“Black Mirror” is back with its highly anticipated seventh season, and fans are buzzing about the star-studded cast featured in the Plaything episode.
This episode promises to deliver the signature mind-bending storytelling the series is known for, with a mix of fresh faces and returning favorites. Here’s your ultimate guide to the actors bringing this thrilling narrative to life.
New Faces in Plaything: Meet the Fresh Talent
The Plaything episode introduces several new actors to the Black Mirror universe, each bringing their unique flair to the series’ dark and thought-provoking themes.
- Peter Capaldi as Older Cameron Walker
Known for his iconic role as the Twelfth Doctor in Doctor Who, Capaldi plays an older version of Cameron Walker. His character is central to the episode’s exploration of artificial life and human attachment.
- Lewis Gribben as Younger Cameron Walker
Gribben portrays a younger version of Cameron, an introverted journalist entangled in a groundbreaking project involving artificial life. Fans may recognize him from Generation Z and T2 Trainspotting.
- Anya Taylor-Joy as Michele
The Queen’s Gambit star joins the cast as Michele, a mysterious figure whose intentions remain unclear throughout the episode. Taylor-Joy’s captivating performance adds depth to this enigmatic character.
- Asim Chaudhry as Tuckersoft Developer
Chaudhry, best known for his comedic roles, takes on a more serious part as a game developer at Tuckersoft. His character is pivotal in shaping the technological dilemmas explored in Plaything.
- Michele Austin as Jen Minter:
Michele Austin plays Jen Minter in Plaything. Not much is known about Minter, though she could be a reference to Jeff Minter, a video game designer on whom Colin Ritman is based and who played Jerome F. Davies in Bandersnatch.
Austin is known for movies like Hard Truths and Another Year and shows like The Bill, where she played Yvonne Hemmingway.
- Darryl Foster as PC Mo Raiker:
Darryl Foster plays PC Mo Raiker in Black Mirror: Plaything. Raiker is another police officer investigating Cameron Walker. Foster is known for several short films and the miniseries Trigonometry.
Returning Stars: Familiar Faces Reprise Their Roles
Alongside its newcomers, Plaything also features returning actors who have previously left an indelible mark on Black Mirror.
- Will Poulter as Colin Ritman
Poulter reprises his role from Bandersnatch, returning as Colin Ritman, a visionary game developer whose creations blur the line between reality and simulation. His presence ties the episode to past Black Mirror lore.
- Cristin Milioti as Nanette Cole (Cameo)
Milioti, beloved for her role in USS Callister, makes a cameo appearance, further expanding the interconnected universe of Black Mirror. Her brief but impactful scene will delight longtime fans.
What Makes Plaything Stand Out?
The episode dives deep into artificial intelligence and emotional dependency themes, with its cast delivering stellar performances that elevate these complex narratives. Showrunner Charlie Brooker has described this season’s ensemble as “embarrassingly stacked,” a testament to the caliber of talent involved.
Where Else Have You Seen Them?
Here’s a quick look at some notable works of the cast members:
- Peter Capaldi: Doctor Who, The Thick of It
- Lewis Gribben: Deadwater Fell, Masters of the Air
- Anya Taylor-Joy: The Queen’s Gambit, Last Night in Soho
- Will Poulter: Midsommar, The Maze Runner
Final Thoughts
With its gripping storyline and exceptional cast, Plaything is set to become one of the standout episodes of Black Mirror Season 7. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to the series, this episode offers a perfect blend of innovation and nostalgia. Don’t miss it—streaming now on Netflix!
About Black Mirror
Black Mirror is a British anthology television series created by Charlie Brooker. The series explores various genres, with most episodes set in near-future dystopias containing sci-fi technology—a type of speculative fiction. The series is inspired by The Twilight Zone and uses the themes of technology and media to comment on contemporary social issues. Most episodes are written by Brooker with involvement by the executive producer Annabel Jones.
There are 33 episodes in seven series and one special, in addition to the interactive film Black Mirror: Bandersnatch (2018). The first two series aired on the British network Channel 4 in 2011 and 2013, as did the 2014 special “White Christmas”. The programme then moved to Netflix, where four further series aired in 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2023. A seventh series was released on 10 April 2025. Two related webisode series were produced by Netflix, and a companion book to the first four series, Inside Black Mirror, was published in 2018. Soundtracks to many episodes have been released as albums.
Black Mirror is considered by many reviewers to be one of the best television series of the 2010s, while some critics have found the formulaic morality themes of the series obvious or cite declining quality. The programme won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Television Movie three times consecutively for “San Junipero”, “USS Callister” and Bandersnatch. Black Mirror, along with American Horror Story and Inside No. 9, has been credited with reviving the anthology television format and a number of episodes have been deemed prescient by the media.
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