Dev Patel Directs First Feature for Netflix

Dev Patel has exploded into one of the most exciting British actors of his generation, as his career has gone from strength from strength. The now 32-year-old has certainly come a long way from his breakout TV role on E4’s teen-drama, Skins, which arrived back in 2007. His role as the dorky, but loveable, Anwar, catapulted him into the hearts of viewers, thanks to his excellent comedic timing. It also caught the eye of esteemed director Danny Boyle, who decided to grant Patel with the starring role in his epic 2009 blockbuster, Slumdog Millionaire.  

The movie was an absolute smash-hit, with critics and audiences both giving rave reviews, and it even came up big at the awards. The film won Best Motion Picture of the Year at the 2009 Academy Awards, as well as Boyle picking up the Best Achievement in Directing gong. Patel himself was nominated for Best Leading Actor at the 2009 BAFTA Awards, but narrowly lost out to Mickey Rourke, who won for his performance in The Wrestler. 

Slumdog Millionaire won so many plaudits mainly due to its refreshing story, which opened a lot of Western audiences’ eyes to a world outside of their own. Patel played the part of an Indian 18-year-old who had grown up through harsh conditions in the slums of Mumbai, but found that he’d acquired knowledge that helped him win big on the Indian version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? 

This came at the disdain of the authorities though, who questioned how a street kid could know so much, and accused him of cheating. The film then beautifully showcases exactly how Patel’s character came to know the answers, featuring many flash-backs into his colourful past. Throw in a highly romantic love story that reunited childhood sweethearts, and it’s easy to see why the film was such a massive success. 

Patel has had some great roles in the almost 15 years since, with particular highlights being starring in the titular role of 2019’s The Personal History of David Copperfield, and his masterful performance in 2021’s The Green Knight. Although, despite wowing crowds with his amazing acting ability, the next stage of his incredible career now looks set to also be behind the camera. 

This is because, he’s recently finished directing his first feature film, which will be called Monkey Man, and looks likely that it will be released sometime in early 2023. It’s obviously a real passion project for the star, as he’s also co-written the script, is a producer, as well as appearing as one of the characters in the movie. The number one streaming service in the world, Netflix, has already acquired the rights to the film, and it will hopefully be watched by lots of viewers. Whether it hits the crazy numbers of Squid Game, which had the world spending more than two billion cumulative hours recently, remains to be seen. 

Details of Monkey Man remain sparse so far, but what we do know is that it’s going to be an action thriller film, with the plot rumoured to be about a wrongly-convicted prisoner getting his revenge on those who set him up. Interestingly, it will see Patel return to Mumbai, which was the city that first granted him so much success in Slumdog Millionaire. As Patel has roots from that section of the world, it will be exciting to see him once again be part of a movie that showcases a country that doesn’t seem to get much attention in Western cinema. After all, India is a country that has a rich history, and loads of brilliant culture, so that it’s a well for inspiration. 

It has films constantly coming out of Bollywood, lots of fabulous sounding Indi-pop music lighting up the airwaves, and is also now a nation of gaming fans, with online gambling games being massively popular. This rise of online casino games has been thanks to sites like Asia Bet, which gift their visitors with the best casino bonuses in the region for 2022. Their knowledgeable specialists have deep-dived through the internet, to compile a list of the greatest legit bonuses, and each one is chosen because of its fair wagering requirements, displaying real value for money. Plus, they delve into exactly how to use a casino bonus code, meaning that there’s no risk involved when claiming the generous gifts. 

We’re sure Patel will have many more incredible stories to tell that’ll focus on India, and we can’t wait to catch Monkey Man, when it’s released in 2023.