David Thewlis is an English actor and filmmaker whose screen career has covered independent dramas, historical films, fantasy adventures, thrillers, comedies, and major Hollywood productions. He made his feature-film debut in Little Dorrit in 1987 before gaining wider attention through Mike Leigh’s Life Is Sweet and, especially, Naked, for which he won the Best Actor prize at Cannes. His filmography later expanded to include memorable appearances in The Big Lebowski, Dragonheart, Seven Years in Tibet, and Gangster No. 1. A new generation of viewers came to know him as Remus Lupin in the Harry Potter film series, a role he played across five films between 2004 and 2011. Beyond fantasy and franchise cinema, Thewlis has continued working in acclaimed dramas and distinctive genre projects, including The Theory of Everything, Anomalisa, Wonder Woman, I’m Thinking of Ending Things, and Enola Holmes 2. His recent movie work includes The Thing with Feathers, Avatar: Fire and Ash, and the 2026 science-fiction thriller Signal One.
1987 — Little Dorrit
David Thewlis made his feature-film debut in Little Dorrit, a period drama directed by Christine Edzard and adapted from Charles Dickens’s novel. He played George Braddle in the large ensemble cast, which included Alec Guinness, Derek Jacobi, and Joan Greenwood. The two-part Dickens adaptation follows Amy Dorrit and the complicated social and financial circumstances surrounding her family. The film marked the beginning of Thewlis’s long and varied movie career.
1988 — Vroom
Vroom was a British comedy-drama directed by Beeban Kidron, with Thewlis sharing the screen with a young Clive Owen. Thewlis played Ringe, one of the central characters in a story about friendship, cars, relationships, and personal freedom. The film gave him one of his first substantial leading roles and demonstrated his ability to bring an unconventional presence to contemporary drama. It was an early step toward the more prominent British films that followed.
1989 — Resurrected
Paul Greengrass directed Resurrected, a British war drama inspired by the controversial story of a soldier who returns home after being presumed dead during the Falklands War. Thewlis played Kevin Deakin, the young soldier whose return creates intense emotional and political reactions. The film combines social drama with a pointed examination of war and its aftermath. It was an important early dramatic role for Thewlis before his breakthrough in the 1990s.
1990 — Life Is Sweet
Mike Leigh’s Life Is Sweet is a British comedy-drama centered on an ordinary working-class family in North London. Thewlis appears as Nicola’s lover alongside Alison Steadman, Jim Broadbent, Jane Horrocks, Claire Skinner, and Timothy Spall. The film mixes humor with themes involving family relationships, food, work, sexuality, and personal difficulties. It became an important early collaboration between Thewlis and Leigh, preceding their much more famous work together on Naked.
1991 — Afraid of the Dark
Afraid of the Dark is a psychological horror film directed by Mark Peploe. Thewlis has dual credited roles as the Locksmith and Tom Miller, contributing to the film’s unsettling exploration of blindness, fear, memory, and imagination. The movie uses a deliberately ambiguous structure in which reality and fantasy become difficult to separate. It represents one of the darker and more experimental projects from the early part of Thewlis’s film career.
1992 — Damage
Louis Malle directed Damage, a psychological romantic drama starring Jeremy Irons, Juliette Binoche, Miranda Richardson, and Rupert Graves. Thewlis has a supporting role as a detective in the story of a British politician whose obsessive relationship with his son’s girlfriend threatens his family and career. The film is known for its intense treatment of desire, secrecy, and emotional consequences. Although Thewlis’s role is relatively small, the movie placed him alongside an internationally recognized cast.
1993 — The Trial
The Trial is a drama based on Franz Kafka’s unfinished novel and directed by David Hugh Jones. Thewlis plays Franz, the central character Joseph K., who becomes trapped in an inexplicable legal system. The movie features Kyle MacLachlan, Anthony Hopkins, Jason Robards, and Juliet Stevenson and presents Kafka’s surreal world through a dark, stylized visual approach. It was released in the same year that Thewlis delivered the career-changing performance that made him internationally recognized.
1993 — Naked
Mike Leigh’s Naked became the breakthrough film in David Thewlis’s career. He plays Johnny, an intelligent, volatile and deeply troubled drifter who wanders through London engaging strangers in confrontational conversations about life, society, and human existence. The film is a dark comedy-drama, and Thewlis’s performance earned him the Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival as well as several major critics’ awards. Naked remains one of the defining performances in David Thewlis movies by year and established him as one of Britain’s most distinctive screen actors.
