You win an Oscar at 26. Studios throw blank checks at you. So what does Mikey Madison do? She signs onto Reptilia—a film about dental hygienists and mermaids, directed by the guy who made Monos (aka Lord of the Flies on hallucinogens). No Marvel. No Star Wars. Just pure, unhinged vibes.
The Gut Over the Payday
Madison's choice is chef's kiss Hollywood defiance. She was offered:
- A Resident Evil reboot lead (cha-ching).
- A rumored Star Wars role opposite Ryan Gosling (mega-cha-ching).
- A suspended DC project (Sgt. Rock).
Instead? She's playing second fiddle to Kirsten Dunst in a film that's probably not getting Happy Meal toys. The plot? A hygienist seduced by a mermaid into Florida's exotic animal trade—which, let's be real, is just Florida Man: The Movie.
Why This Matters
Post-Oscar careers often split:
- The Cashing-In (Emma Stone in Cruella).
- The Auteur Dive (Michelle Yeoh in A24 everything).
Madison's picking Door #2. Alejandro Landes Echavarría isn't a household name, but Monos was a critics' darling—a warped, poetic nightmare. Pair that with Dunst's post-Power of the Dog renaissance, and Reptilia smells like a festival freakout waiting to happen.
The Wildcard Factor
Madison's pre-Anora rep was built on chaos:
- The pyro-teen in Better Things.
- The ill-fated GF in Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood.
- The Scream franchise's obligatory blood sacrifice.
Now? She's Oscar-certified—and betting on weird. If Reptilia flops, it'll be a glorious flop. If it's a hit, she's the new indie queen. Win-win.
