Levon Hawke scores first lead role with Anthony Hopkins

Levon Hawke, the son of Hollywood stars Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman, has secured his first leading role in a feature film. The 24-year-old actor will star alongside legendary actor Sir Anthony Hopkins in an upcoming independent drama titled Twenty-Seven, marking an important milestone in his acting career.

The film will explore themes of personal struggles, relationships, ambition and the challenges of pursuing a career in the entertainment industry. Hawke will portray a 27-year-old aspiring screenwriter who is determined to establish himself in Hollywood while navigating complicated personal relationships and living with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

His character will face several challenges as he attempts to balance his professional ambitions with his mental health and personal life. The storyline will focus on his journey towards finding his place in the competitive film industry while learning to manage the difficulties that come with adulthood.

Hopkins, 88, will play an important supporting character in the drama. The Oscar-winning actor will portray an 80-year-old former television actor who has moved away from the entertainment industry and now works as a theatre professor. His character is also living with Parkinson’s disease.

The story will highlight the friendship between the two characters, who come from different generations and have experienced life and the entertainment industry in very different ways. Hopkins’ character becomes a friend and mentor to Hawke’s aspiring screenwriter, creating an opportunity to explore the importance of guidance, understanding and meaningful connections.

Gregory Caruso has written and directed Twenty-Seven. His production company, Bristol Pictures, is producing the project alongside David Worthen Brooks and Dustin Cook.

Production is currently underway in Los Angeles, although the filmmakers have not yet announced additional cast members or revealed further details about the film’s release schedule.

Caruso reportedly developed the older character with Hopkins specifically in mind. The filmmaker expressed his admiration for the veteran actor, explaining that he had hoped someone with Hopkins’ extraordinary abilities would eventually take on the role.

He also praised the actor’s contribution, highlighting his exceptional understanding of complex characters and the remarkable depth he brings to his performances.

For Levon Hawke, the project represents a significant step forward after several years of building experience through television, films and theatre. He made his screen debut in the 2023 Apple TV+ series The Crowded Room, where he began establishing his presence in the entertainment industry.

He later appeared in Zoë Kravitz’s directorial debut Blink Twice, released in 2024, and the western film The Thicket the same year. In 2025, he also appeared in Marty Supreme, starring alongside Timothée Chalamet.

Apart from his screen performances, Hawke has developed an interest in theatre and storytelling. In 2024, he directed an original stage production titled Picture Day, which he also wrote, demonstrating his creative abilities beyond acting.

Landing a leading role opposite an internationally respected performer such as Hopkins could prove to be an important opportunity for the young actor. The project will allow him to take on a more central character while working with an experienced performer known for bringing emotional complexity to his roles.

With filming already underway, Twenty-Seven is shaping up to be an intimate character-driven drama that brings together two actors from different generations. The film’s focus on friendship, ambition, mental health and mentorship could offer audiences a thoughtful exploration of human relationships and the challenges of finding direction in life.