresh batch of characters.

Related Article: Giancarlo Esposito, Kumail Nanjiani Lead Season 2 Cast of ‘Poker Face’

Initial Thoughts

(L to R) Cynthia Erivo and Natasha Lyonne as Charlie Cale in ‘Poker Face’ season 2. Photo: Peacock.

Created by ‘Knives Out’ filmmaker Rian Johnson in conjunction with star/executive producer Lyonne, the first season of ‘Poker Face’ was a delightful throwback to the days of ‘Columbo’ or ‘Murder, She Wrote,’ where we saw a crime –– usually a murder, but cleverly this season, not every time –– happen, and then introduced our protagonist, who would end up solving it.

Season 2 of the show is, if anything, even better, leaning harder on the supporting cast still letting Lyonne do her offbeat thing.

Script and Direction

Creator, writer, director, executive producer Rian Johnson at the premiere of ‘Poker Face’ season 2. Photo: Jesse Grant/Peacock.

The show features writing talent who have established themselves in a variety of genres and the scripting standard for ‘Poker Face’s new run of episodes –– 10 of the 12 were provided to press ahead of time –– remains resolutely high.

And in a welcome move, the mysteries are given a little more time to develop, making full use of a wonderful supporting cast, who bring a raft of characters to life. It’s easy to see why actors are attracted to coming and playing on the show.

Added to that, while we do see the mystery play out before Charlie Cale saunters on screen each week, the complexity and originality also remain high –– crimes including a variety of siblings, a laundry room and a gym are just a few of the stories on offer here.

Winding through them all, though seemingly finding a relatively early conclusion is Charlie’s issues with the crime bosses who have been hunting her down. Still, the real pleasure is seeing how she just can’t keep away from murder mysteries no matter how hard she tries.

Johnson kicks off the season directing the first episode, while Lyonne is also again behind the camera. The key here is that ‘Poker Face’ creates its own look each episode, while all feeling of a piece, and the creativity remains high.

From New York apartment buildings to stately mansions and even the inside of a private jet at a small airport, it all looks good and serves the story. There’s also a timelessness to the show’s tone and feel (even with modern gadgetry such as fitness trackers) that could have had it be set at any point in the last few decades.

Cast and Performances

Kumail Nanjiani in ‘Poker Face’ season 2. Photo: Sarah Shatz/Peacock.

Natasha Lyonne has been the main component of the show since the beginning and she’s such a classic character albeit with its own fresh spin. She’s certainly in the 1970s and 1980s detective style, and yet Lyonne brings a winning combination of smarts and vulnerability to the role.

Charlie’s looking for somewhere to put down roots and yet she keeps winding up in the middle of murder scenarios, her natural ability to sniff out liars landing her in hot water (and in one case, a hot sauna) time and time again.

Lyonne brings a fascinating vibe to Charlie, making her stand out from your average TV ‘tec, and her kooky sensibilities means the show comes really to life whenever she’s on screen.

Which is to take nothing away from a quality guest cast, with actors clearly having lined up to appear. ‘Wicked’s Cynthia Erivo is a lot of fun (even if we can only imagine the workload) playing multiple identical sisters in the initial episodes, squabbling over their recently deceased mother’s estate and –– in the case of one of them –– going too far to secure her portion.

The reliable likes of Jason Ritter, Richard Kind, Gaby Hoffman, Kumail Nanjiani (styled in a way we haven’t really seen from him before), David Krumholtz, Margo Martindale, Awkwafina and John Mulaney all join the fun, making an impact and keeping Charlie on her toes.

Final thoughts

(L to R) Natasha Lyonne and John Mulaney in ‘Poker Face’ Season 2. Photo: Peacock.

There is always the worry that such a unique show as ‘Poker Face’ could work for a season and then never quite be as effective again, but this series proves with every episode that it’s far from a one-trick pony.

Provided the team feels they have new mysteries in them, and can keep the level up, this is one that deserves to run and run.
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What’s the plot of ‘Poker Face’ Season 2?

The mystery-of-the-week series follows Natasha Lyonne’s Charlie Cale, who has an extraordinary ability to determine when someone is lying.

She hits the road with her Plymouth Barracuda and with every stop encounters a new cast of characters and strange crimes she can’t help but solve.

Who stars in ‘Poker Face’ Season 2?
- Natasha Lyonne as Charlie Cale
- Simon Helberg as Luca Clark
- Rhea Perlman as Beatrix Hasp
- Alia Shawkat
- Awkwafina
- Carol Kane
- Corey Hawkins
- Cynthia Erivo
- David Krumholtz
- Gaby Hoffmann
- Giancarlo Esposito
- Jason Ritter
- John Cho
- Kumail Nanjiani
- Margo Martindale
- Melanie Lynskey
- Richard Kind
- Simon Rex
(L to R) Adrienne C. Moore and Natasha Lyon in ‘Poker Face’ season 2. Photo: Peacock.

