Toby Kebbell as Dad
A versatile actor who always surprises audiences with his characterizations, U.K.-born Toby Kebbell was nominated for BAFTA’s Rising Star Award in 2009.
He has starred in several action-packed fantasy adventures, among these his memorable performance-capture portrayals as the warmongering Koba in Matt Reeves’ Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and as the heroic Durotan in Duncan Jones’ Warcraft. He has recently completed filming Legendary and Warner Bros.’ highly anticipated Kong: Skull Island, with Brie Larson; and Stephen Gaghan’s epic Gold, with Matthew McConaughey. He starred as the villainous Messala in Ben-Hur, directed by Timur Bekmambetov and released in the summer of 2016.
Mr. Kebbell first caught the attention of the British public with his 2004 feature film debut, when director Shane Meadows cast him in the role of Anthony in Dead Man’s Shoes. His portrayal of a young man with a learning disability earned him a nomination for Most Promising Newcomer at the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA). His next features were Oliver Stone’s Alexander and Woody Allen’s Match Point.
Critical acclaim came his way anew in 2007 when he played Rob Gretton, the manager of Joy Division, in Anton Corbijn's award-winning Control. Mr. Kebbell won the BIFA Award for Best Supporting Actor, and was nominated for the London Critics' Circle Film Award.
His standout performance in Guy Ritchie’s RocknRolla earned him The Sun newspaper’s Best Actor award as well as an Empire Award nomination. His other films include Steven Spielberg’s War Horse; Mike Newell’s Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time; Jon Turtletaub’s The Sorcerer’s Apprentice; Jonathan Liebesman’s Wrath of the Titans; Ridley Scott’s The Counselor; and Robert Redford’s The Conspirator.
On television, Mr. Kebbell took the lead in an episode of Jimmy McGovern’s BBC series The Street, which subsequently won the BAFTA Award for Best Drama. His other work for the BBC includes a modern retelling of Macbeth, alongside James McAvoy. For Channel 4, he starred in an episode of Black Mirror.
On stage, he has performed at the Almeida Theatre, in Sir David Hare’s reworking of Maxim Gorky’s Enemies; and at the Playhouse Theatre in R.C. Sherriff’s classic Journey’s End.
"Break The Windows" Clip
"In The Eyes" Clip
"Messily Ever After" Clip
"I've Come To Get You" Clip
"Face Your Fears" Spot
Sigourney Weaver on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Sigourney Weaver Speaks to The Hollywood Reporter
The New York Times Profiles Felicity Jones
Official Trailer: Focus Features and J.A. Bayona Present A Monster Calls
Lewis MacDougall as Conor
The role of Conor is a very demanding one, physically and emotionally. Lewis was so courageous, so present, so truthful.
MacDougall is fantastic in what should be considered an Academy Award-worthy performance.
Mom: Felicity Jones stars in J.A. Bayona's A Monster Calls.
Entertainment Weekly Introduces A Monster Calls
Felicity Jones is absolutely devastating.
Determination: Connor [Lewis MacDougall] and The Monster [Liam Neeson].
Change: Struggling to understand one another, love must carry Connor [Lewis MacDougall] and his Grandma [Sigourney Weaver] to a place of comfort.
J.A. Bayona Talks with Gold Derby
Early Concept Art by Daniel Carrasco
Writer Patrick Ness and the Backstory of A Monster Calls
SFX Artist David Marti Captures BTS Moment of Rest
Connor: In just his second on-screen role, young Lewis MacDougall portrays Connor - a boy determined not to lose his mother.
Patrick Ness Named One of "Hollywood's 25 Most Powerful Authors"
BTS: A Look at A Monster Calls' Animated Sequences
Concept Art by Daniel Carrasco Jabalera
And if you need to break things, then by God, you break them good and hard. And I'll be right there. You might not see me, but I'll be right there, breaking 'em along with you.
Faith: A boy confronted with a monumental shift in what he once considered "normal", Connor [Lewis MacDougall] will stand tallest when atop the shoulders of The Monster [Liam Neeson].
Liam Neeson as The Monster
Illustrated: Connor [Lewis MacDougall] brings his imagination to life on paper.
Illustrator Andreu Zaragoza's Monster
One of the best films of 2016.
J.A. Bayona, Director
Monster Building
I saw this as a powerful and important story to tell as a movie – an adventure that anyone can relate to.
Sigourney Weaver as Grandma
Life: Director J.A. Bayona brings Patrick Ness' novel A Monster Calls to life with beautiful, signature scenes lensed by cinematographer Fernando Velázquez.
Toby Kebbell as Dad
Origin: J.A. Bayona directs A Monster Calls from a script by the novel's author Patrick Ness. The novel was awarded 2012's Carnegie and Greenaway Medals.
Escape: No matter the level of fear, anger or confusion, Connor [Lewis MacDougall] is able to find comfort with his pencils, pens and brushes.
Belief is half of all healing. Belief in the cure, belief in the future that awaits. Your belief is valuable, so you must be careful where you put it. And in whom.