Edgar Wright's Last Night in Soho is primed to be one of the most exciting films of the year. The director known for making movies that riff on genre tropes while evading genre classifications is finally telling a good old-fashioned ghost story. His newest follows Eloise (nicknamed "Ellie"), a passionate fashion designer with a love for the '60s who moves to London to attend their prestigious College of Fashion. When she's sent back in time to visions in 1966, her dream life becomes a nightmare as demons of the past threaten to resurface in the present.
The film features a loaded ensemble cast, featuring stars from both the '60s and today. It's worth catching up with these actors and their work to see why Wright picked each, and to get an idea of what they'll bring to the table when Last Night in Soho finally arrives.
Michael Jibson: 1917 (2019) - Stream On Showtime
Michael Jibson is primarily a theater actor (for instance, he was part of the original West End cast of Hamilton). But he's also appeared in several films, including as Lieutenant Hutton in Sam Mendes' 1917. Jibson's first West End role was in the 1994 London revival of Olivier!, which was also directed by Mendes, so it's incredible to see the two collaborate nearly 25 years later.
On Twitter, Edgar Wright made it clear he was a huge fan of 1917, making it clear why he cast Jibson in Last Night in Soho. Jibson plays a detective who questions Ellie on the murder she believes she witnessed.
Michael Ajao: Attack The Block (2011) - Stream On Hulu
Attack the Block made stars out of actors such as John Boyega (who played Finn in the Star Wars sequel trilogy) and Jodie Whittaker (who was the last Doctor Who). The film follows a street gang, led by Boyega's Moses, whose Guy Fawkes Night goes awry when they're attacked by extraterrestrial creatures. Ajao and Sammy Williams play Mayhem and Probs, a duo of young, wannabe gangsters who end up becoming part of the fight against the aliens.
Edgar Wright executive produced Attack the Block, and cast Ajao in Last Night in Soho nearly a decade later. Ajao plays John, Ellie's classmate/love interest.
James and Oliver Phelps: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001) - Stream On HBO Max
James and Oliver Phelps have appeared in multiple films together, but they're most recognized for their work on the Harry Potter series. The real-life twins played Fred and George Weasley for more than a decade, making Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's/Philosopher's Stone the perfect place to start with their filmography.
As Wright himself has pointed out, identical twins have appeared in every film he's made. Last Night in Soho is no different in this regard, with James and Oliver playing the duo of Harvis and Jarvis, respectively.
Rita Tushingham: Doctor Zhivago (1965) - Stream On HBO Max
Rita Tushingham appeared in the 1965 epic Doctor Zhivago as Tanya, a young girl who Lieutenant General Yevgraf Zhivago believes is the long-lost daughter of his late half-brother (Dr. Yuri Zhivago, the titular character). The film's story focuses on Yuri's life as told to Tanya by Yevgraf.
Doctor Zhivago was one of Tushingham's earliest roles; but she's continued to act in the decades since with no more than a few years between roles. In Last Night in Soho, she plays Peggy Turner, Ellie's grandmother.
Diana Rigg: The Great Muppet Caper (1981) - Stream On Disney+
The Great Muppet Caper was the first film Jim Henson directed, and it's infused with his signature creativity and optimism. Diana Rigg plays the film's human protagonist, a fashion designer named Lady Holiday whose stolen jewels the Muppets attempt to recover. It's one of Rigg's most memorable performances, only short of her role as Teresa Bond in On Her Majesty's Secret Service.
Sadly, Last Night in Soho features Rigg's final film role, as she passed away in September 2020. She plays Ellie's landlady, the peculiar Ms. Collins.
Matt Smith: His House (2020) - Stream On Netflix
Critics gave His House rave reviews, but it still went largely unnoticed compared to other Netflix horror films. The film follows Bol and Rial, a refugee couple who find something eerie is happening in their house. The general uneasiness and sense of mystery make this a strong recommendation for viewers excited for Last Night in Soho.
Though he's best known for Doctor Who, Matt Smith gives a strong performance in His House as Bol and Rial's caustic caseworker Matt. In Last Night in Soho, he plays Jack, Sandie's predatory talent agent.
Terence Stamp: The Collector (1965) - Rent On Vudu
Terence Stamp's character in Last Night in Soho has only been named as "The Silver Haired Gentleman", but the trailer seems to imply he's the menacing present-day version of Matt Smith's character Jack. If that's the case, the biggest parallel to Stamp's earlier films is with his breakout role, The Collector.
The psychological horror film follows a butterfly collector (Stamp) who kidnaps a London art student (Samantha Eggar), imprisoning her in his cellar. Stamp and Eggar both won acting awards at the Cannes Film Festival for their performances.
Margaret Nolan: Goldfinger (1964) - Stream On Pluto TV
Edgar Wright has described Margaret Nolan as "the middle of [the] Venn diagram of everything cool in the '60s," and the 1964 Bond film Goldfinger more than confirms his statement. Nolan shines as Dink, Bond's masseuse, but she also makes an appearance (painted gold, no less) in the film's famous title sequence.
Though Nolan passed away in October 2020, her as-yet-undisclosed role in Last Night in Soho is sure to be a welcome swan song for Bond fans.
Anya Taylor-Joy: The Witch (2015) - Stream On Showtime
Netflix's The Queen's Gambit made Anya Taylor-Joy a star, but after seeing her debut performance in The Witch, she thought she'd never act again. The exact opposite turned out to be the case, as The Witch led to her landing several more film roles (including Last Night in Soho).
In The Witch, Taylor-Joy plays Thomasin, a Puritan girl who is accused by her family of witchcraft after a series of tragedies befell them. In Last Night in Soho, she plays Sandie, a singer from the past who is mysteriously linked to Ellie.
Thomasin Mckenzie: Leave No Trace (2018) - Stream On Prime Video
Edgar Wright cast Thomasin McKenzie as Ellie in Last Night in Soho after seeing her "naturalistic performance" in Leave No Trace. He said that he got the feeling immediately upon meeting her that "this is obviously the person to do it."
Directed by Debra Granik, Leave No Trace is an emotional drama about Tom (McKenzie) and her father Will (Ben Foster), who live in the forests of Oregon. When they're forced to relocate to a house in the city, both Tom and Will have trouble adjusting to their new circumstances.