List of Movies and TV shows Directed by Rian Johnson:
- ‘Brick’ (2006)
- ‘The Brothers Bloom’ (2008)
- ‘Breaking Bad’ (2008)
- ‘Terriers’ (2010)
- ‘Looper’ (2012)
- ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ (2017)
- ‘Knives Out’ (2019)
- ‘Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery’ (2022)
Buy ‘Poker Face’ on Amazon
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May 17, 2025
‘His Three Daughters’ Exclusive Cast Interviews
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Opening in theaters on September 6th before premiering on Netflix September 20th is the new drama ‘His Three Daughters’, which was written and directed by Azazel Jacobs (‘French Exit’) and stars Natasha Lyonne (‘Poker Face’), Carrie Coon (‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’) and Elizabeth Olsen (‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’).

Related Article: Giancarlo Esposito, Kumail Nanjiani Lead Season 2 Cast of ‘Poker Face’

(L to R) Natasha Lyonne, Carrie Coon and Elizabeth Olsen star in Netflix’s ‘His Three Daughters’.

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Natasha Lyonne, Carrie Coon and Elizabeth Olsen about their work on ‘His Three Daughters’, their first reaction to the screenplay, how they approached their characters, and the estranged relationship between the three siblings that they portray.

You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Lyonne, Coon and Olsen, as well as writer and director Azazel Jacobs.

Natasha Lyonne as Rachel in ‘His Three Daughters’. Photo: Netflix ©2024.

Moviefone: To begin with, Natasha, what was your first reaction to the screenplay and what were some of the aspects of your character that you were excited to explore on screen?

Natasha Lyonne: Gosh, I read it. It starts with Carrie speaking. So, like any natural person, I was like, “Oh, I should probably play that part”. Then I was like, “Oh, the stoner, what a stretch”. I was like, “God, I can’t believe Aza thinks I can do this at the top.” But really, the joy, and there’s a real humbleness that comes with that of discovering that somebody has thought of us, the specificity of us three, and now having been through the experience, the alchemy of that vision that he had being realized and the beauty of how it’s being received. It’s extraordinary. So anyway, I think that’s why we said yes.

(L to R) Natasha Lyonne as Rachel and Elizabeth Olsen as Christina in ‘His Three Daughters’. Photo: Netflix ©2024.

MF: Elizabeth, can you talk about the dynamics between these three sisters and working that out together on set?

Elizabeth Olsen: We luckily had some time before shooting that we were able to allot to a rehearsal place for actually running through dialogue, finding a rhythm, and finding the pacing that Aza had in his brain that was on the page that we could all get in the same world of. But then we also got to take the time to do basic homework stuff together, getting on the same page of when major events happened in these characters’ lives, who was there for what, and what maybe is being held on to that we didn’t want to move on from. I think what was beautiful along the way is anytime we had questions, Aza had such a specific answer to quite literally anything and everything because these women were so clear in his mind that as we inched towards the inside of his mind, we were all able to make this amazing alchemy of something from all four of us, and from the entire company really.

(L to R) Natasha Lyonne as Rachel and Carrie Coon as Katie in ‘His Three Daughters’. Photo: Netflix ©2024.

MF: Finally, Carrie, can you talk about how Katie is dealing with both her sisters and her father’s situation?

Carrie Coon: Oh, poorly, I would say. Well, she’s very controlling, that’s obvious. We also, I think, get the feeling that she’s got a touch of the alcoholism, which I suspect might be a family disease as it tends to be, and may be the source of some of the limitations on the sisters growing up probably in a household that had some of that going on. She’s clearly somebody who feels like she has control, or she has the illusion of control that gives her comfort. But I think you see for Katie, what gets revealed is that in fact, that’s an illusion and she can’t control her sisters. But the one thing she can control is how she sees them, and that’s what gets to shift inside of Katie a little bit, is starting to maybe drop the facade and start to see the people who are right in front of her. That’s the moving journey that she’s on. I think Aza writes so specifically, and so there is something that people find so familiar in Katie.
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What is the plot of ‘His Three Daughters’?

Emotions run high when three estranged sisters (Natasha Lyonne, Carrie Coon and Elizabeth Olsen) reunite in a cramped New York City apartment to watch over their ailing father during his final days.

Who is in the cast of ‘His Three Daughters’?
- Natasha Lyonne as Rachel
- Carrie Coon as Katie
- Elizabeth Olsen as Christina
- Jay O. Sanders as Vincent
- Jovan Adepo as Benji
(L to R) Natasha Lyonne as Rachel, Elizabeth Olsen as Christina and Carrie Coon as Katie in ‘His Three Daughters’. Photo: Sam Levy/Netflix ©2024.

