Monster Cast & Character Guide

Kelvin Harrison Jr. headlines the Monster main cast and stars alongside several big names from mainstream cinema and music. Based on the eponymous 1999 novel by the late Walter Dean Myers, the Netflix movie originally premiered in 2018 and was acquired by the streaming service nearly three years later. Monster was directed Anthony Mandler, who is best known as a celebrity photographer, and for making numerous high-profile music videos with the pop star Rihanna.

Set in Harlem, Monster follows a 17-year-old student named Steve Harmon (Harrison). Through narration and flashback sequences, the film explains how the cinema enthusiast and street photographer became acquainted with young gang members. In the style of the classic Akira Kurosawa film Rashomon – which is referenced – Monster explores different perspectives as Steve gets charged with murder and experiences the legal process.

When Monster first premiered in January 2018, Kelvin Harrison Jr. was relatively unknown as an actor. Over the years since the movie’s release, however, he has established himself as one of the most promising young performers in Hollywood. Mandler’s film has received mixed reviews, but it demonstrates that Harrison is fully capable of holding his own alongside major industry talents. Here’s a complete cast and character guide for Monster, a 2021 Netflix movie.

Kelvin Harrison Jr. As Steve Harmon

Kelvin Harrison Jr. stars  in Monster as Steve Harmon, a 17-year-old Harlem native who is charged with murder. Harrison Jr. starred as Luce Edgar in Luce and Tyler in Waves. He also appeared as Teddy Greene in Godfather of Harlem and Fred Hampton in The Trial of the Chicago 7.

Jennifer Hudson As Mrs. Harmon

Jennifer Hudson co-stars as Mrs. Harmon, Steve’s mother who uses bible verses to remind him that he can still achieve his goals. Hudson began her career as an American Idol season 3 finalist and then delivered an Oscar-winning performance as Effie White in Dreamgirls. She appeared as Irene in the Spike Lee movie Chi-Raq and stars as Aretha Franklin in the 2021 movie Respect.

Jeffrey Wright As Mr. Harmon

Jeffrey Wright portrays Mr. Harmon, Steve’s academic father. Wright won a Golden Globe Award for his performance in the HBO miniseries Angels in America, and portrays Bernard Lowe in HBO’s Westworld. He also appears as CIA operative Felix Leiter in the James Bond franchise and voices The Watcher in the MCU show What If?

Jennifer Ehle As Katherine O’Brien

Jennifer Ehle appears as Katherine O’Brien, Steve’s defense attorney. Ehle starred as Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice (1995) and portrayed Jessica in Zero Dark Thirty. She also appeared as Dr. Ally Hextall in Contagion and was originally cast to portray Catelyn Stark in Game of Thrones before exiting the series because of familial responsibilities.

Tim Blake Nelson As Leroy Sawicki

Tim Blake Nelson portrays Leroy Sawicki, Steve’s film teacher who urges him to be passionate and authentic while pursuing creative interests. Nelson appeared as Delmar O’Donnell in O Brother, Where Art Thou? and the title character in The Ballad of Buster Scruggs. He also portrayed VP Kirby in Angel Has Fallen and Wade Tillman/Looking Glass in Watchmen season 1.

Rakim “A$AP Rocky” Mayers As William King

Rakim Mayers appears as William King, Steve’s neighborhood friend who introduces him to the realities of street life in Harlem. Mayers is a Grammy Award-nominated recording artist who performs under the moniker A$AP Rocky. He portrayed Dom in the 2015 movie Dope and appeared as himself in Zoolander 2.

John David Washington As Richard “Bobo” Evans

John David Washington portrays Richard “Bobo” Evans, William’s cousin who takes part in a robbery/murder. Washington starred as Ron Stallworth in BlacKkKlansman and Protagonist in Tenet. He’s the son of Denzel Washington and headlined the 2021 Netflix movie Malcolm & Marie with Zendaya Coleman.

Monster’s Supporting Cast & Characters

Nasir “Nas” Jones as Raymond “Sunset” Green: Steve’s jailhouse mentor who provides life advice. Nasir Jones is widely recognized as one the best hip-hop lyricists of all time. He portrayed Sincere in Belly and appeared as himself in Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping.

Jharrel Jerome as Osvaldo: A 15-year-old gang member who confronts Steve about his photography. Jharrel Jerome portrayed Korey Wise in When They See Us and Smush in the 2021 Netflix movie Concrete Cowboy.

Paul Ben-Victor as Anthony Petrocelli: An assistant district attorney who prosecutes Steve. Paul Ben-Victor portrayed Florentino in Tombstone and Jose Quesada in Daredevil. Fans of The Wire may know him as Spiros “Vondas” Vondopoulos.

Lovie Simone as Renee Pickford: Steve’s love interest. Lovie Simone starred as the title character in Selah and the Spades and portrayed Tabby in The Craft: Legacy.

Monster is streaming on Netflix now.

About The Author

Q.V. Hough
(1892 Articles Published)

Q.V. Hough is a senior writer at Screen Rant. He’s also the founding editor at Vague Visages, and has contributed to RogerEbert.com and Fandor.

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