Aubrey Plaza: From “Parks & Recreation” to Dark Thrillers
Aubrey Plaza is best known for her dry humor and comedic performances in titles like “Parks & Recreation,” but her 2024 releases are a great reminder to check out the dark thriller “Emily the Criminal.” 2024 was a big year for Plaza, with appearances in Francis Ford Coppola’s “Megalopolis” and “Agatha All Along,” marking her MCU debut as Rio (aka Death). She also starred in “My Old Ass,” a coming-of-age tale where she plays the older version of the main character.
Emily the Criminal (2022) is a crime thriller that allowed Plaza to tap into her dark side, freed from her comedic arsenal. Despite being based on the lead character’s unlikable aspects, the movie has a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and crafts a gripping thriller. In the film, Plaza portrays Emily, a down-on-her-luck young woman drowning in student debt who resorts to credit card fraud and a dangerous criminal underworld to get by.
An executive producer on the potential TV spinoff of “Emily the Criminal,” Plaza has also had a successful 2024, with multiple projects in development. The talented actress is attached to various titles, including “The Ark and the Aardvark” and “Honey Don’t!” from Ethan Coen. However, her upcoming projects may not include darker roles, leaving room to explore more intriguing and thrilling projects like “Emily the Criminal” and “My Old Ass.”
It would be exciting to see Plaza take on more roles that lean into the dark and dramatic, similar to her performances in “Emily the Criminal” and “My Old Ass.” With her versatility and range, Plaza is capable of delivering compelling performances across various genres, including thrillers, dramas, and horror. For fans of the actress, her upcoming projects may hold exciting possibilities, and her addition to original concepts and stories could result in fascinating and captivating films.
