The new trailer for The Actor introduces viewers to a chilling puzzle that questions identity and memory. In a disorienting sequence, Paul Cole (played by André Holland) is confronted by a ticket agent who asks, “What kind of a guy are you, Paul?” It’s not just a moral question—it’s one that underscores Paul’s profound confusion as he wakes up in a strange town, unable to remember his own name or how he got there. His identity is an enigma, and he discovers his name only by glancing at his ID.
The trailer thrusts audiences into the heart of Paul’s disorientation, with fragmented, hazy scenes that lack a clear narrative structure. The team behind the film is no stranger to exploring themes of memory and self-identity. The Actor marks the solo directorial debut of Duke Johnson, who previously co-directed the Academy Award-nominated stop-motion film Anomalisa alongside Charlie Kaufman. Kaufman, the writer behind Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, returns as an executive producer for this project.
Adapted from Donald E. Westlake’s posthumously published 2010 novel Memory, The Actor follows Paul as he tries to rebuild his life from scratch. A synopsis describes how, “Without a sense of identity or purpose, Paul begins courting local costume designer Edna (Gemma Chan).” As fragments of his past surface, Paul struggles to navigate a slippery reality where time is elusive, and the truth about his identity remains uncertain.
The Actor itself has experienced an identity shift. Originally announced in 2021 with Ryan Gosling attached to star and executive produce, the film now features André Holland in the lead role, although Gosling remains an executive producer.
The mystery unravels further when The Actor opens in theaters on March 14, allowing audiences to piece together Paul’s fractured journey.
