Windfall Cast & Character Guide | Screen Rant
Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Windfall
The Hitchcockian thriller Windfall gathers award-winning talents in an intimate yet exciting fashion. Windfall follows the burglar Nobody, who breaks into a wealthy couple’s vacation home only to be caught leaving. What starts out as a robbery quickly escalates, excellently offering a commentary on society, thanks mostly to the cast’s stellar performance.
Windfall was directed by Charlie McDowell, who also wrote the story with his frequent collaborator Justin Lader, Andrew Kevin Walker, and Jason Segel. The film marked McDowell’s third full-length feature. His directorial debut was The One I Love starring Mark Duplass and Elisabeth Moss, while his second film was The Discovery, starring Rooney Mara, Jason Segel, Robert Redford, and Jesse Plemons. Just like Windfall, McDowell’s previous films only involved a limited number of characters, focusing instead on their relationships.
Released on March 18, Windfall is part of Netflix’s March 2022 film slate, which includes The Weekend Away, the Easter Egg-filled The Adam Project, and Rescued by Ruby. Although divided by the film’s plot, critics unanimously point out how such a modest concept is amplified by nuanced acting. Here is a cast and character guide for Windfall, including where viewers might have previously seen them.
In the first few minutes of Windfall, Nobody is seen lounging around a château. However, it later becomes apparent that he is there to rob a couple of their money and prized possessions. Nobody is played by Jason Segel, who is best known for his role as Marshall Eriksen in the nine-season CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother. He has also written and appeared in films like Forgetting Sarah Marshall, which almost had a HIMYM cameo, The Five-Year Engagement, and Sex Tape. Segel also has a recurring part in the 2022 HBO sports drama Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty.
The one-half of the couple Nobody robs from is the Wife, portrayed by Lily Collins. She harbors resentment and regret from her unhappy marriage with the CEO. The real-life wife of director Charlie McDowell, Collins has an extensive filmography, starting with her appearance in the 2009 biographical sports drama The Blind Side. She has starred in films such as Priest, Abduction, The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, Love, Rosie, and Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile. Furthermore, she has gained numerous Golden Globe nominations for her performances in the movies Rules Don’t Apply and To the Bone. Collins also stars in the hit Netflix series Emily in Paris — better than The Carrie Diaries, arguably.
The CEO is an arrogant tech mogul married to the Wife. He has written an algorithm that streamlines company operations by rendering employees redundant and returning to profitability. The CEO is portrayed by Jesse Plemons, who is most recently seen in the critically-acclaimed psychological drama The Power of the Dog. Plemons has been involved in the shows Friday Night Lights, Breaking Bad, Fargo, and No Activity. His roles in the movies Game Night and I'm Thinking of Ending Things have also gained recognition.
Amidst the tension, the Gardener arrives. As he is unaware of the situation, he innocently extends his gratitude towards the CEO for letting him work in the vacation home. He is played by Omar Leyva, who most recently appeared in the Meredith Grey-centric medical drama Grey's Anatomy as Luis Rivera. Apart from his role in Windfall, he is also seen in the shows 9-1-1: Lone Star, Blue Bloods, Lucifer, and American Crime.