The Cast Of Late Night, From Dame Emma Thompson To That Guy From The Mindy Project

Imagine a world where you can turn on the TV and channel surf through multiple late-night talk shows with female hosts. While that may sound too good to be true (because it totally is, at least right now), Mindy Kaling’s new movie Late Night (in theaters June 7) imagines a world in which a female talk show host has been dominating late-night for decades. It’s the kind of world we wish was reality, but for now, we’ll just have to settle for this refreshing, feminist comedy about a late-night talk show host's world being turned upside down when she hires her first and only female staff writer.

Originally intended to smooth over diversity concerns, the decision to bring in a young and inexperienced female writer brings about unexpectedly hilarious (and poignant) consequences as the two women who are separated by culture and generation become united by their love of a biting punchline. Kaling based the story for Late Night on her experiences being a “diversity hire” and the only female writer on staff on The Office, something she says she used to be ashamed of until she realized how much power and responsibility that gave her in opening doors for others. It’s an empowering story about finding your purpose in life and the confidence you need to succeed no matter what.

The cast of characters in Late Night vary from the host to the head writers to the folks vying for a spot in late night history.