Taron Egerton is officially stepping into Kockroach, the upcoming New York crime thriller that teams him with Channing Tatum and Zazie Beetz. He’s replacing Oscar Isaac, who exited due to scheduling conflicts. The project comes from producers Andrew Lazar (American Sniper) and Kevin Frakes (Hereditary), with Matt Ross (Captain Fantastic) directing.
Lazar pitched the film as “in the vein of Goodfellas and Scarface.” The official synopsis: “Kockroach is the story of a mysterious stranger who takes on New York’s criminal underworld, transforming himself into a larger-than-life crime boss in a city where power is everything.”
That mysterious stranger phrasing isn’t accidental. The film’s based on William Lashner’s novel, where a cockroach literally transforms into a human and climbs the criminal ranks. So this isn’t just a standard mob story—there’s a body-horror edge baked into the premise.
Egerton’s been chasing darker material lately—Black Bird earned him serious acclaim, and his Apple TV+ series Smoke and the upcoming She Rides Shotgun continue that trajectory. Pairing him with Tatum and Beetz under Ross, who made Captain Fantastic work against all odds, feels like the kind of ensemble that could go somewhere interesting.
The screenplay comes from Jonathan Ames (You Were Never Really Here), with revisions by Ross. Ames writes violence like poetry, and Ross knows how to balance emotional chaos with control. If they’re blending that sensibility with classic crime-epic energy, the pieces are there.
Lazar highlighted the crew: Academy Award-winning production designer Colin Gibson (Mad Max: Fury Road), DP Adam Arkapaw (True Detective, The King), and VFX Supervisor Jonathan Dearing. Gibson won his Oscar for building the apocalyptic world of Fury Road. Arkapaw shoots in this textured, shadow-heavy style that makes everything feel weighted. That’s not a random crew—that’s people building a specific vision.
Filming starts February 2025 in Australia, despite the New York setting. The Goodfellas and Scarface comparisons are doing heavy lifting in the marketing. Both those films understood excess as commentary, not just spectacle. If Kockroach gets that and layers in the horror of transformation—literal or metaphorical—it could justify the hype.
Egerton replacing Isaac shifts the energy. Isaac brings cerebral intensity; Egerton brings hunger and physicality. He’s got the working-class edge that makes you root for someone clawing to the top, even when they’re doing terrible things. Opposite Tatum, who can swing from comedy to menace, and Beetz, who’s never been less than magnetic, the chemistry could land hard.
Lazar said: “I couldn’t be more excited to welcome Taron to Kockroach and to see him team up with Channing and Zazie in this fresh and bold take on the gangster genre. Under the extraordinary talent of director Matt Ross, Kockroach will push boundaries and expectations in the same ways as such seminal films as Scarface and Goodfellas.”
Big words. But the crew, the cast, the source material—it tracks. The question is whether Ross and Ames can balance homage with something new. If they lean into the weirdness and trust the ensemble to carry the weight, this could earn those comparisons. If not, it’s just another slick crime thriller.
February isn’t far. Until then, I’m thinking about Taron Egerton in a three-piece suit, climbing the New York underworld while something monstrous crawls underneath.
What You Should Know About Kockroach
The Source Material Has a Body-Horror Twist
William Lashner’s novel literally involves a cockroach transforming into a human and infiltrating crime circles. That’s baked into the DNA here.
The Crew Is Stacked
Colin Gibson (Oscar winner for Mad Max: Fury Road), Adam Arkapaw (True Detective), and Jonathan Dearing on VFX. This isn’t just actors—it’s a visual vision.
Filming Starts February 2025
Shooting in Australia despite the New York setting. No release date announced yet.
Egerton’s Been Chasing Darker Roles
Black Bird, Smoke, She Rides Shotgun—he’s clearly moving away from charm-first parts into grittier territory.
Tatum and Beetz Round Out the Cast
Tatum pivots seamlessly between tones. Beetz brings gravity to everything she touches. The ensemble potential is real.
FAQ
Is Kockroach actually based on a book about a cockroach becoming human?
Yes. William Lashner’s 2004 novel follows a cockroach that transforms into a man and climbs New York’s criminal underworld. Whether the film keeps that literal or goes full metaphor remains to be seen.
Why did Oscar Isaac leave Kockroach?
Scheduling conflicts. Isaac’s been juggling multiple projects including Moon Knight and The Great Machine. No drama—just timing.
Who’s directing Kockroach?
Matt Ross, who directed Captain Fantastic (2016), which earned Viggo Mortensen an Oscar nomination. Ross also revised the screenplay, originally written by Jonathan Ames (You Were Never Really Here).
When does Kockroach start filming?
February 2025 in Australia. No release date has been announced.
Should we believe the Goodfellas and Scarface comparisons?
Producer Andrew Lazar made those comparisons, and the crew (Colin Gibson, Adam Arkapaw) suggests they’re aiming for something stylish and ambitious. Whether it delivers on that level depends on execution.
