Emma Mackey Joins J.J. Abrams' Next Big Film with Jenna Ortega and Glen Powell in a Star-Studded Cast

Rising British actress Emma Mackey has just landed a lead role in J. J. Abrams’ upcoming movie! According to THR, she joins Twisters star Glen Powell and Wednesday actress Jenna Ortega as the third and final lead of the film.

The details of the plot remain under wraps, but at one point, it was speculated to be a time travel flick—a rumor that has since been denied. The script comes from Abrams himself, so it wouldn’t be surprising if the film includes some science-fiction elements. But who knows?

Mackey has quickly made a name for herself as an actress, beginning in 2019 with Sex Education, where she portrayed Maeve Wiley, a role that earned her a BAFTA TV Award nomination. Her first feature film role came in 2020 with The Winter Lake, followed by Eiffel in 2021. A year later, she joined the big leagues in Death on the Nile.

In 2022, Mackey starred as English writer Emily Brontë in the biopic Emily, earning widespread praise for her portrayal of the Wuthering Heights author. Last year, she appeared as physicist Barbie in Barbie, cementing her place among Hollywood’s A-listers.

Currently, Mackey has two movies in post-production, both scheduled for a 2025 release, where she stars as the lead actress. The first is Hot Milk, alongside Vicky Krieps and Fiona Shaw, based on Deborah Levy’s novel. The second is Ella McCay, a comedy written and directed by the legendary James L. Brooks, featuring Woody Harrelson, Ayo Edebiri, and Kumail Nanjiani, among others.

Winning the BAFTA Rising Star Award last year was just the beginning of Mackey’s ascent to stardom, so be sure to keep an eye on her!