Kingsley Ben-Adirhas just stepped into his antagonistic era with his current MCU project, titledSecret Invasion, which is now streaming on Disney+. He is playing the role of Gravik, a completely new character with no roots in the comics. All we know about him is that he’s persuasive, dangerous, and has the ability to kill anyone with no regrets — and a Skrull. Well, that’s all about Ben-Adir’s character in the MCU, but what renowned projects has he portrayed outside of it?
Initially, Ben-Adir was starring in severalgood theatrical playslikeWe Are Proud to Present About the Hereto of Namibia, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Riots, Much Ado About Nothing,andGod’s Property. Further, he made his guest appearances in various TV shows likeAgatha Christie’s Marple, Midsomer Murders, Ordinary Lies,and others. He gained recognition by starring in popular hit shows likePeaky Blinders, The OA, Diana and I,and now the MCU’sSecret Invasion.
Ben-Adir might not have a lengthy filmography, but he has some notable titles on his resume along with his upcoming big projects likeBarbieandBob Marley: One Love. Now, without further ado, let’s check out Kingsley Ben-Adir’s best movies.
5Trespass Against Us (2016)
If a criminal business gets passed on from one generation to another, it becomes hard to come out of its clutches. That’s what happens inTrespass Against Us, where Colby (played by Brendan Gleeson), a father, doesn’t let his son, Chad Cutler (played by Michael Fassbender), leave their already established criminal business. On the other hand, Chad thinks about his children and wants them to give a life away from the shadow ofthe criminal world.
Of course, Colby sees it as his son’s betrayal, so he creates obstacles in his path, but even Chad stays stubborn and determined to achieve a better and crime-free life, which often results in a conflict between the father-son duo. According to director Adam Smith (viaBFI), Chad does like being brought up in a family of criminals, but deep down he wants to leave it all for his wife and kids. Ben-Adir, as Sampson, is a loyal ally of the Cutler family and aids them in their illegal works.
Related:Bob Marley Biopic to Star Kingsley Ben-Adir as the Reggae Icon
4Noelle (2019)
Do you also think being a Santa is too easy? The light-hearted comedy movie,Noelle, will prove you wrong. Santa has a lot of responsibilities on his shoulders, like delivering gifts, bringing smiles to sad faces, and fulfilling children’s wishes. Nick Krangle (Bill Hader), Noelle’s brother, who is now a successor to his father’s Santa legacy, finds it hard to deal with all these Kris Kringle responsibilities. Thus, Noelle (Anna Kendrick) encourages him to take a break to release all the stress.
When Christmas nears, he doesn’t come back, which leads to her embarking on a mission to find her brother and save Christmas. Ben-Adir portrays a private investigator who helps Noelle in tracking down Nick. The film is helmed and written by Marc Lawrence and is available for you to watch on Disney+.
3The Commuter (2018)
The Commuterstars Liam Neeson (Michael MacCauley), Vera Farmiga (Joanna), Patrick Wilson (Alex Murphy), Florence Pugh (Gwen), Sam Neill (Captain Hawthorne), and Jonathan Bank (Walt) as the main cast. Ben-Adir plays a supporting and minor role in the film as Special Agent Garcia. The story is about a former NYPD officer turned insurance agent named Michael who is laid off from his job. Worried about his finances, he meets a stranger on his go-to train, who gives him a mission to fulfill, with a hefty money reward.
Burdened by the pressure of being unemployed, he accepts the task of finding a passenger who has an important item before the train reaches its destination. Soon, he finds himself in a deadly situation with the lives of passengers at stake. Time is running out for him to unfold the truth and save lives as the final stop nears.The Commuterwas a huge success, with a total box office earning of $119.9 million on a budget of $30 million.
2King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017)
Released in 2017,King Arthur: Legend of the Swordisdirected by Guy Ritchie, who is known for his work onThe Covenant, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, Aladdin, Wrath of Man,and more. The tale is about Vortigern planning a coup against his own brother to dethrone him. Years later, Uther’s son Arthur finds out the truth about his royal roots after being raised in a brothel. He embarks on a journey to seek revenge on his uncle, who made him an orphan and destroyed his family.
Ben-Adir plays the role of Wet Stick, who is also a good ally to Arthur, helping him in his mission to become the rightful King of Britain. Other cast members includes Charlie Hunnam, Jude Law, Àstrid Bergès Frisbey, Eric Bana, David Beckham, Annabelle Wallis, Peter Ferdinando, and others.
Related:How Secret Invasion Is the Big Chance the MCU Needs
1One Night In Miami… (2020)
One Night In Miami…brings the real-life meeting of four inspiring legends, Malcolm X (Kingsley Ben-Adir), Cassius Clay/Muhammad Ali (Elo Goree), Jim Brown (Aldis Hodge) and Sam Cooke (Leslie Odom Jr.) to screens in a fictionalized way. It explores thought-provoking themes like racial inequality, the need for social change, obstacles faced by Black folks, and collectively using one’s influential platforms to be heard.
The quartet’s meeting takes place right after Muhammad Ali’s victory against Sonny Liston. The celebration turns into an in-depth conversation about individually creating an impact by standing up against racial discrimination in the wake of thecivil rights movement. The film explores how each one of them brings their unique ideologies, ideas, and opinions to the table.
