If you’ve spent any time watching prestige TV or weird British cult comedies over the last decade, you’ve definitely seen Shazad Latif. You might not have known his name at first. Maybe he was the guy with the incredible hair in that one sci-fi show, or the soft-spoken doctor in a period piece. But honestly, the guy is a chameleon.
He has this weirdly specific ability to jump from playing a Klingon-hybrid sleeper agent in Star Trek to a hipster sound engineer who torments Matt Berry in Toast of London. Most actors find a niche and stay there. Latif? He just keeps moving.
With his recent turn as Captain Nemo in Nautilus and his upcoming role in the 2026 Wuthering Heights adaptation, people are finally starting to realize that Shazad Latif movies and TV shows aren't just random credits—they're a masterclass in range.
The Clem Fandango Phenomenon and Early Breaks
"Hello Steven, this is Clem Fandango, can you hear me?"
If you know, you know. For a lot of comedy nerds, this was the introduction to Latif. Playing Clem Fandango in Toast of London (and later Toast of Tinseltown) shouldn't have been a career-defining move, but it was. He played the ultimate hipster antagonist—ridiculous clothes, intense gaze, and a name that just stays in your brain. It’s a cult classic role.
But before he was messing with Steven Toast, Latif was actually doing serious dramatic work. His first big break came in the BBC spy thriller Spooks (known as MI-5 in the States) where he played Tariq Masood. He actually left the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School a year early just to take that job. It paid off.
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It’s kind of funny looking back at those early roles like his guest spot in the very first episode of Black Mirror ("The National Anthem"). He’s been in the background of some of the most influential British TV of the 2010s.
Star Trek: Discovery and the "Javid Iqbal" Mystery
When Latif joined the cast of Star Trek: Discovery, things got weird. Not "sci-fi weird," but "meta-acting weird." He was originally cast as a Klingon named Kol, but then he ended up playing Lieutenant Ash Tyler.
Except... he was also playing the Klingon Voq.
To keep the plot twist a secret, the show creators invented a fake actor named "Javid Iqbal" (using Latif's late father's name) and credited him for the role of Voq. For months, fans were theorizing online while Latif had to basically lie to everyone’s face in interviews.
Playing Ash Tyler was a huge shift. He had to portray a man dealing with intense PTSD, sexual trauma, and the literal realization that his body wasn't his own. It was dark. It was heavy. And it’s probably the reason why he's now a household name for Trek fans globally.
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Breaking Into Lead Roles: From Rom-Coms to Captain Nemo
Recently, we've seen a shift. Latif is no longer just the "reliable supporting guy."
Take What’s Love Got to Do with It? (2023). He stars alongside Lily James as Kaz, a man navigating the world of "assisted marriage." It’s a grounded, charming performance that proved he could lead a romantic lead without the need for prosthetic foreheads or laser guns.
Then came Nautilus.
Taking on the role of Captain Nemo is a big deal. We’re talking about one of the most famous literary characters in history. Latif’s version of Nemo is an Indian prince seeking revenge against the East India Company. It’s a massive, big-budget production that originally sat in limbo at Disney+ before finding a home on AMC and Amazon Prime. It’s basically his "superstar" moment.
Key Projects You Should Actually Watch
- Penny Dreadful: He plays Dr. Henry Jekyll. Yes, that Jekyll. He brings a much more nuanced, racialized perspective to the character than we usually see.
- Profile: This is a wild one. It’s a "Screenlife" thriller (the whole movie happens on a computer screen). He plays an ISIS recruiter, and it is genuinely terrifying.
- The Pursuit of Love: If you want something lighter, his role as Alfred Wincham is basically pure British period-piece comfort food.
What is Coming Next for Shazad Latif?
So, where is he headed? The 2026 film calendar is already looking busy for him.
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He’s officially part of Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights adaptation, playing Edgar Linton. It’s a star-studded cast including Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi. Being cast in an Emerald Fennell movie usually means you're about to have a very big year.
There's also the upcoming series Atomic, where he plays a character named JJ. It seems like he’s leaning back into high-stakes drama, which is where his intensity really shines.
Actionable Takeaway for Fans
If you want to see the full spectrum of Shazad Latif movies and TV shows, don't just stick to the blockbusters. Start with Toast of London for the comedy, move to Discovery for the drama, and finish with Profile to see just how scary he can be.
If you're looking to catch up on his latest work:
- Check out Nautilus on Amazon Prime/AMC to see him as a leading man.
- Watch Magpie (2024), a noir thriller where he stars opposite Daisy Ridley.
- Keep an eye out for the Wuthering Heights release in February 2026.
He isn't just "the guy from that show" anymore. He's becoming one of the most versatile British actors of his generation.