Summary

Good Grief, directed by Dan Levy, is a romantic dramedy set for Netflix premiere on Jan. 5, 2024. The story follows Marc, whose life is shattered when his husband and mother die, and his journey towards healing with the help of his friends. Ruth Negga portrays Sophie, one of Marc’s closest friends, while Himesh Patel plays Thomas, Sophie’s ex-boyfriend turned best friend. Luke Evans takes on the role of Oliver, Marc’s husband, and the film features impressive performances from Celia Imrie, Arnaud Valois, David Bradley, and Kaitlyn Dever.

Written and directed by Dan Levy, Good Grief is a romantic dramedy scheduled to make its Netflix premiere on Jan. 5, 2024. The story follows Marc, a man whose life is upended when his husband and mother suddenly die. To help him recover and overcome his losses, Marc turns to his two best friends, Sophie and Thomas, who attempt to boost Marc’s morale by taking him to Paris.

Despite the tragedy that springboards the plot, Good Grief has garnered positive reviews for its superb central performances and stylish appearance. In addition to Levy taking center stage as Marc in the movie, fans are bound to recognize the superb supporting cast from several popular movies and TV shows. Here is the cast and character guide for Good Grief.

Good Grief Release Date January 5, 2024 Rating R Runtime 1h 40m

Dan Levy as Marc Dreyfus
Netflix

Dan Levy plays protagonist Marc Dreyfus in Good Grief. Marc is an artist approaching his 40s whose life shows great promise. Following a holiday party, Marc’s husband Oliver suddenly dies in an unforeseen tragedy. With his world completely shattered, Marc turns to his close friends Sophie and Thomas to help him grieve. Marc also grapples with the death of his mother, which Oliver helped him get over in the past. While venturing to Paris to leave their troubles behind, Marc finds catharsis through friendship.

The son of Eugene Levy, Dan Levy hit his stride when helming several episodes and starring as David Rose in the hit sitcom Schitt’s Creek. Levy has gone on to star in such projects as Haunted Mansion, Sex Education, Happiest Season, The Idol, and more. Good Grief marks Levy’s first time directing a feature film. Given the splendid reviews of the film, fans are bound to see Levy write and direct more projects in the future.

Ruth Negga as Sophie
Netflix

Ruth Negga plays Sophie in the movie. Sophie is one of Marc’s closest friends who joins him on a trip to Paris to help him grieve. Sophie is a self-proclaimed “hot mess” who struggles to get her own life in order. Sophie used to be romantically involved with Thomas, but now the two are mutual friends who direct their energy to help Marc. Sophie is kind, funny, caring, and truly wants to see Marc find happiness in his life.

Negga is a fantastic actor with an eclectic filmography. After starring in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. for five seasons, Negga went on to give a stellar performance in Preacher. In the interim, Negga scored an Oscar nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for her stunning work in the historical drama Loving. Negga has also starred in Warcraft, Ad Astra, and gave a terrific turn in Passing opposite Tessa Thompson.

Himesh Patel as Thomas
Netflix

Himesh Patel portrays Thomas in the film. Thomas is Marc’s close friend and Sophie’s ex-boyfriend turned best friend. Determined to cheer Marc up following his tragic loss, Thomas and Sophie take him to Paris and encourage him to confront his feelings and finally open a Christmas card left by Oliver. In many ways, Thomas and Sophie’s relationship mirrors Marc’s journey of healing and self-discovery.

Patel got his start on the long-running British soap EastEnders before going on to star in such popular movies as Christopher Nolan’s FX-driven movie Tenet, Adam McKay’s Don’t Look Up, and Netflix’s hit mystery series Black Mirror. Patel can also be seen in such TV shows as Damned, The Luminaries, Ten Percent, and Avenue 5. With his profile rapidly increasing, Patel is poised to star in the upcoming TV show The Franchise and feature film, Greedy People.

