Summary
- Awkwafina and Simu Liu are reunited in the action comedy “Jackpot!” after their roles in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
- Jackpot! is a comedic take on The Purge that revolves around a dystopian California lottery system with a deadly twist.
- The film also features a subtle reunion of two of Barbie’s Kens: Liu and John Cena.
John Cena’s new action comedy Jackpot! brings two MCU actors back together for the first time since their Marvel debut three years ago. Jackpot! is the latest comedy from Bridesmaids Directed by Paul Feig. Awkwafina plays a struggling actress named Katie who wins the California lottery in 2030. Unfortunately for her, a dystopian futuristic law dictates that anyone with a losing ticket can murder the winner before sunset and claim her winnings. Cena plays Noel, a freelance lottery protection agent who tries to keep her alive in order to get a share of her winnings.
Jackpot! will be streamed on Prime Video from August 15. It sounds like a comedic version of The Cleansingin which a totalitarian future government has declared that murder is legal under certain circumstances, so anything goes. With Feig at the helm, it’s sure to be an insanely entertaining ride. As much fun as it will be to see Awkwafina on screen with Cena in a fast-paced action comedy, it will also be great to see Awkwafina reunite with her Marvel co-star in the Jackpot! pour.
Prime Video’s jackpot movie reunites Awkwafina and Shang-Chi’s Simu Liu
Shang-Chi and Katy share the screen again
Jackpot! will reunite Awkwafina with Simu Liu for the first time since they starred together in Marvel Studios’ Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Liu will play Louis Lewis, who competes with Noel for Katie’s lottery win. It’s been three years since the two made their MCU debut in the roles of Shang-Chi and his best friend Katy. Now their first on-screen reunion is not a sequel to the Marvel blockbuster, but a completely independent action comedy.
Awkwafina and Liu showed spectacular chemistry in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings; they are introduced to the world of superheroes together and in the final scene they step through a portal to meet the Avengers together. They are one of the most lovable duos in the MCU and the prospect of seeing them again in a Shang Chi Continuation or a avenger The film was really exciting – but so far that hasn’t happened. In the meantime, however, Jackpot! will do.
Jackpot offers another subtle reunion for the biggest movie of 2023
Two of Barbie’s Kens also come together again in Jackpot
Awkwafina isn’t the only former co-star Liu is reuniting with in the cast of Jackpot!; he has also appeared on screen with Cena before. In last year’s most successful film, Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, Liu and Cena each played different versions of Ken. Liu played Rival Ken, the biggest rival of Ryan Gosling’s main character Ken, while Cena played “Kenmaid,” the mermaid version of Ken. The cast of Jackpot! is like a who’s who of Liu’s filmography.
Jack-o-lantern! (2024)
Set in near-future California, the state introduces a high-stakes “Grand Lottery” with a deadly twist: To win the prize, the winner must survive until sunset without being killed by other participants. The action comedy follows Katie, a newcomer to Los Angeles, played by Awkwafina, who suddenly has a winning ticket.
