Summary
- Theo James' recent roles in well-received projects highlight his evolved career.
- James is also known for voice roles, such as in The Witcher universe and Castlevania.
- James shines in projects like "The White Lotus" and "The Gentlemen," showcasing his range and talents.
Theo James has recently been in many well-received movies and TV shows that top his previous work. The 39-year-old English actor got his breakthrough in the Divergent movies, playing the stern instructor of Dauntless initiates, Tobias "Four" Eaton. Since then, James has gone on to star in a litany of films and TV shows, in roles ranging from leading characters to simple voice-over cameos. While not yet a widely recognized performer, some of James' most recent work has shown off his developed acting chops.
Unfortunately, many of James' earliest appearances did not do very well with critics. The Divergent series failed to capture audiences or critics as a young adult novel series on par with Harry Potter or The Hunger Games, leaving much to be desired. Additionally, poorly-reviewed movies like The Inbetweeners Movie, You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger, and the Underworld series didn't give James a great track record. Luckily, his latest roles in lauded projects have proven that James can hold up his end in better films and TV series.
12 Lying And Stealing (2019)
A solid, if unoriginal crime drama
James has great chemistry with co-lead Emily Ratajkowski's femme fatale con artist, but the film's lack of original ideas ultimately holds it back.
A classically-structured heist film, Lying and Stealing may not be the most original entry in Theo James' resume, but it was among the first projects to prove he had what it takes to spearhead a narrative as a lead actor. James stars as Ivan Warding, an art thief taking on one last job before he can pull out of the game for good, hoping to leave behind the adrenaline-fueled world of Los Angeles' high-value crime scene. James has great chemistry with co-lead Emily Ratajkowski's femme fatale con artist, but the film's lack of original ideas ultimately holds it back.
11 Golden Boy (2013)
A police drama with a unique storytelling perspective
Another crime drama, Golden Boy instead tested James' ability to maintain a handle on an entire 13-episode series rather than a feature film. James is given the unwieldy task of playing beat detective Walter Clark throughout multiple stages of his life, the series constantly playing with the passage of time with an unorthodox chronology. As hypnotic as the performances of the cast and the twists and turns of the intricate plot are, Golden Boy's insistence on its fractured timeline keeps it from being one of James' best projects.
10 Dual (2022)
An irreverent dark comedy with strong performances
Dual
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- Director
- Riley Stearns
- Release Date
- April 15, 2022
- Cast
- Theo James , Beulah Koale , Karen Gillan , Aaron Paul
Not to be confused with Stephen Spielberg's first film, Dual is a moody science fiction comedy that tells the story of a young woman who recovers from a seemingly terminal illness only to be confronted by a mysterious doppelgänger. Theo James holds his own against ubiquitous names like Karen Gillan and Aaron Paul, participating in the absurdity of the narrative as Dual sucker-punches its viewers with unexpectedly hilarious developments. While the satire of the film doesn't always quite land, Dual only scratching the surface of its premise is still more entertaining than most films of its ilk.
9 The Witcher: Nightmare Of The Wolf (2021)
A thrilling side quest of The Witcher continuity
The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf
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This animated spinoff of Netflix's successful Witcher series follows the story of Geralt's mentor Vesemir and the events in his life shortly after he himself became a Witcher.
- Director
- Kwang Il Han
- Release Date
- August 23, 2021
- Cast
- Theo James , Lara Pulver , Mary McDonnell , Graham McTavish , Kari Wahlgren
Theo James actually did have a small role in Netflixl's The Witcher, briefly voicing a young version of Vesemir in just a single episode. James got to reprise this role in the animated film The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf, which went on to be even better received than the live-action series. Putting a young Vesemir at the center stage, the animated film managed to put forth a gorgeously animated side story within Geralt's universe. Though largely inconsequential to the greater story, Nightmare of the Wolf works as a self-contained fantasy action story.
The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf was nominated for Best Animated Special Production at the 49th Annie Awards.