Other Azazel Jacobs Movies:
- ‘Nobody Needs to Know‘ (2003)
- ‘The GoodTimesKid‘ (2005)
- ‘Momma’s Man‘ (2008)
- ‘Terri‘ (2011)
- ‘The Lovers‘ (2017)
- ‘French Exit‘ (2021)
Buy Azazel Jacobs Movies on Amazon
September 11, 2024
Pedro Pascal Offers First Look at ‘Fantastic Four’ Cast
(L to R) Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach star in Marvel Studios’ ‘The Fantastic Four’. Photo: Pedro Pascal’s Instagram Account.

Preview:
- Pedro Pascal gathered his ‘Fantastic Four’ co-stars for a first group pic.
- Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bacharach and Joseph Quinn squeezed into the image with him.
- ‘The Fantastic Four’ will be in theaters one year from today.
While most eyes might be on Marvel’s current effort, the meta-tastic, R-rated ‘Deadpool and Wolverine’ looking to score big at this weekend’s box office, there is at least some pointed towards the future, and specifically the company’s attempt to bring iconic “First Family” ‘The Fantastic Four‘ into its Cinematic Universe.

With production about starting now on the movie, we have the first image –– beyond the comic book-styled pic that served as Marvel’s big casting announcement –– of Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, as Pascal gathered them (not in costume, of course) for a group picture to mark the shoot’s kick-off.

Check it out…

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A post shared by Pedro Pascal he/him (@pascalispunk)

Who are the Fantastic Four?

Marvel’s Fantastic Four. Photo courtesy of Pinterest.

Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic, Sue Storm/The Invisible Woman, Johnny Storm/The Human Torch and Ben Grimm/The Thing are key players in the pages of Marvel comics, and introduced in 1961. They are among most anticipated characters (alongside the X-Men) to be included in the sprawling Marvel Cinematic Universe.

They’re canonically exposed to galactic radiation and end up cursed/blessed (depending on how you view it) with strange abilities. Reed can stretch his body in a variety of ways, Sue can turn invisible and generate forcefields, Johnny’s body becomes engulfed in flame (and he can fly), while Grimm becomes a rock-covered, incredibly strong creature.

And to be clear here, Pascal will be Reed, Kirby’s playing Sue, Quinn is taking the role of Johnny and Moss-Bachrach will be Ben.

They’ve been brought to screens before –– an unauthorized Roger Corman version floats around the internet after being traded on bootleg videos years ago, and then there were the Fox efforts, 2005’s ‘Fantastic Four’ and 2007 sequel ‘Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer’. They were followed by the dark, gritty and unsuccessful reboot in 2015.
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Who else is in ‘The Fantastic Four’?

Ralph Ineson as Father Brennan in 20th Century Studios’ ‘The First Omen’. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Alongside the leads, we will see Julia Garner as Shalla-Bal, a female version of The Silver Surfer, Ralph Ineson as powerful planet-gobbling being Galactus and Paul Walter Hauser, John Malkovich and Natasha Lyonne in unspecified roles.

Related Article: John Malkovich and ‘The Witch’s Ralph Ineson Join Marvel’s “Fantastic Four’

Who is making ‘The Fantastic Four’?

‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ director and executive producer Matt Shakman. Photo: Apple TV+.

Matt Shakman, one of the key directors on ‘WandaVision’, is overseeing the new film.

This one has been in development for a long time now, with Jeff Kaplan and Ian Springer among those who have worked on drafts of the script. ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ co-writer Josh Friedman is crafting the latest version.

We don’t yet know the story, but the first image and more recent comments from Marvel boss have pointed to them initially existing in a variant universe, and in the past.

Here’s what Kevin Feige said on the Official Marvel Podcast:

“There was another piece of art we released with Johnny Storm flying in the air making a ‘4’ symbol and there was a cityscape in the corner of that image. There were a lot of smart people who noticed that that cityscape didn’t look exactly like the New York that we know, or the New York that existed in the ‘60s in our world. Those are smart observations, I’ll say.”

When will ‘Fantastic Four’ be in theaters?

Disney and Marvel have planted a flag in July 25th, 2025, for ‘The Fantastic Four’, so it’s a good thing filming is now finally underway.

Marvel Studio’s ‘Fantastic Four.’