1994 — Black Beauty
Black Beauty is a family drama directed by Caroline Thompson and based on Anna Sewell’s classic novel. Thewlis plays Jerry Barker, a kind and responsible cab driver who cares for the horse Beauty. The film stars Alan Cumming as the voice of Black Beauty and includes Sean Bean, Jim Carter, and David Thewlis in its human cast. Its combination of animal adventure, family drama, and period storytelling made it a notable departure from the darker adult roles associated with Thewlis’s breakthrough.
1995 — Total Eclipse
Agnes Merlet’s Total Eclipse is a historical drama about the turbulent relationship between French poets Arthur Rimbaud and Paul Verlaine. Thewlis plays Verlaine opposite Leonardo DiCaprio as Rimbaud, with Romane Bohringer also appearing in the cast. The film explores poetry, sexuality, artistic rivalry, and the destructive intensity of their relationship. It gave Thewlis a major period role and allowed him to work with one of the most prominent young actors of the era.
1995 — Restoration
Restoration is a period drama directed by Michael Hoffman and set during the reign of King Charles II. Thewlis plays John Pearce, a medical student whose ambitions and relationships become part of the film’s larger story of ambition, social status, and restoration-era England. The ensemble includes Robert Downey Jr., Meg Ryan, Hugh Grant, Sam Neill, and Ian McKellen. The movie was particularly notable for its elaborate period setting and ensemble performances.
1996 — James and the Giant Peach
Thewlis provided the voice of Mr. Earthworm in James and the Giant Peach, Henry Selick’s stop-motion musical fantasy based on Roald Dahl’s children’s novel. The animated film follows an orphaned boy who enters a magical giant peach and travels with a group of anthropomorphic insects. Thewlis’s contribution was a voice performance rather than a live-action appearance, making it a distinctive entry in his filmography. The film combined stop-motion animation, musical elements, and fantasy adventure.
1996 — Dragonheart
Dragonheart is a fantasy adventure directed by Rob Cohen, starring Dennis Quaid, Sean Connery, Dina Meyer, and David Thewlis. Thewlis plays King Einon, a young ruler whose transformation into a cruel monarch drives much of the story. The film combines medieval fantasy, action, comedy, and pioneering visual effects, with Connery providing the voice of the dragon Draco. The role allowed Thewlis to move from British independent cinema into a large-scale fantasy production.
1996 — The Island of Dr. Moreau
Directed by John Frankenheimer, The Island of Dr. Moreau is a science-fiction horror film based on H. G. Wells’s novel. Thewlis plays Edward Douglas, a shipwrecked United Nations negotiator who becomes trapped on the mysterious island controlled by Dr. Moreau, played by Marlon Brando. Val Kilmer and Fairuza Balk also star in the film. The movie became known for its unusual production and ambitious creature effects, while giving Thewlis another prominent genre role.
1997 — American Perfekt
American Perfekt is a dark comedy-thriller directed by Paul Chart. Thewlis plays Santini in a story involving an American road trip that becomes increasingly strange and dangerous. The film blends crime, black comedy, and surreal elements rather than following a conventional thriller formula. It is one of the less widely seen titles in Thewlis’s filmography but remains part of his broad 1990s body of work.
1997 — Seven Years in Tibet
Jean-Jacques Annaud directed Seven Years in Tibet, a historical adventure drama starring Brad Pitt as Austrian mountaineer Heinrich Harrer. Thewlis plays Peter Aufschnaiter, Harrer’s fellow climber and companion during his years in Tibet. The film follows Harrer’s escape from a prisoner-of-war camp and his eventual relationship with the young Dalai Lama. The international production expanded Thewlis’s profile and placed him in a major historical epic.
1998 — The Big Lebowski
The Coen brothers’ cult comedy The Big Lebowski features Thewlis as Knox Harrington, the eccentric video artist who briefly enters the story surrounding Jeff Bridges’s Jeff “The Dude” Lebowski. Although his screen time is limited, the character is memorable because of the film’s distinctive humor and surreal collection of supporting figures. The ensemble includes John Goodman, Julianne Moore, Steve Buscemi, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and John Turturro. The film became one of the most enduring cult comedies of the 1990s.
