Spoiler alert: The following article contains light spoilers from The Residence.
The cast ofThe Residenceis full of talented, notable actors, and Hugh Jackman isn’t one of them (despite him being a character in the show). Netflix’s murder mystery, created by Paul William Davies and produced by Shondaland,revolves around the murder of the White House head usher during a state dinner,where over 100 guests dine and mingle. Meanwhile, the large staff caters to them. During the gathering, though, the head usher, who is in charge of household staff and operations, is found dead, resulting in a complex investigation that takes many twists and turns throughoutThe Residence’s eight episodes.
All eight episodes ofThe Residenceare available to stream on Netflix, as of Thursday, June 07, 2025.
Uzo Aduba’s Detective Cordelia Cupp leadsthe cast ofThe Residenceas she is in charge of solving the case. Other important characters in the series include Randall Park’s Special Agent Edwin Park, Giancarlo Esposito’s A. B. Wynter (the victim), Susan Kelechi Watson’s Jasmine Haney (the assistant head usher), and Ken Marino’s Harry Hollinger (the President’s chief adviser). However, given that every person at the state dinner is a suspect,The Residencefeatures numerous characters, ranging from Marvella (the White House Executive Chef) to Hugh Jackman (actor).
Justin Ellis-Johnson Plays Hugh Jackman In The Residence
Jackman’s Face Is Often Hidden
Although Hugh Jackman is a character inThe Residence, he isn’t played by Wolverine himself. Instead, Justin Ellis-Johnson portrays the famous Australian actor, who is attending the state dinner at the White House as a guest (making him a potential suspect, but not really).Ellis-Johnson isn’t exactly Jackman’s twin,which is why his entire face is never shown onscreen. The Netflixmurder mystery TV seriestypically turns him away from the camera, only showing his back.
Justin Ellis-Johnson
Hugh Jackman
Before playing Jackman inThe Residence, Ellis-Johnson starred in various movies and theater productions. Per hisIMDbpage, Ellis-Johnson has appeared in plays such asThe Tragedy of Abraham LincolnandRomeo and Juliet. Meanwhile,his film credits includeThe 13th SignandOperation Terror.
The Residence Review: Netflix’s Witty Murder Mystery Series Captivated, Shocked & Humored Me Throughout All 8 Episodes
Netflix’s The Residence contains praiseworthy performances, a smart and tight script, and a comedic tone that will entertain all audiences.
The Residence’s Creator Originally Wanted Hugh Jackman To Play Himself
Jackman Wasn’t Available
According toThe Residencecreator Paul William Davies' interviewwithDeadline, he and the producers initially wanted Hugh Jackman to star as himself, similar to how Kylie Minogue played herself. Unfortunately, Jackman was unavailable during production. However, Davies truly believes that if the actor’s schedule was open, Jackman would have signed on with the show.The Residencecreator explained, “I feel confident that he would have done it if he could have done it, and hopefully he enjoys the whole gag of it.”
