Based on a series of short stories by Stephen King, Chiwetel Ejiofor’s latest film, “The Life of Chuck,” is a moving and emotional drama. Told in three parts, the film follows Charles Krantz (played by Tom Hiddelston) at different points in his life, from his death at the end of the world to his childhood.
In the film, Ejiofor plays Marty Anderson, a school teacher desperately trying to seek meaning and solace in a world ravaged by loss. He reconnects with his ex-girlfriend Felicia (Karen Gillan) as the world ends around them. Their journey becomes a lens through which the audience is invited to question not just who Chuck is, but who we all are when confronted with the fragility of our existence.
“The ease and the tonality and the questions that it was asking just felt very effortless to me,” shares Ejiofor, whose previous films include “The Lion King,” “12 Years a Slave,” “Half of a Yellow Sun,” “Dr Strange,” “Venom: The Last Dance,” Spike Lee’s heist film “Inside Man” and the Oscar nominated “Children of Men.”
Directed by Mike Flanagan, this story about life, death and our connections with others appealed to Ejiofor who serves as the audience’s emotional anchor through the film’s first act.
“It just felt sort of very honest to me and that’s what connected me to it,” adds the actor, writer and director, who has a breadth of critically acclaimed work across stage and screen.
A deeply moving supernatural drama, “The Life of Chuck” is about living your life to its fullest and the film also stars Mark Hamill, Carl Lumbly, Mia Sara and Jacob Tremblay.
Ejiofor is currently working on Paramount Pictures’ upcoming movie “Children of Blood.” A film based on the novel by Nigerian American novelist Tomi Adeyemi, it is scheduled for a 2027 theatrical release.
“The Life of Chuck” opens in U.S. theaters Friday.
By Samantha Ofole-Prince
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