The third episode of Black Mirror season 6, "Beyond the Sea," features a stellar cast of recognizable names in nearly every role. Written by showrunner Charlie Brooker and directed by BAFTA-winner John Crowley (Brooklyn), "Beyond the Sea" is set in an alternate version of 1969 and follows two men on a dangerous mission who must face an unimaginable disaster. Perhaps the most star-studded episode of Black Mirror season 6, "Beyond the Sea" is a perfect example of what makes the show so popular. From its ensemble to its retro-futuristic approach to storytelling, few episodes of the anthology series have so perfectly summed up the Black Mirror experience.
Debuting in 2011, Black Mirror immediately made a splash as a modern-day Twilight Zone, complete with anthology-style episodes all about the dangers of technology and its effect on society. With several of Black Mirror's predictions coming true, the series has proved to be more and more prescient with each year since it first began airing. Even though Black Mirror season 6 was delayed for years, the overwhelming popularity of the Netflix exclusive wasn't dulled during the hiatus, and that is due in large part to the brilliant writing and star-packed cast of episodes like "Beyond the Sea."
Aaron Paul As Cliff Stanfield
Emmy-winning actor Aaron Paul leads the cast of Black Mirror's "Beyond the Sea" episode as Cliff Stanfield, one of the two men on the dangerous mission. Paul is best known for playing the character Jesse Pinkman as part of the cast of Breaking Bad, a role he reprised in the spinoff El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie. Paul also performed the lead role of Tobey in the street-racing movie Need for Speed, and he appeared as Francis in the 2009 remake of The Last House on the Left. Paul also lent his voice to the character Gamer691 in the season 4 Black Mirror episode "USS Callister."
Josh Hartnett As David Ross
Joining Cliff Stanfield on the mysterious high-tech mission is David Ross, played in the cast of Black Mirror's "Beyond the Sea" episode by Josh Hartnett. Best remembered for his years as a teen heartthrob in the late '90s and early 2000s, Hartnett played memorable roles such as Zeke in the sci-fi horror film The Faculty and Trip in The Virgin Suicides. He landed several parts in blockbuster epics, and he gained attention for his turns as Danny in Pearl Harbor and Eversman in Black Hawk Down. Notably, Hartnett also played the titular role of Slevin in the action hit Lucky Number Slevin and Eben Oleson in 30 Days of Night.
Kate Mara As Lana Stanfield
One of the many big-name actors confirmed to appear in Black Mirror season 6 is TV mainstay Kate Mara, who plays the role of Lana Stanfield in the cast of "Beyond the Sea." Though her Emmy-nominated role as Zoe Barnes in Netflix's House of Cards was one of her first big claims to fame, Mara also played supporting roles such as Alma Jr. in Brokeback Mountain. Mara later starred as Sue Storm in the ill-fated 2015 Fantastic Four movie, and she appeared as Beth Johanssen in the space epic The Martian.
Auden Thorton As Jessica Ross
Playing a supporting role in the cast of Black Mirror's "Beyond the Sea" episode is Auden Thornton, who appears as Jessica Ross. Working steadily since the 1990s, Thornton first gained attention for her role as Hannah Lang in the thriller film Arlington Road. Thornton is also remembered for her turn as Angie in the independent drama film Beauty Mark, and she portrayed the memorable character of Lena in the Jonah Hill and James Franco true crime vehicle True Story.
Rory Culkin As Kappa
Rory Culkin co-stars in the cast of Black Mirror's "Beyond the Sea" episode as the character Kappa. First acting alongside his brother Macaulay Culkin as the younger version of Richard in The Good Son, Rory Culkin soon broke out in roles of his own when he played the part of Morgan in the M. Night Shyamalan sci-fi horror film Signs. He also starred as Charlie Walker in Scream 4, and he found great success on TV with roles such as Samuel Lafferty in the movie Under the Banner of Heaven and Marcus in the Prime Video series Swarm.