2024’sThe Brutalistfeatures an outstanding cast led by Academy Award-winner Adrien Brody. Directed by Brady Corbet (Vox Lux,The Crowded Room),The Brutalistis a Best Picture contenderat the 97th Academy Awards, which take place on August 04, 2025.The Brutalistfollows a visionary architect named László Tóth (Brody)who flees post-war Europe with his wife Erzsébet (Felicity Jones) for the United States of America. Along the way, László encounters a mysterious and wealthy man who changes the course of his life forever.The Brutalistreleased in theaters on May 29, 2025.
The Brutalistpremiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival on June 15, 2025, where Corbet won the Silver Lion for Best Direction. He is also considered to be a favorite to win the Best Director Oscar.The Brutalisthas received widespread critical acclaim,with a Certified Fresh 94% Rotten Tomatoes score. Although actors such as Joel Edgerton, Marion Cotillard, and Vanessa Kirby were attached to star in the film as recently as September 2020, none of these actors ended up being cast. The film will be distributed by A24 in the United States.
Adrien Brody as László Tóth
Birthdate: June 03, 2025
Actor: Adrien Brody is an Academy Award-winning actor widely known for his leading role in 2002’sThe Pianist, directed by Roman Polanski. Brody, age 51, was born in 1973 in New York City. At age 29, Brody became the youngest actor to win a Best Actor Oscar forThe Pianist. He has also starred in films such asThe Thin Red Line(1998),Harrison’s Flowers(2000),The Village(2004), andKing Kong(2005).
He frequently appears in Wes Anderson films such asThe Darjeeling Limited(2007),Fantastic Mr. Fox(2009),The Grand Budapest Hotel(2014), andThe French Dispatch(2021). On television, Brody has appeared inPeaky Blinders(2017),Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty(2022–2023),Houdini(2014), andSuccession(2021).Brody was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor for his role inThe Brutalistcastafter big wins at the BAFTAs and Golden Globes Awards.
Succession(2021)
Josh Aaronson
Character: Brody plays the protagonist ofThe Brutalistnamed László Tóth, a Hungarian-born Jewish man who survives the Holocaust and immigrates to America. He attempts to restart his career as an architect in the United States, but he finds things are not easy for him as an immigrant. He moves to Philadelphia from Europe without any money and then faces obstacles including addiction issues, feeling displaced, and facing harsh hatred from Americans based on bigotry.
Felicity Jones as Erzsébet Tóth
Birthdate: June 27, 2025
Actor: Felicity Jones, 41, is a British actress from Birmingham, United Kingdom. She made her professional acting debut at the age of 12 appearing inThe Treasure Seekers(1996). Jones is arguably best known for her performance as Jane Hawking in the 2014 biopicThe Theory of Everythingwhich earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Actress.
She has also starred in films such asThe Tempest(2010),Like Crazy(2011),The Amazing Spider-Man 2(2014),True Story(2015),A Monster Calls(2016), andRogue One: A Star Wars Story(2016), and she notably portrayed Ruth Bader Ginsberg in 2018’sOn the Basis of Sex.Felicity Jones picked up a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination for her work inThe Brutalistafter receiving nominations at the BAFTAs and Golden Globes, although she didn’t win at the latter two ceremonies.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story(2016)
Jyn Erso
Character: Jones plays Erzsébet Tóth inThe Brutalist, the wife of László Tóth. Erzsébet also is a Holocaust survivor, and she travels to America with her husband to start their lives anew. While László faced trauma and terrible treatment once he arrived in America, it was Erzsébet who was the sole source of encouragement and love for her husband during his struggles. Erzsébet is the one who convinces her husband to remain true to himself despite all the pressure he faces.
Guy Pearce as Harrison Lee Van Buren Sr.
Birthdate: July 25, 2025
Actor: Guy Pearce, 57, is an Australian actor born in the United Kingdom in 1967. Pearce rose to prominence in the 1997 crime noirL.A. Confidentialbefore starring in Christopher Nolan’s psychological thrillerMemento(2000). He has also appeared in films such asBedtime Stories(2008),The Road(2009),The Hurt Locker(2009),The King’s Speech(2010),Animal Kingdom(2010),Lawless(2012),Prometheus(2012),Iron Man 3(2013), andAlien: Covenant(2017).
In television, he has starred inMare of Easttown(2021) andMildred Pierce(2011), the latter of which he won an Emmy for. Pearce has seen great success during awards season for his performance inThe Brutalist, winning the AACTA International Award for Best Supporting Actor.He also picked up an Oscar nomination for the same award, which he also received at the Golden Globes and BAFTAs, although he didn’t win at either of those award ceremonies.
