Chris Rock Returns to Directing With Dark Hollywood Drama ‘Misty Green’

Chris Rock has returned to directing after a decade-long break with Misty Green, a drama that explores the darker realities of Hollywood while allowing the comedian to step outside the style audiences may normally expect from him.

Rock spoke about the film on Sunday, a day after its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. Despite the serious themes explored in the movie, the actor and filmmaker said the project should not be seen as a sign that he plans to move permanently towards darker material.

“I’m always going to be a comedian,” Rock said.

He added that his next film could take an entirely different direction, explaining that it could be “super gritty” or “really silly” depending on the story he wants to tell.

Misty Green stars Rosalind Eleazar of Slow Horses as a once-successful actor whose career has fallen into difficulty. Her character is a hard-partying performer who is struggling financially, facing eviction from her apartment and urgently needs to secure another acting job.

Although the film contains plenty of humour, its overall tone is considerably more serious, examining issues including institutional racism, substance abuse and the dangers and pressures that can come with fame in Hollywood.

Rock said he wanted the opportunity to explore something different rather than repeatedly making the same type of film.

“I shouldn’t have to do the same thing every time,” he said on the red carpet before the film’s premiere.

“Let’s see what Chris Rock’s drama looks like.”

The film has already attracted strong critical attention, with Variety describing Misty Green as the “best movie about Hollywood in years”.

Eleazar has also received praise for her leading performance. The British actor stars alongside an established cast that includes Adam Driver, Anna Kendrick and Rock himself.

Despite taking the central role, Eleazar admitted that she initially worried her involvement could discourage other major actors from joining the project.

“There are lots of bigger names than me that could have taken this part,” she said.

She privately feared that other actors might look at her casting and decide she was “not big enough” for the role or that appearing in the film would not be worthwhile.

Kendrick, who became widely known after appearing alongside George Clooney in Up in the Air before gaining further success through the Pitch Perfect franchise, plays Misty’s friend.

She revealed that she was initially uncertain about whether Rock’s vision for the film would work. During her first conversation with the director, Kendrick told him there was something about the project she could not yet see, but she trusted that he could.

After seeing the finished movie, however, Kendrick said she had been convinced by the result and praised its unusual combination of comedy and drama.

She described the film as being similar to what it might look like if Woody Allen and David Lynch had been combined, calling it a story with something “really deep and twisted” at its core.

Misty Green also represents Rock’s return to directing after his 2014 film Top Five, which followed a successful comedian attempting to change direction and establish himself as a dramatic actor.

Rock said he believes his filmmaking has continued to improve with each project. However, he remains unwilling to predict what type of film he will make next.

“My films have gotten progressively better,” he said, while making clear that he does not intend to restrict himself to one particular genre.

“I’m not going to lock myself into anything.”