List of ‘Fantastic Four’ Movies and TV Shows:
- ‘Fantastic Four‘ (1967 – 1968)
- ‘The Fantastic Four‘ (1978)
- ‘The Fantastic Four‘ (1994)
- ‘Fantastic Four‘ (1994 – 1996)
- ‘Fantastic Four‘ (2005)
- ‘Fantastic Four: World’s Greatest Heroes‘ (2006 – 2007)
- ‘Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer‘ (2007)
- ‘Fantastic Four‘ (2015)
Buy ‘Fantastic Four’ Movies on Amazon
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July 25, 2024
‘Poker Face’ Rolls Out Star-Studded Season 2 Cast
(Left) Giancarlo Esposito in the ‘The Gentlemen.’ Photo: Kevin Baker/Netflix. Copyright: © 2023, Netflix Inc. (Right) Kumail Nanjiani in Columbia Pictures’ ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.’ Photo: Jaap Buitendijk. Copyright: © 2024 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Preview:
- Giancarlo Esposito, Kumail Nanjiani, Katie Holmes, and more will show up for Season 2 of the hit Peacock series ‘Poker Face.’
- Natasha Lyonne headlines the Emmy-winning mystery series from creator/director Rian Johnson.
- Season 1 featured a star-studded cast that included Adrien Brody, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Hong Chau, Ron Perlman, Chloe Sevigny, and Ellen Barkin, among others.
Natasha Lyonne will be back as former casino cocktail waitress Charlie Cale for Season 2 of ‘Poker Face,” and this time out she’ll be joined by another spectacular lineup of guest stars on the Peacock mystery series.

Among those who Lyonne will cross paths with during the upcoming season, according to Deadline, are Giancarlo Esposito, Katie Holmes, Gaby Hoffmann, and Kumail Nanjiani. No details about their characters have been revealed at the moment, and more cast members are certain be announced in the weeks ahead.
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Where have you seen the guest stars for Season 2 of ‘Poker Face’?

Giancarlo Esposito is Moff Gideon in ‘The Mandalorian,’ season two, exclusively on Disney+.

Leading the ensemble for Season 2 of ‘Poker Face’ is the red-hot Giancarlo Esposito. Following his Emmy-nominated run on ‘Better Call Saul,’ Esposito’s more recent TV/streaming credits include ‘The Mandalorian,’ ‘The Boys,’ and ‘The Gentlemen.’ On the big screen, you can currently catch him in ‘MaXXXine,’ will see him later in 2024 in Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘Megalopolis’ and next year as a villain in Marvel’s ‘Captain America: Brave New World.’

Kumail Nanjiani also spent time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with 2021’s ‘Eternals,’ and turned up earlier this year in ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.’ He’ll appear this August on the small screen in Season 4 of ‘Only Murders in the Building,’ while his other recent TV credits include ‘Welcome to Chippendales’ and ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi.’

Katie Holmes first achieved fame on the teen drama ‘Dawson’s Creek,’ while amassing credits in movies like ‘The Ice Storm,’ ‘Batman Begins,’ ‘Thank You for Smoking,’ and many more, as well as acclaimed TV roles in ‘The Kennedys’ and ‘Ray Donovan.’ Meanwhile, Gaby Hoffman most recently starred in the Netflix series ‘Eric’ and the Amazon sitcom ‘Transparent,’ while her film roles include ‘Field of Dreams,’ ‘Uncle Buck,’ ‘Veronica Mars,’ and ‘C’mon C’mon.’

What is the backstory of ‘Poker Face’?

Natasha Lyonne as Charlie Cale in Peacock’s ‘Poker Face.’ Photo by: Karolina Wojtasik/Peacock.

‘Poker Face’ was created by ‘Knives Out’ and ‘The Last Jedi’ writer/director Rian Johnson, who also executive produced the first season, directed three episodes, and wrote two. Johnson will return as executive producer for Season 2, although he hasn’t said whether or not he’s directing or writing again (he’s currently shooting the third ‘Knives Out’ mystery with Daniel Craig).

Lyonne (who directed an episode in Season 1 and will do so again in Season 2) stars as Cale, who has the ability to determine whether someone is lying. She ends up fleeing Las Vegas as a result and heading across the country, where each week she meets different people and ends up getting drawn into a different mystery that she eventually solves.

Season 1’s cast included Adrien Brody, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Benjamin Bratt, Ron Perlman, Chloë Sevigny, Stephanie Hsu, Hong Chau, Ellen Barkin, Jameela Jamil, Rhea Perlman, and Judith Light. The latter won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy for her work in the show. A premiere date for Season 2 has yet to be announced.

Related Article: TV Review: ‘Poker Face’

Rian Johnson, Creator and Executive Producer of ‘Poker Face’ at the Hollywood Legion Theater on January 23, 2023. Photo by: Jesse Grant/Peacock.

