Comedian Chris Rock returns to directing with Hollywood drama 'Misty Green'

Comedy star Chris Rock has returned to the director's chair after a decade, choosing a more serious story for his latest film, ‘Misty Green’, though he insists the drama does not signal a permanent shift towards darker projects.

"I'm always going to be a comedian," Rock said on Sunday, a day after the film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). 

"The next (film) may be super gritty, or it might be really silly," he added. "Whatever it is, I'm going to try to make it great."

‘Misty Green’ stars Rosalind Eleazar of ‘Slow Horses’ as a once-successful actor whose career is now struggling. Short of money and facing eviction from her apartment, her character is desperate to land a job.

Although the film features its share of humour, it maintains a largely serious tone as it tackles issues including institutional racism, substance abuse and the darker side of Hollywood stardom.

Speaking on the red carpet before Saturday's premiere, Rock said he did not want to be restricted to making the same kind of film repeatedly.

"I shouldn't have to do the same thing every time."

"Let's see what Chris Rock's drama looks like."

The film has already drawn strong critical attention, with Variety describing ‘Misty Green’ as the "best movie about Hollywood in years". Eleazar has also received praise for her lead performance.

The British actor appears alongside Adam Driver, Anna Kendrick and Rock. Eleazar said on Sunday that she had initially worried her casting might make other established actors hesitant to join the project.

"There are lots of bigger names than me that could have taken this part," she said.

She said she had privately feared that other actors might view her involvement as a reason to pass on the film.

She worried privately that other actors considering the film would think Eleazar was "not big enough ... it's not worth my while," she said.

Woody Allen meets David Lynch

Kendrick, who rose to prominence after appearing opposite George Clooney in ‘Up in the Air’ before becoming widely known for the ‘Pitch Perfect’ franchise, plays Misty's friend.

The actor said she was initially unsure about how the film would come together when Rock first approached her about the role.

She recalled telling him, "There's something I can't see yet, but I trust that you see it."

Kendrick said watching the completed film changed her view, describing it as an unusual combination of comedy and drama.

"I keep describing the movie to people as if Woody Allen were also David Lynch. There's just something really deep and twisted about it."

Rock's last directorial feature before ‘Misty Green’ was Top Five, released in 2014. The film followed a successful comedian attempting to move into more dramatic territory.

Reflecting on his filmmaking career, Rock said his movies "have gotten progressively better", but stopped short of revealing what kind of project he might tackle next.

"I'm not going to lock myself into anything."