Warning: This post contains very minor spoilers for Beast
Beast cast and character guide. The 2022 summer movie season has quieted down a bit, with the majority of big blockbusters — including Top Gun: Maverick and Jurassic World Dominion — having already been released in June and July. Beast, directed by Baltasar Kormákur from a screenplay by Ryan Engle, is an adventure drama that is primed to help bring the summer movie season to a close.
Beast follows Nate Samuels, a widowed father of two who returns to South Africa in a bid to reconnect to the place where he first met his wife. Along with his children, Nate reunites with an old friend who takes them on a tour of the wildlife reserve he manages. When a group of poachers angers a lion, the wild animal goes on the hunt for those who harmed him and his pride, pushing Nate and his family in the crossfire.
Beast has a relatively small cast when compared to other movie releases of late, with no core supporting cast. With Idris Elba leading the tight cast, here is every major actor in the survival thriller, which characters they portray, and what other films and TV shows they have been in before starring in Beast.
Idris Elba As Nate Samuels
Nate Samuels is a medical doctor whose wife passed away ahead of Beast’s start. Wanting his children to be more acquainted with their mother’s early life, Nate brings them to South Africa to visit. Nate is portrayed by Idris Elba, who is best known for his roles in Beasts of No Nation, The Harder They Fall, The Suicide Squad, the TV series Luther, the HBO drama The Wire, Zootopia, Pacific Rim, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies Thor, Thor: The Dark World, and Thor: Ragnarok, in which he played the Asgardian Heimdall. Elba also guest starred in several episodes of the hit comedy series The Office.
Iyana Halley As Meredith Samuels
Meredith “Mer” Samuels is Nate’s eldest daughter. She has a contentious relationship with her father, which has been aggravated further by her mother’s death. Meredith is portrayed by Iyana Halley, who is best known for her roles in The Hate U Give, and guest-starring stints on This Is Us, Abbott Elementary, and All American: Homecoming.
Leah Sava Jeffries As Norah Samuels
Norah Samuels is Nate’s youngest daughter. She has a slightly better relationship with her father, but often acts as the mediator between Nate and Mer. Norah is portrayed by Leah Jeffries, who is best known for her roles as Lola in the drama series Empire and as Brandi and Erica in Rel. Jeffries has also been cast in the role of Annabeth Chase, a prominent character in the upcoming Percy Jackson and the Olympians series on Disney+.
Sharlto Copley as Martin Battles
Martin Battles manages the game reserve in South Africa. He is also old friends with Nate and his wife, and an uncle to their two daughters. Martin is portrayed by Sharlto Copley, who is perhaps best known for his role as Wikus Van De Merwe in the Neill Blomkamp-directed film District 9. Copley, who rounds out the core cast of Beast has also been in Chappie, The A-Team, the Disney live-action Maleficent, Elysium, starring Matt Damon, and the TV series Powers, where he played the character of Christian Walker.