Chris Rock brings Misty Green to Toronto with Rosalind Eleazar

A television star in her late 30s fighting for a second act is at the centre of Misty Green, the new contemporary Hollywood drama from writer-director Chris Rock set for its world premiere at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival.

Rosalind Eleazar, known for Slow Horses, plays the title character, according to Variety. Rock writes and directs, TIFF lists on its film page. Adam Driver co-stars as Zack, a tech power-player.

Misty is a former high-status actress whose fast and loose substance-abuse lifestyle brought her career down, as described in Deadline. Inside the story, she won an Emmy for best supporting actress for a fictional cult thriller series called Red Eye. Now she is trying to rebuild.

Rock has pointed to the films of John Cassavetes, including A Woman Under the Influence, as a role model for the project, Variety reports. That places the film in the tradition of loose, performance-led American drama. Toronto programmers describe it in blunter industry terms as a satire of institutional bigotry and soul-draining hustle, according to TIFF.

The festival included the film in a 2026 lineup featuring new work from Rock and Peter Farrelly, the Associated Press reported via KVUE. A world premiere means Toronto hosts the first public screening. The trailer had framed the story as a Hollywood actress fighting for her second act, The Hollywood Reporter reported in July.

What makes this stand out on the calendar is the double launch for its lead. Eleazar will also receive the TIFF Tribute Performer Award for her performance in the film, TIFF announced. The tribute awards honour acting and craft during the festival.

Festivalgoers will get at least one accessible screening. TIFF lists a showing on Friday, 18 September presented with open captions, meaning dialogue and key sounds appear as on-screen text.