Amber Midthunder in 2019
(Picture: Getty Images)Have you heard of Amber Midthunder yet? The actor plays Naru, the lead of the latest Predator film, Prey, which premiers on Disney+ on August 5.
You might already recognise her from Marvel’s Legion or Roswell, New Mexico, but the new film is about to blast her into stardom: Prey is directed by 10 Cloverfield Lane’s Dan Trachtenberg, its one-day-old trailer is already trending worldwide and Midthunder is front and centre of the production.
So if the 25-year-old actor is new to you, she won’t be for long. Here’s everything you need to know about the rising star.
Who does she play in Prey?
The latest Predator film, Prey, is dropping on Disney+ in just a couple of months. The fifth film in the franchise is going to be a little different from previous iterations: It’s set in 1719 and follows the story of the battle between the aliens and members of the Comanche Nation, a Native American tribe. Midthunder plays Naru, the feature’s main character.
Although Midthunder has acted in numerous films and TV shows, this is the biggest moment in her career so far.
“When I was a little girl reciting scenes from my favourite Disney shows and taking playing pretend extremely seriously with my friends, never did I ever imagine I would see something like this,” said Midthunder on her Instagram.
“I’m so proud of this movie and what it means - not just to me but hopefully to my people as well. I can not wait to share it with you.”
She is a Native American
The moment is made all the more meaningful by the fact the actor is herself Native American and an enrolled member of the Fort Peck Sioux Tribe.
Prey has a cast made up almost completely of Native and First Nation actors, including Julian Black Antelope (Debris, Hold The Dark) and Michelle Thrush (Fargo, Red Snow). The film’s producer, Jhane Myers (1883), is also Native American.
Prey’s filmmakers “were committed to creating a film that provides an accurate portrayal of the Comanche and brings a level of authenticity that rings true to its Indigenous peoples” they said in a statement.
Where else might you have seen Midthunder?
Midthunder is also known for her regular role in the FX Marvel series Legion where the actor played Kerry Loudermilk, a mutant who lives inside scientist Cary Loudermilk’s body. The show gained a 90 per cent approval rating for its first season on Rotten Tomatoes and was nominated for numerous awards.
“Our show is really different from the other Marvel shows,” Midthunder said to Sant Fe New Mexico. “That can be a risk, but it’s such a quality thing that I think people will take kindly to it, seeing as you don’t have to be a Marvel fan to be a fan of our show.”
She also played Tantoo in the 2021 Netflix action thriller The Ice Road opposite none other than Liam Neeson and The Matrix’s Laurence Fishburne. The film was directed by Hollywood stalwart Jonathan Hensleigh (Jumanji, Armageddon).
In an interview with Interview Magazine, Midthunder spoke about filming The Ice Road at sub-zero temperatures in Winnipeg: “There was a day when it was so cold that I couldn’t open my eyes. And I remember being like, I don’t even know if I’m acting or just trying to survive. But that was the point of the movie.”
She’s also played roles in the ongoing science-fiction drama Roswell, New Mexico and in the Netflix Western crime drama Longmire, and in the Cinemax action TV show Banshee.
Growing up around actors
Even though Midthunder is just 25 years old, she’s packed a lot in: her first film credit goes back to 2001 and since then she’s had roles in 22 films and 8 TV shows.
It makes sense, as the actor comes from a film industry family. Her father, David Midthunder, is an actor too, while her mother, Angelique, runs a casting firm in Santa Fe. She used to sit in her mum’s office after school watching the actors around her.
“She was comfortable in that environment. And when you’re comfortable in front of a camera, you can start to explore more emotions. She understands that as a process, just from being around it,” said Angelique to Santa Fe New Mexican.
