Summary

• Y2K is a horror comedy set during the Y2K panic, starring rising talent like Julian Dennison and Rachel Zegler.
• Kyle Mooney's directorial debut imagines a chaotic New Year's Eve party in 1999 turned deadly.
• Premiered at SXSW, Y2K releases on December 6, offering a late-'90s vibe and a mix of rising stars and seasoned pros.

Kyle Mooney’s alternate-history horror comedy Y2K is led by a stellar ensemble cast featuring such rising stars as Julian Dennison, Jaeden Martell, and Rachel Zegler. The movie marks Mooney’s directorial debut from a script he co-wrote with Evan Winter. The story imagines what would’ve happened if Y2K – the computer apocalypse that was expected to follow the turn of the year 2000 – actually happened. It’s told through the lens of a coming-of-age romp set at a high school party held on New Year’s Eve 1999. Picture This is the End, but with more of a late-‘90s vibe.

Y2K had its world premiere at South by Southwest earlier this year on March 9, where it received mixed but mostly positive reviews from critics in attendance. The movie is set to be released in theaters by A24 on December 6, just in time to coincide with this year’s New Year’s Eve celebrations (and the 25th anniversary of the Y2K panic that forms the basis of the plot). Mooney has assembled a cast of both rising stars and seasoned pros to bring the chaos of Y2K to life.

Jaeden Martell As Eli

Date of birth: January 4, 2003

Active since: 2013

Actor: Jaeden Martell was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and got his big break when he starred as Oliver Bronstein alongside Bill Murray and Melissa McCarthy in 2014’s St. Vincent. Martell went on to play such roles as Alton Meyer in Midnight Special, Jacob Thrombey in Knives Out, and Kevin Schlieb in Metal Lords. Perhaps his best-known leading role is Bill Denbrough in the blockbuster 2017 Stephen King adaptation It. On television, he played the title role in Defending Jacob and the teenage John Berkman in the series finale of Barry.

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Character: Martell plays the lead role of Eli in Y2K. Eli is a high school loser with a crush on a popular girl named Laura. He crashes a New Year’s Eve party in the hope of kissing her at midnight, but is dismayed to find that she likes someone else.

Julian Dennison As Danny

Date of birth: October 16, 2002

Active since: 2013

Actor: Julian Dennison was born in Lower Hutt, Wellington, New Zealand, and he got his breakout role in the 2013 movie Shopping, which earned him the English Film and Television Award for Best ing Actor. He’s since played such high-profile roles as Ricky Baker in Taika Waititi’s adventure comedy Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Russell “Firefist” Collins in the superhero sequel Deadpool 2, and Josh Valentine in the monster-movie crossover Godzilla vs. Kong. He’s also been cast to play Fishlegs Ingerman in the live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon.

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Character: Dennison is the co-lead of Y2K, playing Eli’s best friend Danny. Danny is the one who encourages Eli to talk to his crush. He s Eli in crashing the New Year’s Eve party.

Rachel Zegler As Laura

Date of birth: May 3, 2001

Active since: 2015

Actor: Rachel Zegler was born in Hackensack, New Jersey, and started out making videos of herself singing on YouTube. She got her big break in the film industry when she answered an open casting call and landed the role of Maria in Steven Spielberg’s 2021 remake of West Side Story. She’s since appeared in a handful of big-budget productions, playing Anthea in Shazam! Fury of the Gods and Lucy Gray Baird in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. She’s also been cast to play the title role in Disney’s live-action Snow White remake.

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Character: Zegler plays Eli’s crush Laura in the Y2K cast. Laura is one of the most popular girls in school and Eli is hopelessly in love with her. However, Laura has a different love interest who she kisses at the party, much to Eli’s horror.

Kyle Mooney As Garrett

Date of birth: September 4, 1984

Active since: 2005

Actor: Kyle Mooney was born in San Diego, California, and got his big break when he ed the cast of Saturday Night Live in 2013. Mooney remained an SNL cast member until 2022. During his tenure, he co-wrote and starred in the 2017 movie Brigsby Bear. He’s known for his regular appearances and man-on-the-street interviews featured on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and Sports Show with Norm Macdonald. He’s also played recurring roles on TV comedies, like Rory in HBO’s Hello Ladies and Murphy Brown Fünke in Arrested Development.

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Character: Mooney plays a stoner named Garrett in Y2K. Garrett is a grown man who still hangs out with teenagers, similar to Matthew McConaughey’s character David Wooderson in Dazed and Confused. Mooney is also the director and co-writer of the film, making his directorial debut.

Y2K ing Cast & Characters

Daniel Zolghadri as CJ: The role of CJ is played by Daniel Zolghadri. Zolghadri is no stranger to coming-of-age films, having played Riley in Eighth Grade. He also played Dell in Alex Strangelove, Robert in Funny Pages, and Smitty in Low Tide.

Lachlan Watson as Ash: Lachlan Watson appears in Y2K in the role of Ash. Watson is known for playing Theo Putnam in Netflix’s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and Chucky’s twin children, Glen and Glenda, in Chucky season 2.

Eduardo Franco as Farkas: Farkas is played by Eduardo Franco. Franco is best known for his roles as Argyle in Stranger Things, Theo in Booksmart, and Spencer Diaz in American Vandal.

Fred Durst as himself: Fred Durst appears in Y2K as himself. Durst was one of the biggest stars in 1999. Durst is best known as the frontman and lyricist of the nu metal band Limp Bizkit.

Mason Gooding as Jonas: Jonas is played by Mason Gooding. Gooding is best known for his turn as Chad Meeks-Martin in the fifth and sixth Scream movies. He also played Nick Howland in Booksmart, Dan Connor in Fall, and Calvin Riggs in Moonshot.

The Kid Laroi as Soccer Chris: The character dubbed “Soccer Chris” is played by the Kid Laroi. The Kid Laroi is an Australian rapper, singer, and songwriter who first broke out with his 2021 single “Stay” (featuring Justin Bieber). He’s since released such hit songs as “Without You,” “Love Again,” and “Too Much.”

Miles Robbins as Nugz: Miles Robbins plays Nugz in Y2K. Robbins previously played Connor Aldrich in Blockers, Dave in the 2018 Halloween reboot, and Aspen Bell in the Bill Burr-directed Netflix comedy Old Dads.

Alicia Silverstone as Robin: Robin is played by Alicia Silverstone. Best known for playing Cher Horowitz in Clueless and Batgirl in Batman & Robin, Silverstone was one of the biggest movie stars of the ‘90s.

Tim Heidecker as Howard: Tim Heidecker appears in Y2K in the ing role of Howard. Heidecker is best known as one half of the comedy team Tim & Eric, along with Eric Wareheim. Heidecker has previously played Dougie in Bridesmaids, Captain Daniel Gooobler in Ant-Man and the Wasp, and Josh Tyler in Us.

Lauren Balone as Raleigh: Raleigh is played by Lauren Balone. Balone’s only previous acting credit is the role of Diana in the 2018 short Lifematch.

Kevin Mangold as Cool Blue: Kevin Mangold appears in the Y2K cast as Cool Blue. Mangold is a stuntman and former horse jockey who most famously played the “Saratoga Jockey” in Seabiscuit. He also played Slimer in the recent Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.