Hollywood’s about to get a little stranger. The upcoming film Kockroach brings together Channing Tatum, Oscar Isaac, and Zazie Beetz in a noir crime story unlike anything you’ve seen before. Directed by Matt Ross (Captain Fantastic), the project is adapted from William Lashner’s cult novel and is gearing up for production in early 2026, with a world premiere already lined up for the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2025.
From Kafka to Crime Noir
The film’s roots lie in Lashner’s darkly inventive novel, which turns Franz Kafka’s Metamorphosis on its head. Instead of a man waking up as a cockroach, a cockroach wakes up in 1950s Times Square—suddenly transformed into a man. That man is Jerry Blatta, a bewildered outsider who quickly stumbles into the criminal underworld.
It’s a bizarre, funny, and biting twist on noir fiction—part homage, part satire—that asks big questions about identity, survival, and what it means to be human when you’ve never actually been one.
The screenplay comes from Jonathan Ames (Bored to Death), who knows a thing or two about mixing dark comedy with existential grit. Ames brings Lashner’s offbeat, hardboiled prose into cinematic form, keeping its mix of humor, philosophy, and pulp energy alive.
The Cast: A Dangerous Trio
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Channing Tatum takes on Jerry Blatta, the insect-turned-human whose journey from alleyways to mob halls anchors the film.
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Oscar Isaac slips into the criminal elite, whose power and charm both guide and derail Jerry’s rise.
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Zazie Beetz brings sharpness and depth, playing a character who challenges Jerry’s choices and forces him to confront the price of ambition.
Together, they form a trio of talent that has already sparked industry buzz. Each is known for balancing charisma with depth, which makes them perfect for a story that swings between absurdity and raw emotional truth.
What the Story Promises
The film is set in the neon-lit underbelly of mid-century New York, a city full of hustlers, crime lords, and lost souls. Jerry, fresh from his metamorphosis, uses both his cockroach instincts and his newfound human cunning to survive—and thrive—in this world.
As he climbs the ranks of organized crime, the film digs into questions of greed, morality, and the endless chase for the American Dream. But at its core, Kockroach is less about crime and more about transformation—what happens when survival instincts collide with human desire, love, and loss.
Behind the Scenes
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Production kicks off January 2026 in Australia, where its state-of-the-art studios and cityscapes will double for 1950s New York.
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Elaborate sets will recreate Times Square of the era, promising a visual mix of grit and stylization.
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With its TIFF 2025 premiere already planned, the film is positioned for both festival prestige and awards buzz.
Why It Matters
What makes Kockroach exciting isn’t just the A-list cast or the noir stylings—it’s the boldness of its premise. A cockroach-turned-human mobster isn’t exactly the formula Hollywood plays safe with, but that’s what gives the project its edge.
The novel has been described as “Damon Runyon meets Kafka,” and if the film captures even half that surreal magic, audiences can expect something both thought-provoking and wildly entertaining.
Final Word
With Matt Ross behind the camera, Jonathan Ames at the typewriter, and a cast led by Channing Tatum, Oscar Isaac, and Zazie Beetz, Kockroach looks set to be one of the most talked-about films of its year. Blending noir grit, magical realism, and biting satire, it has all the makings of a festival breakout—and maybe even a future cult classic.