By Alexander Valentino
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Summary
- Theo James' recent roles in well-received projects highlight his evolved career.
- James is also known for voice roles, such as in The Witcher universe and Castlevania.
- James shines in projects like "The White Lotus" and "The Gentlemen," showcasing his range and talents.
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Theo James has recently been in many well-received movies and TV shows that top his previous work. The 39-year-old English actor got his breakthrough in the Divergent movies, playing the stern instructor of Dauntless initiates, Tobias "Four" Eaton. Since then, James has gone on to star in a litany of films and TV shows, in roles ranging from leading characters to simple voice-over cameos. While not yet a widely recognized performer, some of James' most recent work has shown off his developed acting chops.
Unfortunately, many of James' earliest appearances did not do very well with critics. The Divergent series failed to capture audiences or critics as a young adult novel series on par with Harry Potter or The Hunger Games, leaving much to be desired. Additionally, poorly-reviewed movies like The Inbetweeners Movie, You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger, and the Underworld series didn't give James a great track record. Luckily, his latest roles in lauded projects have proven that James can hold up his end in better films and TV series.
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12 Lying And Stealing (2019)
A solid, if unoriginal crime drama
James has great chemistry with co-lead Emily Ratajkowski's femme fatale con artist, but the film's lack of original ideas ultimately holds it back.
A classically-structured heist film, Lying and Stealing may not be the most original entry in Theo James' resume, but it was among the first projects to prove he had what it takes to spearhead a narrative as a lead actor. James stars as Ivan Warding, an art thief taking on one last job before he can pull out of the game for good, hoping to leave behind the adrenaline-fueled world of Los Angeles' high-value crime scene. James has great chemistry with co-lead Emily Ratajkowski's femme fatale con artist, but the film's lack of original ideas ultimately holds it back.
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11 Golden Boy (2013)
A police drama with a unique storytelling perspective
Another crime drama, Golden Boy instead tested James' ability to maintain a handle on an entire 13-episode series rather than a feature film. James is given the unwieldy task of playing beat detective Walter Clark throughout multiple stages of his life, the series constantly playing with the passage of time with an unorthodox chronology. As hypnotic as the performances of the cast and the twists and turns of the intricate plot are, Golden Boy's insistence on its fractured timeline keeps it from being one of James' best projects.
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10 Dual (2022)
An irreverent dark comedy with strong performances
Dual
Upon receiving a terminal diagnosis, Sarah opts for a cloning procedure to ease her loss on her friends and family. When she makes a sudden and miraculous recovery, her attempts to have her clone decommissioned fail and lead to a court-mandated duel to the death. Now she has one year to train her body and mind for the fight of her life.
- Director
- Riley Stearns
- Release Date
- April 15, 2022
- Cast
- Theo James , Beulah Koale , Karen Gillan , Aaron Paul
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Not to be confused with Stephen Spielberg's first film, Dual is a moody science fiction comedy that tells the story of a young woman who recovers from a seemingly terminal illness only to be confronted by a mysterious doppelgänger. Theo James holds his own against ubiquitous names like Karen Gillan and Aaron Paul, participating in the absurdity of the narrative as Dual sucker-punches its viewers with unexpectedly hilarious developments. While the satire of the film doesn't always quite land, Dual only scratching the surface of its premise is still more entertaining than most films of its ilk.
9 The Witcher: Nightmare Of The Wolf (2021)
A thrilling side quest of The Witcher continuity
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The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf
This animated spinoff of Netflix's successful Witcher series follows the story of Geralt's mentor Vesemir and the events in his life shortly after he himself became a Witcher.
- Director
- Kwang Il Han
- Release Date
- August 23, 2021
- Cast
- Theo James , Lara Pulver , Mary McDonnell , Graham McTavish , Kari Wahlgren
Theo James actually did have a small role in Netflixl's The Witcher, briefly voicing a young version of Vesemir in just a single episode. James got to reprise this role in the animated film The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf, which went on to be even better received than the live-action series. Putting a young Vesemir at the center stage, the animated film managed to put forth a gorgeously animated side story within Geralt's universe. Though largely inconsequential to the greater story, Nightmare of the Wolf works as a self-contained fantasy action story.
The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf was nominated for Best Animated Special Production at the 49th Annie Awards.
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8
7 The Gentlemen (2024)
Theo James' latest developing hit
The Gentlemen
From writer/director Guy Ritchie comes The Gentleman, an action/crime comedy that follows a prominent American cannabis dealer in London as he attempts to leave the industry for good. When word gets out that the dealer is looking to sell off his business, several opportunists emerge from the woodwork, employing every manner of schemes and ploys they can to undercut him and claim the market for themselves.
- Director
- Guy Ritchie
- Release Date
- January 24, 2020
- Cast
- Henry Golding , Jeremy Strong , Matthew McConaughey , Colin Farrell , Hugh Grant , Charlie Hunnam , Michelle Dockery
Oozing with Guy Ritchie's signature style, James manages to provide an excellent fulcrum around which the tense crime drama can revolve.
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Iterating on Guy Ritchie's crime drama of the same name, The Gentlemen tracks Theo James as Edward Horniman, who must delve into the dangerous world of the drug trade after unexpectedly becoming the heir apparent of a marijuana-growing empire. Oozing with Guy Ritchie's signature style, James manages to provide an excellent fulcrum around which the tense crime drama can revolve. The series is sometimes let down by its shaky relationship to the original film, but by the end of The Gentlemen's season 1, viewers are left grasping to re-enter the clouded world of the Horniman family estate.
