Dwayne Johnson wasn't always the guy who saved the world with a giant smile and a CGI helicopter. Before he became the billion-dollar brand known as "The Rock," he was trying to figure out if he could actually act. Like, really act. Not just the eyebrow-raising wrestling stuff.
In 2010, he made a movie called Faster.
It’s a gritty, mean-spirited, 70s-style revenge flick. Honestly, it’s kinda bleak. But the actors in the movie Faster are the only reason this thing didn't just end up in a bargain bin at a gas station. You’ve got a future Oscar winner, a guy who played a Bond villain, and a lead actor who was desperately trying to shed his "tooth fairy" image.
People usually search for this cast because they see a face they recognize and go, "Wait, was that Billy Bob Thornton?" Yeah, it was. And he was playing a heroin-addicted cop named Slade. It’s a wild ride.
The Rock as "Driver" and the pivot of a career
The main thing you notice about Dwayne Johnson here is that he doesn't talk. Seriously. He has maybe fifteen lines in the whole movie? He plays a character simply known as "Driver." He just got out of a ten-year stint in prison after a botched robbery where his brother was murdered in front of him.
At this point in 2010, Johnson’s career was in a weird spot. He’d done The Game Plan and Tooth Fairy. He was becoming a family-friendly joke. Faster was his attempt to be the next Clint Eastwood. He’s massive, sure, but he looks tired. There’s a scene where he walks into an office and just shoots a guy in the head—no quips, no one-liners. It’s brutal.
Critics like Roger Ebert actually pointed out that Johnson had a "commanding presence" here that he often loses when he’s trying to be charming. He’s scary. If you’re used to his Jungle Cruise energy, this version of him will probably freak you out. He isn't playing a hero. He’s a force of nature.
Billy Bob Thornton’s weirdly grounded performance
Then you have Billy Bob Thornton. He’s "Cop." That’s his name in the credits. He’s a mess.
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He’s a detective who’s about two days away from retirement, dealing with a drug habit and a failing marriage to a character played by Moon Bloodgood. Thornton does this thing where he looks like he’s permanently sweating. It’s a great contrast to Johnson’s cold, stony silence.
Most people don't realize how much Thornton carries the emotional weight of the movie. While Driver is out there ticking names off a list and killing people, Cop is the one trying to piece together why this is happening. It’s a classic noir trope, but Thornton makes it feel less like a cliché and more like a tragedy.
The strange case of Oliver Jackson-Cohen as "Killer"
The most polarizing part of the actors in the movie Faster has to be Oliver Jackson-Cohen.
He plays a character called "Killer." He’s a millionaire, a tech genius, and a contract killer who does it for the "challenge." He’s basically what would happen if a Silicon Valley bro decided to become John Wick because he was bored.
A lot of fans find his subplot distracting. You’re watching this gritty revenge story and then suddenly you’re in a glass mansion with a guy doing yoga and talking about how he "conquered" yoga so now he has to conquer murder. It’s bizarre. But Jackson-Cohen (who you might know from The Haunting of Hill House or The Invisible Man) sells the hell out of it. He’s arrogant and twitchy.
Director George Tillman Jr. reportedly wanted this character to represent the "new world" versus the "old world" grit of Driver and Cop. It sort of works, but mostly it just makes you want to see Johnson punch him.
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje and the supporting cast
The depth of the cast is actually insane when you look back at it.
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- Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje: You know him as Mr. Eko from Lost or Killer Croc. Here, he plays "The Evangelist," a guy who’s found God after doing some truly terrible things. His scene with Johnson is arguably the best in the film. It’s the only time the movie slows down to talk about morality.
- Carla Gugino: She plays Cicero, Cop’s partner. Gugino is always great, but she’s criminally underused here. She’s the straight-edge detective trying to keep Thornton’s character on the rails.
- Maggie Grace: She plays Killer’s girlfriend/wife. It’s a thankless role, honestly, but she adds a bit of humanity to the high-tech assassin subplot.
- Xander Berkeley: He pops up as a corrupt sergeant. If you need a guy to look like he’s hiding a secret, Berkeley is your man.
Why the casting choices feel different today
Looking back at the actors in the movie Faster from a 2026 perspective is fascinating because of where these people went.
Dwayne Johnson didn't stay the "gritty action star." Literally the year after Faster, he joined the Fast & Furious franchise in Fast Five, and his persona changed forever. He became the "Franchise Viagra." The brooding, silent killer we saw in Faster was basically retired.
Billy Bob Thornton went on to do Fargo on TV, which felt like a spiritual evolution of his character in this movie. Oliver Jackson-Cohen became a horror icon.
The movie itself was a modest success, making about $35 million against a $24 million budget. It wasn't a smash hit, but it’s developed a cult following. Why? Because it’s one of the few times we get to see these specific actors playing against type.
The "No Name" gimmick
One thing that really confuses people is that none of the main characters have real names.
- Driver
- Cop
- Killer
This was a deliberate choice by the writers, Tony and Joe Gayton. They wanted it to feel like a fable or a myth. In a typical action movie, names don't really matter anyway, right? By stripping them away, the actors have to rely entirely on their physical presence. Johnson can't rely on a catchy name or a back-story monologue. He just has to be the Driver.
Is it worth a rewatch for the cast alone?
Honestly? Sorta.
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If you like "tough guy" cinema, it’s a goldmine. The chemistry between the actors in the movie Faster is non-existent because they are rarely in the same room, but that’s the point. It’s a game of cat and mouse where the cat and the mouse are both depressed.
The film deals with some heavy themes:
- Redemption: Can you actually change, or are you just waiting for your past to catch up?
- Forgiveness: The scene with the Evangelist is a masterclass in tension.
- Obsession: Every character is obsessed with something that is destroying them.
The action is practical, too. Very little CGI. When a car crashes, it feels like a car crashed. When someone gets shot, it’s messy. It’s a "hard R" rated movie, and the actors lean into that. They don't play it for laughs. There are zero Marvel-style quips here.
How to track the cast’s work today
If you’re a fan of these specific actors, you can see their evolution across different platforms. Dwayne Johnson’s production company, Seven Bucks, actually handles much larger versions of these types of stories now, though usually with more humor.
For the true "Faster" experience, you should check out the director’s cut if you can find it. It pads out the relationship between Cop and his son, which makes Thornton’s performance even more heartbreaking. It gives the whole "revenge is a circle" thing a bit more bite.
Actionable Insight for Film Buffs
If you're digging into the filmography of these actors, do this:
- Watch 'Faster' back-to-back with 'Fast Five'. It is the exact moment Dwayne Johnson changed his entire acting DNA. In Faster, he’s a human being who can be hurt. In Fast Five, he becomes a superhero. It’s a wild transition to witness.
- Check out Oliver Jackson-Cohen in 'The Invisible Man'. You’ll see the same "intense, slightly unhinged" energy he brought to Killer, but refined.
- Look for the soundtrack. Beyond the acting, the music by Clint Mansell (who did Requiem for a Dream) is what ties these performances together. It’s haunting.
The actors in the movie Faster proved that you don't need a massive script or a huge ensemble to make a point. You just need a guy with a gun, a guy with a badge, and a guy with a grudge.
To get the most out of your rewatch, pay attention to the silence. In an era where movies are filled with constant dialogue and exposition, the quietness of Driver is a reminder that sometimes, less is significantly more.