Joseph Purcell Is Just Getting Started: From Microdramas to Mainstream Hollywood

From Vertical Screens to the Silver Screen

If you've spent any time scrolling through TikTok lately, chances are you've come across Joseph Purcell — not as an influencer hawking products, but as a genuine rising talent in the fast-growing microdrama space. The 26-year-old actor, son of Prison Break icon Dominic Purcell and stepbrother to global pop superstar Miley Cyrus, has quietly carved out a name for himself in one of entertainment's newest and most addictive formats. But make no mistake — he's only warming up.

The Rise of Microdramas and How Purcell Found His Footing

Microdramas — short, vertically formatted, mobile-first series designed for on-the-go viewing — have exploded in popularity in recent years. Platforms like ReelShort, CandyJar, and DramaBox have been churning out binge-worthy content at a remarkable pace, and in doing so, they've been minting a new generation of recognizable faces. Joseph Purcell is among the most prominent of those emerging stars.

His entry into the space wasn't exactly planned. While studying the Meisner acting technique at Playhouse West, a small black box theater school in North Hollywood, Purcell watched his close friend and fellow actor Evan Adams land roles in the microdrama world — getting flown to Texas, earning money, and building a fanbase in the process.

"I'm like, who am I to snub my nose at anything at this point? I haven't done anything," Purcell admitted candidly in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter.

That honest self-assessment led him to start auditioning. His first callback was for a supporting role in a vertical titled His Nerd — but after impressing in that audition, producers immediately asked him to read for the lead. He got it. And from there, momentum built quickly.

A New Kind of Training Ground

One of the most compelling aspects of Purcell's story is what it says about the microdrama space more broadly. Much like how Disney Channel and Nickelodeon once served as launchpads for young Hollywood talent, vertical platforms are now filling a similar role — offering hungry, skilled actors a place to sharpen their craft, gain exposure, and build a loyal following.

"So many actors are super talented but aren't able to get traditional work," Purcell noted. "These verticals are giving them the platform to exercise their muscles."

The production pace is intense. Actors typically receive scripts about a week before filming begins, leaving minimal time for deep character development. Purcell describes the process as less about psychological exploration and more about line familiarity, relaxation, and genuine connection with scene partners.

"You get a week to learn the lines, learn the character — and really, it's about getting familiar with the script, then letting yourself relax and just listening to your acting partner," he explained.

From Verticals to Horizontals

Purcell has already taken his first step beyond the vertical world. He appeared in Glamping, a film released on Tubi — his first horizontally formatted project. Shooting 94 pages of screenplay in just 11 days, it wasn't dramatically different from the microdrama pace he was used to, but it hinted at what lies ahead. "I'm still waiting for the month of preparation film that hopefully comes around soon," he said with a laugh.

Following His Own Path — Not His Father's Shadow

Growing up with Dominic Purcell as a father, Joseph was no stranger to the entertainment world. Yet acting was far from his first ambition. As a kid raised partly in Australia, he was passionate about sports — basketball, soccer, cricket — and acting felt like the last career he'd ever pursue.

When he eventually made the decision to give it a shot, his father's success served less as a blueprint and more as proof of concept. "There must be something about his wiring that I also share," Purcell said. "It made it a bit easier to believe in myself."

As for advice from his dad? It's refreshingly no-nonsense. "He's very just like, 'Dude, learn the lines and do the thing. If you have it, you have it,'" Purcell recalled. "He doesn't try to make it as complex as I want to make it."

Big Dreams: Gritty, Raw, and Real

Ask Purcell about his dream roles and a clear artistic vision emerges. He's drawn to cinema that hits hard — emotionally honest, unflinching, and deeply human.

"I'm very much pulled into anything that's raw and real and gritty and kind of dark," he said, naming films like Beautiful Boy, Aftersun, Manchester by the Sea, and My Own Private Idaho as the kind of work that first made him want to act. He also expressed admiration for films that bridge critical respect with cultural relevance — think Fight Club or Gladiator — and pointed to recent releases like Sinners and Marty Supreme as examples of that balance being struck again.

Traditional Hollywood is slowly starting to take notice. Purcell has begun receiving auditions from reputable casting directors — opportunities he says he never takes for granted, especially given how competitive the industry has become.

On Fame, Family, and Keeping Perspective

With Miley Cyrus as a stepsister and Dominic Purcell as a father, Joseph has an unusually grounded perspective on fame. When asked whether he's reached out to Miley for guidance, he was both self-aware and admirably humble.

"Miley is on another level, and then my dad is, so I don't feel 'famous,'" he said. "I think if it ever gets bigger, I would definitely reach out to her — she's a boss and so inspiring — but I don't feel like I've reached a level where it's necessary yet."

That combination of ambition, humility, and clear-eyed self-awareness may be exactly what sets Joseph Purcell apart. The microdrama world gave him a platform, but the roles he's chasing next suggest a career with a much longer arc ahead.