Luke Evans as Oliver
Netflix

Luke Evans plays Oliver in Good Grief. Oliver is Marc’s husband and an A-list writer behind a fictional Hollywood franchise on par with The Hunger Games. The plot kicks off when Oliver rushes out of a Christmas party for a book signing and gets into a fatal car accident that forces Marc to grapple with his devastating grief. Before dying, Oliver helps Marc heal from his mother’s death and his demise stirs up old feelings that Marc must contend with.

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Evans is an accomplished actor with roughly 50 credits and 20 years of experience. While perhaps best known for playing Shaw in The Fast and Furious franchise and Bard in The Hobbit series, Evans has made his presence felt in everything from Ma and Midway to The Alienist and Nine Perfect Strangers. While typically drawn to physical action roles, it’s nice to see Evans stretch his acting range in a tender romantic dramedy like Good Grief.

Celia Imrie as Imelda
Netflix

Celie Imrie plays a woman named Imelda in the movie. Imelda is Oliver’s literary agent who is responsible for managing his employment opportunities. Imelda also doubles as Marc and Oliver’s accountant, and it’s through her that Marc learns that Oliver secretly owned an apartment in Paris. While the performances have been applauded across the board, Imrie is said to give one of the strongest turns in the film.

Imrie is a veteran performer with over 180 credits in her decorated career. Best known for such enchanting British movies as Calendar Girls, Nanny McPhee, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, and Bridget Jones’s franchise, Imrie recently appeared in the FX drama Better Things, the Netflix rom-com Love Again, and the Netflix political drama The Diplomat.

Arnaud Valois as Theo
Netflix

Arnaud Valois plays a man named Theo in Good Grief. Theo is a sophisticated French art enthusiast whom Marc meets in Paris and uses his vast connections in the city to give him a tour of the city. Theo takes Marc to a warehouse to witness a performance art piece meant to cheer him up. Over time, Theo helps Marc overcome his loss and the two even flirt with kindling a romance.

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Valois is a talented actor best known for such movies as 120 BPM, The Girl on the Train, Spring Blossom, and Lifelines. Valois’ TV credits include LT-21, Moloch, and the upcoming historical drama Kaiser Karl. Valois also wrote and directed the 2021 short film, Le Nouveau Moi, which could mark a transition for the talented storyteller in the future.

David Bradley as Duncan
Network Ireland Television

David Bradley plays Duncan in Good Grief. Duncan is Oliver’s father who is left reeling over the sudden death of his beloved son. In a crucial dramatic moment in the story, Duncan gives a melancholic speech at his son’s funeral that moves the audience to tears and forces Marc to rethink his next move. While brief, Bradley makes the most of his limited screen time as Duncan.

Most famous for playing Argus Filch in the Harry Potter franchise, Bradley is a highly decorated actor with roughly 150 credits to his name. A mainstay in such Edgar Wright movies as Hot Fuzz and The World’s End as well, fans can see Bradley in Doctor Who, Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio, Your Christmas or Mine, Wizards, Trollhunters, Game of Thrones, Broadchucrch, and a whole lot more.

Kaitlyn Dever as Lily Kayne
Hulu

Kaitlyn Dever plays Lily Kayne in the movie. Lily is a superficial actress known for starring as Victoria in the movies based on the novels written by Oliver. Lily appears at Oliver’s funeral to show her support but her presence is more awkward than anything, especially for Marc. Wildly self-absorbed and dressed inappropriately for the occasion, Lily makes Oliver’s funeral all about herself.

Dever is a fast-rising actor who recently starred in the hit Apple TV+ original series Dopesick. In 2023, Dever also appeared in Taika Waititi’s feel-good movie Next Goal Wins and the Hulu horror/Sci-Fi film No One Will Save You. With standout movie credits that include Booksmart, Rosaline, and Dear Evan Hansen, Dever is likely best known for her decade-long performance as Eve Baxter in Last Man Standing.

Stream Good Grief on Netflix from Jan. 5th, 2024.