Among the films that its North American Premiere at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival was Mr Nelson, Did You Kill People?, directed by Shinya Tsukamoto and starring Rodney Hicks, Geoffrey Rush, Mark Merphy, Tatyana Ali, and Lily Franky.
The film is based on Allen Nelson's memoir of same name, which has only been published in Japan.
Years in the making, the film recounts the experiences of Vietnam War veteran Allen Nelson (Rodney Hicks, with newcomer Mark Merphy portraying the younger Allen). Born into poverty in Brooklyn, Nelson joins the Marines at eighteen and is sent to Vietnam. Combat destroys his belief in military heroism and leaves him profoundly traumatized. Decades later, after losing his family and becoming homeless, he is forced to confront the memories he has tried to suppress, aided by a Veterans Affairs psychologist and challenged by a child’s devastating question: “Mr. Nelson, did you kill people?”
The film had its world premiere at the main competition of the 83rd Venice International Film Festival on 4 September 2026, where it won the Leoncino d'Oro Award. It was theatrically released in Japan by Kino Films on 11 September.
Hicks is best known for originating the role of Bob in the Broadway musical Come from Away and performing in the original and closing Broadway casts of Rent, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. In Rent, he played Paul and other ensemble roles in the original Broadway cast, and later returned for the closing cast. He also played Clarence Norris in the original Broadway cast of The Scottsboro Boys and appeared as Peter in the 2000 Broadway revival of Jesus Christ Superstar:
As a playwright, he wrote the plays Flame Broiled. or the ugly play, Just Press Save, and Ms. Pearl's Cabaret. On TV and film, Hicks appeared in TV series like Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Grimm, and Forever on Netflix, as well as the film Mighty Oak.
Blackfilmandtv.com's Wilson Morales talks to Rodney Hicks, who stars in the film Mr. Nelson, Did You Kill People?
