John Boyega’s bona fides as a dramatic actor are well established, but he proves that he can crush any genre in They Cloned Tyrone –– a mashup of sci-fi thriller, ’70s Blaxploitation comedy and wiggy gonzo caper. Boyega stars as a drug dealer who stumbles onto an alarming conspiracy in his urban neighborhood and eventually goes on a dangerous mission to bring it light. “John’s perfect because he brings such an acerbic wit and a warmth to the character and more than what was on the page,” writer-director Juel Taylor told Netflix earlier this year.
Of course, Boyega can’t save his city alone. He’ll need some star-studded help for that — namely, Jamie Foxx and Teyonah Parris. “Teyonah I’ve loved since Mad Men. She’s got the perfect blend,” Taylor said about casting the film. “Jamie was like a pie in the sky. When we were talking about it way back when, I was like, ‘Man, somebody like Jamie would kill this.’ And he did.”
You can meet more of the passengers on Taylor’s wild ride below, and stream They Cloned Tyrone on Netflix on July 21.
John Boyega
Who he plays: Fontaine, a drug dealer who discovers the government is conducting experiments on people in his neighborhood.
What to know: Boyega has said that filming Tyrone was the best time he’s ever had on a set, thanks to a family vibe fostered by co-stars Teyonah Parris and Jamie Foxx cracking jokes and improvising the whole time.
What he thought the first time he read the script: “It was a breath of fresh air, and at the same time something so unique and nuanced. Coming from the world of Attack the Block, I could sniff that something was coming. I knew we were going to start with a very basic world where we know how it runs and the crazy is just going to get amped up more and more.”
Where you’ve seen him: The Star Wars films, The Woman King and his Golden Globe-winning turn in Small Axe.
Where to follow: Instagram and Twitter
Jamie Foxx
Who he plays: Slick Charles, a cunning pimp always a few steps ahead of the ops.
What to know: The Oscar-winning actor set the tone for a fun shoot by inviting the cast to his house to get to know each other; he even performed stand-up for fans who gathered to watch them filming.
What he has to say about Slick Charles: “Slick isn’t so slick anymore, but you can see how at one time he was on top of the world — ‘The International Players Ball champion of 1995!’ But he’s getting tired of the game and facing an existential crisis. He can’t help getting caught up in the action once he finds out about the conspiracy.”
Where you’ve seen him: Collateral, Ray, Django Unchained, Day Shift and his Netflix series Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!
Where to follow: Instagram and Twitter
Teyonah Parris
Who she plays: Yo-Yo, a sex worker with big dreams.
What to know: Parris’ first big breakout role was playing Don Draper’s secretary, Dawn, on Mad Men –– the show’s first significant Black character.
What she has to say about Nancy Drew: “I do like to solve mysteries, and I have been a fan of Nancy Drew since I was younger! I had her collection. So when I came on set and I actually saw it in hand, that was hilarious, that definitely brought back memories.”
Where you’ve seen her: If Beale Street Could Talk, Candyman, WandaVision.
Where to follow: Instagram and Twitter
Who he plays: A scoundrel who presents a formidable challenge for Fontaine, Slick and Yo-Yo.
What to know: Sutherland’s full name is actually Kiefer William Frederick Dempsey George Rufus Sutherland, and he has released three country music albums.
Where you’ve seen him: The Lost Boys, A Few Good Men, 24, Designated Survivor.
Where to follow: Twitter, Instagram and TikTok
Who he plays: A flamboyant preacher with a big secret.
What to know: Grier is a Shakespearean actor who started on Broadway; he was in the original Dreamgirls in 1981 with Sheryl Lee Ralph and Jennifer Holliday.
Where you’ve seen him: In Living Color, The Carmichael Show, The Wiz Live!
Where to follow: Twitter and Instagram
Who he plays: Issac, a nefarious neighborhood character.
What to know: Nicholson is not only a veteran stage actor, but also a percussionist who played the buckets in the New York City subways. He occasionally still does it on the streets of his new home, Los Angeles, too!
Where you’ve seen him: P-Valley, Just Mercy, the White Men Can’t Jump remake.
Where to follow: Twitter and Instagram
Who she plays: Biddy, Yo-Yo’s colleague who becomes a spy.
What to know: Perry did theater in her hometown, Chicago, while working as a recruiter for a big retail company, but got let go for a “lack of passion.” That turned out to be for the best: it pushed her toward her real passion, acting.
Where you’ve seen her: Bosch, How to Get Away with Murder, The Good Fight.
Where to follow: Instagram and Twitter
Who he plays: Big Moss, Fontaine’s right-hand man.
What to know: Robinson is also a writer and spoken-word artist; he has a degree in criminal justice and has taught acting and public speaking.
Where you’ve seen him: Power Book II: Ghost.
Where to follow: Instagram
