Who knew that “Star Wars” alum Adam Driver was a fan of Chris Rock? The comedian is currently promoting his new movie, “Misty Green,” which premieres at the Toronto International Film Festival later this week. While discussing the film’s casting, Rock revealed that the “Girls” alum has wanted to work with him since seeing one of Rock’s most beloved films.
Fans might not believe that the “Marriage Story” actor is actually a big fan of Rock’s work. In particular, he loved the comedian’s 2014 romantic comedy “Top Five” and has wanted to work with him ever since.
In an interview with Variety, Rock revealed that Driver has a long list of directors that he wants to work with. Indeed, Driver has worked with everyone from Ridley Scott to Michael Mann to Spike Lee. Most notably, he even worked with legendary director Francis Ford Coppola in 2024’s “Megalopolis.”
“Adam really liked ‘Top Five,’ so he would call me periodically. I was like, ‘Dude, I did ‘Top Five’ 10 years ago.’ But every six to eight months, I get a call from Adam Driver. ‘What are you working on?’ I’m sure he’s got a long list of directors that he’s checking with, so when he gets down to the R’s, he calls me. And this time I happened to be working on something.”
Adam Driver Wasn’t The Only One To Show Love For ‘Top Five’
In addition to Driver, the film also stars “Slow Horses” star Rosalind Eleazar as the titular Misty Green. The supporting cast also includes Daniel Kaluuya, Anna Kendrick, Topher Grace, and Rock himself. While speaking to Variety, Rock revealed that Kendrick was a big fan of “Top Five” as well.
“It was ‘Top Five’ love, and I loved her movie [‘Woman of the Hour’]. She’s a great director. And there’s something about her [dating] Black men [on-screen] that’s kinda like, ‘Hmm! OK …’” Rock joked.
As for Kaluuya, Rock revealed that he had to “beg” to get the actor to appear in his project. “Daniel was kind of retired. We hung out when I was on tour with Chappelle. I had to beg him. He was the only one I had to beg,” Rock said. “Everybody else was like, ‘I can’t wait to do this movie!’ Daniel, I had to go to his hotel. I definitely tap-danced. It was worth it.”
Chris Rock Has ‘Hope’ That Adam Driver Will Want To Work With Him Again
“Misty Green” is Rock’s first directing project in over a decade, as his first two movies struggled at the box office. Although he’s not anticipating it, he said that he would “love to have a box office hit” and would “love for the people that helped me make this movie to get their money back.”
He continued, “So I hope this movie does very well, because I hope people continue to show faith in me. I hope Adam Driver calls me six months from now, like, ‘What are you working on, dude?’”
Rock also expressed hope that Michael B. Jordan, still hot off the success of “Sinners,” will “call me up.”
Will Adam Driver Be Nominated For His Role In ‘Misty Green’?
The “House of Gucci” actor received consecutive Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor for 2018’s “BlacKkKlansman” as well as Best Actor for his role in 2019’s “Marriage Story.”
There has been talk that he may receive a nomination for his role in James Gray’s “Paper Tiger,” which premiered at Cannes earlier this year. It’s also possible that he might receive a nomination for his role in “Misty Green.”
When Variety speculated that “Misty Green” will become part of the awards conversation, Rock demurred: “You’re not gonna hear me say that. No one’s ever talked about anything I’ve made like that before.”
Chris Rock Reveals The ‘Only Way’ He’ll Go Back To The Oscars
Elsewhere in the interview, Rock was asked how he felt about potentially returning to the Oscars for the first time since 2022.
“I’m not getting nominated. The only way I’ll go back is if I’m nominated, and I’m not getting nominated. And that’s OK. We’ll deal with that if it happens. Like, let’s manage expectations,” he joked.
However, the interviewer quickly pointed out that in his new movie, a woman smacks her colleague, and Rock’s character is forced to decide whether to forgive her.
“Oh. Yeah. You know, I never even thought about it like that,” Rock confessed. “No. This is literally the first time I — that she got connected to — yeah.”
When asked about the Will Smith slap now, Rock admitted, “I wish nothing would have happened,” and admitted that he didn’t “want to say anything” that would take attention away from his new movie.
“Misty Green” is scheduled for a theatrical release on October 9 following its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 12.
