Daniel Kaluuya Returns to the Screen in Mind-Bending A24 Sci-Fi Thriller
Teamwork With Himself: Daniel Kaluuya Returns to the Screen in Mind-Bending A24 Sci-Fi Thriller
LOS ANGELES — The drought is officially over. After a four-year hiatus from live-action leading roles, Academy Award winner Daniel Kaluuya is set to make a major return to the silver screen. In a high-profile acquisition announced today, A24 has reportedly won a heated bidding war for Hotel Hotel Hotel Hotel, a surrealist sci-fi thriller that will see Kaluuya playing against himself.
The project marks Kaluuya’s first live-action appearance since his starring turn in Jordan Peele's 2022 extraterrestrial epic Nope.
A “Mind-Bending” Prison
Written and directed by Michael Shanks, whose body-horror comedy Together became a breakout sensation at Sundance last year. Hotel Hotel Hotel Hotel follows a man who wakes up trapped in a mysterious, shifting hotel room.
According to the official logline, the protagonist finds himself in a "mind-bending prison" where the only way to escape is through intense teamwork—specifically, with various versions of himself. The script, which first gained notoriety on the 2021 Black List, is being described by early readers as a claustrophobic, high-concept masterpiece that leans heavily into Kaluuya's renowned ability to convey deep psychological distress.
Ending the "Acting Break"
Kaluuya’s return follows a period of intense creative output behind the scenes. Since 2022, the Get Out star has focused primarily on:
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Directorial Debut: Co-directing and writing the dystopian Netflix drama The Kitchen (2024).
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Voice Acting: Delivering a fan-favorite performance as Hobie Brown (Spider-Punk) in the Spider-Verse trilogy.
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Producing: Spearheading unconventional projects, including a rumored mature, "A24-style" take on Barney the dinosaur.
The actor famously told Deadline in 2023 that he was "chilling" on acting to allow his previous performances to "breathe" and to ensure his next move felt "essential."
The A24/HyperObject Powerhouse
The film is being produced as a "negative pickup" for A24, who moved aggressively to secure the rights following Shanks' recent success. The production features a heavy-hitting lineup of producers, including:
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Adam McKay & Todd Schulman (Don’t Look Up, The Menu) via HyperObject Industries.
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Mike Cowap & Emma Fitzsimmons of Princess Pictures.
In addition to Hotel Hotel Hotel Hotel, Kaluuya has also recently filmed a supporting role in Chris Rock’s upcoming A24 drama Misty Green, signaling a full-scale partnership between the actor and the indie powerhouse studio.
Production Timeline
While a release date has not yet been set, production is expected to begin later this year. With A24’s track record for turning high-concept sci-fi (like Ex Machina and Everything Everywhere All At Once) into awards-season contenders, industry analysts are already earmarking Kaluuya’s "one-man show" as a potential frontrunner for the 2027 Oscars.
As one fan noted on social media following the announcement: “The King is back, and apparently, there’s four of him.”
