Rebecca Ferguson secures Men in Black role and Doctor Sleep villainess role

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Shortly after blowing minds thanks to her part as Ilsa Faust in director Christopher McQuarrie's MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FALLOUT, it's been announced that Rebeca Ferguson has been cast as the female lead opposite Chris Hemsworth in the UNTITLED MEN IN BLACK SPIN-OFF. Helmed by SET IT OFF and FRIDAY director F. Gary Gray, the upcoming film centered around the secret organization who investigates extraterrestrial lifeforms living on planet Earth, is expected to present the finely-suited franchise on a bigger and more global scale. Upon boarding the MIB spin-off, Ferguson will star alongside Tessa Thompson (ANNIHILATION, THOR: RAGNAROK), Liam Neeson (THE GREY, A-TEAM), Emma Thompson (LOVE ACTUALLY, THE REMAINS OF THE DAY), Rafe Spall (THE BIG SHORT, HOT FUZZ), and Kumail Nanjiani (THE BIG SICK, TV's SILICON VALLEY), among others, for what's hoped to be a return to form for the sci-fi fantasy series.

In addition to landing her Men in Black role, it's also being reported by Deadline that Ferguson is now set to play Rose the Hat in director Mike Flanagan's film adaptation of author Stephen King's 2013 novel DOCTOR SLEEP. The aforementioned tale continues a terrifying tale started in King's 1977 classic novel THE SHINING. In DOCTOR SLEEP, Ewan McGregor stars as the grown up Danny Torrence, who years after escaping the horror of the Overlook Hotel, finds that he is still psychologically traumatized by the event. As his mother, Wendy, continues to recover from her injuries, Danny comes to discover that the ghosts of the hotel aren't finished haunting him just yet. Carl Lumbly, Alex Essoe and Zahn McClarnon are also set to play key roles in the upcoming horror film.

According to Deadline, Ferguson’s Rose The Hat is the head of a cult that feeds on the “steam” created by young people who have a touch of the “shining.” That steam escapes as the young people die painfully. Flanagan rewrote Akiva Goldsman’s adaptation of King’s novel that finds Danny in his 40s and struggling with the same demons of anger and alcoholism that plagued his father.

Both projects are being viewed as major vehicles for Ferguson, whose charismatic screen presence is still fresh in the minds of many who enjoyed her captivating performance in MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FALLOUT, which is in theaters now.

The UNTITLED MEN IN BLACK SPIN-OFF is scheduled to hit theaters May 14, 2019. Meanwhile, DOCTOR SLEEP won't be haunting cinemas until January 24, 2020.