Rachel Sennott Joins Chris Hemsworth in Gritty Crime Thriller 'Kockroach'

The upcoming film blends Kafka's 'The Metamorphosis' with the criminal underworld for a bold reimagining.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 3:21pm

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An abstract close-up image featuring shattered glass and reflective chrome surfaces, creating a high-contrast, gritty texture that evokes the themes of power and transformation at the heart of the Kockroach film.The shattered, reflective surfaces of the criminal underworld set the stage for a bold reimagining of a literary classic.Boston Today

The upcoming film Kockroach promises a unique blend of literary inspiration and star power, with Rachel Sennott joining a cast that already includes Chris Hemsworth, Taron Egerton, Zazie Beetz, and Alec Baldwin. The project takes Franz Kafka's classic tale of transformation, The Metamorphosis, and transplants it into the gritty, power-hungry landscape of a city's criminal underworld.

Why it matters

This bold reimagining of a seminal work of literature has the potential to explore profound themes of identity, ambition, and the monstrous aspects of power. By layering the Kafkaesque element of literal, perhaps supernatural, transformation onto a crime thriller narrative, the film could offer a compelling commentary on how societal structures can feel as alienating and monstrous as any physical change.

The details

The addition of Rachel Sennott, known for her complex and often darkly comedic portrayals, is seen as a significant development that could inject a fresh, contemporary sensibility into the narrative. The premise of a mysterious stranger infiltrating and dominating the criminal underworld, transforming into a larger-than-life boss, is a familiar trope, but the Kafkaesque twist opens up new dimensions to explore.

  • Kockroach is currently in production, with filming taking place in Australia.
  • The film is being handled by Black Bear International for global sales at the Cannes Film Festival in 2026.

The players

Rachel Sennott

An American actress known for her roles in films like I Love LA and her ability to portray complex, often darkly comedic characters.

Chris Hemsworth

An Australian actor known for his roles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and other high-profile films.

Kockroach

An upcoming crime thriller film that blends elements of Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis with the gritty world of organized crime.

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What they’re saying

“Taking a classic, existential tale of transformation and setting it within the gritty, power-hungry landscape of a city's criminal underworld is a stroke of genius.”

— Ms. Lucile Johns, Entertainment Writer

“If the supernatural element is indeed a literal transformation into a cockroach, as suggested by the source material's inspiration, it forces us to confront what it truly means to be human when stripped of our familiar form.”

— Ms. Lucile Johns, Entertainment Writer

What’s next

The film is currently in production, with filming taking place in Australia. Black Bear International will be handling the global sales at the Cannes Film Festival in 2026, which will be a key milestone in the project's development.

The takeaway

Kockroach represents an ambitious and thought-provoking blend of literary inspiration and contemporary crime thriller elements. By exploring themes of identity, power, and the human condition through the lens of a Kafkaesque transformation, the film has the potential to offer a profound and engaging cinematic experience.