Casting Wishlist • 2026
The Code
of Silence
Casting Vision
Finding actors who can handle the intellectual dialogue of a tech genius and the heavy emotional toll of the
prison years. Intelligence. Resilience. Outsider intensity.
Needs an actor who can transform from a sharp Silicon Valley executive to a hardened survivor in solitary
confinement. The intellectual-warrior. The outsider who outthinks everyone.
Dev Patel
Monkey Man • Lion • Slumdog Millionaire
The Pitch
After his success in gritty, physical roles like Monkey Man, Patel has the perfect
“intellectual-warrior” energy. He can play the genius robotics engineer
with ease but also has the range to portray the harrowing vulnerability and eventual iron will required
for the SHU scenes.
Why it works: A global star who brings immediate A-list prestige to the project.
Riz Ahmed
Sound of Metal • Mogul Mowgli • Nightcrawler
The Pitch
Known for intense, “actor’s actor” performances. Ahmed specializes in
characters pushed to their absolute psychological limits. He would be exceptional at depicting
Raj’s internal “mental coding” while in prison—the silent
intensity of a mind that refuses to stop building.
Why it works: Carries an authentic “tech-native” vibe that makes boardroom
scenes feel real.
Barry Keoghan
Saltburn • The Banshees of Inisherin • The Killing of a Sacred Deer
The Pitch
If you want a darker, more unpredictable version of Raj. Keoghan is the master of
playing the “outsider” who is smarter than everyone else in the room. His mercurial
presence would make the revenge/redemption arc in Act III feel truly dangerous.
Why it works: Brings a mercurial quality that makes the confrontation scenes
electrifying.
The “Godfather of the Valley” who plays by devious rules. Charming in public. Lethal in private.
This role requires a heavy-hitter who radiates power and menace simultaneously.
Mark Ruffalo
Spotlight • Dark Waters • Poor Things
The Pitch
He can play “charming but lethal” better than anyone. Imagine him as the
mentor who turns into a nightmare when Raj refuses to stay silent. The warmth in his eyes makes the
betrayal devastating.
Why: The audience trusts Ruffalo—which makes the villain turn devastating.
Willem Dafoe
The Lighthouse • Spider-Man • The Florida Project
The Pitch
If you want the billionaire to feel truly menacing and “old world”
elite. Dafoe’s intensity provides a terrifying contrast to Raj’s calm, mathematical logic.
Every scene becomes a chess match.
Why: Pure menace meets old-money authority. The power imbalance is palpable.
The person who helps Raj expose the “Dark Secret” and rebuild his legacy. The moral compass of the
story. Sharp, relentless, and unbreakable in her own right.
Florence Pugh
Oppenheimer • Midsommar • Little Women
The Pitch
She brings a “no-nonsense” energy that pairs perfectly with a lead like Dev
Patel. Pugh represents the moral compass of the story—fierce, empathetic, and utterly
incorruptible.
Why: Star power plus emotional gravity. She elevates every scene she’s in.
Havana Rose Liu
Bottoms • Maxxxine • Rising Star
The Pitch
A rising star who could play the sharp, tech-savvy legal aid who never gives
up on Raj’s case while he’s in the SHU. Fresh energy that grounds the story in a new
generation.
Why: Breakout potential that makes this role a launchpad—audiences love discovering
new talent.
Visual Reference for Casting
This project demands Fincher-style lighting throughout the casting and screen-test process—sharp,
high-contrast, and intellectually focused. Every face tells the story.
Fincher High-Contrast Lighting Reference