Oscar Winner Kenneth Branagh’s Wildest Role Yet: An Anatomically Accurate Goblin in A24 Comedy

Kenneth Branagh voicing an anatomically correct goblin for A24? Did not have that on my bingo card, but here we are, and honestly, I kind of love the chaos.

Branagh is the goblin. Literally.

Per the new project, Branagh will lend his voice to the title creature in 'Goblin', an A24 buddy comedy that marks the feature debut of filmmaker David Mikalson. Plot specifics are locked up for now, but the vibe is being pitched as a mash-up of a foul-mouthed hangout movie and a heartfelt alien-kid classic.

"Think 'Ted' meets 'E.T.'"

Here is the curveball that actually makes this thing feel real: the goblin will be a practical puppet. Not CG. A puppet. And yes, it will be anatomically correct. That little detail is either hilarious or terrifying, depending on your tolerance for gremlin anatomy jokes.

How this got made (fast)

Mikalson dropped out of film school, went all-in on shorts, and cooked up this ridiculous buddy-comedy concept about a goblin. He started shooting a small proof-of-concept to show the tone, and before that could even become a calling-card short, A24 jumped in and put up about $6 million to make the feature. That is quick.

One more delightful oddity: Mikalson reportedly commissioned a celebratory cake from Marc Gravelle at Cake Art in West Hollywood and gave it to his reps as a thank-you for helping push the movie over the finish line. As far as Hollywood rituals go, that one is sweet and extremely on brand for a movie about a puppet goblin.

On the human side of the buddy duo, 'Superman' actor Skyler Gisondo is circling the lead role as the goblin's pal. Not signed, but the interest is real.

Branagh stays busy (and varied)

Branagh has eight Oscar nominations across seven different categories and finally grabbed a win in 2021 for Best Original Screenplay with 'Belfast'. The man does not sit still.

Next up, he is set to pop into 'The Devil Wears Prada 2' as the husband to Meryl Streep's icy magazine titan, Miranda Priestly. That pairing alone feels like it could generate its own weather system.

Also on Branagh's slate: The Thomas Crown Affair

Branagh is part of Michael B. Jordan's new take on 'The Thomas Crown Affair'. Jordan is starring as a thrill-seeking banking executive who moonlights as a meticulous art-and-money thief. He is also directing, from a screenplay by Drew Pearce. The romantic cat-and-mouse here is between Crown and the insurance investigator tracking him, which recently had a mid-production casting switch-up: Taylor Russell exited two weeks into filming and Adria Arjona stepped in.

• Michael B. Jordan: star (Thomas Crown) and director
• Kenneth Branagh: in the ensemble (role under wraps)
• Adria Arjona: the insurance investigator (replacing Taylor Russell)
• Lily Gladstone, Danai Gurira, Pilou Asbaek, Aiysha Hart: co-starring

So yes, in the span of a year or so, Branagh is voicing a possibly raunchy puppet, playing opposite Miranda Priestly at home, and joining Jordan's glossy heist romance. Range is range.