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Black Mirror creator Charlie Brooker reveals why big names don’t automatically get a role on hit series

Apr 11, 2025

Black Mirror has become a must-watch for millions, and with the success of the TV show, its celebrity cast has grown bigger each season.

But creator and writer Charlie Brooker tells 9honey Celebrity the big names wanting a part in the anthology series don’t just get to walk onto set, with “up and comers” sometimes given the part instead.

“We’re incredibly lucky to work with some incredible people, and people who’ve been heroes of mine for quite a while,” Brooker tells 9honey Celebrity in London.

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Charlie Brooker

“And then also, we’ve got roles where we’ve got sort of up-and-coming people who you maybe don’t know. I think that’s also a very important part of the show’s DNA.

“Because each episode is different, we can kind of showcase a talent you may be unfamiliar with, who will be the star of tomorrow.”

Season 7 alone stars the likes of Oscar winner Paul Giamatti, Rashida Jones, Chris O’Dowd, Will Poulter, Issa Rae and Emma Corrin across the six-episode series, which are like their own movies.

The self-contained episodes each look at what life could be like in the future through the lens of technology and how it could go wrong.

Jessica Rhoades (left), Charlie Brooker (right) Emma Corrin

“I think the great thing is, Charlie usually writes first, so we have this incredible script and we have the characters that it really allows us to hone who is perfect for that role,” executive producer Jessica Rhoades tells 9honey Celebrity.

“In some cases, yes, it’s great, because there’s a lot of people who have said they might be interested in an episode. But also, to Charlie’s point, some of them, we know it’s a discovery, or maybe getting to have someone read and have the character come to life.”

The pair say there is a particular celebrity they’d love to work with, but at the risk of jinxing it they’re not willing to name the A-Lister.

“There’s someone who we’d really love to work with, we just can’t make the schedules line up,” Rhoades says.

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“So I think we’ll keep our eye there.”

One person who is in the upcoming season is Baby Reindeer and Say Nothing actor Josh Finan, who was a fan of the series before being cast.

“Genuinely getting the job was a ‘pinch me’ moment, for sure … It’s a mad thing to come to terms with,” Finan tells 9honey Celebrity.

“I think the thing that’s most cool about it is that it’s just such good quality writing.

Josh Finan

“You actually forget the legacy of Black Mirror, and just sort of treat it as you would any other script, really, it’s strong enough to exist on its own, which was the most exciting thing for me.”

Corrin echoes a similar sentiment and was lining up to work with “genius” Brooker on the “legendary” show.

“It’s was just such an honour to have been invited to be part of the Black Mirror world,” Corrin told 9honey Celebrity.

“I mean, it’s legendary, and Charlie Brooker is a complete genius, so yeah, it was really exciting.”

Emma Corrin

While Black Mirror explores the dark side of technology, Brooker and Rhoades say they’re yet to work on an episode that’s too dangerous a concept to put out into the world.

“I don’t think there is anything that we’d go ‘we can’t put this out, might give people ideas’,” Brooker says.

“More like, ‘If we put this out, it’ll stop someone from doing it’, which doesn’t seem to be the case.”

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Rhoades agrees and adds that Brooker should add another string to his bow.

“I definitely think Charlie should side line as a job – just [be] brought in by companies to say, ‘what could go wrong?’,” she says.

Season 7 of Black Mirror is streaming now on Netflix.

Nine Entertainment Co (the publisher of this website) owns and operates the streaming service Stan.

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