Miles Caton will play Denzel Washington’s grandson in an upcoming Amazon MGM thriller, giving the “Sinners” breakout star another major Hollywood role following his impressive film debut. The 21-year-old actor joins a cast that includes Teyonah Parris, with “Mission: Impossible” filmmaker Christopher McQuarrie directing the untitled project.
According to Deadline, Washington will portray a former police detective serving a life sentence who receives a devastating diagnosis of terminal brain cancer. With doctors giving him only six months to live, the fictional character is granted compassionate release from prison, allowing him to return home and confront the relationships he abandoned years earlier.
Waiting for him are an estranged daughter, played by Parris, and a grandson he never knew existed, portrayed by Caton. However, rebuilding those family connections will not be simple. The former detective wants to make amends and leave his troubled history behind, but unresolved events from his past threaten the future he hopes to salvage.
The storyline combines a complicated family reunion with the suspense of a man running out of time. While Washington’s character is attempting to repair his relationships, the danger surrounding his past creates another obstacle. Additional details about how Caton’s character becomes involved in the mystery have not been revealed.
The film comes from Amazon MGM Studios and United Artists, with a screenplay written by Scott Barkan and Gregg Zehentner. McQuarrie, whose directing credits include multiple “Mission: Impossible” installments, will also serve as a producer. The thriller is currently scheduled to arrive in theaters on October 1, 2027.
Following the casting announcement, Miles Caton acknowledged his latest opportunity on social media Monday, November 9, sharing a brief message that read, “Here we go…”
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The announcement follows the actor’s breakthrough performance in Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners,” where he portrayed Sammie Moore, affectionately known as Preacher Boy. Set in 1930s Mississippi, the supernatural horror film follows twin brothers Smoke and Stack, both portrayed by Michael B. Jordan, as they attempt to open a juke joint. Caton’s character, a gifted young blues musician, becomes central to the frightening events that unfold.
Although “Sinners” marked his feature film acting debut, Caton already had years of musical experience. His performance required him to strengthen his guitar skills while bringing emotional depth to Sammie’s struggle between his religious upbringing and his love for blues music.
His work quickly earned industry recognition. Miles Caton received the Best Young Actor/Actress award at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards and secured a nomination for the 2026 EE BAFTA Rising Star Award. Robert Aramayo ultimately won the BAFTA honor.
Long before his breakout movie role, Caton began building an audience through music. The Brooklyn native gained attention in 2017 after a video of him performing Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good” went viral. He later appeared on television and toured as a background vocalist for Grammy-winning musician H.E.R.
His musical contributions also extended beyond his performance in “Sinners.” Caton helped write “Last Time (I Seen the Sun),” a song featured during the film’s closing credits, further demonstrating the connection between his musical abilities and his growing acting career.
Now, Miles Caton is stepping into a dramatically different story, trading the supernatural world of “Sinners” for a crime thriller about family secrets, second chances and a former detective’s dangerous past.
