Directed by comedy veteran Judd Apatow, Netflix’s new film, The Bubble, follows a group of actors and actresses as they attempt to complete a film while stuck in a pandemic bubble. As usual for Apatow, this movie is packed with talented and recognizable faces that bring the comedy auteur’s screenplay to life in unusual and interesting ways.
The film is one of the few comedies out there that addresses the COVID-19 pandemic, directly weaving the event into the plot and making light of it through its amusing script.
Karen Gillan – Doctor Who
Despite launching a successful career as Thanos’ daughter Nebula in the MCU, Gillan’s first major role on screen was as Amy Pond, companion to the Eleventh Doctor in Doctor Who. She joined Matt Smith’s Doctor on several adventures over two and a half seasons, encountering plenty of iconic and scary aliens along the way.
The character of Amy Pond has become somewhat of a fan favorite since her departure from the show, likely due to her hilarious chemistry with co-stars Matt Smith and Arthur Darvill, who absolutely stole the show throughout seasons 5 and 6.
Iris Apatow – This Is 40
Daughter of director Judd Apatow, Iris is only 19 years old, but she’s still starred in several recognizable films throughout her short career. In Knocked Up and This Is 40, she plays the daughter of long-life married couple Pete and Debbie, as they struggle with turning 40.
Although her roles up to this point have been small, Iris Apatow is given much more to do in The Bubble with her character Krystal Kris, a TikTok superstar involved in the fictional movie’s creation.
Pedro Pascal – The Mandalorian
Perhaps the most successful Star Wars project since the franchise was rebooted with The Force Awakens, Disney’s The Mandalorian follows the adventures of Pascal’s titular character, a lonesome bounty hunter operating outside the dominion of the New Republic.
The series has been a huge hit on Disney+, with the second season receiving rave reviews and the character even crossing over in a surprise cameo role into its sister show, The Book of Boba Fett. It’s clear that we may be watching Pascal playing the Mandalorian for a long time, and Star Wars fans could not be happier.
Leslie Mann – The 40-Year-Old Virgin
As the wife of director Judd Apatow, Leslie Mann has starred in plenty of his best projects – including the film for which he’s arguably received the most fame, The 40-Year-Old Virgin. The film stars Steve Carrell as the titular character Andy, whose friends attempt to help him lose his virginity before it’s too late.
The film encapsulates everything that audiences love about Apatow’s films – funny performances, immature jokes, and chaotic narratives that unfold in strange and unpredictable ways. Both Carrell and Paul Rudd are so entertaining in the film, bringing to life some of the funniest characters in comedies of the era.
Keegan Michael-Key – Key & Peele
Most known for his comedy partnership with Jordan Peele on the comedy sketch show Key & Peele, Keegan Michael-Key plays Sean Knox, one of the actors in The Bubble’s fictional movie. Knox is described as ‘stunt-savvy’, and represents a certain familiar brand of actor who prides himself on his stuntwork.
Key & Peele is one of the most recognizable and successful sketch shows in recent memory, and both comedians have had extremely prosperous careers in the fallout. Peele even went on to win an Oscar for his widely-acclaimed directorial debut, Get Out.
Fred Armisen – Big Mouth
Veteran comedian Fred Armisen has appeared on film and television several times, but the most successful project of his is undoubtedly Netflix’s Big Mouth. The show follows a teenage boy named Andrew, voiced by John Mulaney, who struggles with the many trials of puberty.
Armisen plays Elliot Birch, one of the show’s supporting characters. He’s a doctor and the patriarch of the Birch family. His son Nick is one of the show’s main characters, so naturally, he gets plenty of hilarious scenes to be a part of and show off his comedic skills.
David Duchovny – The X-Files
The X-Files was one of the most successful and beloved long-running sci-fi television shows, and Duchovny played one of the main characters, Fox Mulder. Alongside Gillian Anderson’s Dana Scully, his character was involved in the investigation of several unusual, paranormal mysteries.
The X-Files ran for 25 years, making it one of the longest-running serials of its kind, so it’s no surprise that it gathered such a strong cult following during its time on air. Duchovny has become so synonymous with the character of Mulder that it will be interesting to see him tackle such a different role in The Bubble.
Kate McKinnon – Ghostbusters (2016)
In the female-led reboot of the Ghostbusters franchise, Kate McKinnon plays Jillian Holtzmann, one of the titular ghost-hunters. Although the film was met with extremely mixed reviews, there’s a fairly strong consensus that all four lead actresses did a good job of bringing their characters to life with fresh personalities.
The return of the Ghostbusters had been one of the most highly-anticipated cinematic reboots since the second film was released in 1989, but Bill Murray’s hesitancy to commit and Harold Ramis’ death had prevented the project from ever taking off.
Guz Khan – Army of Thieves
Acting as a prequel to Zack Snyder’s Army of the Dead, his somewhat-uneven Army of Thieves continues and expands this universe in some intriguing and interesting ways. Guz Khan plays Rolph, the getaway driver of a group of thieves attempting to break into a bank.
Although the film’s performances were widely praised, many critics took issue with its predictability and unoriginality. That being said, many Snyder fans argue that the prequel Army of Thieves is even better than the original film, Army of the Dead.
Maria Bakalova – Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm
Released during the heights of the COVID pandemic, Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm concerned itself with mocking and exposing the conservative beliefs of many within America. Much like the first film, Sacha Baron Cohen reprised his role as the iconic Borat, but this time he was joined by his daughter Tutar, played by Maria Bakalova.
Bakalova was nominated in the Best Supporting Actress category for this role, which was made doubly impressive by the fact that this was her first major English-speaking role…ever. She’s fantastic in the film, and she adds a much-needed new perspective to Borat’s hilarious story.