Rian Johnson Movies and TV Shows:
- ‘Brick‘ (2005)
- ‘The Brothers Bloom‘ (2008)
- ‘Breaking Bad‘ (2008 – 2013)
- ‘Terriers‘ (2010)
- ‘Looper‘ (2012)
- ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi‘ (2017)
- ‘Knives Out‘ (2019)
- ‘Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery‘ (2022)
- ‘Poker Face‘ (2023)
- ‘Fair Play‘ (2023)
- ‘American Fiction‘ (2023)
- ‘3 Body Problem‘ (2024)
Buy Rian Johnson Movies on Amazon
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July 18, 2024
Natasha Lyonne Joins ‘The Fantastic Four’
(Left) Natasha Lyonne as Charlie Cale in Peacock’s ‘Poker Face.’ Photo by: Karolina Wojtasik/Peacock. (Right) Marvel Studio’s ‘Fantastic Four.’

Preview:
- Natasha Lyonne is the latest addition to ‘The Fantastic Four’.
- Her character is a mystery for now.
- The movie will be out in July 2025.
We’re always glad to see Natasha Lyonne show up in a movie or TV series –– her particular brand of crackly-voiced sarcasm usually helps make whatever it is better.

Marvel clearly feels that way, as according to Deadline, Lyonne is now joining ‘The Fantastic Four’, the company’s big chance to add its First Family to its Cinematic Universe. And Lyonne seems to fit right in with an eclectic ensemble that is already raising eyebrows –– and expectations.
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What’s the story of ‘The Fantastic Four’?

Marvel’s Fantastic Four. Photo courtesy of Pinterest.

The movie, which finally see Marvel’s most famous comic book superheroes (though X-Men fans might argue that) join the company’s sprawling Cinematic Universe, is mostly being kept under wraps.

Marvel has not said anything about the story, though its first imagery suggests a period setting.

Who is starring in ‘Fantastic Four’?

(Left) Pedro Pascal as Maxwell “Max Lord” Lorenzano in ‘Wonder Woman 1984.’ Photo: Warner Bros. (Center Left) Vanessa Kirby at the Netflix Original Series world premiere of ‘The Crown.’ November 1st 2016. London UK. (Center Right) Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Rochard “Richie” Jerimovich in ‘The Bear.’ Photo: Courtesy of FX. (Right) Joseph Quinn as Eddie Munson in ‘Stranger Things.’ Photo Courtesy of Netflix © 2022.

The main title characters are being played by Pedro Pascal (Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic), Vanessa Kirby (Sue Storm/Invisible Woman), Joseph Quinn (Johnny Storm/Human Torch) and Ebon Moss-Bacharach (Ben Grimm/The Thing).

In addition to Lyonne, the eclectic ensemble for this one includes British actor Ralph Ineson (as planet eating troublemaker Galactus), ‘Ozark’s Julia Garner (as a version of the Silver Surfer), Paul Walter Hauser and John Malkovich (both of whom are without confirmed characters at this point).

As for who Lyonne’s playing? That has also not yet been revealed. So take your own guess! A gender-swapped Wilhelmina Lumpkin? Voicing H.E.R.B.I.E. the robot? (Probably not). Whatever it turns out to be, we’re interested.

Related Article: John Malkovich and ‘The Witch’s Ralph Ineson Join Marvel’s “Fantastic Four’

Who is making ‘The Fantastic Four’?

‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ director and executive producer Matt Shakman.

Matt Shakman, who worked on ‘WandaVision’, is directing the film, working from a script that has seen contributions from Eric Pearson, Josh Friedman, Jeff Kaplan and Ian Springer. And ‘WandaVision’s Peter Cameron did some work once Shakman boarded the project, also.

Where else can I see Lyonne?

Natasha Lyonne as Charlie Cale in ‘Poker Face.’ Photo by: Evans Vestal Ward/Peacock.

The actor has been busy of late, and not just performing. She co-created and starred in brain-twisting Netflix series ‘Russian Doll’ and, more recently, was a producer and star of crime series ‘Poker Face’, in which she played a woman blessed/cursed with the ability to know when people are lying to her and uses that to solve crimes.

While ‘Russian Doll’ appears to be in limbo, ‘Poker Face’ will return for a second season. In addition to the shows, Lyonne is lending her voice to the animated ‘The Smurfs Musical’ (due February 14th next year), and has a role in Taika Waititi’s new film, sci-fi drama ‘Klara and the Sun’.

When will ‘The Fantastic Four’ be in theaters?

Disney and Marvel are aiming to have the movie in theaters on July 25th, 2025.

Marvel Studio’s ‘Fantastic Four.’

