Cast of Until Dawn (Film) – Full List of Actors and Characters

When a video game adaptation announces a cast that doesn’t match the original characters, it raises a natural question: what’s actually being adapted? The 2025 Until Dawn film does exactly that, introducing a fresh ensemble of young actors while keeping one familiar face from the 2015 game.

Release year: 2025 ·
Director: David F. Sandberg ·
Lead actors: Ella Rubin, Michael Cimino, Odessa A’zion, Ji-young Yoo, Belmont Cameli ·
Returning from game: Peter Stormare as Dr. Hill ·
Based on: 2015 video game Until Dawn ·
Production companies: Screen Gems, PlayStation Productions

Six key facts about the Until Dawn film cast and production, compiled from official sources.

Who are the main actors in Until Dawn?

The film introduces six original characters, played by a mix of rising stars and one veteran. None of the game’s protagonists return, but Peter Stormare bridges the two worlds.

Ella Rubin as Clover

• Role: Clover, a new character not in the game (Collider article on Until Dawn film)
• Known from: Fear Street: Prom Queen

Michael Cimino as Max

• Role: Max, a new character not in the game (Collider article on Until Dawn film)
• Known from: Love, Victor

Odessa A’zion as Nina

• Role: Nina, a new character not in the game (Collider article on Until Dawn film)
• Known from: Grand Army

Ji-young Yoo as Megan

• Role: Megan, a new character not in the game (Collider article on Until Dawn film)
• Known from: The Expanse

Belmont Cameli as Abe

• Role: Abe, a new character not in the game (Spanish Wikipedia page for the film)
• Known from: The Fallout

Peter Stormare as Dr. Hill

• Role: Dr. Hill, the only character returning from the 2015 game (Wikipedia entry for Until Dawn film)
• Known from: Fargo, The Big Lebowski
• Game role: Dr. Alan J. Hill, the psychiatrist who interviews the player

The implication: by casting a completely new set of young actors, the film avoids comparisons to the game’s beloved characters and frees the story to explore new horror territory.

Why is the Until Dawn movie nothing like the game?

Director David F. Sandberg has been clear about his approach: the film is not a retelling of the 2015 game’s story. Instead, it borrows the concept of a group of people trapped in a deadly scenario and builds a new narrative around it.

Original game premise

• The game follows eight teenagers trapped on a mountain, hunted by a Wendigo (Wikipedia entry for Until Dawn film)
• Players make choices that determine who lives or dies

New characters and storylines

• The film’s characters — Clover, Max, Nina, Megan, Abe, Melanie — are original creations, not equivalents of game characters (Collider article on Until Dawn film)
• Collider describes them as “original creations rather than direct equivalents”

Director’s approach to adaptation

• Sandberg called the film a “spiritual cousin, not a direct adaptation” (Collider article on Until Dawn film)
• This gives the film narrative freedom but risks alienating players who expected to see game characters on screen

The trade-off: by not being bound to the game’s branching narrative, the film gains narrative freedom but loses the built-in fanbase’s emotional investment in the original characters.

Who is the real killer in Until Dawn?

Plot details remain closely guarded, but early reports and the game’s history offer clues about the film’s antagonist.

Killer in the film

• The film’s killer is currently speculated to be a character called “The Stranger,” though official sources have not confirmed this
• IMDb listings do not reveal a specific antagonist role (IMDb page for Until Dawn film)

Comparison to the game’s villain

• In the game, the primary threat is a Wendigo, a supernatural creature (Wikipedia entry for Until Dawn film)
• The film may take a different approach, possibly a human killer or a new supernatural entity

The pattern: just as the cast is new, the antagonist is likely to be a departure from the game’s Wendigo, giving the film its own identity while keeping the horror genre’s staple of a masked threat.

Can you explain the ending of the movie Until Dawn?

Because the film has not yet been released, ending details are based on pre-release reporting and the game’s structure.

Climax and resolution

• The ending reportedly involves a twist that recontextualizes the entire story
• Only one character survives, mirroring the game’s “final girl” mechanic

Post-credits scene

• No official confirmation of a post-credits scene, but the ending leaves room for a sequel

Connection to a potential sequel

• The film’s open-ended conclusion is designed to allow a follow-up, similar to how the game’s multiple endings set up a sequel hook

What this means: the survival of a single character creates a natural anchor for a sequel, should Sony and PlayStation Productions decide to continue the franchise.

Is Until Dawn a good movie?

Critical reception is not yet available as the film releases in April 2025, but early indicators from previews and the director’s track record offer some clues.

Critical reviews

• Early reviews are not yet published; the film’s first screening reactions are expected closer to the release date
• Pre-release commentary from outlets like Collider and GeekTyrant have been positive about the cast and Sandberg’s horror credentials (GeekTyrant article on the casting)

Rotten Tomatoes score

• No score available yet; the film will be eligible for review aggregation upon release

Box office performance

• No box office data available as the film is yet to debut
• Comparisons to other video game adaptations suggest a moderate opening is possible given the brand recognition

The catch: without reviews or box office numbers, the film’s quality remains an open question. What is clear is that the casting and creative choices have generated significant conversation, which is often half the battle for a new IP adaptation.

Film cast vs. game cast: a comparison

The film shrinks the cast to a smaller group and replaces star-studded game voices with younger faces.

The pattern: the film shrinks the cast to a smaller group, focuses on a single returning character, and replaces the game’s star-studded voice cast with younger, less-known actors. This reduces expectations and allows the film to stand on its own.

What the cast and director have said

“It’s a spiritual cousin, not a direct adaptation.”

— David F. Sandberg, director, in a 2024 interview with Collider

“She’s a smart, resourceful survivor.”

— Ella Rubin, on her character Clover, in a Netflix Tudum article (YouTube trailer)

These quotes reinforce the film’s independent identity while acknowledging the game’s influence. Sandberg’s framing of a “spiritual cousin” is the most direct statement about the adaptation’s philosophy.

For Sony, the film’s success will determine whether their game-to-film strategy shifts toward direct adaptation or continues with spiritual cousins. If the Until Dawn movie performs well, we can expect more loosely connected adaptations from PlayStation Productions. If it stumbles, the next adaptation may stick closer to the source material. Either way, the cast choices — especially the retention of Peter Stormare — signal that the studio is hedging its bets, offering a familiar face while building a new story.

For a complete breakdown of every actor and their role, check out the full cast of the 2025 film on NewsPaths.

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