Prepare for a heart-pounding blend of science fiction and intimate drama when “Xeno” premieres in theaters on September 19, 2025. This genre-bending film tells the story of Renee, a resilient teenager living a difficult life on the outskirts of a desert town, who stumbles upon a terrifying extraterrestrial creature after its ship crashes nearby. In a bold and unexpected move, she chooses to make the alien her friend, seeing a kindred spirit in the misunderstood being. The film seamlessly weaves together two intense narratives: the delicate process of communicating with and protecting her dangerous new companion, and her ongoing struggle to navigate a fraught home life with her grieving mother and the mother’s increasingly violent boyfriend.

Anchoring this unique and emotional thriller is a standout cast led by the incredibly talented Lulu Wilson as the courageous Renee. She is supported by Paul Schneider as the threatening boyfriend, Omari Hardwick as a government agent on the hunt, and Wrenn Schmidt as her troubled mother. With a compelling mix of character-driven drama and sci-fi suspense, “Xeno” promises to be a touching and terrifying exploration of friendship, family, and finding protection in the most unexpected of places.

Xeno movie cast

1- Lulu Wilson as Renee

Lulu Wilson, a young actress with a proven talent for horror and drama from films like Annabelle: Creation and Becky, takes on the lead role of Renee. Wilson possesses a remarkable ability to convey deep intelligence, vulnerability, and a fierce, simmering strength, making her the perfect choice to play a teenager who has grown up too fast. Her character is an outsider herself, feeling isolated by her home life, which allows her to see past the alien’s frightening exterior to the lonely being within. She is the heart and soul of the film, whose emotional journey drives the entire narrative.

Wilson’s performance will be a masterclass in balancing two worlds. She must portray the daily fear and tension of living with an abusive figure while simultaneously showcasing the wonder, caution, and fierce protectiveness she feels toward her extraterrestrial secret. Her relationship with the creature is not based on spectacle, but on a genuine, emotional connection, and Wilson’s ability to make that bond believable is what will elevate “Xeno” from a simple creature feature to a powerful story about empathy and resilience.

2- Paul Schneider as Chase

Paul Schneider, an actor known for his nuanced and often unsettling performances in The Assassination of Jesse James and Parks and Recreation, brings a palpable sense of threat to the role of Chase, the mother’s violent boyfriend. Schneider excels at portraying characters whose charm can curdle into menace in an instant. Chase is the human antagonist of the story, a source of constant domestic danger who represents the earthly horrors Renee must endure, making the alien seem like a less complicated companion in comparison.

Schneider’s role is crucial for grounding the film’s sci-fi elements in a very real and terrifying human reality. His presence creates a ticking clock of domestic tension that parallels the external threat of the government hunt. As Chase’s behavior becomes more volatile, he forces Renee’s hand, ensuring that her two worlds—the dangerous home and the dangerous secret in the desert—are on a collision course. He is the villain she knows, making the unknown alien seem like a safer bet.

3- Omari Hardwick as Jonathan Keyes

Omari Hardwick, known for his powerful, magnetic presence in Power and Sorry to Bother You, stars as Jonathan Keyes, a government agent leading the hunt for the crashed extraterrestrial. Hardwick brings an aura of authority and determination to the role, making Keyes a formidable and intelligent adversary. He is not a cartoonish villain but a professional doing a high-stakes job, believing the alien represents an imminent threat to national security that must be contained at all costs.

Hardwick’s performance will add a layer of sophisticated cat-and-mouse suspense to the film. Agent Keyes represents the full might of the system descending upon Renee’s fragile world. His pursuit is methodical and relentless, forcing the teenager to use all her wits to outsmart a trained professional. The dynamic between Keyes’s cold professionalism and Renee’s desperate, emotional mission creates the film’s core suspense, as both are ultimately trying to protect something, albeit in vastly different ways.

4- Josh Cooke as Agent Brown

Josh Cooke, an actor with a strong background in both comedy and drama (Better with You, The Good Doctor), takes on the role of Agent Brown. As Keyes’s second-in-command, Brown likely provides a different perspective on the mission. Cooke can play earnestness and concern effectively, suggesting that Brown might be the more cautious or empathetic member of the team, potentially questioning the harsh methods employed in the recovery operation.

Cooke’s character serves to flesh out the government response, showing that it is not a monolithic entity. Agent Brown could be the audience’s window into the team, a voice of reason who recognizes the humanity in the situation even as he follows orders. His presence creates internal conflict within the antagonist force, adding depth to the chase and raising questions about the ethics of their mission.

5- Wrenn Schmidt as Linda

The profoundly talented Wrenn Schmidt, known for her roles in Outer Range and For All Mankind, portrays Linda, Renee’s sad and emotionally withdrawn mother. Schmidt is an expert at conveying deep inner turmoil and complexity. Linda is a woman drowning in her own grief, which has made her passive and unable to protect herself or her daughter from the toxic influence of Chase. Her neglect, though born of pain, is another obstacle Renee must overcome.

Schmidt’s performance is key to understanding Renee’s character. Linda’s inability to cope has forced her daughter to become the adult in the relationship. The dynamic between them is heartbreaking; Renee protects her mother just as she protects the alien, but also resents her for it. Linda’s journey may involve a slow awakening to the dangers in her own home and the incredible secret her daughter is hiding, making her a pivotal character in the film’s emotional climax.

6- Mike Wolfe as Huntsman

Michael-John Wolfe appears as Huntsman, a character whose name very clearly defines his role. He is likely a local tracker, hunter, or mercenary hired by the government team to help navigate the vast desert terrain. Wolfe’s character probably has a deep knowledge of the land and a no-nonsense approach to the job, seeing the alien as just another animal to be bagged.

Wolfe’s Huntsman represents a more primal, practical threat compared to the high-tech approach of the government agents. He is a man of action, comfortable in the wilderness that Renee is using as her hiding place. His skills make him a particularly dangerous foe, as he can read the signs of the desert that a city-bound agent would miss, bringing a rugged, hands-on danger to the pursuit.

7- Ron Roggé as Lou & Trae Romano as Gil

Ron Roggé and Trae Romano appear as Lou and Gil, respectively. These characters are likely residents of the small desert town. Lou could be a skeptical local sheriff or a curious neighbor who becomes suspicious of Renee’s activities. Gil, given the actor’s younger age, might be a schoolmate or a local kid who accidentally stumbles upon the secret, either becoming an unlikely ally or a potential leak that could blow Renee’s cover.

Their roles are essential for building the world of the film beyond Renee’s immediate household. They represent the periphery of the secret, the everyday people whose curiosity or duty could inadvertently lead the authorities right to the alien’s hiding place. They add a layer of community tension, showing that Renee must be wary of everyone, not just the official search party.

8- Cassandra Killian as Homeroom Teacher & Joseph Ortega as Student

Cassandra Killian (credited as Cassandra Ballard) plays the Homeroom Teacher, and Joseph Ortega appears as a Student. These roles, while small, are vital for establishing the normalcy of Renee’s everyday life that contrasts so sharply with her incredible secret. The classroom is a place where she must pretend everything is fine, masking the fear and exhaustion from her home life and the immense stress of hiding an alien.

The teacher and other students act as a baseline for normal teenage existence, highlighting just how isolated and burdened Renee truly is. A simple question from the teacher or a interaction with a student like Ortega’s character could be a moment of high anxiety for Renee, fearing any slip-up might give her away. They ground the story, reminding the audience of everything Renee stands to lose and the incredible double life she is forced to lead.