1998 — Divorcing Jack
Divorcing Jack is an Irish political comedy-thriller directed by David Caffrey and based on Colin Bateman’s novel. Thewlis plays journalist Dan Starkey, who becomes caught up in a dangerous political conspiracy after becoming involved with a woman who is badly injured. The film mixes dark humor, crime, romance, and political satire. Thewlis’s leading performance earned him a British Independent Film Award nomination.
1998 — Besieged
Bernardo Bertolucci directed Besieged, a romantic drama set largely in Rome. Thewlis plays Jason Kinsky, an English composer who becomes fascinated by Shandurai, a young African woman played by Thandiwe Newton. The film is intimate and visually focused, relying heavily on music, architecture, and the relationship between its two central characters. It provided Thewlis with another challenging role in an internationally respected art-house production.
1999 — Whatever Happened to Harold Smith?
Whatever Happened to Harold Smith? is a British comedy directed by Peter Hewitt. Thewlis plays Nesbit in a quirky story about a family whose ordinary life becomes entangled with the strange abilities of Harold Smith, a seemingly mild-mannered man with telekinetic powers. The cast includes Tom Courtenay, Michael Legge, and Stephen Fry. The movie continued Thewlis’s willingness to move between serious dramas and unusual British comedies.
2000 — The Miracle Maker
The Miracle Maker is a stop-motion and traditional animation production telling the story of Jesus Christ. Thewlis provides the voice of Judas Iscariot, alongside Ralph Fiennes as Jesus and Richard E. Grant as John the Baptist. The film combines biblical drama with detailed model animation and was produced for both television and feature presentation. Thewlis’s role is clearly a voice performance rather than a live-action appearance.
2000 — Gangster No. 1
Paul McGuigan’s Gangster No. 1 is a British crime drama following a ruthless London gangster across different periods of his life. Thewlis plays the older Freddie Mays, while Paul Bettany portrays the younger version of the character and Malcolm McDowell appears as another key figure. The film explores ambition, violence, loyalty, and the psychological cost of a criminal life. Thewlis’s performance helped make the film one of his most distinctive crime roles of the period.
2001 — Goodbye Charlie Bright
Goodbye Charlie Bright is a British coming-of-age comedy-drama directed by Nick Love. Thewlis plays Dad in the story of a group of young men in London’s East End as they face friendship, relationships, family pressures, and the transition into adulthood. The ensemble includes Paul Nicholls, Danny Dyer, Jamie Foreman, and Frank Harper. The film offered Thewlis a supporting role in a grounded contemporary British story.
2003 — Cheeky
Cheeky is a comedy written and directed by David Thewlis, making it a particularly unusual entry in his filmography. He also stars as Harry Sankey, a man whose life becomes tangled in a series of comic and personal complications. The project demonstrated Thewlis’s work behind the camera as well as his continuing interest in unconventional independent cinema. It premiered at film festivals including the London Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival.
2003 — Timeline
Richard Donner directed Timeline, a science-fiction adventure based on Michael Crichton’s novel. Thewlis plays Robert Doniger, the billionaire scientist behind a technology capable of sending people through time. Paul Walker, Frances O’Connor, Gerard Butler, Billy Connolly, and Anna Friel form the central cast. The movie combines medieval adventure with time-travel science fiction and gave Thewlis another major role in a commercial genre production.
2004 — Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Thewlis first appeared as Professor Remus Lupin in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, directed by Alfonso Cuarón. Lupin is the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts and becomes an important mentor to Harry Potter. Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Gary Oldman, Alan Rickman, and Michael Gambon were among the principal cast. The role became one of the most recognizable characters in Thewlis’s career and began his long association with the Harry Potter franchise.
2005 — Kingdom of Heaven
Ridley Scott’s historical epic Kingdom of Heaven follows a blacksmith who becomes involved in the defense of Jerusalem during the Crusades. Thewlis plays the Hospitaler, a compassionate religious figure who offers guidance to Orlando Bloom’s Balian. Liam Neeson, Eva Green, Jeremy Irons, Brendan Gleeson, and Edward Norton also appear in the large ensemble. The film combines historical drama, warfare, romance, and large-scale action.
