Firestarter 2022 Cast & Character Guide

Firestarter 2022 Cast & Character Guide

The 2022 remake of Stephen King’s Firestarter, directed by Keith Thomas, features a cast of veteran actors and brand-new young talent. The film is the newest adaptation of Stephen King’s 1980 novel, with the book having previously been made into a 1984 movie that starred a young Drew Barrymore. While the original film didn’t resonate with audiences, a remake couldn’t come at a better time as superhero movies dominate the box office. It takes the idea of a child with mutant-like powers and puts it in a dark, rated-R film.

The film’s premise revolves around a young girl named Charlie who has pyrokinetic capabilities. Her parents, Andy and Vicky, have been on the run, desperate to hide their daughter from a secret government agency that wishes to capture and control her. Andy has taught Charlie how to control her powers, which are triggered by pain and anger, but it becomes more challenging to manage as she gets older.

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Related: How Firestarter Can Avoid Pet Sematary’s Stephen King Remake Mistakes

Firestarter will debut on the Peacock streaming platform and in select theaters on Friday, May 13th. When it does, the sci-fi horror film has an exceptional cast to bring Stephen King’s novel to life, capturing its emotional and harrowing story. Here’s a complete guide to Firestarter 2022’s cast of characters, the actors who portray them, and where audiences have seen them before.

Ryan Kiera Armstrong as Charlene “Charlie” McGee

Charlie

Ryan Kiera Armstong plays Firestarter’s main character, Charlie, a young girl with several powers including telekinesis, telepathy, and pyrokinesis. After an unfortunate accident involving her fire-starting abilities, Charlie is hunted by a secret government organization her parents have tried to shield her from, known as The Shop. Though young, Ryan Kiera Armstrong’s movie and TV roles are already significant. She’s starred in movies such as It Chapter Two and The Tomorrow War and the TV series America Horror Story and Anne with an E.

Zac Efron as Andrew “Andy” McGee

Andy

Zac Efron plays Charlie’s father, Andy. During college, he and his wife took part in a seemingly above-board experiment by Dr. Wanless, receiving a dose of a serum that endowed him with telepathic abilities. In the present day, he has done everything in his power to hide and protect his family from The Shop, which wants to capture his daughter to experiment on and use as a weapon of mass destruction. Zac Efron evolved into a great actor in his post-Disney career. He has starred in movies such as Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, The Greatest Showman, and That Awkward Moment.

Sydney Lemmon as Victoria “Vicky” Tomlinson-McGee

Vicky

Sydney Lemmon plays Charlie’s mother, Vicky. Like her husband, she also participated in Dr. Wanless’ experimentation, which granted her telekinetic and mind-reading abilities. While Andy wants Charlie to suppress her powers, Vicky believes they should be training her to use them properly, claiming, “Our responsibility is getting her ready.” Sydney Lemmon is best known to American audiences for playing Ana Helstrom in the TV series Helstrom. She also has a recurring role on Fear the Walking Dead.

Related: Why Helstrom Was Dead On Arrival (Thanks To Marvel)

Kurtwood Smith as Dr. Joseph Wanless

Dr. Wanless

Dr. Joseph Wanless is the lead scientist for a secret government organization known as The Shop, which is attempting to create superhumans to use as weapons. Kurtwood Smith is most recognizable for his role as Red Forman in That 70s Show and will be reprising his role in That 70s Show sequel, That 90s Show, coming out later this year. His better-known movies include A Time to Kill, Deep Impact, and Girl, Interrupted.

Gloria Rueben as Captain Hollister

Captain Hollister

Captain Hollister is the leader of The Shop and serves as the film’s catalyzing antagonist. Gloria Rueben has appeared in the TV series Mr. Robot and Cloak & Dagger. However, she’s best known for her role on ER, where she earned two Emmy nominations for her work as Dr. Jeanie Boulet. Moviegoing audiences might recognize her from her roles in Lincoln or Timecop.

Michael Greyeyes as John Rainbird

Rainbird

Rainbird is a Native American war vet who works as an assassin for The Shop and serves as Firestarter’s main villain. When Andy and his family prove hard to track, they send Rainbird to hunt them down and bring Charlie in–no matter what. Michael Greyeyes has appeared in TV series such as Fear the Walking Dead, True Detective, Rutherford Falls, and Home Before Dark.

Firestarter 2022 Supporting Cast & Characters

Firestarter Supporting

Tina Jung as Ms. Gardner: Ms. Gardner is one of Charlie’s teachers. Tina Jung has guest-starred in several popular TV series such as Suits and The Expanse. The actress also played Joy in the Kim’s Convenience spinoff, Strays.

John Beasley as Irv Manders: Irv is a farmer who assists the McGee family when they are on the run. John Beasley is most recognizable for his roles in the TV shows Everwood and The Soul Man. He also had a guest appearance in The Mandalorian in Chapter 1 as The Bartender, alongside Pedro Pascal’s Din Djarin.

Hannan Younis as Daria Gurney: Younis has appeared in the TV series What We Do in the Shadows and TallBoyz.

Gavin Maciver-Wright as Gavin: Gavin Maciver-Wright has appeared in several children’s shows, including Old Squad on PBS, and the young actor also voices Max on Max & Ruby.

Lanette Ware as Principal Lewis:  Lanette Ware plays Charlie’s school principal. The actress has also appeared in Bad Company, Shaft, and Music and Lyrics.

Sheila Boyd as Esmerelda “Essi” Manders: Sheila Boyd has guest-starred in several TV series, including Clarice, Suits, and Goosebumps.

Jamilah Ross as Officer Pierce: Jamilah Ross has guest-starred in TV series including The Handmaid’s Tale and Chucky. The actress also played several roles in Baroness Von Sketch Show.

Danny Waugh as Officer Perry: Before his work in Firestarter, Danny Waugh has guest-starred in a number of sci-fi series, including The Expanse and Star Trek: Discovery.

Next: Every Stephen King Movie Ranked, From Worst To Best

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