“Stranger Things’ Dacre Montgomery Breaks the Internet With Surprise New Role—Details & Release Date Revealed”

Australian actor Dacre Montgomery is officially back in the spotlight. After a multi-year hiatus following his breakout turn as Billy Hargrove on Netflix’s Stranger Things, the 30-year-old has signed on to lead Brad Anderson’s psychological thriller “Moral Capacity” opposite Diane Lane, Sofia Boutella and Tim Robbins. Production is slated to begin in the U.K. in early 2026, with Highland Film Group launching international sales and CAA Media Finance handling domestic rights. Montgomery plays James Fisher, a seemingly perfect family man forced into a deadly black-mail game that threatens everything he has built. The tense, character-driven script by novelist Peter Moore Smith has Anderson—best known for “The Machinist” and “Session 9”—calling the project a return to the paranoid thrillers that defined his early career. “Moral Capacity” marks Montgomery’s second high-profile collaboration in quick succession. He recently wrapped Gus Van Sant’s festival favorite “Dead Man’s Wire” and is generating awards buzz for the New Zealand gothic drama “Went Up the Hill.” The flurry of new roles signals the end of a self-imposed break that the Perth native once said he needed to “reclaim [his] identity” after instant Stranger Things fame. Fans of Hawkins, Indiana haven’t been forgotten. Although Billy met his demise in season 3, Montgomery told PEOPLE he will be “watching from home” when the series finale drops this November and is eager to see what the Duffer Brothers tackle next. He also voiced support for on-screen sister Sadie Sink, predicting an “amazing career” as Stranger Things closes its doors. Industry observers view Montgomery’s latest move as a strategic pivot from teen-idol status to mature leading man. Pairing with Oscar-caliber talent like Lane and Robbins positions him squarely in the prestige-thriller lane where contemporaries such as Robert Pattinson and Andrew Garfield have thrived. With shooting set for early 2026 and distribution talks already heating up, “Moral Capacity” could be the vehicle that cements Montgomery’s post-Stranger Things renaissance. Key search phrases: Dacre Montgomery new movie, Dacre Montgomery Moral Capacity, Dacre Montgomery comeback, Stranger Things Billy actor, Brad Anderson thriller, Diane Lane Tim Robbins Sofia Boutella cast.