The Way Back

Summary

The Way Backcast run far beyond its lead star Ben Affleck . The 2020 basketball game drama was directed by Gavin O’Connor ( reuniting with Affleck after helming his natural process - thrillerThe Accountant ) from a screenplay by Brad Ingelsby , who is the son of a basketball game coach-and-four . The movie , which be approximately $ 25 million , suffered financially in its theatrical release , only earning $ 15.5 million because it was expel shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down theater of operations worldwide . However , it was well received by both critic and audiences , earning 84 % piles from both groups on Rotten Tomatoes .

The Way Backwas one of a crop of titles that were released on premium VOD just week after their initial sacking . It is unreadable if the sport movie ’s digital sales were able to make up for significantly more of its production budget , but the movie was given another shot when it began streaming on Prime Video in April 2024 , a release that could also avail expose its ensemble cast to a wider audience . Outside of its A - list lead , theBen Affleck movieboasts a vast supporting castthat sport both familiar faces and up - and - number stars .

worker

Article image

Role

Ben Affleck

Jack Cunningham

Ben Affleck as Jack Coaching a Player in The Way Back with a Basketball Background

Custom image by Brennan Klein

Michaela Watkins

Beth

Al Madrigal

Sports movies karate kid rocky field of dreams

The Way Back stars Ben Affleck as Jack Cunningham, a depressed alcoholic who is offered a job coaching his former school’s basketball team. As his work with the team begins to improve his life, Jack is also forced to confront his past demons, leading to disastrous consequences. Al Madrigal, Michaela Watkins, and Janina Gavankar also star.

Dan

Janina Gavankar

Angela

Jack (Ben Affleck) addresses the basketball team in The Way Back.

John Aylward

Father Edward Devine

Glynn Turman

The Way Back

Doc

Sal Velez Jr.

Miguel

Justice Alan

David

T. K. Carter

Russ Durrett

Brandon Wilson

Brandon Durrett

Melvin Gregg

Marcus Parrish

Charles Lott Jr.

Chubbs Hendricks

Will Ropp

Kenny Dawes

Fernando Luis Vega

Sam Garcia

Ben Irving

Bobby Freeze

While most sports movies are ground on a veridical - life actor , squad , or event , these Hellenic picture show feature completely original characters and stories .

Ben Affleck As Jack Cunningham

Date Of Birth: August 15, 1972

Actor : Ben Affleck was born in Berkeley , California , advert Occidental College , and began his life history in educational shows and former Kevin Smith movies beforehe first broke big in 1997’sGood Will Hunting , which he co - wrote with co - star Matt Damon . The screenplay take in him his first Oscar win , with his second being a Best Picture winnings forArgo , which he direct , produced , and star in . The roll ofAffleck - channelise moviesalso includesGone Baby Gone , The Town , lively by Night , andAir .

Ben Affleck made a cameo in Kevin Smith ’s 2001 movieJay and Silent Bob Strike Backwhere he played a character who dismissed the real Affleck ’s part inGood Will Huntingbut said " Affleck was the dud in Phantoms , " referencing his 1998 Miramax repulsion movie .

Notable Movies & TV display :

Title

stun and Confused(1993 )

Fred O’Bannion

Mallrats(1995 )

Shannon

Chasing Amy(1997 )

Holden

Good Will Hunting(1997 )

Chuckie

Phantoms(1998 )

Sheriff Bryce Hammond

Armageddon(1998 )

A.J. Frost

Shakespeare in Love(1998 )

Ned Alleyn

Pearl Harbor(2001 )

Rafe McCawley

Daredevil(2003 )

Matt Murdock

Gigli(2003 )

Larry Gigli

Argo(2012 )

Tony Mendez

Gone Girl(2014 )

Nick Dunne

Batman v Superman : Dawn of Justice(2016 )

Bruce Wayne

The Accountant(2016 )

Christian Wolff

Justice League(2017 )

inscrutable Water(2022 )

Vic

Air(2023 )

Phil Knight

Character : InThe Way Back , Ben Affleck plays Jack Cunningham . Jack is the lead of the film who becomesthe hoops coach at hisalma materBishop Hayes . However , despite make meaningful connections with the players , his recovery from alcoholism elaborate his new position .

Michaela Watkins As Beth

Date Of Birth: December 14, 1971

worker : Michaela Watkins was contain in Syracuse , New York andfirst rise to gibbosity when she joined the cast ofSaturday Night Livein 2008 . Though she was only a featured musician for a exclusive time of year , she went on to asterisk in a potpourri of funniness roles . The multitalented performer has also performed in live theater , improv , and the melodious podcastIn Strange Woodsin gain to co - creating the drollery showBenched .

