Summary
Cold Pursuit boasts a roster of talented actors who have starred in several other renowned television shows and movies. Adapted from the 2014 Norwegian film In Order of Disappearance (Kraftidioten), Cold Pursuit is another one of the many action movies in which Liam Neeson’s character serves cold revenge on the ones who try to harm him and his family. Although, on the surface, Cold Pursuit comes off as a typical revenge thriller, its dark comedy and scintillating snow-clad backdrops set it apart from the standard fare in the genre.
Apart from being visually appealing and darkly comical, Cold Pursuit also features a diverse set of intriguing character beats that do not necessarily draw an emotional connection with audiences but keep viewers hooked throughout its runtime. The film’s sardonic wit, unconventional storytelling format, and absurd but captivating character arcs would not have worked out so well if it weren’t for the compelling performances of its cast members. Since its cast plays a crucial role in selling its black comedy and executing its action and drama, it is hard not to wonder who plays whom in Cold Pursuit.
Liam Neeson as Nels Coxman
Nels is the main character in Cold Pursuit, who works as a snowplow at a ski resort in Kehoe, Colorado. In the movie’s opening moments, he earns a Citizen of the Year reward, but his life changes for the worse when his son dies from a heroin overdose. Determined to avenge his son’s death, he does some research and figures out that a Denver drug cartel was responsible for his son’s forced overdose. With these newfound learnings, he finds three members of the cartel and kills them before throwing their bodies in a river. What begins as a father’s pursuit to seek revenge gradually morphs into a war between two drug cartels when Nels’ actions spiral into chaos.
In Cold Pursuit, Nels is perfectly portrayed by Liam Neeson, who has previously appeared in several similar roles in many films. For instance, in the entire Taken series, Neeson’s Bryan tries to rescue his abducted family members and protects them from external threats. Other than starring in revenge and abduction action flicks, Liam Neeson is also known for playing Oskar Schindler in Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List, which also got him an Oscar nomination. Many viewers would also recognize him for portraying Hannibal in The A-Team and Ra’s Al Ghul in Christopher Nolan’s Batman universe.
Tom Bateman as Trevor “Viking” Calcote
The three men Nels kills in Cold Pursuit’s opening arc turn out to be drug kingpin Viking’s employees. Oblivious to the fact that an ordinary civilian murdered them, Viking initially assumes that his rival White Bull is responsible for the deaths. This assumption triggers a war between him and White Bull because Viking gets one of Bull’s men killed without realizing it was White Bull’s only son. The more Cold Pursuit progresses, the more it becomes evident that Viking is not the kind of man one would want to mess with. However, Nels still manages to stay one step ahead by outsmarting him and his rival and cleverly pulling all the strings of their rivalry from behind the scenes.
Viking is portrayed by Tom Bateman in Cold Pursuit. The actor is best known for his appearances in movies like Murder on the Orient Express, Snatched, and Death on the Nile. He is also recognizable for his portrayal of Matt Pierce in all eight episodes of Based on a True Story. His other television appearances in television include shows like Into the Dark, Vanity Fair, Beecham House, and Behind Her Eyes.
Tom Jackson as White Bull Legrew
White Bull initially avoids having any conflicts with Viking despite being his biggest rival. However, he does not hold himself back when Viking accidentally gets his son killed. To get back at Viking, he orders his men to abduct Viking’s son. As a gruesome war brews between the two parties, neither White Bull nor Viking suspect that a third party could be involved in their all-out battle. Tom Jackson, of the North of 60 fame, plays the ruthless White Bull in Cold Pursuit. The actor has over 40 acting credits under his belt, and he is best known for his appearances in movies and television shows such as Star Trek: The Next Generation, The Dependables, and Skinwalkers.
William Forsythe as Brock “Wingman” Coxman
Played by William Forsythe, Brock is Nels’ brother in Cold Pursuit. He gets embroiled in the gang war after Nels decides to seek his help. Brock turns out to be the perfect guiding force for Nels because he was previously a hitman for Viking’s father. Since he understands the inner workings of both gangs, he advises Nels to hire an assassin to kill Viking. Unfortunately, things do not go as planned after Nels hires an assassin, and the assassin double-crosses him. Luckily for Nels, Brock sacrifices his life to protect Nels and takes the blame for hiring the assassin to kill Viking.
Cold Pursuit is not the first film where William Forsythe portrayed a tough-as-nails criminal. He has taken similar roles in several other movies like The Rock, Dick Tracy, and The Devil’s Rejects. Apart from that, he has also made recurring appearances in renowned television shows like The Man on the High Castle, Broadwalk Empire, and CSI: Miami.
Cold Pursuit Supporting Cast & Characters
Laura Dern as Grace: Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe winner Laura Dern, who is best known for her performances in Mask, Blue Velvet, and Jurassic Park, plays Nels’ wife, Grace, in Cold Pursuit.
Arnold Pinnock as Leighton “The Eskimo” Deed: Eskimo is the hitman who double crosses Nels and Brock by telling Viking who hired him. In Cold Pursuit, he is portrayed by Arnold Pinnock of The Incredible Hulk, The Expanse, and Murdoch Murders fame.
Emmy Rossum as Kim Dash: Emmy Rossum plays Kehoe police officer, Kim Dash, in Cold Pursuit. She is recognizable for her roles in movies and shows like Mystic River, Shameless, The Day After Tomorrow, Mr. Robot, and The Crowded Room.
John Doman as John “Gip” Gipsky: John Doman portrays Kim’s partner, Gip, in Cold Pursuit. Before Cold Pursuit, John Doman starred in several renowned television shows and movies like The Trial of Chicago 7, The Wire, The Boys, and Gotham.
