Dev Patelseems to be setting Hollywood ablaze right now. His directorial debut film,Monkey Man, has received rave reviews from critics. Not only did Dev Patel directMonkey Man, but he also co-wrote and starred in the film as the eponymous hero. Patel’s unwavering passion for the film is conveyed in every single interview leading up to its hotly anticipated release.
Dev Patel has had an amazing career so far. Despite no formal training outside a GCSE in drama, Patel has established himself as one of the best British actors working today. His filmography is incredibly diverse, ranging in genres, locations, and tones. Here’s how Dev Patel’s career led up to the creation ofMonkey Man.
Dev Patel’s First Major Role Was in Skins
Skinsis still regarded as one of the best coming-of-age British comedy series ever made. Its status as a show is hailed alongside otherBritish comedy classicslikeShameless,Misfits,Fresh Meat, andThe Inbetweeners. Like many British comedies, it also spawned an American remake. Although, like most attempts at remaking British comedies, it wasn’t well received by critics or audiences and was canceled after its first season. Despite its appearance as a comedy,Skinsalso tackled realistic and heavy subject matter. Some of the show’s most emotional plot lines explored drug use, teen pregnancy, suicide, mental illness, and gender.
Skinsfollowed a group of teenagersgrowing up in Bristol. The show featured a unique premise of replacing its cast every two seasons, asSkinsfollowed its characters through Sixth-Form (the UK equivalent of 12th and 13th grade). Dev Patel played Anwar in the show’s first two seasons. Anwar was a young Muslim struggling to commit to the tenets of his religion. Add to that his raging hormones and social awkwardness, and Anwar was the epitome of many young teenage boys. Perhaps the most relatable aspect of Anwar’s character was his constant worry that his friends didn’t actually like him, a fear that almost every single teenager can relate to at some stage.
FollowingSkins, Dev Patel’s career skyrocketed. He followed the hit British series with a starringrole in director Danny Boyle’smulti-Oscar-winningSlumdog Millionaire. Patel played a teenager from the Mumbai slums who gets the opportunity to appear on ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati?’ (Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?). But the producers quickly accuse him of cheating when the questions unexpectedly relate to his harrowing youth. Patel’s incredible performance is elevated by the knowledge thatSlumdog Millionaireis only his second proper acting job.
SinceSlumdog Millionaire, Dev Patel’s most acclaimed role was in the 2016 dramaLion. Dev Patel played a man who returns to India to find his long-lost family after being adopted by an Australian couple as a child. Patel’s performance was atour de forceand earned the London-born actor his first Oscar nomination. However, his entire career has been filled with stand-out performances. Patel starred in numerous episodes of the Emmy-winning dramaThe Newsroom. He also featured in bothThe Best Exotic Marigold Hotelmovies as well as the BAFTA-nominatedThe Personal History of David Copperfield.
James Bond Fans Are Calling for Monkey Man Star Dev Patel to Be Next 007
Following his first action movie lead in Monkey Man, James Bond fans think they’ve found the next 007 in Dev Patel.
In betweenSlumdog MillionaireandLion, Dev Patel was given the opportunity to star in another major franchise. Dev Patel played Prince Zuko inM. Night Shyamalan’s pannedAvatar: The Last Airbendermovie. While Patel’s performance wasn’t bad, the film was criticized for numerous reasons, including boring action, unnecessary changes to the original show, and whitewashed casting. Like the rest of the world, Dev Patel has likely tried to forget his role in the movie. Luckily, Dev Patel has redeemed himself in the eyes of action fans and went on to star in some fantastic action movies.
Dev Patel Has Appeared in the Action Genre Before Monkey Man
Monkey Man
Read Our Review
Monkey Manis Dev Patel’s most direct dive into the action genre. However, he has starred in the genre several times over his career. His first action-centric role was inNeill Blomkamp’sChappiealongside Hugh Jackman. The role didn’t give Patel too much action to work with directly, but it helped him to establish his roots in the genre.
Dev Patel then had a starring role in the harrowing and extremely underratedHotel Mumbai. The film tells the true story of the Taj Hotel terrorist attack in Mumbai in 2008. Dev Patel plays one of the hotel’s staff members, who famously worked to evacuate the guests to safety despite risking their own lives.
Dev Patel’s most significant role in an action film (if you would classify it as one) is in A24’sThe Green Knight. Based on the Arthurian Legend, Dev Patel plays Sir Gaiwan, who sets out on a dangerous quest to kill the eponymous Green Knight after accepting his challenge. The film is thrilling and visually stunning and features one ofPatel’s best performancesto date.
While they all differ significantly from the pure violence ofMonkey Man, Dev Patel’s previous action roles have given him the necessary experience to push through a 10-year production schedule and get his passion project made. Fans hope his latest film marks the start of a new action franchise helmed by Dev Patel.Monkey Manis in theaters now.