Saturday Night Live(2008 - 2009 )

Various Characters

The New Adventures of Old Christine(2008 - 2009 )

Lucy

In a World … (2013 )

Dani

New Girl(2011 - 2015 )

Gina

Wet Hot American Summer : First Day of Camp(2015 )

Rhonda

Brittany turn tail a Marathon(2019 )

Catherine

Transparent(2014 - 2019 )

Yetta / Connie

Search Party(2020 )

Polly

Paint(2023 )

Katherine

quality : InThe Way Back , Michaela Watkins play Beth . Beth is Jack ’s babe . She isalways in her brother ’s corner , seek to supply him with positive reinforcement to aid his convalescence .

Al Madrigal As Dan

Date Of Birth: July 4, 1971

histrion : Al Madrigal was bear in San Francisco , California , and is likelybest know for his work as a newspaperman onThe Daily Show with Jon Stewart . The comedian and actor is also the co - creator of the All Things Comedy podcast internet . However , he is also known for cinema and television role across a variety of musical genre .

The Daily Show(2011 - 2016 )

Self

About a Boy(2014 - 2015 )

Andy

I ’m Dying Up Here(2017 - 2018 )

Edgar Martinez

Morbius(2022 )

Agent Rodriguez

Tim

Drugstore Jane(2024 )

Detective David Foltz

Lopez vs. Lopez(2022 - 2024 )

Oscar

character reference : InThe Way Back , Al Madrigal plays Dan . Dan is an algebra teacher who becomes Jack ’s adjunct coach . However , he does n’t provide Jack with a warm support system , as he is after responsible for for Jack ’s firing .

Janina Gavankar As Angela

Date Of Birth: November 29, 1980

role player : Janina Gavankar was born in Joliet , Illinois andbecame more wide get laid after taking on the role of Eva “ Papi ” Torres onThe L Wordin 2006 . She has since appeared in a variety of major tv roles . However , two of her most illustrious out - of - the - box onscreen roles include playing Iden Versio in the telecasting gameStar warfare : Battlefront IIand the practical helper Ms. Dewey in Microsoft commercials .

The L Word(2007 - 2009 )

Papi

Arrow(2013 )

Detective McKenna Hall

True Blood(2011 - 2013 )

Luna Garza

The Vampire Diaries(2013 )

Tessa

Think Like a Man 2(2014 )

Vanessa

The League(2009 - 2015 )

Shiva

Sleepy Hollow(2017 )

Diana Thomas

Blindspotting(2018 )

Val

The Morning Show(2019 - 2021 )

Alison Namazi

self-aggrandising Sky(2021 - 2022 )

Ren Bhullar

Never Have I Ever(2023 )

Akshara

Character : InThe Way Back , Janina Gavankar plays Angela . Angela is Jack ’s married woman , from whom he is tell and who he mostly see when support their grief - stricken friend Miguel . One of the issues at the core of their kinship is the destruction of their son Michael from cancer .

The Way Back Supporting Cast & Characters

The Way Back Has A Robust Ensemble Of Characters

John Aylward as Father Edward Devine : The recent John Awylward , who play Father Edward Devine , who offers Jack a job at Bishop Hayes , has encounter religious leader in quite a few other claim includingYellowstone , American Horror Story , andNip / Tuck .

Glynn Turman as Doc : Glynn Turman , who plays Jack ’s friend Doc , has appear in everything fromGremlinstoMa Rainey ’s Black Bottom , most latterly playing the centaur Chiron in Disney+‘sPercy Jackson and the Olympians .

Sal Velez Jr. as Miguel : Sal Velez Jr. , who act as Jack ’s acquaintance Miguel , has an extensive television resume in titles includingChicago P.D.,Black Summer , Ray Donovan , andMayans M.C.

Justice Alan as David : Justice Alan , who plays Miguel ’s son David , is a young actor who also play Rue ’s first kiss inEuphoria .

T. K. Carter as Russ Durrett : T.K. Carter , who plays Russ Durrett , the father of basketball game player Brandon Durrett , is perhaps well known for play Nauls in John Carpenter ’s repugnance classicThe Thing .

The Way Backalso have quite a few up - and - come asterisk as various thespian on the basketball squad which Jack train . The roll includesPele : birthing of a Legend ’s Brandon Wilson as Brandon Durrett , American Vandal’sMelvin Greggas Marcus Parrish , V / H / S/99 ’s Charles Lott Jr. as Chubbs Hendricks , The Fallout ’s Will Ropp as Kenny Dawes , Jane the Virgin ’s Fernando Luis Vega as Sam Garcia , andGiants Being Lonely ’s Ben Irving as Bobby Freeze .

snap here to take in The Way Back on Prime Video

The Way Back stars Ben Affleck as Jack Cunningham , a depressed boozer who is offer a job coaching his former schoolhouse ’s basketball game team . As his work with the team begins to improve his life , Jack is also draw to confront his past demon , leading to fateful consequences . Al Madrigal , Michaela Watkins , and Janina Gavankar also star .