Netflix’s rom-com Players includes a small cast of well-established actors who create lovable and zany characters. Players follows Mack, a bubbly sports writer who spends her time creating schemes to convince people to have one-night stands with her. Unfortunately, things go awry when she starts catching real feelings for one of her targets, Adam. Netflix’s Players is a sleazy rom-com that understands the pitfalls of dating.
Players is just the most recent of Netflix’s great rom-coms, and it’s unsurprising considering that the three lead roles include powerhouse actors with strong comedic backgrounds and experience carrying TV shows. In addition to the main actors, the supporting cast perfectly encapsulates their characters, giving them dynamic and lovable personalities.
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Gina Rodriguez As Mackenzie “Mack”
Actor: Gina Rodriguez was born in Chicago, Illinois, and got her first professional acting role as Rose in the crime drama TV show Jonny Zero. She gained attention for her role in the 2012 movie Filly Brown. The same year, The Hollywood Reporter named her one of the top 35 Latinos under 35. Since then, her career has boomed with her taking on numerous big acting roles and leading the cast of Jane the Virgin – for which she gained in Golden Globe.
Notable Movies & TV Shows: Filly Brown (2012), Jane the Virgin (2014-2019), Deepwater Horizon (2016), Annihilation (2018), Carmen Sandiego (2019-2021), and Awake (2021)
Character: In Players, Gina Rodriguez plays the main heroine Mack. Mack is a sports writer who creates plays with her friends in order to pick up dates, flings, and one-night stands. However, she questions her plays when she meets Nick, a war correspondent who she’s determined to win over.
Damon Wayans Jr. As Adam
Actor: Comedian and actor Damon Wayans Jr. was born in Vermont and got his first role in 1994 as Young Kevin in Blankman. In 2005, Wayans got his big break playing various roles in The Underground. He’s gone on to act in many popular shows, including playing the goofy and exercise-obsessed character Coach in the cast of New Girl.
Notable Movies & TV Shows: Blankman (2006), Dance Flick (2009), The Other Guys (2010), New Girl (2011-2018), Happy Endings (2011-2020), Big Hero 6 (2014), and Let’s Be Cops (2014)
Character: Throughout Players, Damon Wayans Jr. plays Adam. Adam is Mack’s best friend who helped create her playbook. He supports Mack and helps ground her whenever she loses her sense of self.
Tom Ellis As Nick
Actor: Welsh actor Tom Ellis got his first role in 2000 as Ben in the British comedy TV series Kiss Me Kate. While he took many roles in between, he got his big break playing Police Constable in the 2004 crime movie Vera, continuing to grow a successful career since then. He’s best known for playing the titular main character in the crime fantasy drama Lucifer.
Notable Movies & TV Shows: Vera Drake (2004), EastEnders (2016), Merlin (2010), Rush (2014), Miranda (2009-2015), Lucifer (2016-2021), and Isn’t it Romantic (2019)
Character: Tom Ellis plays Nick in Netflix’s rom-com Players. Nick is a charismatic guy who works as a war correspondent. After he and Mack click, he becomes the subject of one of her plays.
Players Supporting Cast & Characters
Joel Courtney As Little: in Players, Joel Courtney plays Little, one of Mack and Adam’s good friends and the little brother of Brannagan. Courtney was born in Monterey, California, and got his first acting role in 2011, playing Joe Lamb in J.J. Abrams’s sci-fi movie Super 8. He’s best known for acting as Cole Reede in F*&% the Prom and Lee Flynn in the Kissing Booth movies.
Augustus Prew As Brannagan: Throughout Players, Augustus Prew plays Brannagan, a best friend of Mack and Adam who helps them run plays. Prew was born in London, England, and got his first role as Drew Jessup in the 2001 movie 24Seven. He’s best known for appearing in the films Kick-Ass 2 and About A Boy, as well as playing Medhor in the cast of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.
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Liza Koshy As Ashley: During Players, Liza Koshy plays Mack and Adam’s friend Ashley. Koshy started her career on YouTube and got her first professional acting role in 2014 on Kian and JC Show. She’s best known for appearing in the shows Freakish, David’s Vlog, and Liza on Demand. Koshy also appeared as Aday in Boo! A Madea Halloween – one of the best Tyler Perry’s Madea movies.
Marin Hinkle As Karen Kirk: In Players, Marin Hinkle plays Karen Kirk, Mack’s boss. The Emmy-nominated actress got her first role as Young Joanna in the 1994 movie Angie. She’s best known for playing Rose Weissman in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Judith in Two and a Half Men.
Ego Nwodim As Claire: Ego Nwodim plays Adam’s girlfriend, Claire, in Players. Nwodim was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and got her first role in the 2012 short film Getting Help. She’s best known for being an SNL writer and actress. Nwodim also played April London in the comedy film It’s A Party.
Sources: The Hollywood Reporter
Players (2024)
- Release Date
- February 14, 2024
- Director
- Trish Sie
- Cast
- Tom Ellis , Gina Rodriguez , Augustus Prew , Damon Wayans Jr. , Liza Koshy , Joel Courtney
- Runtime
- 105 Minutes
- Writers
- Whit Anderson
- Studio(s)
- Campfire , I Can & I Will Productions , Marc Platt Productions
- Distributor(s)
- Netflix
- Where To Stream
- Netflix
