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Today it was reported by Variety that Reynolds will be starring opposite newcomer Mae Schenk in the new Netflix film Eloise, which is based on the hit children’s book from author Kay Thompson and artist Hilary Knight. Schenk will be playing the role of Eloise, and Reynolds will be taking on his biggest acting challenge since his amazing performance in Mississippi Grind as the film’s antagonist in a role described as an “original villainous character.”
Reynolds hasn’t played any outright villainous characters in 20 years, which is when he played George Lutz in Amityville Horror, though that’s not the role we’re highlighting here. That’s because a decade ago, Reynolds delivered one of the best performances of his career in 2015’s Mississippi Grind, which balanced the other elements of his acting arsenal with a grounded and nuanced performance to create a captivating character that demanded your attention on screen.
Granted, Mississippi Grind was dealing with the realms of gambling and addiction, and Eloise is a children’s book about a young girl who gets into fun mischief while living on the “tippy-top floor” of The Plaza in New York City, so they aren’t nearly the same thing. That said, it will definitely be fun to see Reynolds stepping outside of his usual lane and into the villain realm, because he can certainly bring something special to the role.