2005 — The New World
Terrence Malick’s The New World is a historical romantic drama about the establishment of Jamestown and the relationships surrounding Pocahontas. Thewlis plays Captain Edward Wingfield alongside Colin Farrell, Christian Bale, Christopher Plummer, Q’orianka Kilcher, and Wes Studi. The film is known for its poetic visual style and Malick’s contemplative approach to early colonial history. Thewlis’s role is supporting but places him within a major historical ensemble.
2005 — All the Invisible Children
All the Invisible Children is an anthology drama made up of several short segments directed by different filmmakers. Thewlis appears in the segment “Jonathan,” directed by Ridley Scott and Jordan Scott, playing the title character’s father. The project examines difficult childhood experiences in different parts of the world. Because it is an anthology feature rather than a conventional single-story film, Thewlis’s appearance is limited to one segment.
2006 — Basic Instinct 2
Basic Instinct 2 is a psychological erotic thriller directed by Michael Caton-Jones and starring Sharon Stone and David Morrissey. Thewlis plays Roy Washburn, a psychiatrist involved in the investigation surrounding Stone’s Catherine Tramell. The story follows Tramell as she becomes entangled with London’s criminal justice and psychiatric systems. The film continued Thewlis’s run of supporting roles in high-profile international productions.
2006 — The Omen
John Moore directed The Omen, a supernatural horror remake of the 1976 classic. Thewlis plays Keith Jennings, a journalist who becomes involved in investigating the mysterious circumstances surrounding a young boy named Damien. The cast includes Liev Schreiber, Julia Stiles, and Mia Farrow. The role allowed Thewlis to return to darker material while working within a major studio horror franchise.
2007 — The Inner Life of Martin Frost
The Inner Life of Martin Frost was written and directed by Paul Auster, with Thewlis playing the title character. Martin Frost is a novelist who retreats to a country house and becomes involved with a mysterious woman, played by Irène Jacob. The film is a surreal romantic drama concerned with creativity, imagination, and the relationship between writers and their characters. It gave Thewlis a rare opportunity to lead a deliberately literary and fantastical independent film.
2007 — Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Thewlis returned as Remus Lupin in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, directed by David Yates. Lupin becomes part of the secret group known as Dumbledore’s Army and the wider resistance against the Ministry’s control of Hogwarts. The film stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Imelda Staunton, Ralph Fiennes, and Michael Gambon. The movie further established Lupin as one of the important adult allies in Harry’s story.
2008 — The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is a historical drama directed by Mark Herman and set during the Holocaust. Thewlis plays Bruno’s father, a German commandant whose family moves to a house near a concentration camp. Asa Butterfield and Jack Scanlon lead the story as Bruno and Shmuel, two children whose friendship develops despite the circumstances surrounding them. The film is a serious historical drama focused on childhood innocence, prejudice, and the consequences of Nazi Germany.
2009 — Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
David Yates directed Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, with Thewlis reprising his role as Remus Lupin. Lupin is among the Order of the Phoenix members fighting Voldemort while Harry investigates the past of Tom Riddle. The film features Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman, and Helena Bonham Carter. It deepened Lupin’s relationship with the wider wizarding community and prepared the story for its final chapter.
2009 — Veronika Decides to Die
Veronika Decides to Die is a psychological drama based on Paulo Coelho’s novel and directed by Emily Young. Thewlis plays Dr. Blake, a psychiatrist at the institution where Veronika, played by Sarah Michelle Gellar, receives treatment. The story explores questions of identity, mental health, relationships, and the value of life. The film gave Thewlis another substantial dramatic role outside the Harry Potter series.
2010 — Mr. Nice
Mr. Nice is a biographical crime comedy directed by Bernard Rose and based on the life of British cannabis smuggler Howard Marks. Thewlis plays Jim McCann, one of the figures connected with Marks’s criminal activities. Rhys Ifans stars as Marks, with Chloë Sevigny and Crispin Glover among the supporting cast. The movie combines crime, comedy, biography, and the counterculture atmosphere surrounding Marks’s international smuggling career.
2010 — London Boulevard
William Monahan directed London Boulevard, a British crime drama starring Colin Farrell and Keira Knightley. Thewlis plays Jordan, a criminal figure connected to Farrell’s ex-convict character, Mitchell. The movie combines gangster drama with romance as Mitchell attempts to escape his criminal past. Thewlis’s role adds another memorable underworld character to his filmography.
