Keanu Reeves has taken a sharp left turn from being the angel of death in John Wick to a budget guardian angel in Good Fortune. The supernatural comedy, written and directed by comedian/actor Aziz Ansari, is his feature directorial debut and stars an ensemble cast of powerful A-listers.
The film originally premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 6, 2025, and has been received very favorably by the critics. Good Fortune currently holds an 85% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Filled with dark commentary on class inequality and socioeconomic barriers, Ansari’s comedy is a lighthearted film that addresses exploitation and delivers zingers in equal frequency.
Below is a list of the A-list cast of Good Fortune and who plays whom in the film.
Keanu Reeves as Gabriel
Often cited as an archangel in biblical texts, Keanu Reeves’ Gabriel in Good Fortune is nothing but a “budget guardian angel” who stops people from texting while driving, and sometimes, choking. But as well-meaning as he may be, Gabriel comes off as supremely inept with a meddlesome attitude.
Despite having a job, Gabriel tries to find a higher purpose and meaning in his work and crosses paths with Arj (Ansari). Soon after, a series of unfortunate events unfold when Gabriel tries to prove a point by body-swapping Arj with his wealthy employer. His plans go awry, his wings are taken away as punishment, and all the work he did as an angel begins to unravel around him.
Aziz Ansari as Arj
Aziz Ansari rose to fame in the early Aughts with his role in the fan-favorite sitcom, Parks and Recreation. Later, he created and starred in the highly acclaimed, 94% rated, semi-autobiographical Netflix series, Master of None
In the 2025 film, he stars as Arj, a down-on-his-luck man working odd jobs for a wealthy socialite. After a particularly bad day, he comes across Gabriel, his very own guardian angel, who attempts to teach him that wealth is superficial and money doesn’t solve every problem by bodyswapping him with Jeff.
To Gabriel’s surprise, Arj does find a solution to all his life’s problems in his newfound wealth and takes over the identity and livelihood of his employer.
Seth Rogen as Jeff
Seth Rogen is a wealthy socialite caught in the crosshairs of Arj and Gabriel’s bodyswapping scheme. In Good Fortune, Rogen is supremely hilarious and true to his own nature as Jeff. Through Arj’s eyes, the audience finds him making odd demands, like tracking down a shaman for an ayahuasca journey.
As revealed by The Hollywood Reporter, Rogen portrays a venture capitalist defined by wealth and excess, who “lives large in a modern mansion with all the trappings of success, like cars, a pool, a disco club in the basement, and plenty of wild LA-style parties.”
After Arj’s fated meeting with Gabriel, Jeff becomes displaced in Arj’s body and becomes roommates with the angel after the latter loses his wings as a consequence of his failed experiment and is sent to live on Earth among regular people.
Sandra Oh as Martha
Sandra Oh, a powerhouse actor in her own right, is perhaps most recognized from her roles in Killing Eve and Grey’s Anatomy. However, while both of those shows are darker and more dramatic in tone, Oh is a comedic genius who is finally getting to flex her funny muscles in Ansari’s 2025 movie.
As Martha, Sandra Oh is a superior angel tasked with confiscating Gabriel’s wings and stripping his divine powers after he meddles with Earthly affairs and ends up causing an unforeseen crisis in two men’s lives.
Keke Palmer as Elena
The Emmy-winning actress, Keke Palmer, has come a long way from being a child star in Akeelah to headlining such masterpieces as Jordan Peele‘s Nope. Now, Palmer takes an experimental detour to appear in a supporting role in the supernatural comedy, Good Fortune.
In the 2025 movie, Palmer stars as Elena, Arj’s colleague who works at a local hardware store. Throughout the film, she fights for better working conditions and tries to unionize the workplace (Entertainment Weekly), with Ansari calling her character the soul of the film.
My character has given up, and Keke’s character is fighting. Her journey in trying to unionize is a contrast to Arj, who has lost all hope. I was so glad she was able to do it.
Aziz Ansari revealed that he wrote the character of Elena with Keke Palmer in mind.
Currently, Good Fortune is on the receiving end of mostly positive reviews, with Film Feeder describing it as a “finely executed comedic experience with tons of heart and intelligence,” and Geek Vibes Nation claiming, “In times like these, maybe that’s something we really need.”
Below is a list of all the essential details on the Keanu Reeves movie:
What did you think of Reeves’ return to the roots with goofy comedic roles after his decade-long arc as the star of the hyper-violent John Wick franchise? Let us know in the comments below.
Good Fortune will premiere on 17 October 2025.
