If you’ve never heard of the cast of Polar film, you’re missing one of Netflix’s most gloriously unhinged action movies. Equal parts John Wick, Hannibal Lecter, and Snake Plissken, this 2019 neo-noir assassin thriller assembled a brilliant ensemble around Mads Mikkelsen — and the follow-up, The Black Kaiser, is now officially in development. Here’s everything you need to know.
Cast of Polar Film — Full Overview
| Actor | Character | Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Mads Mikkelsen | Duncan Vizla / The Black Kaiser | Hannibal, Casino Royale |
| Vanessa Hudgens | Camille | High School Musical, The Princess Switch |
| Katheryn Winnick | Vivian | Vikings (Lagertha) |
| Matt Lucas | Mr. Blut | Doctor Who, Little Britain |
| Johnny Knoxville | Michael Green | Jackass franchise |
| Richard Dreyfuss | Porter | Jaws, Close Encounters |
| Ruby O. Fee | Sindy | Polar |
| Robert Maillet | Karl | 300, Sherlock Holmes |
| Josh Cruddas | Alexei | Polar |
What Is Polar About?
Polar is a 2019 neo-noir action thriller film directed by Jonas Åkerlund and written by Jayson Rothwell, based on Víctor Santos’s 2013 graphic novel Polar: Came From the Cold. It revolves around an aging assassin on the verge of retirement who becomes targeted by his employer wanting to cash in on his pension.
Duncan Vizla — aka The Black Kaiser — is owed over $8 million in retirement funds from his assassin organization, Damocles. Rather than pay up, his greedy boss decides it’s cheaper to have him killed. What follows is a slick, stylish, neon-drenched rampage that mixes brutal fight choreography with a surprisingly emotional backstory involving Camille (Vanessa Hudgens).
The Music You Won’t Forget
One of Polar’s most distinctive elements is its score — entirely composed by Deadmau5, the Canadian electronic music artist. Jayson Rothwell wrote the screenplay while Deadmau5 created the film’s score, blending pounding electronic beats with graphic action sequences in a way that genuinely sets the film apart from any other assassin thriller on the platform.
What’s Next — The Black Kaiser
The cast of Polar film is largely returning for the follow-up. Vanessa Hudgens will join Mads Mikkelsen to headline the action spy thriller The Black Kaiser, directed by Derrick Borte (Unhinged). In the film, the Black Kaiser (Mikkelsen), the world’s most lethal hitman, uncovers a deadly conspiracy protecting a powerful syndicate of killers and becomes their No. 1 target.
In May 2022, The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that the new film’s producers said it would not be “a sequel or a prequel” — rather a fresh adaptation of a different graphic novel in Santos’ Polar universe, set before the events of the original film.
Where to Watch Polar Right Now
Polar is available to stream globally on Netflix. Both the original audio and English dubbed versions are available. Given the cult following the cast of Polar film has developed since 2019, now is a great time to revisit it before The Black Kaiser drops.
Polar was released worldwide on Netflix on January 25, 2019. Polar (film) remains one of the most stylistically bold action movies on the platform — love it or hate it, nobody makes something quite like it.
For more Netflix action recommendations, film cast guides, and entertainment news, visit TechnoSports’ movies and streaming hub and our best Netflix action movies to watch in 2026 roundup.