2010 — Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 1
Thewlis returned as Remus Lupin in the first part of the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows adaptation. Directed by David Yates, the film follows Harry, Ron, and Hermione after leaving Hogwarts as they attempt to destroy Voldemort’s Horcruxes. Lupin has a smaller but significant role as the conflict spreads across the wizarding world. Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Ralph Fiennes, and Helena Bonham Carter headline the ensemble.
2011 — The Lady
The Lady is a biographical drama directed by Luc Besson about Burmese political leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Thewlis plays Michael Aris, Suu Kyi’s British husband, opposite Michelle Yeoh in the lead role. The film focuses on their relationship and the personal sacrifices created by Suu Kyi’s political struggle in Myanmar. Thewlis’s performance gives the story much of its emotional perspective from Aris’s side.
2011 — Anonymous
Roland Emmerich directed Anonymous, a historical thriller built around the controversial theory that Edward de Vere secretly wrote the works attributed to William Shakespeare. Thewlis plays William Cecil, a powerful political figure in Elizabethan England. Rhys Ifans, Vanessa Redgrave, and Joely Richardson also star in the film. The movie combines political intrigue, historical drama, and literary mystery.
2011 — War Horse
Steven Spielberg’s War Horse is a World War I drama based on Michael Morpurgo’s novel and the stage production of the same name. Thewlis plays Lyons, a farmer whose actions affect the young Albert and his beloved horse Joey. Jeremy Irvine, Emily Watson, Peter Mullan, and Tom Hiddleston are among the principal cast. The film follows Joey across the war while examining the human and animal costs of conflict.
2011 — Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2
Thewlis’s final major Harry Potter appearance came in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2. Lupin participates in the Battle of Hogwarts as Harry and his allies make their final stand against Voldemort. The film brought together the franchise’s principal cast, including Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Ralph Fiennes, Alan Rickman, and Maggie Smith. It concluded the eight-film adaptation of J. K. Rowling’s main Harry Potter story and completed Thewlis’s portrayal of Remus Lupin.
2013 — RED 2
RED 2 is an action comedy directed by Dean Parisot and starring Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, John Malkovich, and Mary-Louise Parker. Thewlis plays “The Frog,” an eccentric former agent whose expertise becomes important to the film’s international espionage plot. The movie mixes spy action with comedy and reunites several characters from the first RED. It gave Thewlis a lighter, more overtly comic role within a mainstream action franchise.
2013 — The Fifth Estate
Bill Condon’s The Fifth Estate dramatizes the rise of WikiLeaks and the relationship between Julian Assange and Daniel Domscheit-Berg. Thewlis plays journalist Nick Davies, a Guardian reporter who becomes involved in the publication of leaked documents. Benedict Cumberbatch and Daniel Brühl lead the film, with Thewlis providing an important supporting performance. The film combines political drama, journalism, and technology-driven thriller elements.
2013 — The Zero Theorem
Terry Gilliam directed The Zero Theorem, a dystopian science-fiction film starring Christoph Waltz as computer programmer Qohen Leth. Thewlis plays Joby, a manager who oversees Qohen and becomes involved in the strange corporate world surrounding him. The film uses Gilliam’s distinctive visual style to explore technology, work, identity, and the search for meaning. Matt Damon, Mélanie Thierry, and Tilda Swinton also appear.
2014 — The Theory of Everything
The Theory of Everything is a biographical drama directed by James Marsh about physicist Stephen Hawking and his relationship with Jane Hawking. Thewlis plays physicist Dennis Sciama, one of Hawking’s academic mentors at Cambridge. Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones lead the film, which follows Hawking’s career, diagnosis with motor neurone disease, and personal life. The movie received several major awards and nominations, including an Academy Award for Redmayne’s performance.
2014 — Stonehearst Asylum
Stonehearst Asylum is a psychological thriller directed by Brad Anderson and loosely inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether.” Thewlis plays Mickey Finn, one of the patients at the mysterious asylum. Jim Sturgess, Kate Beckinsale, Michael Caine, and Ben Kingsley also star. The film combines gothic atmosphere, mystery, psychological drama, and period horror.
2014 — Queen and Country
John Boorman’s Queen and Country is a British coming-of-age drama set against the backdrop of military service during the Korean War. Thewlis plays Sergeant Major Bradley, a strict military superior encountered by the young recruits. Callum Turner, Caleb Landry Jones, Vanessa Kirby, Richard E. Grant, and Pat Shortt are among the cast. The film is a sequel to Boorman’s Hope and Glory and was presented at the Cannes Film Festival in 2014.
