Ava is now available to stream on Netflix, and here’s who plays who and where you’ve seen them before. The coronavirus pandemic forced studios and theaters to change their plans for 2020, with theaters around the world closing temporarily and studios either delaying their movies or sending them to different streaming platforms. Others, however, made it to the big screen for a brief time, before being sent to the world of streaming.
Such is the case of Ava, an action thriller directed by Tate Taylor (The Help), which was released theatrically in Hungary in July 2020 and in the US through DirecTV Cinema in August and VOD in September. It follows Ava, a deadly assassin who works for a black ops organization and so travels around the world specializing in high profile hits – but when a job goes terribly wrong, Ava is forced to fight for her own survival, as she’s now the target of her own organization.
The cast of Ava is full of familiar faces and fan-favorites, as well as names that are making their way through the film industry. Here’s a guide to the cast members of Ava and where you’ve seen them before.
Jessica Chastain as Ava Faulkner
Jessica Chastain plays the title character, Ava Faulkner, a trained assassin with a complicated past. Chastain is best known for her lead roles in the movies Zero Dark Thirty, Mama, and Molly’s Game, and for playing the adult version of Murphy Cooper in Interstellar, Lucille Sharpe in Crimson Peak, Vuk in X-Men: Dark Phoenix, and Beverly Marsh in IT and IT: Chapter Two.
Colin Farrell as Simon
Colin Farrell plays Simon, Ava’s superior who is about to become her biggest enemy. Farrell is known for playing Danny Witwer in Minority Report, Stu Shepard in Phone Booth, Bullseye in Daredevil, Alexander the Great in Alexander, Percival Graves in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and Oswald Cobblepot in Matt Reeves’ The Batman, as well as Detective Ray Velcoro in the TV series True Detective.
John Malkovich as Duke
John Malkovich plays Duke, Ava’s colleague and mentor. Makovich is one of the most respected actors in the entertainment industry and has appeared in over 70 movies, among those Empire of the Sun, Being John Malkovich, Birdbox, and Velvet Buzzsaw, as well as the TV series The New Pope and Space Force.
Common as Michael
Common plays Michael, Ava’s ex-fiancé and now boyfriend of her sister. Common is a rapper and actor, with over 10 studio albums released. Among his acting credits are the movies American Gangster, Terminator Salvation, Selma, John Wick: Chapter 2, and The Hate U Give, as well as the TV shows Hell on Wheels and the animated series The Lion Guard, where he voiced Kiburi.
Ava Supporting Cast
Geena Davis as Bobbi Faulkner, Ava’s mother – Davis is known for playing Barbara Maitland in Beetlejuice, Thelma Dickinson in Thelma & Louise, Dottie Hinson in A League of Their Own, and Mrs. Eleanor Little in the Stuart Little trilogy.
Jess Weixler as Judy Faulkner, Ava’s sister – Weixler starred in the comedy-horror movie Teeth and played Audra Phillips in IT: Chapter Two.
Diana Silvers as Camille – Silvers played Hope in Booksmart, Maggie Thompson in Ma, and Erin Naird in the TV series Space Force.
Christopher Domig as Gunther – Domig had minor roles in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Blindspot.
Joan Chen as Toni – Chen became widely known thanks to her role as Wan Jung in the Chinese movie The Last Emperor, after which she appeared in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me and Tigertail, as well as in various Chinese movies.
Ioan Gruffudd as Peter Hamilton – Gruffudd is best known for playing Kevin Shepherd in 102 Dalmatians, Lancelot in Antoine Fuqua’s King Arthur, Reed Richards in Fantastic Four, and Dr. Henry Morgan in the TV series Forever.