Top Boy’s Kane Robinson leads the cast of Daniel Kaluuya and Kibwe Tavares’s feature directorial debut.

By Patrick Cremona

Published: Tuesday, 16 January 2024 at 17:23 PM


Oscar-winning actor Daniel Kaluuya and acclaimed short filmmaker Kibwe Tavares have made their feature directorial debut with the new Netflix film The Kitchen – a dystopian drama set in a social housing community in an imagined near-future London.

It follows Izi (Kane Robinson), a disillusioned man who is desperate to get out of the community at any cost, that is until he meets his recently orphaned son for the first time and takes him under his wing.

The film’s eclectic cast includes former Top Boy stars, first-time actors and even a Premier League legend – read on for everything you need to know about who they’re playing and where you might have seen them before.

The Kitchen cast

You can find the main cast for The Kitchen below:

Kane Robinson plays Izi

Kane Robinson plays Izi in a black coat, smiling
Kane Robinson plays Izi.
Netflix

Who is Izi? An antisocial member of The Kitchen – one of the last surviving social housing communities in a society that wants to eradicate them. Izi loathes The Kitchen and works at an ecological funeral home called Life After Life.

What else has Kane Robinson been in? More commonly known as Kano, Robinson first found fame as an award-winning rapper and pioneer of grime music. Acting-wise, his most prominent role is as Sully in Top Boy, with The Kitchen serving as his most major film credit to date.

Jedaiah Bannerman plays Benji

Jedaiah Bannerman plays Benji brushing his teeth
Jedaiah Bannerman plays Benji.
Netflix

Who is Benji? The orphaned son of Izi’s ex-girlfriend, who he slowly begins to take under his wing after finding him at the funeral home.

What else has Jedaiah Bannerman been in? This is Bannerman’s acting debut.

Hope Ikpoku Jnr plays Staples

Hope Ikpoku Jr plays Staples looking angry
Hope Ikpoku Jnr plays Staples.
Netflix

Who is Staples? A proud resident of The Kitchen leads a young band of bike riders on a dangerous heist.

What else has Hope Ikpoku Jnr been in? Ikpoku Jnr previously starred alongside Kane Robinson in Top Boy, playing the recurring role of Aaron in a total of 15 episodes.

Ian Wright plays Lord Kitchener

Ian Wright plays Lord Kitchener looking at a record player
Ian Wright plays Lord Kitchener.
Netflix

Who is Lord Kitchener? The DJ and de facto leader of The Kitchen, who is greatly loved and admired by its residents.

What else has Ian Wright been in? Wright is a household name, but this marks his first foray into film work. He is most famous for his successful career as a footballer – during which he became an icon for Arsenal, Crystal Palace and England – and his subsequent move into punditry, while he previously played himself in an episode of Ted Lasso.

Teija Kabs plays Ruby

Teija Kabs plays Ruby looking off camera
Teija Kabs plays Ruby.
Netflix

Who is Ruby? A young girl who befriends Benji.

What else has Teija Kabs been in? The Kitchen marks Kabs’s acting debut.

Demmy Ladipo plays Jase

Who is Jase? One of Izi’s co-workers and neighbours.

What else has Demmy Ladipo been in? Lapido appeared as Wasim in the popular Channel 4 sitcom We Are Lady Parts, and recently had a small part in BBC One Agatha Christie adaptation Murder is Easy.

The cast also includes: Cristale as Lianne, BackRoad Gee as Kamale, Henry Lawfull as Cronik, Alan Asaad as Oozie, Rasaq Kukoyi as Arinze and Fiona Marr as Amy.