2015 — Regression
Regression is a psychological thriller directed by Alejandro Amenábar and starring Ethan Hawke and Emma Watson. Thewlis plays Kenneth Raines, a psychologist involved in an investigation surrounding disturbing allegations and recovered memories. The film explores paranoia, memory, fear, and the possibility of a hidden crime. Thewlis’s performance adds a measured investigative presence to the story.
2015 — Legend
Brian Helgeland’s Legend is a British crime drama about identical twins Ronnie and Reggie Kray, both played by Tom Hardy. Thewlis portrays Leslie Payne, a manager and associate who becomes involved in the Krays’ criminal empire. The film recreates London’s underworld during the 1960s and focuses on the contrasting personalities of the two brothers. Thewlis’s supporting performance is part of the film’s large ensemble of British actors.
2015 — Macbeth
Macbeth is a historical tragedy directed by Justin Kurzel and adapted from William Shakespeare’s play. Thewlis plays King Duncan, whose murder sets off Macbeth’s violent rise and eventual collapse. Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard lead the film as Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, while Sean Harris, Paddy Considine, and Jack Madigan also appear. The production is known for its bleak visual atmosphere and intense treatment of Shakespeare’s tragedy.
2015 — Anomalisa
Charlie Kaufman and Duke Johnson’s Anomalisa is a stop-motion animated drama about Michael Stone, a lonely customer-service expert experiencing an emotional crisis. Thewlis provides the voice of Michael, with Jennifer Jason Leigh and Tom Noonan supplying the other principal voices. The film uses deliberately lifelike stop-motion animation to explore loneliness, relationships, routine, and emotional disconnection. Thewlis’s voice performance is therefore a non-live-action role rather than a conventional on-screen appearance.
2017 — Wonder Woman
Patty Jenkins’s Wonder Woman introduced Thewlis as Sir Patrick Morgan, a British government official who appears to support Diana during World War I. The character is eventually revealed to have a much more significant connection to the film’s mythology as Ares, the god of war. Gal Gadot stars as Wonder Woman, alongside Chris Pine, Robin Wright, Connie Nielsen, and David Thewlis. The film combines superhero action, mythology, romance, and wartime drama.
2017 — Justice League
Thewlis returned as Ares in Justice League, although his appearance is brief. The character appears in a historical flashback depicting an earlier battle against invading forces and helps establish the mythology behind the film’s central conflict. Zack Snyder directed the original theatrical version, which starred Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot, Jason Momoa, Ezra Miller, and Ray Fisher. Thewlis’s role is best described as a cameo rather than a major supporting performance.
2018 — The Mercy
The Mercy is a biographical drama directed by James Marsh about amateur sailor Donald Crowhurst’s attempt to compete in the 1968 Golden Globe Race. Thewlis plays Rodney Hallworth, the journalist who becomes involved in the public story surrounding Crowhurst’s voyage. Colin Firth and Rachel Weisz lead the film, with Jonathan Bailey and Ken Stott among the supporting cast. The movie combines maritime drama with a character study of ambition, isolation, and the pressures of public expectations.
2019 — Rare Beasts
Rare Beasts is a British dark comedy-drama written and directed by Billie Piper. Thewlis plays Vic, a complicated character in a story centered on modern relationships, family pressures, romance, and emotional expectations. Piper stars alongside Lily James, Leo Bill, and Thewlis in the ensemble. The film takes a deliberately unconventional approach to romantic comedy, examining the less polished realities behind contemporary relationships.
2019 — Guest of Honour
Guest of Honour is a psychological drama written and directed by Atom Egoyan. Thewlis plays Jim, a father whose life becomes entangled with the imprisonment of his daughter and the secrets surrounding her case. David Cronenberg, Luke Wilson, and Laysla De Oliveira also appear in the cast. The film uses fragmented storytelling and shifting perspectives to explore guilt, memory, family relationships, and the difficulty of knowing the complete truth.
2019 — Eternal Beauty
Craig Roberts directed Eternal Beauty, a dark comedy-drama starring Sally Hawkins as Jane, a woman whose life is shaped by difficult relationships and a troubled inner world. Thewlis plays Mike, one of the people who becomes part of Jane’s unusual emotional journey. Alice Lowe, Billie Piper, Penelope Wilton, and David Thewlis form part of the ensemble. The movie blends surreal humor with a sensitive examination of isolation, family, love, and resilience.
