Lakeith Stanfield and Nat Wolff in the Netflix Original Film "Death Note"
When it comes to anime there may not be a bigger name than Death Note. Despite having 5 film adaptations, this will be the first western interpretation of the story. Directed by horror filmmaker Adam Wingard, Death Note follows the story of high school student Light Turner who discovers a mystical notebook that kills anyone whose name is written in it. Driven by a sense of righteous justice, Light begins to kill criminals in droves attracting the attention of famed detective L. This causes a cat and mouse game between the two as L tries to unmask just who is causing all these deaths.
Let’s meet the cast of Netflix’s Death Note:
Nat Wolff – Light Turner
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Playing the leading role in Death Note, Nat Wolff is a highly accomplished actor who has appeared in a number of different movies. Some of his best known roles include: Isaac in The Fault in Our Stars, Quentin in Paper Towns, Rusty Borgens in Stuck in Love, and Justin in The Intern. His character Light Turner is sociopathic high school student with a god complex. While there are some notable differences between the anime and film versions, both are still driven by a desire to reshape the world in their image.
Margaret Qualley – Mia Sutton
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Born October 23, 1991 in Montana, Sutton is a gifted actress who has worked alongside major actors like Russell Crowe and Logan Lerman. She has appeared in the hit action/comedy Nice Guys, the drama Novitiate, and the mystery film Sidney Hall. Her most known role is Jill Garvey on the popular television show The Leftovers. Mia Sutton is Light’s love interest and unlike the anime she is not a famous model that’s in possession of her own Death Note. In the Netflix film, Mia is a cheerleader who decides to team up with Light as they cleanse the world of crime.
Lakeith Stanfield – L
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Despite acting in a number of different films, actor Lakeith Stanfield hasn’t hit mainstream success until just recently. His big debut was as a young Snoop Dog in Straight Outta Compton and since then he has appeared in a number of films and television shows. He can be seen in Atlanta, Live Cargo, Snowden, Dope, and one of the year’s best-rated movies, Get Out. In the film, L is considered to be the best detective on the planet, despite his various quirks. L acts as Light’s direct rival and is the main person hunting him.
Willem DaFoe – Ryuk (Voice)
DaFoe is by far the biggest star in Netflix’s Death Note and is certainly the most well known out of the cast. He has a storied career that spans dozens upon dozens of films. Some of his biggest roles were in Spider-Man, Finding Nemo, The Boondock Saints, Platoon, John Wick, Daybreakers, Antichist, and The Grand Budapest Hotel. Ryuk is a death god in the movie that was the original owner of the Death Note. Unlike the more aloof Ryuk in the anime, this version has far more sinister intentions and motives.
Shea Whigham – James Turner
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James Turner is Light’s father, part of the Seattle Police. and ally to the detective L. He is portrayed by actor Shea Whigham, who has appeared in a number of different films and movies. Some of his most famous roles include Eli Thompson in Boardwalk Empire, Rodger Dooley in Agent Carter, Cole in Kong: Skull Island, Carl Elway in American Hustle, and Captain Ted Beecham in The Wolf of Wall Street. Whigham has also worked on Fargo, Vice Principals, Star Trek Beyond, and Justified.
Paul Nakauchi – Watari
Photo by Billy Bustamente
Unlike the other actors in Death Note, Paul Nakauchi has largely worked on animated television shows and video games. Most of his acting is through voice work and he has built up quite a resume of famous roles. By far one of his most well known is as Hanzo in the hit multiplayer game Overwatch, but he has also voiced Mathael in Diablo III: Reaper of Souls, Sifo-Dyas in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Sochi in Lost Planet 3, Wong in Doctor Strange, and Bloodsong in Game of Thrones: A Telltale Games Series. Watari is the guardian and personal assistant to L in both the anime and movie.