After spending the bulk of their career in television, Joe and Anthony Russo have made an absolutely massive impact on the film world over the last five years. Thanks to their brilliant run of directing Marvel Cinematic Universe movies — CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER, CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR, AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR and AVENGERS: ENDGAME — they have firmly established themselves as some of the most powerful and influential filmmakers in the industry, and now they are using that power to produce films that they want to see on the big screen through their new company, AGBO Films. And kicking it all off is the new thriller 21 BRIDGES, which is outfitted with an absolutely fantastic cast.
Directed by Brian Kirk, 21 BRIDGES is a new cop thriller set over the course of one night as a police detective in New York hunts down a couple of fugitives that were involved in a drug heist that went terribly, terribly wrong. To help make the movie shine, it has some truly fantastic actors playing the principal parts, and you can get to know them all below!
Chadwick Boseman
Given Chadwick Boseman’s brilliant work as T’Challa, aka Black Panther, in the aforementioned Russo brothers-directed Marvel movies, it makes all the sense in the world that he would be the number one choice to play 21 BRIDGES’ main hero. It’s a different kind of role for the actor, and not just because it doesn’t involve a vibranium suit or him appearing as a legendary historical figure like Jackie Robinson, James Brown or Thurgood Marshall. Here, Boseman plays Andre Davis, a detective infamous for his itchy trigger finger who will stop at nothing to seek vengeance for the cops killed during the heist-gone-wrong.
Sienna Miller
Andre Davis isn’t alone as New York City gets shut down during the big manhunt in 21 BRIDGES. Operating by his side in the movie is Frankie, a fellow detective with a thick Brooklyn accent played by Sienna Miller. The actress has already earned tremendous acclaim in 2019 for her lead performance in the drama AMERICAN WOMAN, and here she has a great character who is both loyal to the badge, but also always willing to put her family first.
Taylor Kitsch
Taylor Kitsch has largely been busy on the small screen in recent years, his last movie being the 2017 firefighter drama ONLY THE BRAVE. But he’s now making a great feature return with a key role in 21 BRIDGES. In the new movie, he plays one of the primary antagonists, Ray, who is a military veteran turned violent criminal who is at the center of the heist and is willing to do anything to escape from New York with his life and his freedom.
Stephan James
Following his brilliant breakout performance in last year’s IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK, Stephan James is back on the big screen in 21 BRIDGES playing a very different role. In the movie, the actor plays Michael, Ray’s partner, who is not quite as gung-ho about digging further and further into the world of New York City crime. As he and Ray are chased by Andre Davis, he questions what they are doing and how he wants to spend the rest of his life.
J.K. Simmons
There is no denying that J.K. Simmons is one of the best character actors around, and in 21 BRIDGES, we get to see him play with some seriously dramatic material, being the NYPD captain of the officers killed in the failed drug heist. He seriously wants vengeance against those responsible for the murders, and Simmons in the past has surely proven he has the skills to carry all of that weight in his performance. We just saw Simmons on the big screen this past summer when he quickly reprised his role as J. Jonah Jameson for the end credits of SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME, but this film should provide a very different look at his skills.
21 BRIDGES is in theatres now. Get your tickets.
