It’s time to buckle up and take off withKevin Hartand his all-star crew as theyset out on a dangerous heist.Liftfollows the story of Cyrus Whitaker, a master thief who gets blackmailed by his ex, Abby, who also happens to be an Interpol agent, to pull off an impossible heist to prevent a terrorist attack. The deal is that if he can get the job done right, he and his friends will be cleared of all crimes. And so, Cyrus rounds up his team of international thieves and plans to steal $500 million worth of gold on a passenger flight. But it must be while the plane is in midair. Sounds impossible? It probably does, but Cyrus and his quirky team might just be able to pull this off. Or will they?
Liftis directed byF. Gary Gray, a filmmaker known for previously directing films likeSet if Off,The Italian Job,The Fate of The Furious, andStraight Outta Compton, making him a director well-experienced at handling high-stakes. So, we can rest assured that Lift would also be equally adrenaline-packed and exciting, as far as themarketing shows. The star-studded, action-comedy is led by Kevin Hart and boasts a diverse cast. A Netflix original,Liftcomes as a part of a multi-year deal between Hart and the streaming service, so we can expect to see more projects from the comedy star. Meanwhile, as the action comedy has now landed on the streaming service, let’s find out more about Cyrus and his diverse crew, one thief at a time.
An international heist crew, led by Cyrus Whitaker (Kevin Hart), race to lift $500 million in gold from a passenger plane at 40,000 feet. - Netflix
Kevin Hart as Cyrus Whitaker
Cyrus is a professional thief, a seasoned criminal, and the mastermind of the heist team. However, the heist is not his brainchild as he gets blackmailed into working for the government. His ex, Abby, convinces him about a deal where Cyrus and his teammates can trade off prison time in exchange for stealing millions of dollars worth of gold from a plane during mid-flight. Cyrus' ability to put his team together so quickly with a heist of this kind goes to say that he must be a good team leader.
The master thief is played by Emmy-nominated actor-comedian, Kevin Hart, in a role that is right up his alley. Hart is no newbie to playing such characters, especially those that combine action, comedy, and daring adventures, which we have seen in movies likeCentral IntelligenceandThe Man from Toronto. In his acting career of nearly 25 years, Hart is most recognized for his stand-up specials likeLet Me Explain,Laugh at My Pain, andZero F**ks Given, as well as films likeThe Wedding Ringer,The Upside,Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, and its sequelJumanji: The Next Level. He is also known for hosting several television specials and comedy shows and starred in the Roku seriesDie Hartand the Netflix limited seriesTrue Story. The actor is next set to appear in thesci-fi action flick,Borderlands, based on the popular video game franchise, and the Peacock limited seriesFight Night.
Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Abby Gladwell
Abby Gladwell is an Interpol agent who also happens to be Cyrus’s ex-girlfriend. She most likely uses her history to get through to Cyrus and convince him to take up the heist job. Although a tad reluctant at first, she manages to cajole him into stealing $500 million of gold from a 777-passenger flight from London to Zurich, to prevent a terrorist attack. But Abby makes sure that Cyrus and his team remain under her supervision, most probably because she still doesn’t trust her ex.
BAFTA-nominated actress,Gugu Mbatha-Rawplays the character of Abby Gladwell. She isbest known for her rolesin television shows likeBlack Mirror, which earned her critical acclaim, as well as forThe Morning Show,Doctor Who, andUndercovers. Her prominent film roles includeBelle,Motherless Brooklyn,A Wrinkle in Time, andMisbehavior. She starred asRavonna Renslayer in both seasons of Marvel’sLokiand played the lead role in the Apple TV+ seriesSurface. Her next projects include playing the title role in the biopicSeacoleand the thrillerNobody’s Heart.
Vincent D’Onofrio as Denton
Denton is a close friend of Cyrus and an important member of his crew. A master of disguise, Denton always seems to have some trick up his sleeve.
Emmy-nominated actor,Vincent D’Onofriostars as Denton. The television and film actor is most recognized for portraying thesupervillain Wilson Fisk in Marvel’sDaredevil, a role he reprised inHawkeyeand most recently inEcho. His other prominent television roles includeLaw & Order: Criminal Intent,Emerald City, andGodfather of Harlem. The actor also appeared in films likeFull Metal Jacket,Jurassic World,Men in Black, andThe Unforgivable. D’Onofrio will return as Wilson Fisk in the upcoming revival ofDaredevil,Daredevil: Born Again, slated for 2025.