List of ‘Fantastic Four’ Movies and TV Shows:
- ‘Fantastic Four‘ (1967 – 1968)
- ‘The Fantastic Four‘ (1978)
- ‘The Fantastic Four‘ (1994)
- ‘Fantastic Four‘ (1994 – 1996)
- ‘Fantastic Four‘ (2005)
- ‘Fantastic Four: World’s Greatest Heroes‘ (2006 – 2007)
- ‘Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer‘ (2007)
- ‘Fantastic Four‘ (2015)
Buy ‘Fantastic Four’ Movies on Amazon
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May 16, 2024
‘The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy’ Cast and Crew
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Premiering February 23rd on Prime Video is the new animated series ‘’The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy,’ which stars Natasha Lyonne (‘Poker Face’), Kieran Culkin (‘Succession’), Stephanie Hsu (‘Joy Ride’), Keke Palmer (‘Nope), and Maya Rudolph (‘Inherent Vice’).

(L to R) Maya Rudolph, showrunner, writer and executive producer Cirocco Dunlap, and Natasha Lyonne talk Prime Video’s ‘The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy.’

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Maya Rudolph, Natasha Lyonne and showrunner, writer and executive producer Cirocco Dunlap about ‘The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy,’ creating the show, and Rudolph and Lyonne’s characters.

You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch the interview.

(L to R) Stephanie Hsu (Dr. Sleech) and Kieran Culkin (Dr. Plowp) in ‘The Second Best Hospital in The Galaxy.’ Credit: Courtesy of Prime Video. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC.

Moviefone: To begin with, Cirocco, can you talk about coming up with the idea for this series and creating the show?

Cirocco Dunlap: Yeah, I love sci-fi, and I watch a lot of sci-fi. I was thinking about classic movies like ‘Groundhog Day,’ ‘Alien,’ and thinking about those main characters and how they’ve got real horrible ailments, an alien in your stomach, or stuck in a time loop. I was thinking, “Wouldn’t it be fun if they had somewhere to go, someone to treat them for those illnesses?” I thought, “These main characters in classic sci-fi films could become tertiary patients in our world.”

(L to R) Maya Rudolph (Dr. Vlam) and Stephanie Hsu (Dr. Sleech) in ‘The Second Best Hospital in The Galaxy.’ Credit: Courtesy of Prime Video. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC.

MF: Maya, can you describe your character, Dr. Vlam, and creating the voice?

Maya Rudolph: Dr. Vlam is a robot intern who’s lived over 20,000 years and is devoted to her present craft, which is being a doctor and takes an enormous amount of pride in it. But that doesn’t stop her from talking about her past where she’s lived as a warrior king, and mother of 500. She’s done a lot. So, she likes to let everybody know she’s been around for a long time and its sort of a mix of a lot of pride and at the same time, happy to be there to serve her doctors, to serve Sleech and Klak. She just wants to do a really good job because she looks up to them so, so much.

(L to R) Stephanie Hsu (Dr. Sleech), Keke Palmer (Dr. Klak), and Natasha Lyonne (Nurse Tup) in ‘The Second Best Hospital in The Galaxy.’ Credit: Courtesy of Prime Video. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC.

MF: Finally, Natasha, same question. How would you describe your character, Nurse Tup, and creating her voice?

Natasha Lyonne: Nurse Tup is a nihilistic optimist. She loathes small talk, which I personally adore, and she really loves the hospital. So, she must buffer between Sleech and Klak from blowing up the joint in all their creative genius. So, she has pointy ears and in a surprising twist, a big mop of hair, six legs and a tail. So, I pretty much did a come as you are. I thought, “That is what I look like.” But Cirocco really worked with me so much on our first session to kind of really dial in exactly the vibe of who she was. Then also the other character, Zaylarx. I love that character. Zalyarx gets into trouble with Vlam and they have a good, rowdy time. Troublemakers. So yeah, good times.

Related Article: TV Review: ‘Poker Face’

Keke Palmer (Dr. Klak) in ‘The Second Best Hospital in The Galaxy.’ Credit: Courtesy of Prime Video. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC.

What is the Plot of ‘The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy’?

The series follows Dr. Sleech (Stephanie Hsu) and Dr. Klak (Keke Palmer), aliens, best friends, and intergalactically renowned surgeons, as they tackle anxiety-eating parasites, illegal time loops, and deep-space STIs. In Season One, doctors Sleech and Klak take on a highly dangerous and potentially groundbreaking case and, in doing so, put existence itself in jeopardy. Although considering their dismal personal lives, oblivion might be an improvement.

Who is in the Cast of ‘The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy’?
- Stephanie Hsu as Dr. Sleech
- Keke Palmer as Dr, Klak
- Natasha Lyonne as Nurse Tup
- Kieran Culkin as Dr. Plowp
- Maya Rudolph as Dr. Vlam
- Sam Smith as Dr. Azel
‘The Second Best Hospital in The Galaxy.’ Credit: Courtesy of Prime Video. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC.

