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Role Play - What We Know So Far

Kaley Cuoco, who starred as Penny on "The Big Bang Theory" for 12 seasons, has already proven that there is life after a long-running hit sitcom, thanks to her work on the hit HBO Max dark comedy series "The Flight Attendant." Cuoco earned rave reviews for her role as Cassie Bowden on the series, playing a woman who spends the night with a charming stranger and wakes up the next morning to find him dead. To clear her name, Cassie shows remarkable resourcefulness in tracking down the real killer. Cuoco, who also served as an executive producer on the series, even garnered her first Emmy nomination for outstanding lead actress in a comedy series (per Emmys.com).

Now, Cuoco is set to star and produce the upcoming thriller "Role Play." News of the movie first broke in July 2021, and Deadline announced in October that French filmmaker Thomas Vincent ("Bodyguard") had signed on to direct the flick: Vincent previously directed the pilot for Amazon's upcoming "Jack Reacher" series. Seth Owen, who penned the script for director Ridley Scott's "Morgan," adapted the screenplay from an original idea by George Heller. 

Here's everything we know about Kaley Cuoco's upcoming movie.

When will Role Play be released?

No official release date has been set for "Role Play." According to Deadline, production on the joint venture between Studiocanal and The Picture Company won't begin until Cuoco finishes filming Season 2 of "The Flight Attendant." Cuoco started dropping behind the scenes Season 2 photos for that series via Instagram on September 7, announcing that "Cassie and Cassie's hair are back." 

With Cuoco busy reprising her role as the party girl turned sleuth, and the rest of the cast of "Role Play" yet to take shape, it could be a Herculean task to start filming before 2022. The in-demand actress also has two movies on the horizon she'll be promoting, so don't expect to see "Role Play" coming soon to a theater near you.

Even though Cuoco isn't currently working in front of the camera on "Role Play," Cuoco's role as a producer means she'll be busy with her latest project behind the scenes. The increasingly-seasoned producer understands that sometimes, acting can be the easy part: During a discussion on Variety's "Actors on Actors" series, Cuoco acknowledged the challenges she faced serving as an executive producer on "The Flight Attendant," by saying, "The job doesn't really end. As an actor, we come in and do our job, and it's great, and then we move on to the next job. And, what I learned through this process, the producing side of it with 'Flight Attendant,' was how a lot of work starts the minute we leave."

Who else comprises the Role Play cast?

Kaley Cuoco is the only cast member confirmed for "Role Play." She has come a long way: before playing the geek-loving Penny on "The Big Bang Theory," Cuoco starred in the series "8 Simple Rules" and had a recurring role as Billie Jenkins on "Charmed." These days, when not in "The Flight Attendant," she also voices the titular character in the adult animated series "Harley Quinn." While Cuoco is a successful television actress, she has yet to score a box office hit. Her film credits include the Hank Williams biographical drama "The Last Ride," the sex comedy flop "The Penthouse," and the aptly titled slasher flick "Killer Movie." 

However, Cuoco is quickly making the transition into a big-screen leading lady. In addition to "Role Play," Cuoco stars opposite Kevin Hart ("Fatherhood") in Sony's upcoming action-comedy "The Man From Toronto," the release date of which was recently pushed back seven months to Aug. 12, 2022, according to The Wrap. Cuoco also plays Sheila in the upcoming romantic comedy "Meet Cute" opposite "Saturday Night Live" star Pete Davidson, who plays Sheila's love interest, Gary (via Variety).

What is Role Play about?

"Role Play" is an action thriller about "a young married couple whose life is turned upside down after secrets are revealed about each other's past," according to Deadline. Unlike "The Flight Attendant," "The Man From Toronto," and "Meet Cute," this film sounds like a complete departure for Cuoco, who is known best for her comedic talent. Cuoco knows that to many of her fans, she'll always be Penny, but unlike many actors who fear being defined by one role, Cuoco embraces her TV legacy. During her interview with "WandaVision" star Elizabeth Olsen on Variety's "Actors on Actors" series, Cuoco discussed trepidation surrounding her transition from Penny to Cassie. "Obviously, the biggest concern was like, 'Oh, you're gonna be known as Penny forever!' — which, by the way, if I was, great. Like, that would have been fine. Yes. I'm Penny," Cuoco said.

This new character, then, will likely be an even bigger change. The film's vague synopsis leaves a lot to the imagination, but we're guessing whatever skeletons are in Cuoco's character's closet are bad news. No news yet on who will play Cuoco's equally shady spouse, but we'll provide updates as soon as they become available. Perhaps, Cuoco will give her Instagram followers a sneak peek at "Role Play" once production is underway.