Set during the Korean War, Devotion primarily follows a pair of U.S. Navy fighter pilots, and these main characters are portrayed in the movie's cast by two of Hollywood's most promising rising stars. Based on a true story and adapted from the nonfiction book Devotion: An Epic Story of Heroism, Friendship, and Sacrifice by Adam Makos, the movie is set in the early 1950s, when Americans aided South Korea in their conflict with North Korea. Devotion focuses on two real American pilots who served in the Korean War and became great friends and even greater aviators.
While centered on two main characters, played by Jonathan Majors and Glen Powell, Devotion also features a noteworthy supporting cast as well. As with any war movie — even those set mostly within the confines of small aircraft — the ensemble is key. Among the supporting players in Devotion is a pop singer less known for acting, a TV mayor, and a Marvel actress portraying one of the most famous movie stars of all time. Below is a guide breaking down the main and supporting cast of Devotion, where you know each of them from, and what real-life character they play in the movie.
Jonathan Majors As Jesse Brown
Since his breakout performance in The Last Black Man in San Francisco just three years ago, Jonathan Majors has become one of the most notable new actors of the 2020s. This is mostly thanks to his being cast by Marvel Studios as the next big bad of the MCU, Kang the Conqueror. He made his first MCU appearance in Loki as a variant of the villain and will soon be seen in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania followed by Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. His other credits include the lead role in HBO's Lovecraft Country and parts in the movies Da 5 Bloods and The Harder They Fall. In Devotion, he portrays Jesse L. Brown, a decorated hero of the Korean War who also had the distinction of being the first African-American U.S. Navy pilot to see combat.
Glen Powell As Tom Hudner
If Glen Powell looks familiar, particularly in the cockpit of a military aircraft, that's because Devotion is the second movie of 2022 where he plays a fighter pilot for the U.S. Navy. He's best remembered now for stealing scenes as "Hangman" in the blockbuster sequel Top Gun: Maverick. Previously, Powell portrayed astronaut John Glenn in Hidden Figures, was part of the ensemble cast of Richard Linklater's Everybody Wants Some!!, played the male lead in the Netflix rom-com Set It Up, and was a regular on the TV show Scream Queens. In Devotion, for which he also served as an executive producer, Powell portrays real-life U.S. Navy hero Thomas J. Hudner Jr., who received the Medal of Honor for his part in the Korean War as depicted in the movie.
Devotion's Supporting Cast & Characters
Christina Jackson as Daisy Brown - In Devotion, Christina Jackson plays Jesse Brown's wife, Daisy. Jackson is best known for her roles in the TV shows Outsiders, The Good Fight, Boardwalk Empire, and most recently, Swagger. She also co-starred in the acclaimed horror movie The Night House.
Joe Jonas as Marty Goode - Best known as one-third of the fraternal pop trio the Jonas Brothers and the lead singer of the band DNCE, Joe Jonas has had very few acting credits where he's not just playing himself. He did voice the Kraken in Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation and now, in Devotion, he plays real-life pilot Marty Goode, another Korean War hero who is also sort of the movie's comic relief.
Thomas Sadoski as Dick Cevoli - Theater and screen actor Thomas Sadoski is recognized for his main roles in the TV shows Life in Pieces and Tommy, where he played the mayor of Los Angeles, as well as his part as Officer Jimmy in the John Wick movies. As a member of the cast of Devotion, he portrays World War II and Korean War fighter pilot Richard L. Cevoli.
Serinda Swan as Elizabeth Taylor - In Devotion, Serinda Swan plays Hollywood icon Elizabeth Taylor, and it's not her first time portraying a famous actress, as she appeared as Anne Bancroft in FX's Feud: Bette and Joan. She also played Medusa in Marvel Studios' Inhumans series and co-starred in the shows Coroner, Ballers, and Graceland.
Daren Kagasoff as Bill Koenig - Daren Kagasoff is best known for playing Ricky Underwood on the ABC Family show The Secret Life of the American Teenager. As part of the cast of Devotion, Kagasoff plays real-life Korean War fighter pilot Bill Koenig.