If you were anywhere near a screen in 2017, you know the face. Brandon Flynn became the poster child for the "troubled jock with a heart of gold" archetype when 13 Reasons Why exploded onto Netflix. People were obsessed. But honestly, if you think his career started and ended with Justin Foley’s leather jacket, you’re missing out on some of the weirdest, darkest, and most interesting acting choices in recent years.
Most actors who hit it big in a teen drama spend the next decade trying to play the same "pretty boy" lead. Not Brandon. He’s spent the last few years actively running away from that box. He’s played a quadruple amputee sadist, a kid whose face literally kills people, and now, he's even stepping into the shoes of Hollywood legends like James Dean and Marlon Brando. It’s a wild trajectory.
The Justin Foley Legacy: Where It All Started
Let’s be real. We have to talk about 13 Reasons Why. For four seasons, Brandon Flynn didn’t just play a character; he anchored the emotional weight of a show that, quite frankly, could get a bit much sometimes. Justin Foley started as a villain—the guy who shared that photo of Hannah Baker—and ended as the soul of the series.
The range required for that role was insane. One minute he’s the popular athlete, the next he’s dealing with homelessness, heroin addiction, and a redemptive arc that left basically everyone in tears by the series finale. It’s the kind of performance that makes casting directors take notice. You can't fake that kind of vulnerability.
Breaking the Mold: Brandon Flynn Movies and TV Shows After Netflix
After the tapes stopped spinning, Flynn made a hard pivot. He didn't go for the standard rom-com. Instead, he showed up in True Detective Season 3. It was a recurring role as Ryan Peters, but it signaled a shift toward more "prestige" adult dramas.
Then came Ratched.
If you haven’t seen it, Sarah Paulson stars as the iconic nurse, but Brandon Flynn’s turn as Henry Osgood is… well, it’s nightmare fuel. Henry is a spoiled, sadistic rich kid who ends up losing his limbs in a drug-fueled "surgery" gone wrong. It is a massive departure from Justin Foley. It’s gross, it’s campy, and it proved he could handle the high-octane weirdness of a Ryan Murphy production.
A Quick Look at the Filmography (So Far)
- 13 Reasons Why (2017–2020): The big one. The career-maker.
- Looks That Kill (2020): His first big leading film role. He plays Max, a teen who has to wear a bandage over his face because anyone who sees him dies instantly. It sounds like a gimmick, but it’s actually a pretty sweet, dark comedy.
- Hellraiser (2022): A foray into pure horror. He played Matt McKendry in the Hulu reimagining of the Clive Barker classic.
- Manhunt (2024): This was a huge shift into historical drama. He played Edwin Stanton Jr. in the Apple TV+ series about the hunt for John Wilkes Booth.
- The Parenting (2025): A horror-comedy where he plays Josh. It's basically a "meet the parents" weekend that goes horribly wrong with an ancient evil.
The Recent Shift: Icons and Indies
By 2025 and 2026, Brandon’s career has taken an even more "theatrical" turn. He’s always been a theater kid at heart—he graduated from Rutgers’ Mason Gross School of the Arts, after all.
Recently, he’s been leaning into biopics and stage work that most people wouldn't expect. He played a young Marlon Brando in the off-Broadway play Kowalski, which is a bold move for any actor. You don’t just "play" Brando unless you’ve got serious chops.
Even more buzzy is his role in Willie and Jimmy Dean. Playing James Dean is a rite of passage for many actors, but this film focuses on Dean’s relationship with William Bast. It’s a tender, queer perspective on a Hollywood icon, and it fits perfectly with how Flynn has used his platform as an openly gay actor to tell stories that actually matter to him.
What Most People Get Wrong
People often assume Flynn is just another "Netflix star" who got lucky with a hit show. But if you look at his choices, he’s much more of a character actor trapped in a leading man’s face. He’s picked projects that are often polarizing—like the Hellraiser reboot or the graphic Fucktoys (2025)—rather than playing it safe.
He also isn't just about the screen. His work in fashion—specifically those massive Calvin Klein campaigns—shows he knows how to navigate the "celebrity" side of things, but his heart clearly stays in the weird, gritty indie roles.
Why Brandon Flynn Still Matters in 2026
The reason he’s still relevant while other teen stars have faded is his willingness to be "ugly" on screen. Whether he's playing a recovering addict or a mutilated socialite, he doesn't care about looking perfect. That’s rare.
Honestly, the best way to track his growth is to watch Looks That Kill and Manhunt back-to-back. The difference in tone, physicality, and even how he uses his voice is striking. He’s gone from a "breakout" to a legitimate professional with staying power.
How to catch up on Brandon Flynn’s work:
- Watch "13 Reasons Why" (Season 1 & 4 especially): If you want to see the raw emotional foundation of his career.
- Stream "Ratched" on Netflix: For a completely different, much darker side of his acting range.
- Check out "Manhunt" on Apple TV+: This is where he proves he can hold his own in a serious, period-piece ensemble.
- Look for "The Parenting": It’s the perfect bridge between his early "teen" energy and his new, more mature comedy-horror vibe.
Keep an eye on his theater credits too. If you can catch him on stage in New York, that's where the real magic happens. He’s clearly prioritizing projects that challenge the audience's perception of him, and so far, it's working.