The Snowpiercer cast is comprised of familiar faces from popular films and TV series. A post-apocalyptic, dystopian thriller airing on TNT, Snowpiercer is based upon the French graphic novels published in the United States by Titan Comics and it's produced by Academy Award-winning director of Parasite, Bong Joon-ho, who also helmed the 2013 movie adaptation. However, the Snowpiercer TV series is set in a different continuity than the film.
After an environmental cataclysm freezes the Earth and killed nearly every living thing on the planet, a few thousand survivors take refuge aboard the Snowpiercer, 1001-car mega-train that will circumnavigate the world indefinitely. The train was designed and built by the enigmatic billionaire Mr. Wilford and it was meant to only house privileged and wealthy ticket holders. However, before its departure, a group of desperate refugees stormed the train and boarded its tail section. The "Tailies" now also live in desperate poverty aboard Snowpiercer, which is strictly divided by a rigid class system that is brutally enforced, as the threat of revolution by the Tail section is omnipresent.
As a TV series (which has already been renewed for a second season), Snowpiercer is expanding the universe far beyond the story of the 2013 film. TNT's Snowpiercer is filled with an eclectic group of characters and the cast will continue to grow as more passengers are introduced. However, here are the most important people to know in Snowpiercer season 1:
Jennifer Connelly as Melanie Cavill - The head of Hospitality, Melanie is the Voice of the Train and she directly answers to the mysterious Mr. Wilford. Connelly starred in Requiem for a Dream, Alita: Battle Angel, and she will next be seen in Top Gun: Maverick.
Daveed Diggs as Andre Layton - A former police detective, Layton is one of the Tailies from the rear of the train who is reluctantly recruited to solve a murder. Diggs starred in Hamilton, Velvet Buzzsaw, and Black-ish.
Mickey Sumner as Bess Till - As a Brakeman, Bess is part of the train's security force but she strives to become a detective herself. Sumner is a British actress who appeared in Frances Ha and Marriage Story.
Alison Wright as Ruth Wardell - Ruth works for Melanie in Hospitality and has the unenviable job of quelling resistance in the tail section. Wright is best known for her starring role in The Americans.
Iddo Goldberg as Bennett Knox - Bennett is one of Snowpiercer's original designers and knows all of the train's secrets. Goldberg is an Israeli-British actor who appeared in Supergirl and Westworld.
Susan Park as Jinju Seong - Jinju is the finest chef on the train, which makes her one of Snowpiercer's elite passengers. Park has appeared in Fresh Off The Boat and Hawaii Five-0.
Katie McGuinness as Josie Wellstead - Josie is one of Layton's close friends in the Tail section who cares for her sick husband and young son. McGuinness has appeared in Roots and The Borgias.
Sam Otto as John Osweiller - A former soccer player, "Oz" is now one of the Brakemen on the train. Otto is a British actor who has starred in The Flood and Collateral.
Sheila Vand as Zarah Ferami - Zarah is Layton's former lover who abandoned the Tail section and Andre for a better life in Third Class. Vand is an Iranian-American actress who starred in Argo and Triple Frontier.
Mike O'Malley as Roche - Roche is the chief of the Brakemen who resents Layton being asked to solve a murder. O'Malley has appeared in Parks and Recreation and My Name Is Earl.
Annalise Basso as LJ Folger - A First Class passenger who likes to ruffle the feathers of her mother, who is a corporate lawyer. Basso appeared in Constantine and Slender Man.
Jaylin Fletcher as Miles - Miles is a young boy who lives in the Tail section who could get an apprenticeship and move up the train. Fletcher appeared in Clickbait and Coop and Cami Ask The World.