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Will Forte Joins Skyler Gisondo & Kenneth Branagh In A24’s ‘Goblin’
A24 is in talks to bring Will Forte on board for dual roles in "Goblin," a comedy from first-time director David Mikalson, joining previously announced cast members Skyler Gisondo and Kenneth Branagh. Branagh will voice the title character, an "anatomically correct" green goblin brought to life through a practical puppet rather than CGI, reflecting Mikalson's original vision for the project. The casting underlines A24's continued willingness to back untested directors with distinctive, offbeat concepts.
Mikalson, a Washington state native who left film school to make short films, developed "Goblin" independently before securing representation and taking meetings across Hollywood; he reportedly spent his own money building the puppet before A24 agreed to finance the film. Production is scheduled to begin in the autumn. Forte, known for "Saturday Night Live," "Nebraska," "MacGruber" and, more recently, "The Four Seasons," is represented by UTA, Rise and Hansen Jacobson.
In short
- Will Forte in talks for dual roles in A24's "Goblin"
- Joins Skyler Gisondo and Kenneth Branagh, who voices the goblin
- Director David Mikalson's puppet-led comedy begins filming this autumn
Explained simply
"Goblin" is a comedy being financed by studio A24 around a distinctive creative concept: the title character, a green goblin, is realised through a practical puppet rather than computer animation and will be voiced by Kenneth Branagh. The film brings together actors including Skyler Gisondo and Will Forte for the project.
The film marks the directorial debut of David Mikalson, a Washington-based filmmaker who independently developed the project and personally built the puppet before A24 agreed to finance it. This approach—with a first-time director presenting a fully realised creative vision—reflects A24's investment strategy of backing emerging filmmakers with distinctive, unconventional ideas.
A24 has developed a reputation for supporting new directors with experimental and offbeat sensibilities, often resulting in acclaimed films. The studio's financing of Mikalson's vision demonstrates its continued commitment to this approach, prioritising original creative concepts over established intellectual property or conventional filmmaking practices.
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