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6 Archive (2020)
An esoteric science fiction tale with a dark tone
A science fiction drama investigating the promises and dangers of artificial intelligence, Archive sees James piloting the character of George Almore, a scientist obsessed with restoring the stored consciousness of his late wife within a robotic body. While the premise of an artificial lover was already well-worn ground by the time of Archive's release, with films like Ex Machina and choice episodes of Black Mirror beating it to the punch, the film offers a thoughtful exploration of the topic. With a devastatingly bleak twist ending, Archive has one of James' best performances in the sci-fi space.
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5 Mr. Malcolm's List (2022)
A delightfully charming period piece
Mr. Malcolm's List
Mr. Malcolm's List is a period drama directed by Emma Holly Jones, set in 19th-century England. The film stars Freida Pinto as Selina Dalton, who becomes entangled in a scheme to teach the arrogant bachelor Mr. Malcolm (Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù) a lesson in humility. Based on the novel by Suzanne Allain, it explores themes of social standing and romantic expectations within the confines of Regency-era society.
- Director
- Emma Holly Jones
- Release Date
- July 1, 2022
- Cast
- Ashley Park , Freida Pinto , Oliver Jackson-Cohen , Sope Dirisu , Theo James , Zawe Ashton
Theo James' premiere period piece, Mr. Malcolm's List investigates the insidious social posturing of upper-class 1800s England through a romantic lens, telling a satisfying tale of martial revenge. Taking clear inspiration from the works of Jane Austen, Mr. Malcolm's List may blend in with other films set within the same period, but presents an intriguing tale of romance, defiance, expectation, and betrayal. James does an amazing job as the foppish Captain Ossery, rounding out the stellar cast with his charm.
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4 Castlevania (2017)
One of Netflix's greatest animation endeavors
Castlevania
Based on the video game franchise, Castlevania is a Netflix original animated action series that follows the never-ending battle of the monster-slaying Belmont clan as they continue to face off against the hordes of the night. When Count Dracula's human wife is murdered, his grief leads him to doom the world to eternal darkness. To stop him, it'll take a team of three unlikely heroes banding together: the last remaining Belmont, Trevor, a magic-wielding seeker named Sypha Belnades, and the tortured half-human, half-vampire son of the count himself, Alucard.
- Cast
- Lance Reddick , Jaime Murray , Emily Swallow , Adetokumboh M'Cormack , Bill Nighy , Graham McTavish , Tony Amendola , Jason Isaacs , Jessica Brown Findlay , Matt Frewer , Toru Uchikado , Richard Armitage , Rila Fukushima , Alejandra Reynoso , Theo James , Ivana Miličević , Peter Stormare , James Callis
- Seasons
- 4
- Streaming Service(s)
- Netflix
Castlevania remains one of Netflix's most successful animated series, surging in popularity with each passing season without overstaying its welcome.
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Few serialized video game adaptations have been as successful as Netflix's Castlevania, an atmospheric introduction into the gothic misadventures of the vampire killer Trevor Belmont. Theo James gets a recurring role as Hector, a devilishly stoic necromancer who shores up Dracula's forces as one of his top generals before falling under the terrible employ of Carmilla. From the bloody action to the biting humor, Castlevania remains one of Netflix's most successful animated series, surging in popularity with each passing season without overstaying its welcome.
Related
Every Castlevania Season, Ranked Worst To Best (Including Nocturne)
From Dracula waging war against humanity to Richter Beltmont’s journey, Netflix’s animated Castlevania shows have delivered some incredible seasons.
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3
2 The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (2019)
A heartfelt revival of Jim Henson's classic fantasy world
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance is the long-awaited prequel to the 1982 film The Dark Crystal. In the Netflix original series, audiences return to Thra and follow three Gelfing, Rian, Deet, and Brea, who attempt to save their world after discovering the truth behind Skeksis' power. Despite fans' love for the franchise, Netflix canceled the series after one season.
See at Amazon
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The return of Jim Henson's Dark Crystal universe brought one of the most lovingly crafted dark fantasy series to ever come out on streaming, reviving the lost art of puppetry. James lends his voice to the aged Gelfling Rek'yr, a Dousan clansman who guides The Dark Crystal's main cast to the Circle of the Suns. The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance re-opened the door to a world of earnest fantasy untainted by modern-day cynicism, reinvigorating the forces of good and evil with some of the most impressive puppet work ever put to screen.
1 The White Lotus Season 2 (2022)
A budding powerhouse of prestige television
The White Lotus
The White Lotus is a sharp social satire following the exploits of various employees and guests at an exclusive Hawaiian resort over the span of one highly transformative week. As darker dynamics emerge each day, this series gradually reveals the complex truths of the seemingly picture-perfect travelers, cheerful hotel employees, and idyllic locale itself. Each season follows a new cast of characters with a greater mystery lying at the center of each new location.
- Cast
- Alexandra Daddario , Fred Hechinger , Connie Britton , Murray Bartlett , Sydney Sweeney , Brittany O'Grady , Natasha Rothwell , Jake Lacy , Jennifer Coolidge , Molly Shannon , Steve Zahn , Aubrey Plaza , Theo James , Haley Lu Richardson , Michael Imperioli , F. Murray Abraham , Tom Hollander , Meghann Fahy , Adam DiMarco , Will Sharpe , Leslie Bibb , Dom Hetrakul , Jason Isaacs , Michelle Monaghan , Parker Posey , Tayme Thapthimthong
- Release Date
- July 11, 2021
- Seasons
- 2
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As quietly impressive as some of Theo James' other appearances have been, nothing can measure up to the prestigious influence of his work in The White Lotus. After the surprise success of the first season, HBO renewed the dark comedy as an anthology series, this time starring James as the egotistical Cameron Sullivan amid the main cast. The bitter dissection of class within the setting of high-class resorts is as strong as ever in season 2, with layered writing, thoughtful performances, and palpable drama that far outclasses the rest of Theo James' projects.
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