Summary

• MaXXXine is the third installment in the X trilogy, set in 1980s Hollywood.
• Mia Goth reprises her role as Maxine Minx, with other cast including Elizabeth Debicki, Bobby Cannavale, and Lily Collins.
• The film follows Maxine Minx as she pursues her dream of becoming a star after surviving the events of X.

The cast of MaXXXine includes a familiar face from the X trilogy, Mia Goth, backed up by such iconic actors as Kevin Bacon, Giancarlo Esposito, and Michelle Monaghan in ing character roles. Described as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre meets Boogie Nights, X was a typical grindhouse slasher movie with a pair of diabolical killers and a group of sexually active youngsters for them to pick off one by one. Its follow-up, the prequel Pearl, filled in its titular killer’s complicated backstory as she succumbed to her bloodlust and murdered everyone close to her while awaiting her husband’s return from the battlefields of World War I.

Following the success of both X and Pearl, filmmaker Ti West set to conclude the story with MaXXXine, a sequel set in Hollywood in 1985. The third installment takes place after the ending of X as its central character and the sole survivor of the film, Maxine Minx, sets her sights on becoming a movie star. MaXXXine cements Mia Goth as a horror icon with her powerhouse performance, while fresh faces like Elizabeth Debicki and Bobby Cannavale the trilogy. Here's a guide to the cast of the horror movie sequel MaXXXine, what characters they play, and what else they're known for.

Mia Goth As Maxine Minx

Born October 23, 1993

Active Since: 2012

Born in Southwark in London, England, Mia Goth reprises her role as Maxine Minx from X as the lead in MaXXXine. Goth also played the villainous Pearl, both as an elderly serial killer in X and as a bright-eyed budding murderer its prequel, aptly titled Pearl. Goth made her film debut in the role of P in the erotic art-house epic Nymphomaniac. She later played Gabi Bauer in the gonzo sci-fi horror movie Infinity Pool. Goth has also played memorable ing roles like Sara Simms in the 2018 remake of Suspiria and Harriet Smith in the 2020 adaptation of Emma.

Mia Goth's Notable Roles:

CHARACTER: Maxine returns as the lead character in MaXXXine. Having survived the events of X, Maxine is now an aspiring actress in Hollywood who might finally have found her big break. However, her past keeps coming back to haunt her, and potentially bring her down for good.

Elizabeth Debicki As Elizabeth Bender

Born August 24, 1990

Active Since: 2010

Born in Paris, before growing up largely in Australia, Elizabeth Debicki plays Elizabeth Bender in MaXXXine. Debicki got her break playing Daisy Buchanan’s best friend Jordan Baker in Baz Luhrman's 2013 adaptation of The Great Gatsby. She's since appeared in genre fare like Christopher Nolan’s spy-fi epic Tenet and the Sovereign in Guardians of the Galaxy films. Television audiences recognize Debicki as Princess Diana from The Crown.

Elizabeth Debicki's Notable Roles:

Character: Played by Debicki in MaXXXine, Elizabeth Bender is a gifted (if difficult) filmmaker. The director of the in-universe horror films The Puritan and The Puritan II, Bender is out to make a piece of art out of her next big-budget horror film. Bender takes an interest in Maxine, setting her up as a potential stepping stone (or gatekeeper) towards Maxine's goals of stardom.

Moses Sumney As Leon

Born May 19, 1992

Active since: 2014

Born in California, Moses Sumney appears in MaXXXine as Leon. Sumney is primarily a singer-songwriter, not an actor. He broke out with his self-recorded EP Mid-City Island in 2014 and released his first full-length album, Aromanticism, in 2017. Since launching his music career, Sumney has branched out into acting. While MaXXXine is Moses Sumney's cinematic debut, he also appeared as Izaak in Sam Levinson’s HBO drama series The Idol.

Notable Moses Sumney Roles:

Character: Leon is a video store clerk in MaXXXine. Leon is also one of Maxine's best friends, with the pair frequently spending time together in the film. He becomes one of Maxine's closest connections in the film.

Michelle Monaghan As Detective Williams

Born March 23, 1976

Active since: 2000

Born in the small town of Winthrop, Iowa, Michelle Monaghan plays a crucial role in the MaXXXine cast as Detective Williams. Monaghan is best known for playing Ethan Hunt’s wife Julia Meade in the Mission: Impossible franchise and Maggie Hart in True Detective season 1. She found her big break with love interests like Hannah in Made of Honor and Harmony Faith Lane in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.

