David Jonsson isn’t a household name at the moment, but that might change in a matter of years. The young British actor has proven to be a highlight of several films of late, most notably as Andy in Alien: Romulus (coming to HBO Max April 3rd) and, more recently, Pete McVries in last year’s The Long Walk. And the ongoing acclaim that Jonsson received for those titles suggests that he has a bright future ahead of him. But it was one film, in particular, that catapulted the rising talent into his ongoing string of success, and it is as well-liked as his other two titles, if not more so.
2023’s Rye Lane, the feature film debut of director Raine Allen-Miller, became more of a critical favorite than a commercial one upon release. The charming British rom-com didn’t get as much notice as it should’ve upon release, despite a glowing 98% Rotten Tomatoes score, perhaps because Searchlight Pictures opted to release the movie exclusively on Hulu in the U.S., and didn’t receive the initial attention it deserved.
Hulu’s Rye Lane Paved the Way for David Jonsson’s Career Ascension
David Jonsson and Vivian Oparah Star in Hulu’s Rye Lane.Image via Hulu
It’s understandable if viewers were only introduced to David Jonsson’s developing talents with his compelling, calculating performance as Andy in Alien: Romulus. The film is filled with young stars, many of whom weren’t well-known before starring in this sci-fi franchise restarter, and Jonsson’s sensationally versatile performance was paramount to the sequel’s critical success. The movie has its controversial flaws, but Jonsson’s impressive turn as Andy was most definitely not among them. This synthetic proved to be both sympathetic and sinister.
But while the actor could’ve been seen in a couple of different TV shows, like HBO’s Industry and Fox UK’s Deep State, it was David Jonsson’s winning and affable lead performance in Rye Lane that first bolstered his promising talents, at least as the leading man film actor that he would become. As Dom, a sensitive, mild-mannered would-be romantic who finds an unlikely kinship (and more) with the more confident, outspoken Yas (Vivian Oparah), Jonsson played the part of this deeply sincere but hopefully timid young man trying to find his other half with the right amount of dry humor, winning reflexiveness, and soft-hearted sentimentality.
Other young actors might’ve overplayed Dom’s self-defeating personality traits with too much put-upon effort. But thankfully, David Jonsson finds a way to make this character both appealingly dorky and agreeably sweet. The actor has a good-natured, appealingly tender screen presence, one that Rye Lane puts to use quite nicely, and one that his later roles would play into as well, or, in some cases, against, as Alien: Romulus showcased.
Hulu’s Rye Lane Influenced David Jonsson’s Work in Alien: Romulus and The Long Walk
Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson Walk the Walk in Lionsgate’s The Long Walk.Image via Lionsgate
In Rye Lane, David Jonsson plays Dom as both endearingly earnest and graciously gentle, which works in the movie’s favor in many respects. Nathan Byron and Tom Melia’s screenplay is snappy and smartly self-aware, Raine Allen-Miller’s direction is poppy and energetic, and the lead female performance from Vivian Oparah brings a sharp, nuanced focus to the movie’s high-spirited charms. But it’s also, in many respects, Jonsson’s agreeably winsome lead performance that engages you from the jump and makes you want to see where this spirited, funny, and heartwarming little feature will go. In a rom-com, above all else, one must love the leads.
Alien: Romulus and The Long Walk are notably darker, heavier genre films, with higher stakes and a lot more death. Jonsson still brings that winning screen presence to both films, but he finds an intriguing way to play into and against them for dramatic effect in each. In Alien: Romulus, Andy is an outdated but fiercely loyal robot who ultimately becomes corrupted and used for nefarious means. Jonsson has no problems making you endear to his appealing non-human pal early on, but ultimately, Jonsson’s performance really comes to life the more Andy’s human qualities become void, and the adrift android’s darker capabilities are fully in form.
How he uses his strengths to play into the character’s chilling resolve later on is effectively unsettling, thanks, in part, to how much they play against what we expect from this promising young performer. When it comes to David Jonsson’s harder-edge performance in The Long Walk, it is intriguing to see how the actor can reflect the conflicting developments of this character to impactful dramatic use. Jonsson knows how to play into Peter’s winning side nicely, but the actor always carries the role with a gloomy glint in his eyes, one that shows that he comes from a hard past and a worldview informed by hard lessons. Once again, he provides the film’s most impressive performance, and he’s got a great future ahead if he keeps finding roles like these.
Rye Lane Shows Sunny Future for Alien: Romulus Star David Jonsson
David Jonsson Stars in the upcoming prison drama, Wasteman.Image via Sunrise Films
Interest in Alien: Romulus and The Long Walk remains high, which has been good for David Jonsson’s capital in its own right. And his slate of upcoming projects suggests that he’ll continue to be a promising talent in the years moving forward. For instance, Wasteman, the actor’s latest starring vehicle, made a sharp impression in the U.K. last year. American audiences will have a chance to watch it when it debuts in limited release in April.
Based on the 100% Rotten Tomatoes score that Wasteman boasts on the review aggregator, this prison drama sounds like yet another winner for the British actor. And things look promising for his follow-up feature, The Chaperones, which reunites David Jonsson with Cooper Hoffman and stars Paul Dano, Danielle Deadwyler, Alfred Molina, and Tim Meadows. It’ll serve as the follow-up feature from India Donaldson, who made a great impression in her own right with her great directorial debut, the subtle and intriguingly subversive Good One.
And these aren’t the only upcoming projects of interest for David Jonsson. For instance, he’ll also soon star in Frank Ocean’s mysterious and currently untitled directorial debut, which will also feature the acting talents of Taylor Russell. Details are limited on the project, but intrigue is high. Jonsson is also rumored to play Sammy Davis Jr. in Colman Domingo’s directorial debut, Scandalous!, which is also expected to star Sydney Sweeney as Kim Novak. And there’s, of course, the reported sequel to Alien: Romulus, which remains in flux at the time of this writing, but is expected to be a major priority for Jonsson once cameras get ready to roll on the feature.
And who knows what else the future holds for the promising performer. The accomplished young actor only continues to demonstrate his talents in several different current and upcoming projects, and that is likely to remain true for the foreseeable future. And if viewers want to see where David Jonsson’s growing career as an esteemed leading man got started, especially if you’re keen to watch or rewatch Alien: Romulus on HBO Max, be sure to watch the overlooked Rye Lane on Hulu. It’s a sweet little rom-com that could use some more love.
Release Date
March 31, 2023
Runtime
88 minutes
