Role Play
| Industry | Film distribution |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Film distribution |
| Parent | Amazon |
Role Play is an action comedy film released in 2024, directed by Thomas Vincent, with a screenplay by Seth Owen and production led by Andrew Rona alongside Kaley Cuoco. The cast features Cuoco, David Oyelowo, Rudi Dharmalingam, Connie Nielsen, and Bill Nighy.
The movie was distributed by Amazon MGM Studios and made available on Prime Video starting January 12, 2024.
Plot
Emma balances her life as a devoted wife to Dave and mother of two while secretly operating as a professional assassin. Her frequent “work trips” create tension within the family. When her handler Raj offers a lucrative contract, he cautions her that her former employer, Sovereign, is actively pursuing her.
In an effort to strengthen their relationship, Emma and Dave organize a role-playing weekend at a hotel. However, Emma’s two worlds intersect when Bob Kitterman recognizes her, revealing their mutual involvement in covert work. To prevent blackmail, Emma drugs Bob and then returns to Dave.
Emma alerts Raj that her cover has been blown and travels to Europe under false pretenses. Meanwhile, Dave waits at the airport unaware of the truth until Special Agent Carver from the ITIC informs him that Emma has adopted a new identity as an assassin. Carver searches Emma’s home while Raj picks her up in Germany but is killed during an ambush.
Dave reaches out to Emma in Berlin, determined to assist her. Emma shares her background: raised by her mother who founded Sovereign, she fell in love with Dave and desires to abandon her deadly profession for the sake of their family. Despite this, Sovereign captures them both.
Emma wakes up in a forest facility where Carver holds her children hostage. Carver demands that Emma return to Sovereign and assassinate Dave to ensure their safety. Feigning compliance by pretending to shoot Dave, Emma proceeds to eliminate Carver’s operatives one after another. In their final encounter, Emma wounds Carver fatally but chooses not to kill her outright, letting her succumb to her injuries.
Emma reunites with her family, breaking free from Sovereign’s grip and pursuing a peaceful life.
Production
In July 2020, Role Play, originally a thriller spec script by Seth Owen inspired by George Heller’s concept, was acquired by StudioCanal and The Picture Company, with producers Alex Heineman and Andrew Rona attached. By July 2021, Kaley Cuoco entered talks to star and produce through her company, Yes, Norman Productions, alongside Heineman and Rona. Thomas Vincent was confirmed as director in October 2021, with Cuoco also confirmed as lead actress and producer.
In June 2022, David Oyelowo was cast opposite Cuoco as her husband. Initially, Billy Bob Thornton was set to play an enigmatic stranger but withdrew due to scheduling conflicts; he was replaced by Bill Nighy in July. That same month saw Connie Nielsen join the cast.
Principal filming commenced in July 2022 at Babelsberg Studio located in Berlin, Germany.
Release
By June 2022, Amazon Prime Video finalized agreements to distribute the film across the United States and several international territories. Role Play officially premiered on the streaming platform on January 12, 2024.
Reception
Dennis Harvey of Variety remarked that Thomas Vincent’s direction combined with Seth Owen’s screenplay maintains a lighthearted tone that facilitates audience connection with the protagonist despite her ethically complex nature.
External links
- Role Play available on Amazon Prime Video (US)
- Articles with short description
- American action comedy films
- French action comedy films
- German action comedy films
- Babelsberg Studio productions
- Films filmed in Berlin
- StudioCanal productions
- Amazon MGM Studios productions
- Amazon Prime Video original movies
- Yes, Norman Productions projects
- English-language action comedies
- English-language French films
- English-language German films
- Films directed by Thomas Vincent
- StudioCanal films