Chris Hemsworth’s Kockroach Is Already Turning Heads

Although Matt Ross has directed only two feature-length films so far, his experience appears substantial enough to earn him the opportunity to helm a third project featuring a high-profile ensemble cast, a challenge he is expected to handle with intelligence and confidence.

According to Deadline, Chris Hemsworth (Avengers: Doomsday) and Taron Egerton (Carry On) star in his next crime-thriller film, Kockroach, which has just wrapped filming in Australia.​

Other cast members include Rachel Sennott, Zazie Beetz, Alec Baldwin, and Brian Geraghty. Matt Ross directed the screenplay by Jonathan Ames (You Were Never Really Here). Ross himself edited the script.​

The production crew includes Andrew Lazar (American Sniper) and Christina Weiss Lurie (Persuasion). Black Bear has taken rights for its international distribution. Hemsworth shared the first-look images:​

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Chris Hemsworth (@chrishemsworth)

Although the images are black-and-white, the text does not specify whether it would be an entirely black-and-white film. Filmmakers haven’t indicated whether Kockroach has been filmed entirely in monochrome.

Such posts are often used for promotional purposes to create a specific mood or maintain an air of mystery around the project. However, if the film does embrace a black-and-white aesthetic, it could significantly shape the audience’s expectations.​

It could give noir-inspired vibes to viewers, lending the story a gritty, timeless quality with an emphasis on darker supernatural elements. While cinephiles may appreciate the stylistic choice, mainstream audiences might not be in favor, as they often gravitate toward visually vibrant productions.  

Taron Egerton’s impact on Kockroach

Another captivating side of the project is Taron Egerton’s presence. After trying a darker and morally ambiguous character in Apex (2026), his presence could bring a compelling edge to Kockroach. He is widely known for charismatic and heroic performances, but his acting in Apex has been widely compared to that of James McAvoy in Split (2016).​

His chemistry with Hemsworth could become one of the film’s major strengths, creating dynamic confrontations that elevate the narrative, no matter if he plays an ally, rival, or antagonist. Egerton is now apt enough to balance charm and menace that could prove useful for the criminal empire movie, as his convincing villainous streak could contribute to its atmosphere.  ​

What is Chris Hemsworth’s Kockroach about?​

Based on William Lashner’s novel, the story is set in New York and follows a mysterious stranger who takes on the city as a larger-than-life gangster boss. The city’s criminal underworld is in his control, as this is a place where power is all that matters.​

It is also reported that since the novel itself is based on Franz Kafka’s story Metamorphosis, in which a man wakes up to know that he has been transformed into a cockroach. Hemsworth’s film would also include this fun angle with some gory supernatural elements. Seeing a cockroach turn into a gangster would be a bizarre yet fascinating twist that audiences might have witnessed in years.

Hemsworth’s post also confirms that it would be an insanely entertaining film, as he told that the project had “one hell of a wild script.” The blend of dark humor, crime drama, and supernatural horror is certainly exciting, as the absurdity of the premise creates an unusual intrigue.​

It would also be another level of interest when a cockroach rises to be a human and gradually becomes capable enough to become the greatest gangster and take the city by storm with power. This is a unique genre mix that is both unsettling and engaging. If executed well, the film could balance laughs, thrills, and horror while offering a fresh spin on the classic transformation tale that inspired it.