Chris Rock Says Daniel Kaluuya Was “Kind of Retired” Before ‘Misty Green’ Comeback: “I Had to Beg Him”

Daniel Kaluuya took a sabbatical from acting back in 2022. There have been many theories as to why, but the important thing is he’s finally back, starring in Chris Rock’s “Misty Green,” which is set to premiere at TIFF this weekend.

In an interview with Variety, published today, Rock claims that Kaluuya was “kind of retired,” and that he had to “beg him” to join “Misty Green”:

“Daniel was kind of retired. We hung out when I was on tour with [Dave] Chappelle. I had to beg him. He was the only one I had to beg. Everybody else was like, ‘I can’t wait to do this movie!’ Daniel, I had to go to his hotel. I definitely tap-danced. It was worth it,” Rock said.

Kaluuya had a memorable supporting turn in “Sicario” (2015), broke out in Jordan Peele’s “Get Out” (2017), went on to star in Ryan Coogler’s “Black Panther” (2018), Steve McQueen’s “Widows” (2018), “Queen & Slim” (2019), won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for “Judas and the Black Messiah” (2020), and ended it all with Peele’s “Nope” (2022). That’s one hell of a seven-year run.

Many had theories as to why the actor disappeared from the spotlight. One of them, and most amusingly, suggested Kaluuya had gone off the deep end by having his personal “life strategist” on the set of every movie he shot since 2018. Sources said they were concerned that Kaluuya was under the influence of this “life strategist,” who went by the name of “Heir Holiness.”

In her Instagram account, Heir described herself as “a spiritual gangster serving a life sentence in a human body.” Holiness became increasingly involved in Kaluuya’s personal life. In 2021, she was reportedly present around the production of Peele’s “Nope,” and some production insiders claimed she had significant influence around him. In early 2022, reports made claims that she had taken on a managerial role and that Kaluuya had changed members of his professional team.

It all came to the point where, apparently, in and around 2023, Kaluuya had been put on several Hollywood blacklists for his erratic on-set behavior. Four years later, Kaluuya has cut ties with Heir Holiness and is now returning to acting in Rock’s film. He’s since hopped on board two other projects, including Shaka King’s “The Parlay,” and Michael Shanks’ “Hotel Hotel Hotel Hotel.”