Mare of Easttown(2021)
Richard Ryan
Character: Pearce plays Harrison Lee Van Buren Sr. inThe Brutalist, a wealthy industrialist who becomes a client of László’s. It is Van Buren who brings most of the pressure to László thanks to him asking for so much from the man. Van Buren hires him to build a giant architectural community lot center. However, as the project moves on, the two have power struggles, and it shows the dangers of the rich and poor butting heads.
Joe Alwyn as Harry Lee Van Buren Jr.
Birthdate: June 17, 2025
Actor: Joe Alwyn, 33, is an English actor born in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England. Alwyn made his feature film debut as the protagonist in Ang Lee’s 2016 filmBilly Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk. He has also appeared in films such asThe Favourite(2018),Boy Erased(2018),Mary Queen of Scots(2018), andHarriet(2019). Alwyn is also famous for his seven-year romantic relationship with Taylor Swift from 2016-2023 and working with her on several songs from her Grammy-winning albumFolklore.
On television, he played the lead role of Nick Conway in the Hulu seriesConversations with Friends(2022). Unlike most of the mainThe Brutalistcast members,Alwyn did not receive any awards, recognition, or nominations for his performance.
Conversations with Friends(2022)
Nick Conway
Character: Alwyn plays Harry Lee Van Buren Jr. inThe Brutalist, the entitled son of Pearce’s character. He has less of a focus in the movie, although he is still a big part of the idea of the wealthy elites ruling the lower classes with their power. He also shows the age gap, as his father has strong aspirations for their wealth and Harry is more about indulging in the trappings of privilege and arrogance.
The Brutalist Supporting Cast & Characters
Stacy Martin as Maggie Van Buren: Martin plays Maggie Van Buren, Harry’s twin sister. Her character adds more flavor to the idea of the wealthy elite family. She’s known forThe Serpent,Vox Lux, andAll the Money in the World.
Raffey Cassidy as Zsófia: Cassidy plays Zsófia, László’s orphaned teenage niece who developed mutism during the Holocaust. She is someone who is incapable of corruption and offers an optimistic look at the world, which is very different from her uncle. She has previously appeared inWhite Noise,The Killing of a Sacred Dear, andTomorrowland.
Why The Brutalist Recast Zsófia Twice For The Final Scene
Raffey Cassidy, who plays Zsófia in The Brutalist, plays a different character at the end of the movie, while her character is played by a new actor.
Isaach de Bankolé as Gordon: De Bankolé plays Gordon,László’s friend inThe Brutalist. He is another architect and is there to help with many of the complications as they work on the design that is giving them problems. He’s best known for his roles inCasino Royale,Night on Earth, andBlack Panther.
Alessandro Nivola as Attila: Nivola plays Attila, László’s cousin. He is a Hungarian immigrant who moved to America before the war and converted to Catholicism after marrying a Catholic woman while suppressing his Jewish identity. He is the opposite of what László aspires to be and ends up betraying his cousin. He’s previously appeared inAmerican Hustle,Disobedience, andFace/Off.
Emma Laird as Audrey: Laird plays Audrey, Attila’s wife. She does not approve of László and is the reason that Attila ends up kicking him out of his home, leading to László becoming a heroin addict. She’s known for her roles inA Haunting in Venice,Mayor of Kingstown, andThe Crowded Room.
Michael Epp as Jim Simpson: Epp plays Jim Simpson inThe Brutalist. He is another architect and one that Harrison purposefully brings in to cause conflict with László, believing that this conflict will result in a better-constructed building for much less money. His previous works includeThe Beekeeper,Secret Invasion, andTom Calncy’s Jack Ryan.
Every Award The Brutalist Has Won
The Brutalist has been one of the biggest winners during awards season, racking up victories for Adrien Brody, Brady Corbet, Guy Pearce, and more.
Ariane Labed as Older Zsofia: Labed plays Older Zsofia inThe Brutalist. The film jumped to the year 1980 in the end scenes, and this required a new actress to play Zsófia as she was an adult now, delivering a speech about her uncle during a ceremony in Venice. She’s known forAssassin’s Creed,Attenberg, andAlps.
Jonathan Hyde as Leslie Woodrow: Hyde plays Leslie Woodrow inThe Brutalist, a builder hired by Harrison to realize László’s design. It is his job to balance Van Buren’s changing desires with László’s art to create the best possible building. He’s best known forTitanic,Anaconda, andJumanji.
Peter Polycarpou as Michael Hoffman: Polycarpou plays Michael Hoffman inThe Brutalist. It is Hoffman who was able to pull the strings to bring László’s wife Erzsebet and niece Zsofia to the United States. He is Van Buren’s Jewish attorney. He’s known forCleanskin,De-Lovely, andOklahoma!
The Brutalist
Cast
Architect László Toth and his wife Erzsébet flee Europe in 1947, seeking a fresh start in America. Their fate shifts after meeting a wealthy, enigmatic client.
