Actor Duke Nicholson, the 27-year-old grandson of Hollywood legend Jack Nicholson, has taken on his first leading film role in the upcoming crime thriller film titled The Deputy.
Nicholson plays Toby Sawyer, a rookie deputy sheriff who is determined to prove his capabilities in a small town. A newly released trailer provides the first look at the young actor taking center stage in the production.
The film is directed by Matt Sukkar and features a screenplay written by Carlo Bernard, the screenwriter known for co-creating the television series Narcos. Nicholson leads an ensemble cast featuring Oscar-nominated actor William H. Macy, Emmy Award winner Tiffany Haddish, veteran actor Stephen Dorff, Billie Lourd and Julia Fox.
Small town police investigation
In the released trailer, rookie deputy Toby Sawyer interacts with the characters portrayed by Macy, Haddish, Dorff, Lourd and Fox while attempting to locate a missing body.
The plot centers on a tense assignment given by Police Chief Kruger, played by Macy. Chief Kruger orders Toby to stand guard over a dead body, but the corpse mysteriously disappears from custody under his watch.
Following the disappearance, the young deputy officer embarks on a frantic search to find out what happened. According to the official synopsis of the film, Toby's investigation brings to light decades of deep-rooted corruption inside the small town.
Screen credits and Hollywood heritage
The starring role in The Deputy marks a major career milestone for Duke Nicholson. He made his feature film debut in director Jordan Peele's 2019 horror movie Us, and recently appeared in the drama In the Hand of Dante, which was released in cinemas this past June.
By taking on his first lead role, Duke follows in the footsteps of his famous grandfather, three-time Academy Award winner Jack Nicholson. The elder Nicholson celebrated his 89th birthday in April 2026, marked by the release of a rare photograph. That milestone followed an appearance in December 2025, when the 88-year-old screen icon was pictured alongside his children.
Jack Nicholson's family history has long been a subject of public interest, including coverage in November 2025 recalling his tragic family revelation, where he learned as an adult that the woman he was raised to believe was his sister was actually his biological mother.
Moviegoers will be able to watch Duke Nicholson in his debut lead performance next month. The Deputy will be released in movie theaters, on digital platforms and on demand on September 25.
