Aubrey Plaza is best known for her dry humor and comedic performances in titles likeParks & Recreation, but her 2024 releases are a great reminder to check out a dark thriller titledEmily the Criminal. 2024 was a big year for Plaza. Not only did she appear inFrancis Ford Coppola’sMegalopolis, but she also portrayed Rio (aka Death) inAgatha All Along, marking her MCU debut. The show based on Agatha Harkness was one of Disney+’s more emotional releases, with Rio’s presence as Death adding a grim element to the MCU entry.
Plaza also appeared inMy Old Assas the older version of the main character for a very unorthodox coming-of-age tale. After a young Elliot summons the 39-year-old version of herself,Plaza’sMy Old Asscharactertries to steer her younger self in the right direction while also giving lessons on aging and adulthood. ByMy Old Ass' ending, the older Elliot also learns a few lessons, making for a tragic twist. If you were impressed by Plaza’s recent dramatic roles, we have another movie for you.
Aubrey Plaza Starred In 2022’s Emily The Criminal - Why It’s Worth Watching
A TV Show Spinoff Is In Development
Even with Aubrey Plaza’s recent “dark” roles, they incorporated comedic elements. However, there’s a crime thriller from 2022 starring Plaza that allowed the actress to truly tap into her dark. Unlike her performances connected to existing franchises or series, likeLegion,The White Lotus, or evenAgatha All Along,Emily the Criminaltruly gives Plaza a chance to embrace her dark sidewithout dipping into her well-proven comedic chops. The movie from John Patton Ford has 94% onRotten Tomatoesand manages to craft an intriguing thriller despite the unlikable aspect of the characters, including Emily.
Aubrey Plaza’s 10 Most Underrated TV & Movie Roles
While viewers may recognize Aubrey Plaza for her most famous roles, she’s had plenty of other underrated performances across film and television.
Still, Emily’s role as a downtrodden job-seeker suffering from student loan debt creates a sliver of reliability before the character’s life goes off the rails. With schemes of credit card fraud and a threatening criminal underworld,Plaza finds her lead character leaving morals behind to get what she needs.It may be a different role for Plaza, but the actress is a critical reason whyEmily the Criminalworks so well. In fact, the movie’s success led to thedevelopment of a TV show spinoff ofEmily the Criminal.Though Plaza isn’t returning as Emily, she will still be involved as an executive producer.
Aubrey Plaza Isn’t Attached To Upcoming Dark Projects, But She Should Be
Plaza Is Attached To Several Titles In Development
Following a notable 2024,Aubrey Plaza will remain busy with a handful of upcoming projects.In addition to being in the star-studded cast for the live-action/animated comedyAnimal Friends, Plaza is attached to the animated movieThe Ark and the Aardvarkand Ethan Coen’s comedyHoney Don’t!.She’s also the writer on Prime’s upcoming animated show titledKevin, which she is also executive producing. While it’s no surprise to see Plaza booked up with projects, the confirmed titles don’t include any darker roles.
…it would be exciting to see Plaza get more roles that lean more into the vibes ofEmily the CriminalandMy Old Ass.
Sure, not all of her upcoming projects may not be pure comedies, especially the Ethan Coen project, but it would be exciting to see Plaza get more roles that lean more into the vibes ofEmily the CriminalandMy Old Ass.Plaza may return as Death in future MCU projectsbased on the reception surrounding her franchise debut. That said, seeing Plaza attached to original concepts and stories rooted in genres like thrillers, dramas, and even horror would be more intriguing.
Source:Rotten Tomatoes
Emily the Criminal
Emily the Criminal is a thriller directed by John Patton Ford, featuring Aubrey Plaza as Emily, a down-on-her-luck young woman drowning in student debt. Desperation leads her into a high-stakes credit card fraud operation that propels her into a dangerous criminal underworld. Co-starring Theo Rossi, the film explores themes of financial distress and moral ambiguity.