2020 — I’m Thinking of Ending Things
Charlie Kaufman’s I’m Thinking of Ending Things is a psychological drama adapted from Iain Reid’s novel. Thewlis plays the Father of Jake, portrayed by Jesse Plemons, while Jessie Buckley plays Jake’s girlfriend. Much of the film deliberately shifts between reality, memory, imagination, and subjective perception, creating an unsettling atmosphere. Thewlis’s performance is particularly important to the film’s strange family sequences and its exploration of identity and regret.
2021 — Zack Snyder’s Justice League
Thewlis’s Ares appears again in Zack Snyder’s Justice League, the extended director’s cut of the 2017 superhero film. His appearance comes through a substantially expanded historical sequence depicting Ares’s battle against Darkseid’s forces. The role was reconstructed using footage and visual effects, with Nick McKinless physically portraying the body while Thewlis’s likeness was digitally incorporated. It is therefore a special-effects-enhanced return to the character rather than a newly filmed conventional appearance.
2022 — Enola Holmes 2
Harry Bradbeer’s Enola Holmes 2 is a mystery adventure starring Millie Bobby Brown as Sherlock Holmes’s younger sister. Thewlis plays Grail, a police inspector connected to the investigation that Enola becomes involved in. Henry Cavill returns as Sherlock Holmes, while Helena Bonham Carter and Louis Partridge also appear. The film mixes detective mystery, period adventure, comedy, and action while expanding the world established in the first movie.
2022 — The Amazing Maurice
The Amazing Maurice is an animated fantasy comedy based on Terry Pratchett’s novel The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents. Thewlis provides the voice of Boss Man and also voices the Rat King, making this another non-live-action entry in his filmography. Hugh Laurie, Emilia Clarke, Gemma Arterton, and David Tennant are among the other voice performers. The story follows a clever talking cat and a group of intelligent rats who travel from town to town using a deceptive scheme.
2025 — The Thing with Feathers
The Thing with Feathers is a British drama-thriller written and directed by Dylan Southern and adapted from Max Porter’s novel Grief Is the Thing with Feathers. Thewlis provides the voice of Crow, a strange and threatening presence that appears during the grieving process of a father played by Benedict Cumberbatch. The film combines psychological drama, horror, and surreal imagery to explore grief, family, and emotional recovery. It premiered at Sundance in 2025 and received a later theatrical release, making it a released feature rather than an upcoming project.
2025 — Avatar: Fire and Ash
James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash brings Thewlis into the Avatar universe as Peylak, the leader of the Wind Traders, a nomadic Na’vi clan. The film stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, and Oona Chaplin alongside Thewlis. It returns to Pandora for another large-scale science-fiction adventure involving the Sully family and new Na’vi communities. The film was released in cinemas on December 19, 2025, making it part of Thewlis’s latest completed feature-film work.
2026 — Signal One
Signal One is a science-fiction thriller directed by Jonathan Sobol, with Isabelle Fuhrman, Dennis Quaid, Josh Hutcherson, Kiera Allen, and David Thewlis in the cast. Thewlis plays a character involved in the mysterious events surrounding an isolated facility and advanced technology. The film follows a computer scientist recruited to work on a project connected to an unusual and potentially dangerous creation. It received a 2026 release, including a June 5 U.S. release, so it is currently the latest released feature in David Thewlis’s filmography rather than an upcoming title.
Conclusion
David Thewlis’s movie career stretches from British independent cinema in the late 1980s to major international productions and modern streaming-era films. His early work in Life Is Sweet and Naked established his reputation as a distinctive dramatic actor, while films such as Dragonheart, The Big Lebowski, Seven Years in Tibet, and Gangster No. 1 demonstrated his range across genres. His portrayal of Remus Lupin made him familiar to a worldwide audience, while later projects such as The Theory of Everything, Anomalisa, Wonder Woman, The Mercy, and I’m Thinking of Ending Things continued to show his versatility. With The Thing with Feathers, Avatar: Fire and Ash, and Signal One, his filmography has continued into the 2020s with roles spanning voice acting, science fiction, fantasy, drama, and thriller cinema.