Other Movies Similar to ‘The Second Best Hospital in The Galaxy’:
- ‘Alien‘ (1979)
- ‘Aliens‘ (1986)
- ‘Groundhog Day‘ (1993)
- ‘Alien³‘ (1992)
- ‘Alien Resurrection‘ (1997)
- ‘Galaxy Quest‘ (1999)
- ‘The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy‘ (2005)
- ‘Star Trek‘ (2009)
- ‘Star Trek Into Darkness‘ (2013)
- ‘Star Trek Beyond‘ (2016)
Buy Natasha Lyonne Movies on Amazon
February 23, 2024
TV Review: ‘Poker Face’

Natasha Lyonne as Charlie Cale in ‘Poker Face.’ Photo by: Evans Vestal Ward/Peacock.

Premiering with its first four episodes on Peacock on January 26th, ‘Poker Face’ marks Rian Johnson’s latest successful stab at the mystery genre.

The filmmaker, who made his name with Sundance sensation ‘Brick’, has often tackled mysteries in his work, most notably with the two ‘Knives Out’ movies, in which Daniel Craig’s smart sleuth Benoit Blanc uncovers dastardly deeds among spoiled rich folk (in the 2019 original) and weird influencers (in last year’s follow up).

Along with an abiding affection for Agatha Christie and other mystery writers, Johnson has often professed his love for TV series such as ‘Columbo’, where Peter Falk’s scruffy, genius detective first befriends and then unmasks killers.

Adrien Brody as Sterling Frost Jr. in ‘Poker Face.’ Photo by: Phillip Caruso/Peacock.

‘Poker Face’ channels the latter, featuring Natasha Lyonne as Charlie Cale, a casino worker with a special gift—she can tell when people are lying. She can’t always figure out exactly why they’re lying, but she knows a falsehood, which has made her an enemy of the gambling boss, represented by casino boss Sterling Frost Jr, played perfectly by Adrien Brody in the premiere.

Despite his casino magnate father wanting Charlie away from the tables, Frost convinces Charlie that they can scam one of the “whales” (a big gambler who is now running private poker games from his suite) at the establishment with a rigged game. It all falls apart when Charlie’s friend Natalie (Dascha Polanco), a member of the housekeeping team, catches the whale with something illegal and goes to her boss, who has his enforcer Cliff Legrand (Benjamin Bratt) to kill the whistleblower and her deadbeat husband.

An impressive pilot sets out the show’s stall, introducing us to Charlie’s world––she lives in a trailer near the casino and tries to stay out of trouble––and then shattering it in the wake of her figuring out what really happened to Natalie. The resulting, potentially lethal blowback sends Charlie on the run, trying to stay one step ahead of Cliff, who is sent to find and silence her.

Benjamin Bratt as Cliff Legrand in ‘Poker Face.’ Photo by: Karolina Wojtasik/Peacock.

Thus the basic premise of the show, which finds Charlie traveling from place to place and stumbling upon liars, cheats and murderers wherever she goes.

As with ‘Columbo’s basic format, ‘Poker Face’ shows the audience exactly how the murder of the week went down before spinning the clock back a couple of days to reveal how Charlie came to be involved. And then it gets down to the meat of the series, to show Charlie investigating and then solving the murder.

In a neat twist, her own fugitive status means that the stories never get wrapped up in a neat bow with Charlie able to call the police. Doing as much as she can to stay off the radar (even getting money from an ATM is fraught with the risk that Cliff will be able to track her down), she accepts odd jobs, which leads to her being drawn into the mystery.

Rian Johnson, Creator and Executive Producer of ‘Poker Face’ at the Hollywood Legion Theater on January 23, 2023. Photo by: Jesse Grant/Peacock.

Because of that trick of showing how the murder plays out, ‘Poker Face’ falls into the category that’s less whodunnit and more “howcatchem”––Charlie rocking up and figuring out what’s really going on. Though the crimes are frequently ridiculous, there are still stakes to be found. And no one is coming to this show for gritty, overinflated “realism” as peddled by so many case-of-the-week shows cluttering up network television. It also looks great––no doubt helped by some of Johnson’s cinematic team crossing over. The mix of classic style and modern sheen works.

Charlie moving on each week like David Banner on TV’s ‘The Incredible Hulk’ means that Johnson and co. (he wrote and directed the pilot but worked on the series with showrunners Nora and Lilla Zuckerman) can rely on a rich field of guest stars.

Across the first six episodes provided for review, the stories include one set amongst a punk rock band (anchored by Chloe Sevigny as the bitter lead singer who is trying to tour again after working for years at a home improvement store), another at a care home for the elderly whose resident roster boasts the likes of former revolutionaries with a score to settle played by Judith Light and S. Epatha Merkerson. A highlight is an episode featuring Tim Meadows and Ellen Barkin as actors looking to revisit their glory days whose shared resentment just might turn deadly.

