Though the idea of an alien coming to Earth is one that has been a staple of science fiction for decades, The Man Who Fell to Earth takes it in some new and interesting directions. A remake of the movie of the same name by Nicholas Roeg, it is a series grounded by the uniformly strong performances of its cast, most of whom have had at least some experience in the world of speculative fiction.
Even those who haven’t, however, still nevertheless demonstrate extraordinary talent, and so it is worth taking a look at the numerous movies and TV shows where viewers have seen the cast.
Chiwetel Ejiofor – “The Lion King” – Stream On Disney+
Chiwetel Ejiofor plays the character of the alien, who adopts the name Faraday. Though he has been in numerous movies and TV series, Ejiofor is particularly well-known for providing the voice of Scar in the live-action remake of The Lion King.
That movie became famous for being one of the better remakes, and some of that can be attributed to his take on the character. He brings a bristling menace to the character of Scar, arguably one of the best Disney villains.
Naomie Harris – “Moonlight” (2016)- Stream On Prime Video
Moonlight is widely and rightly regarded as one of the best movies of the 2010s. With its beautiful cinematography, its haunting storyline, and its performances, it is a testament to what the movies can achieve. Naomie Harris deserves particular praise for playing the drug-addicted and tormented mother of Chiron, the movie’s main character.
She manages to make the character something more than a stereotype, becoming instead a woman of many tortured depths. Harris brings a similar power to her role as Justin Falls.
Clarke Peters – “Treme” (2010-2013) – Stream On HBO Max
HBO has created many great series over the years, and Treme is arguably one of the most underappreciated. The series focuses on a New Orleans neighborhood and its residents, as they try to rebuild after Hurricane Katrina.
It is a show filled with fascinating characters, one of whom is Albert Lambreaux, who is a chef who not only tries to rebuild his community, but also bring his son back to the city. Peters portrays the character of Josiah Falls in The Man Who Fell to Earth.
Bill Nighy – “Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows–Part 1” (2010) – Stream On HBO Max
Bill Nighy is one of the most respected British actors working today, and he has turned his talents to any number of roles. He made a particularly notable appearance in the penultimate Harry Potter movie, The Deathly Hallows–Part 1, in which he played the part of Rufus Scrimgeour, the Minister of Magic.
Nighy’s take on the character allows him to be a more compassionate person than he is in the books, and he seems less hard-edged in his approach to Harry and his plight. In The Man Who Fell to Earth, he plays the character of Thomas Jerome Newton.
Jimmi Simpson – “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia” (2005-2013) – Stream On Hulu
There are few sitcoms with quite the bite and chaos of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Though much of the show’s appeal stems from its central cast, there’s also no question that much of the fun also comes from its many great secondary characters, particularly the strange and bizarre family of the McPoyles. Simpson plays Liam, arguably one of the more intelligent members of the family.
It’s a role in which he demonstrates his considerable comedic talents, as well as his grasp of physical comedy. He plays the character of Spencer Clay in The Man Who Fell to Earth.
Kate Mulgrew – “Star Trek: Voyager” (1995-2001) – Stream On Paramount+
Kate Mulgrew, who plays the character of Drew Finch, is no stranger to the world of science fiction. Indeed, one of her most notable roles is as Captain Kathryn Janeway in Star Trek: Voyager. She is widely regarded as one of the best captains in the Star Trek franchise, due to both her competency as a leader and her ability to keep up her crew’s morale.
There’s no question that the character’s appeal also stems from Mulgrew’s performance, who allows the viewer to understand the truly complex individual that she is.
Sonya Cassidy – “Vera” – Stream On BritBox
There have been many great British detective shows, but Vera is arguably one of the best. As is so often the case with these types of series, Vera hides a clever and subtle mind behind a disheveled appearance.
Though she is the main character of the series, it is also populated by a number of fascinating characters, one of whom is Celine Ashworth, who is played by Sonya Cassidy. Cassidy appears in The Man Who Fell to Earth, playing the character Edie Flood.
Rob Delaney – “Catastrophe” (2015-2019) – Stream On Prime Video
Rob Delaney has had a very varied career and has worked as a comedian, actor, activist, and writer. He is especially notable for having created, and starring in, the sitcom Catastrophe. The series focuses on two people, Sharon and Rob, who become a couple after their one-night-stand leads to a pregnancy.
Delaney plays the character of Rob. He brings his considerable talent to bear in The Man Who Fell to Earth, in which he portrays the character of Hatch Flood.
Martha Plimpton – “The Good Wife” (2009-2013) – Stream On Paramount+
Martha Plimpton has had a very successful career in Hollywood, appearing in numerous movies and TV series. Arguably one of her most noteworthy roles, however, was as the character Patti Nyholm.
She is one of the series’ primary antagonists, as she frequently shows that she is an unscrupulous lawyer, willing to do almost anything to win a case. Plimpton manages to capture the character’s moral flexibility. She appears in The Man Who Fell to Earth as the character K. Faraday.
Zoe Wanamaker – “Agatha Christie’s Poirot” (2005-2013) – Stream On BritBox
There have been many great adaptations of the mystery novels of Agatha Christie, but arguably one of the best is Agatha Christie’s Poirot, the long-running series from ITV. Veteran actress Zoe Wanamaker appeared on the show numerous times during the second decade of its run, playing the character of Ariadne Oliver, a rather eccentric mystery novelist who befriends Poirot.
Wanamaker is the perfect person to portray this character, with her gravelly voice and her acerbic delivery. She guest stars as the character Watt.
