Say what you will about Us’ turn toward full-on Twilight Zone at the end, but Jordan Peele is still maintaining an undeniably good batting average for his directorial features. Now, we still don’t know what his next one will be about, but it seems like we know at least one person who will be in it: According to Collider’s sources, Keke Palmer will play “the film’s female lead” and may even be the villain.
Collider says Palmer has officially joined the cast, but other casting rumors going around—specifically involving Daniel Kaluuya (star of Peele’s Get Out) and Jesse Plemons (star of everything else)—are less certain. As for Palmer, she popped up relatively recently in Hustlers and does voices in Disney+’s Proud Family revival and Netflix’s Big Mouth spin-off Human Resources. Also, Collider points out that she made an appearance on Key & Peele in 2013 and tweeted back in September that she had gotten a chance to speak with Peele and declare that he’s “so cool.” Specifics would be nice, whether they’re about how cool he is or what the heck this movie is about, but whatever. It’s fine. (Though, for the record, never telling anyone what his movies are about ahead of time has resulted in diminishing returns for Christopher Nolan. Peele should keep that in mind.)
29 Comments
Who had Jesse Plemons as having the best career post-Friday Night Lights?Not me.
I think Michael B. Jordan probably edges him out a bit, but Plemons’s stardom is definitely surprising, especially when compared to the more conventional looks and talents of his co-stars. Adrianne Palicki and Taylor Kitsch have popped up in things but haven’t had roles that showcase a tenth of the talents they showed in FNL and Jurnee Smollett’s turns in Lovecraft Country and Bird of Prey are the first half-decent things she’s been in since FNL. I think it’s a testament to how culturally relevant “Boring but also kind of weird looking white dude” has become that Plemons has been able to have such success (to say nothing of his genuine charm, work ethic, and ability).
Did he get fat specifically for Fargo and then managed to parley that weight gain into even more character actor-y roles? I don’t think I’ve seen that done before.
I don’t necessarily agree about Palicki and Kitsch in that I do think they got chances, but just didn’t manage in to shine in what opportunities they had. While Plemons, in turn, was able to take full advantage of the smaller opportunities at first and build the kind of a base that allowed him to move up and forward.However, I also feel there is a curious impact as Plemons is the kind of a guy who will be cast largely as a side character at first, which allows him to establish himself more as that character actor and rise to the occasion. With Kitsch and Palicki, the focus was always on being the breakout star and getting more heavily featured, where the pressure is very different.By the way, it was a moment of shock for me to be reminded that Jordan was on FNL. That show had a crazy cast.
Adrianne Palicki and Taylor Kitsch have popped up in things but haven’t had roles that showcase a tenth of the talents they showed in FNLre: Kitsch at least – “popped up in things” is a weird way of saying “led back-to-back big-budget blockbusters.” But yeah, not exactly talent showcases. Palicki didn’t get the same level of immediate opportunity that Kitsch did, with her Wonder Woman pilot not even airing, but I’d say long-term she’s fared better than Kitsch. Is he even doing anything noteworthy at the moment?
“ “popped up in things” is a weird way of saying “led back-to-back big-budget blockbusters.””
Blockbuster is a weird way of saying “massive bomb”.
Yeah Kitsch definitely got his leading man shot, but was in genuinely bad movies where he played flat characters. Not sure whether he or his agent are to blame for that, or if he’s just had rough luck. Last thing I remember him being in was 21 Bridges.
And yet somehow this weird looking white dude has bagged the goddess that is Kirsten Dunst.
They knew at the time how special he was there’s a reason him and Kitsch are the only kids who are regulars past the third season.
I would say that was about realistically having characters move away after high school.
slightly chubby Matt Damon has been killing it, that’s for sure
Fuck Todd.That is all I have to say on the matter.
Real ones knew he was bound to be a star after his performance as Ox in Like Mike.
He was so fucking good in Breaking Bad as Todd (and follow-up film, El Camino) and was perfectly casted in Fargo’s Season 2.He should be just as good in this film with so-far great cast.
Not until he fucking killed it on Breaking Bad. It’s the rare guy who plays a complete puppy dog and a complete psychopath and both are believable.
He was outstanding in Judas & the Black Messiah. He might be the best “banality of evil” actor working.
Heck yes, I’m so ready for this. Keke Palmer is my favorite bet for former kid star turned actual adult star who sticks around. I am also an almost middle-aged woman who still occasionally watch Tru Jackson VP, so take this all with a grain of salt.
a talented lady but she hasn’t done anything great with that talent. may be this is the time.
“Say what you will about Us’ turn toward full-on Twilight Zone at the end,…”Huh? Is this an apology for Peele’s treatment of Us? Maybe just me but I’m saying it was brilliant.
“Maybe just me but I’m saying it was brilliant.’
Well, you’re incredibly wrong.
Honestly, I feel like Us has been is most successful to date in terms of story, twist, and presentation. I actively like what he directs/produces, but I feel like his work does require you to wear certain blinders and ignore some poor choices in favor of how likable the writer/producer/director is.
Oh shit she’s playing Tony Todd in Candyman???
I know this is just a lazy joke but Peele isn’t directing Candyman.
Wouldn’t Candywoman be a natural spin-off, though?
“Though, for the record, never telling anyone what his movies are about ahead of time has resulted in diminishing returns for Christopher Nolan.”Nolan certainly doesn’t need me to defend him since he’s one of probably 3 guys in Hollywood who can get people to throw money at whatever he wants, but it just seems incredibly weird to me that after Tenet’s lukewarm reception people act like he’s been on some sort of downward trend. His last movie before Tenet got almost unanimous critical praise! It made a boatload of money! He got an Oscar nomination for Best Director! Did we all just decide to collectively memory-hole Dunkirk?
The essential Barsanti schtick: Take the breaking news and sandwich it amongst the most deluded, catty takes you could never want.
I respect Us’ utterly bonkers swing for the fences at the end even if it resulted in a complete shambles. He knew it would be so much easier to just leave the underground stuff in the dark and let our imaginations do the work. And instead he just went for it. That took some guts.
This does let me think for a second about Scream Queens, which was deliriously stupid in the most enjoyable possible way.
interesting. best of luck for this project.