Nope is the latest film from horror writer-director Jordan Peele, starring Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer and Steven Yeun. The film explores the coming of an alien being to a horse ranch in Southern California and the shocking events that unfold thereafter, leaving some alive and others consumed.
Nope builds on the legacy Peele created in his first two films, 2017’s Get Out and 2019’s Us. The latter introduces murderous doppelgangers who rise up in an attempt to take over the world. The characters of Nope would each have varying results if transplanted into the world of Peele’s second horror film.
Ryder Muybridge
Ryder Muybridge is a minor character in Nope, portrayed by Devon Graye. Muybridge is a TMZ reporter attempting to get the scoop on the sudden and gruesome death of Ricky Park and the attendees of his latest show. However, in his misguided mission, Graye puts himself in the sights of the looming alien threat above, winding up as Jean Jacket’s latest victim.
Though Ryder Muybridge only appears in a few minutes of Nope, he makes it quite clear in a short amount of time that he is not equipped to survive any horror movie, least of all Us. Muybridge cares more about fame and notoriety than his own life, even telling OJ to snap a picture of him after crashing his motorcycle and injuring himself. It wouldn’t take long at all for the TMZ reporter to be killed by his doppelganger during the Untethering.
Ricky “Jupe” Park
Academy Award nominee Steve Yeun stars as Ricky “Jupe” Park, who runs the Jupiter’s Claim theme park neighboring the Haywood ranch. A former child star with waning fame, Ricky attempts to cash in on the bizarre happenings in and around his theme park, only to get himself, his family, and his entire audience killed by Nope‘s terrifying alien.
Ricky accidentally orchestrates his own death with his narrow-mindedness. Though not a particularly bad person, Yeun’s character nurtures his less admirable qualities, putting himself in a bad light. Ricky’s character faults suggest that he may not have survived any of Peele’s movies, including the brutal events of Us.
Amber Park
Wrenn Schmidt plays Amber Park, Ricky’s wife and co-manager at the Jupiter’s Claim theme park in Southern California. Appearing in only a handful of scenes, Amber attempts to keep the crowd interested in Ricky’s big show, only to stare agape as Jean Jacket arrives above the stadium, swallowing everyone unfortunate enough to in its crosshairs, including Amber and her family.
The audience gets to see very little of Amber during Nope, as the character only appears in scattered scenes throughout the film. Nevertheless, it would appear that she possesses the very same character faults as her husband, leading to their demise. Should Amber have found herself transplanted into Jordan Peele’s prior film, she would have met a similar end.
Otis Haywood, Sr.
Keith David appears in the early scenes of Nope as Otis Haywood Sr., the father of OJ and Emerald who is killed in one of this Jordan Peele movie’s most chilling scenes of foreshadowing. A horse trainer for Hollywood films, Otis’s death runs the family business into the ground, leaving his children to attempt to keep afloat.
Though Otis is dispatched very early in Nope, the character was never given a chance at surviving, making it unclear how he would have fared when facing the alien threat. Nevertheless, if Otis were to find himself facing his own doppelganger in Us, his no-nonsense attitude would allow him to keep a level head, thus likely surviving the events of the film.
Angel Torres
Brandon Perea plays Angel Torres, an employee of the local tech store and a staunch believer in the existence of alien life. Angel inserts himself into the Haywoods’ mission to capture footage of the alien being living above their ranch, only to survive the onslaught brought about by the feeding extraterrestrial.
Angel may have escaped the alien threat of Nope, but he may not prove so lucky if facing the events of Us. Perea’s character was far too inclined to curiosity, a fault that the Tethered would take advantage of at their first opportunity. As such, Angel’s chances of surviving the doppelgangers’ attack would be quite slim indeed.
Antlers Holst
Michael Wincott appears in Nope as Antlers Holst, one of Jordan Peele’s best original characters. Holst is a famous cinematographer who has grown disillusioned with the film industry. However, when given the chance of capturing the shot of a lifetime, Holst aids the Haywoods in attempting to prove the existence of alien life. However, finding no fulfillment in accomplishing this dream, Holst runs headfirst into the maw of the alien.
Antlers Holst is a man who doesn’t seem to have the same lust for life that he once did. Having reached his lifelong goal and found it all lacking, Holst would have little motivation to fight for his life when the Untethering came. More likely than not, the famed cinematographer would have found himself one of the first victims of the murderous Tethered.
Emerald Haywood
Emerald Haywood, portrayed by Keke Palmer, is one of Nope‘s most quotable characters, whose constant attempts at achieving stardom and fame are one of the most entertaining parts of the movie. Believing that she and her brother can gain notoriety by proving that an alien is dwelling above their horse ranch, Emerald tries to capture footage of the extraterrestrial.
Despite her rather blase attitude, Emerald is a skilled survivor who manages to kill Nope‘s antagonist herself. Though the initial events of the Untethering would no doubt keep Emerald on her toes, Palmer’s character would eventually find a way not only to survive but to defeat the threat of her villainous doppelganger, much like the family in Us did.
OJ Haywood
Academy Award-winning actor Daniel Kaluuya partners with Jordan Peele once more after their groundbreaking work in the 2017 film Get Out. In Nope, Kaluuya plays OJ Haywood, who tries to keep his family business afloat after the death of his father. When OJ encounters alien life flying above his property, he and his sister embark on a hair-raising journey to prove the alien’s existence, only to get more than they bargained for.
OJ Haywood proves to be the most integral character in discerning the true nature of the alien threat and how to survive its attacks. Had OJ instead faced the threat of the Tethered in Us, he would have also discovered the weakness of his doppelganger, thereby saving himself and his family from the terrifying danger of the Untethering.
