Natasha Lyonne dropped by Deadline’s Red Sea International Film Festival Studio and spoke about the plan to keep Poker Face going and replace her character, Charlie Cale, with Peter Dinklage in the lead role. It seems she might have plans to come back if the show continues…but not until she’s made a movie or two.
Last week we broke the bombshell news that Peacock wasn’t pot-committed to Poker Face and had decided not to renew it for a Season 3. But, as we reported, series creator Rian Johnson, his T-Street partner Ram Bergman, MRC and Lyonne hatched a plan to take the show to other buyers, with Game Of Thrones star Dinklage as the lead, and that role being re-cast every couple of years.
Lynne, who would remain an exec producer on the show, said: “I love Dinklage, I love Rian, and we’ll see what happens. I could pop back up. I really need a few years; if I don’t make a movie before I die, I’ll be very bummed out. So let me just get one feature in the can, and we’ll see.”
Through Asteria, the AI production studio she co-founded with Bryn Mooser. Lyonne is working on Uncanny Valley, an AI-driven feature she wrote with Brit Marling. It is set to be her feature directorial debut.
Lyonne said that using clean AI means this one will take some time. “When you’re not generating in Midjourney, it takes longer, basically, because it’s a team of artists in there. We’re looking at every image and kind of dialing it in,” she said. “Everything I’ve done is always sort of a five-year span from inception to the touch-and go cycle of cast coming together with the budget.”
Lyonne spoke about AI and the film business, including the need to protect artists, copyright and having the right guardrails. “I think it’s worth remembering that we need hope and new ideas, and to remember that we’re kind of the architects of this moment, and how we all choose to show up for each other is really key.”
Meanwhile, there might be a Poker Face homecoming if the show finds a new home, of course. “I love Poker Face,” she said. “I just would like to do a couple of movies for a second, and maybe I’ll see you again.”