Úrsula Corberó as Camila
You have heard of a getaway driver, but have you heard of a getaway pilot? Meet Camila, the team’s wheelwoman, and getaway ride. She is whip-smart, but that doesn’t mean she is ready to fly a private jet at 40,000 feet above the ground. And yet, she sticks to her job and does her best to handle a 777, even if it means nosediving when she doesn’t know what else to do.
Money HeiststarUrsula Corberoplays the role of Camila. Her character inLiftresonates with her award-winning, critically acclaimedportrayal of Tokyo/Silene Oliveira, a professional thief in the hit Netflix series. BesidesMoney Heist, the Spanish actress is best known for her work in films likeThe Tree of Bloodand the TV series,Isabel. Corbero made her Hollywood debut withSnake Eyes, followed by a role in the TV remake ofSnatchand is next set to appear inAmazon Prime Video’sMr. and Mrs. Smithseries in a guest role.
Billy Magnussen as Magnus
Magnus can be called the team’s comic relief. When stakes are high and tension surmounting, Magnus brings some light and laughter to the table. But that’s not all that he is; he is also a genius safecracker. Although his wisecrack attitude doesn’t always fly with Cyrus or other team members, his amicable nature surely lightens up the mood.
Tony-nominated actorBilly Magnussenstars as Magnus.Liftmarks the actor’s first film of 2024, and he is next set to appear inDoug Liman’sRoad Houseand Disney’slive-action adaptation ofLilo & Stitch, as well as the upcoming comedy series,The Franchise. Among his previous acting credits, Magnussen is best known for his roles in films likeInto the Woods,Bridge of Spies,Game Night, andNo Time to Die, and television shows likeManiac,Boardwalk Empire,The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story, andMade for Love. The actor is all set to markhis directorial debutand also star in his upcoming film,The Ridge.
Jean Reno as Lars Jorgensen
A press release by Netflix describes Lars as “an investment banker who uses his status as a seemingly upstanding citizen to cloak his life devoted to financial terrorism.” He is the owner of the gold that Abby wants Cyrus to steal.
French actorJean Renostars as Lars Jorgensen. Known for an extensive international screen presence, Reno has appeared in several Hollywood, French, English, Italian, Spanish, and Japanese productions, including popular films likeLéon: The Professional,Ronin,Godzilla,Mission: Impossible,The Pink Panther, andDa 5 Bloods. He also starred in the Netflix mystery thriller,Who Killed Sara?and will be next appearing in the upcoming thriller,Babygirl.
Jacob Batalon as N8
N8 is a “mysterious digital artist” who wears a gold-plated mask.
Jacob Batalon, an actor best known as Ned Leeds of MCU’sSpider-Manfilms, stars as N8. Besides the MCU projects, Batalon has also featured in films likeLet it SnowandShortcomings, and since 2022 has been starring as thetitular character in Syfy’sReginald the Vampire. He is next set to appear in the upcoming horror film,Horrorscope.
Sam Worthington as Dennis Huxley
Dennis is Abby’s boss at Interpol who devises the original grand plan of stealing the gold from Lars Jorgensen and saving it from reaching the terrorist group. Technically, Dennis is the one who encourages Abby to bring Cyrus into the plan.
AvatarstarSam Worthingtonstars as Dennis Huxley. The Australian actor gained international recognition with his portrayal of Jake Sully inJames Cameron’sAvatar, a role that he reprises for the sequel,Avatar: The Way of Water, and will be revisiting in the upcoming sequels as well, slated from 2025 through 2031. Worthington has also featured in films likeTerminator Salvation,Clash of the Titans,Wrath of the Titans,Cake, andLansky, and television shows likeManhunt: UnabomberandUnder the Banner of Heaven. Besides reappearing in theAvatarsequels, Worthington has several projects in the pipeline, including the filmsRelay,Breathe, andThe Georgetown Project, andKevin Costner’s upcoming Western,Horizon.
Other Supporting Characters
Besides the above members, Team Lift also includes English actorViviek Kalrastars as Luke, another member of Cyrus’s team and an exceptional engineer. Kalra’s film credits includeBlinded by the Light,Voyagers, andThree Months, while on television he has appeared in the seriesNext of KinandBeecham House.
Korean singer-actorYun Jee Kimstars as Mi-Sun, an electronics expert who is great at “keeping a digital eye on potentially shady plane passengers.”
Filling out the cast areGame of ThronesalumBurn Gorman, andPeaky BlindersalumPaul Andersonas Cormac and Donal.
