The first look at Chris Hemsworth’s next movie is here, and the premise is even stranger than fans expected.
Hemsworth plays a cockroach that transforms into a human and claws his way up as a New York gangster in Kockroach, and it likely explains the dramatic transformation that had fans talking.
The First Look At Kockroach
Deadline revealed the exclusive first-look images of Hemsworth and co-star Taron Egerton in the crime thriller, which has wrapped filming in Australia.
The photos show Hemsworth in a lean, period-styled look — a world away from his muscular Thor physique — fitting the movie’s gritty, mid-century gangster setting.
Hemsworth also shared image on social media.
What Is Kockroach About?
Here’s where it gets wild. Kockroach is based on the novel by William Lashner, which is itself a re-imagining of Franz Kafka’s classic Metamorphosis, except flipped.
Where Kafka’s story is about a man who wakes up transformed into a giant insect, according to Deadline, Kockroach reverses it: Hemsworth plays a cockroach that transforms into a human and rises to take over New York’s criminal underworld, becoming a larger-than-life boss in a city where power is everything.
Per Deadline, there’s “a fun and gory supernatural element” to the film as Hemsworth’s character morphs from cockroach into gangster.
So this isn’t a straightforward period crime drama, it’s a darkly comic, supernatural gangster story with a Kafka backbone.
The Kockroach Cast
Hemsworth and Egerton lead an eclectic ensemble. The cast also includes Zazie Beetz, Alec Baldwin, Rachel Sennott, and Brian Geraghty.
The film is directed by Matt Ross, working from a screenplay by Jonathan Ames (You Were Never Really Here) with revisions by Ross. Andrew Lazar (American Sniper) and Christina Weiss Lurie produce, with Black Bear handling international rights.
This Explains Hemsworth’s Transformation
The first look also likely clears up the speculation around Hemsworth’s appearance.
When Hemsworth shared wrap photos showing a much leaner frame, it sparked talk about his future as Thor ahead of Avengers: Secret Wars.
As the Kockroach first look seems to confirm, the slimmed-down look was for this role, a dramatic, character-driven part far removed from the Marvel superhero build, much like his transformation for In the Heart of the Sea.
When Will Kockroach Be Released?
Kockroach has wrapped filming but does not yet have a confirmed release date. Given the film just finished production, a 2027 release window is likely, though nothing official has been announced.