Michelle Monaghan's Notable Roles:

Character: Detective Williams is with the LAPD. She is one of the detectives investigating a series of murders that seem to have a potential connection to the Night Stalker. This brings Williams into Maxine's orbit.

Bobby Cannavale As Detective Torres

Born May 3, 1970

Active Since: 1996

Born in Union City, New Jersey, Bobby Cannavale appears in MaXXXine as Detective Torres. Cannavale won an Emmy for his portrayal of Gyp Rosetti on Boardwalk Empire and is also known for his recurring roles as Vince D’Angelo in Will & Grace and Dr. Mike Cruz in Nurse Jackie. He played the lead role of record executive Richie Finestra in Martin Scorsese and Mick Jagger’s 1970s-set rock and roll drama Vinyl on HBO. Cannavale also played Jim Paxton, the police officer married to Scott Lang’s ex-wife in the Ant-Man movies.

Notable Bobby Cannavale Roles:

Character: The partner to Detective Williams, Detective Torres is the more aggressive of the pair in their interactions with Maxine. Their investigation into murders around Los Angeles leaves him suspicious of the young actor.

Lily Collins As Molly Bennett

Born March 18, 1989

Active Since: 1991

Born in Surrey, England, Lily Collins appears in the relatively small but important role of Molly Bennett in MaXXXine. Collins got her break in The Blind Side in the role of “Big Mike” Oher’s adoptive younger sister, Collins Tuohy. Subsequently, she played Snow White opposite Julia Roberts' evil stepmother in Mirror Mirror and the titlulr role of Emily Cooper in the Netflix series Emily in Paris.

Notable Lily Collins Roles:

Character: Molly is another actress in Hollywood that Maxine meets in MaXXXine. The star of the previous The Puritan film, she is introduced as a frequent collaborator with Elizabeth Bender. This sets her up as a contrast to Maxine.

Halsey As Tabby Martin

Born September 29, 1994

Active Since: 2012

Moses Sumney isn't the only musician in MaXXXine, as the film also features Halsey as Tabby Martin. Born in Edison, New Jersey, Halsey is also a renowned singer-songwriter. Her debut studio album, Badlands, has been certified Double Platinum by the RIAA. Halsey voiced Porsha Crystal in Sing 2 and Wonder Woman in Teen Titans Go! To the Movies. She's also made a cameo appearance as herself in Bradley Cooper’s critically acclaimed remake of A Star is Born and appeared as Mandy Starr in Americana.

Notable Halsey Roles:

Character: Tabby Martin is one of Maxine's friends in MaXXXine. Tabby is quickly established as a sex worker and peer to Maxine.

Giancarlo Esposito As Teddy Knight

Born April 26, 1958

Active Since: 1968

Giancarlo Esposito plays an important ing role in MaXXXine as Teddy Kight. Esposito is best known for his roles as TV villains like Gus Fring in Breaking Bad and its spinoff Better Call Saul, Moff Gideon in The Mandalorian, and Stan Edgar in The Boys. Esposito is a frequent collaborator of Spike Lee and has played a bunch of memorable roles in his movies, like Buggin’ Out in Do the Right Thing, Left Hand Lacey in Mo’ Better Blues, and Thomas Hagan in Malcolm X.

Notable Giancarlo Esposito Roles:

Character: Teddy Knight is Maxine's Hollywood agent. Teddy is introduced as a key player in Maxine getting the chance to star in a blockbuster movie. Ted plays a surprisingly important role in the film.

Kevin Bacon As John Labat

Born July 8, 1956

Active Since: 1977

Screen icon Kevin Bacon appears in MaXXXine as John Labat. Bacon is no stranger to the horror genre: he starred as ex-FBI agent Ryan Hardy in the horror series The Following on Fox and scored one of his earliest roles as Jack Burrell in the original Friday the 13th movie. Bacon got his break with the role of Ren McCormack in Footloose and has since played Willie O’Keefe in JFK, Captain Jack Ross in A Few Good Men, Detective Sean Devine in Mystic River, and Sebastian Shaw in X-Men: First Class.

Notable Kevin Bacon Roles:

Character: John Labat is a private investigator following after Maxine. The sleazy individual serves as one of the film's primary antagonists. He plays a pivotal role in the film, chasing after Maxine and steadily earning her ire.