Brendan Gleeson Stars as Crime Boss in 'Mr. Cranky'

Brendan Gleeson has built a legendary career playing men you wouldn't necessarily want to spill a pint in front of. From the world-weary hitman in In Bruges to the blunt, uncompromising priest in Calvary, the Irish titan specializes in "intimidating with a heart of gold." Now, Gleeson is leaning fully into his grumpier side for the upcoming crime-comedy Mr. Cranky, a project that feels like it was tailored specifically for his unique brand of volcanic charisma.

In this new feature, Gleeson stars as Kevin Darcy, a top-tier debt collector and crime boss whose legendary short temper is both his greatest professional asset and his biggest personal liability. However, the "impossible task" Kevin faces in this film isn't a gangland hit or a police sting—it’s a seven-year-old girl named Angela.

The Plot: Gangsters, Nannies, and Bedtime Stories

Mr. Cranky follows Kevin Darcy after a gangland war erupts, fueled largely by his own inability to keep his cool. When his ex-girlfriend becomes the unintended victim of a car bomb meant for him, Kevin find himself the unlikely sole guardian of her precocious daughter.

More accustomed to putting people to sleep with his fists than with bedtime stories, Kevin retreats to Australia’s glitzy Gold Coast to lie low. The "exhilarating" twist? The hardened criminal quickly realizes he’s met his match. Angela is quick to enforce her own strict rules on clean language and behavior, turning the crime boss’s life upside down.

While avoiding Lebanese hitmen, drug-dealing circus clowns, and a relentless gang of Hells Angels, Kevin must also navigate the domestic minefield of fatherhood—all with the dubious help of Candy, a hilariously underqualified nanny.

Behind the Scenes: A ‘Gettin’ Square’ Reunion

The film serves as a high-profile reunion for some of the most influential figures in Australian crime-comedy. It is directed by Jonathan Teplitzky, known for the moving drama The Railway Man and the cult classic Gettin’ Square. Teplitzky is working from a script by Chris Nyst, the lawyer-turned-screenwriter who penned Crooked Business.

"It was love at first sight when we read this very funny script," noted Metro International CEO Will Machin. "We were bowled over when Brendan Gleeson agreed to take the lead. It’s a role that was so clearly written for him—a hot-headed man discovering his better self through the most unlikely of circumstances."

Gleeson’s Year of High Stakes

The announcement of Mr. Cranky comes at a busy time for Gleeson. In early 2026, he has already seen critical success with the wide release of H Is for Hawk, where he stars opposite Claire Foy as a doting, bird-loving father—a role that serves as a poignant, quiet contrast to the explosive Kevin Darcy.

By taking on Mr. Cranky, Gleeson continues to prove that he is one of the few actors who can seamlessly transition between "awards-season" prestige and riotous, genre-bending comedy. The film’s Australian setting offers a fresh backdrop for Gleeson’s performance, moving him away from the familiar rainy streets of Dublin or London and into the bright, neon-lit chaos of the Gold Coast.

What to Expect: A Heartfelt Action-Comedy

While the title sounds lighthearted, Mr. Cranky is being positioned as a dark comedy with real stakes. Producers have teased that the "bond to rival any father-daughter relationship" is at the core of the film, but it won't be an easy journey. The "impossible task" of becoming a better man while being hunted by the law and the underworld provides the friction that makes the story move.

With production moving across Melbourne and Queensland, the film is expected to be a visual treat, blending the gritty reality of a crime thriller with the vibrant, sun-soaked aesthetic of an Australian summer.

As the industry looks toward the rest of 2026, Mr. Cranky stands out as a rare commodity: a strong, character-driven comedy led by one of the finest actors of his generation. For anyone who has ever wanted to see Brendan Gleeson argue with a seven-year-old about swear words while fleeing from hitmen, this is officially your most anticipated movie of the year.

Source - https://entertainment.ie/movies/movie-news/brendan-gleeson-set-to-star-as-a-cranky-crime-boss-inemmr-cranky-236083/

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