Warning: Spoilers ahead for The Gorge!Anya Taylor-Joy and Miles Teller co-star inThe Gorge, the latest horror movie from director Scott Derrickson, and the movie features clever callbacks to two of the leads' notable roles. Aside from Taylor-Joy and Teller, Sigourney Weaver is the other prominent member of the cast, consideringThe Gorge’s isolated setting. Instead, elite snipers Drasa (Taylor-Joy) and Levi (Teller) primarily encountercreatures known as Hollow Men inThe Gorgeafter being enlisted for a top-secret mission. They eventually face the horrors of the gorge up close, but before that, their biggest challenges stem from their respective loneliness.

After a few high-powered binocular glimpses, Drasa officially makes direct contact with Levi two months into their mission. Using written messages to communicate, the pair celebrate Drasa’s birthday before an attack from the Hollow Men halts the celebration. Despite the fact they are disobeying orders, Drasa and Levi continue communicating from across the gorge over the next few weeks.The Gorge’s endingreveals that the couple end up together, but the origins of their relationship are anything but ordinary, especially with their interactions before meeting face-to-face.

Drasa and Levi armed and ready to fight in The Gorge

The Gorge Calls Back To Anya Taylor-Joy & Miles Teller’s Past Roles

The Horror Movie Pays Tribute To The Queen’s Gambit & Whiplash

When the calendar flips to December, Drasa plays a melancholy Christmas tune on the piano in her guard tower while Levi tries to brighten her spirits. After creating his own form of a Christmas tree, the two make snowmen of the other person.The Gorgethen uses the sequence of their interactions to honor roles connected toThe Queen’s GambitandWhiplash, two very notable past projects by Taylor-Joy and Teller. Taylor-Joy played chess player Beth Harmon inThe Queen’s Gambit,with her performance garnering an Emmy Award. Six years prior, Teller starred inWhiplash, the Oscar-nominated movie from Damien Chazelle about a jazz drummer.

Following a game of chess, Drasa and Levi each make their own makeshift set of drums, which calls back to Teller’s role as Andrew Neiman in Whiplash.

The Gorge - poster

The Gorgehonors Taylor-Joy and Teller’s past leading roles in the December sequence. First, Drasa and Levi are shown playing chess, withThe Gorge’s chess scene teased in the trailer. That said,The Gorgetakes the fun cast callbacks to another level by also paying tribute to Teller’s memorable role inWhiplash.Following a game of chess, Drasa and Levi each make their own makeshift set of drums, which calls back to Teller’s role as Andrew Neiman inWhiplashas another clever way for the pair to connect from far away.

Anya Taylor-Joy & Miles Teller’s Upcoming Projects Will Be Very Different From The Gorge

Both Actors Have Plenty Of Projects In The Works

Anya Taylor-Joy is no stranger to horror, but surprisingly,The Gorgeis Miles Teller’s first horror project.Granted, the upcoming releases for both stars will be very different compared to Scott Derrickson’sThe Gorge.Taylor-Joy is currently filming an adventure comedy titledSacrificewith Chris Evans, but her biggest upcoming project will beDune Part 3, where she’s expected to reprise her role as Alia Atreides. On the TV side, the actress will be making a return to Apple TV+ for the upcoming dramaLucky, which also stars Timothy Olyphant and Annette Bening.

Sacrifice (movie)

Michael (movie)

Dune Part 3 (movie)

The Ark and the Aardvark (movie)

Lucky (TV show)

Eternity (movie)

Bartali (movie)

Top Gun: Maverick 2 (movie)

FollowingThe Gorge, Teller’s next release comes in late 2025, playing John Branca in the highly-anticipated Michael Jackson biopic. He also has a voice role in the upcoming animated movieThe Ark and the Aardvark,in addition to roles inEternity, a rom-com alongside Elizabeth Olsen, a crime thriller titledWild Game, a drama about cyclist Gino Bartali, and the eventualTop Gun: Mavericksequel. It’s unclear ifThe Gorgewill get its own sequel, but seeing as Drasa and Levi survive in the end, anything is possible. However, the busy schedules of Taylor-Joy and Teller might complicate those hopes.