Rafael Casal rose to prominence after he appeared in the 2018 film "Blindspotting," a project he co-wrote, co-produced, and co-starred in alongside "Hamilton" standout Daveed Diggs. Both Casal and Diggs are childhood friends and began working on "Blindspotting" early in their creative careers. The film received unanimous praise when it debuted at Sundance in 2018, with many critics hailing "Blindspotting" as the best film of the year. "Sharp, stylish, and sincere, 'Blindspotting' may hook you with its flashy wordplay and slick visuals, but this is a hilarious and vital movie of the moment that's burning with empathy," wrote /Film critic Ben Pearson in 2018, praising the film's compelling narrative and performances.
While Diggs always had the clout of "Hamilton," Casal became a phenomenon thanks to his supporting role in "Blindspotting." In "Blindspotting," Casal plays the loud and brash Miles, a character who is frequently at odds with his best friend Collin (Diggs) about race, genrification, and west coast culture. While speaking with Rolling Stone, Casal opened up about how "Blindspotting" attempts to meditate on difficult questions but has no interest in answering them, leaving it up to viewers. "You can't present a complicated conversation that is unresolved in society as resolved in a film," Casal told the outlet. "We tried to meet the conversation where it was and then get out."
For Casal, "Blindspotting" was a launchpad that showed his talent as a multi-hypenate creative, opening the door for several more intriguing projects, including "Loki" Season 2. 2019 saw the actor appear in the Emmy-winning film "Bad Education" and the 2019 revival of "Are You Afraid of the Dark?" While the actor is moving onto new roles, like playing Brad Wolfe in "Loki," Casal still isn't done with "Blindspotting."