Natasha Lyonne as Charlie Cale in Peacock’s ‘Poker Face.’ Photo by: Karolina Wojtasik/Peacock.

Lyonne has found a fertile creative ground in TV, between the likes of ‘Orange is the New Black’ and, more recently, the time-twisting ‘Russian Doll’. ‘Poker Face’ represents her latest captivating turn, playing Charlie with charm and intuition. Despite the constant specter of death (and the threat to her own life), she keeps it fun and light, proving to be a more than disarming anchor for the stories.

Though we’ve all gotten used to serialized shows being held up as the gold standard in the age of “prestige TV”, Johnson and his team definitely find something new in a seemingly old format. Procedural it may be, but ‘Poker Face’ is anything but a bluff. It’s more like a winning hand.

Natasha Lyonne as Charlie Cale in ‘Poker Face.’ Photo by: Karolina Wojtasik/Peacock.

‘Poker Face’ receives 8 out of 10 stars.
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January 25, 2023
Teaser For Rian Johnson Mystery Series ‘Poker Face’

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Rian Johnson clearly enjoys being a man of mystery. Not in an ‘Austin Powers’ way – he’s a master at coming up with mystery stories.

These days, he’s very focused on the ‘Knives Out’ franchise, having secured a huge two-movie deal with Netflix off the back of the box office success of the 2019 original.

‘Glass Onion’, the latest outing, which sees Daniel Craig back as drawling detective Benoit Blanc, will be in on limited release in theaters from November 23rd, ahead of its launch on Netflix’s servers on December 23rd.

And mystery helped him secure his big break with Sundance success story ‘Brick’ back in 2005. The drama saw a teenage loner pushing his way into the underworld of a high school crime ring to investigate the disappearance of his ex-girlfriend.

It’s perhaps no mystery, then – pun intended – that Johnson would whip up a mystery for his first stab at a TV show, conjured with Natasha Lyonne in the lead role of Charlie, who has an extraordinary ability to determine when someone is lying. She hits the road in her Plymouth Barracuda and with every stop encounters a new cast of characters and strange crimes she can’t help but solve.

Natasha Lyonne as Charlie Cale in Peacock’s ‘Poker Face.’ Photo by: Karolina Wojtasik/Peacock.

“Never underestimate the power of a good dinner conversation between friends. What started as a discussion over steak frites about detective shows and what made them such a reliable pleasure — the exploration of little worlds within each new setting, the guest stars playing killers and victims, and most importantly, a scrappy protagonist you were always ready to kick back with and see win — ultimately resulted in the creation of Charlie, the driving force behind ‘Poker Face’,” say Johnson and Lyonne in a statement.

“We invite you to follow Charlie on a cross-country road trip as she meets a rogue’s gallery of characters and avenges a new injustice each episode, armed with little more than her uncanny ability to detect lies and a genuine appreciation for her fellow humans (and the occasional dog). Now please leave the overthinking to Rian, who has masterfully crafted ten self-contained puzzles for Charlie to solve. Just jump in the back of her ‘69 Plymouth Barracuda and enjoy the ride,” they add.

And Johnson has rounded up quite the guest cast for the show, with (deep breath) Adrien Brody, Angel Desai, Audrey Corsa, Benjamin Bratt, Brandon Michael Hall, Charles Melton, Chelsea Frei, Cherry Jones, Chloë Sevigny, Clea DuVall, Colton Ryan, Danielle MacDonald, Dascha Polanco, Ellen Barkin, Hong Chau, Jasmine Aiyana Garvin, Jameela Jamil, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Judith Light, Leslie Silva, Lil Rel Howery, Luis Guzmán, Megan Suri, Niall Cunningham, Nicholas Cirillo, Nick Nolte, Reed Birney, Rhea Perlman, Ron Perlman, Rowan Blanchard, S. Epatha Merkerson, Shane Paul McGhie, Simon Helberg, Stephanie Hsu, Tim Blake Nelson and Tim Meadows.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt! However did he score that guy? Oh, right… they’ve worked together multiple times, including on ‘Brick’.

‘Poker Face’ will launch on Peacock with its first four episodes on January 26th. The remaining six episodes will land weekly on Thursdays.

Natasha Lyonne as Charlie Cale in Peacock’s ‘Poker Face.’ Photo by: Karolina Wojtasik/Peacock.

Natasha Lyonne as Charlie Cale in Peacock’s ‘Poker Face.’ Photo by: Karolina Wojtasik/Peacock.

October 27, 2022