Consider this collection of cast and characters for casino crime caper, The Card Counter. Written and directed by Paul Schrader (Raging Bull, American Gigolo), The Card Counter had the misfortune to begin filming in February 2020. Like every other movie and TV production at the time, The Card Counter was forced to hold due to the pandemic, before picking up production and eventually wrapping in July. After showing its hand at the Venice Film Festive earlier this month, The Card Counter is now releasing exclusively in theaters.
The Card Counter tells the story of William Tell, an ex-military interrogator who becomes a gambling hot-shot while in jail. Released into an unfamiliar world, William begins his card counting career and forges new relationships in the process, but he's soon faced with the ghosts of a violent past and brand new demons waiting for him at the poker table.
With Martin Scorsese serving as executive producer, it's little surprise that The Card Counter is getting noticed, and early reviews have been largely positive thus far. Boasting a small but impressive lineup of acting talent, here are the cast of The Card Counter and what we know of their characters.
Oscar Isaac as William Tell
If you've watched a movie in the past 7 years, you'll likely know Hollywood's Oscar Isaac, probably from the Star Wars sequel trilogy, X-Men: Apocalypse, or Annihilation. He's not slowing down either, with Dune, Metal Gear Solid and Moon Knight all in various states of development. Isaac stars in The Card Counter as William Tell, the mysterious poker player who served time in prison after his harrowing actions as an interrogator in Iraq. Deeply damaged, William sees opportunity for redemption is on the cards, and finds like-minded friends to help him.
Tiffany Haddish as La Linda
Known primarily for Girls Trip and The Carmichael Show, Tiffany Haddish has a long career in comedies and sitcoms, as well as a litany of voice acting credits (including Tuca & Bertie). A crime drama of The Card Counter's ilk represents something of a fresh direction. William meets La Linda while counting cards and she becomes his partner, buying him into games for a cut. Naturally, a romantic relationship develops between the pair.
Willem Dafoe as Major Gordo
Spider-Man's Green Goblin, Platoon's Sergeant Grodin, Vulko in Aquaman, and Jesus himself in The Last Temptation of Christ, there's not much Willem Dafoe hasn't done. Indeed, the acting veteran will be returning to comic book movies as Green Goblin in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Before that, however, he'll play Major Gordo in The Card Counter. Gordo is the source of William's trauma, and the reason Isaac's protagonist was sent to jail after letting his men take the fall during a torture case. A chance reunion brings William and Gordo's feud into focus again.
Tye Sheridan as Cirk Baufort
Most audience members will recognize Tye Sheridan as Cyclops in the newer generation X-Men cast, or for his starring role in Steven Spielberg's Ready Player One. He's something of a protégé to William in The Card Counter, interested in how to cheat the house, and even more interested in his mentor's shady past, promising to "set things straight." Cirk's father was also among Gordo's soldiers, and took his own life as a result.
The Card Counter Supporting Cast
Alexander Babara as Mr. USA - Hailing from Russia, Babara has played heavies in The Fate of the Furious and Stranger Things. Mr. USA is William's primary gambling opponent in The Card Counter.
Billy Slaughter as Fiddle - After featuring alongside Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis in The Campaign, Billy Slaughter has turned up in Mindhunter (Charles) and The Magnificent Seven (Josiah). The Card Counter's Fiddle is also known as "Lackey #1."
Amye Gousset as Judy Baufort - Appearing in Battlecreek, Army Wives and the recent The Purge TV adaptation, Amye Gousset plays Judy Baufort - most likely Cirk's mother.
Bobby C. King as Slippery Joe - Known more for his stunt work, Bobby C. King starred in road-based horror Rucker.
Kat Baker as Sara - A relative newcomer, Baker's biggest role came in The Comeback Trail alongside Robert De Niro and Tommy Lee Jones.
Dylan Flashner as Sgt. Hoskins - In a quirk of fate, Flashner appeared alongside Baker in both The Comeback Trail and The Righteous Man, with The Card Counter marking their third meeting.
Adrienne Lau as Crystal - Lau portrayed Jasmine in Vampire Blvd, but will be more famous for her musical career and the song "Magic Tricks."
Bryan Truong as Minnesota - Truong has appeared in several short films, an episode of My Boys, and Love Arcadia.
Joel Michaely as Ronnie - A prolific name in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Michaely has credits in 2018's Little Women, The Comeback Trail and The Righteous Man.
Britton Webb as Roger Baufort - Seen previously in NCIS: New Orleans, their shared surnames suggest Webb is playing Cirk's late father in The Card Counter.
