Every few years Hollywood changes the guard. And some diapers. Thus the headline I recently read over the breakfast table: “Is Zac Efron the new Tom Cruise?”
Did milk just squirt out of your nose too? Then again, who am I to argue with (or laugh at) such speculation — especially at a time when the movie industry, while booming, is nevertheless looking to cut costs and roll out their shiny, new models.
How come? Put it this way: if your business strategy involves producing films based on pre-sold, name-brand toys, comics and video games, would you need to fork over $20 million for 45-year-old Russell Crowe? Or for 41-year-old Julia Roberts?
Hence, the emergence of Efron and a new crop of young (i.e.: cheap) faces more than capable of playing cyborgs, soldiers, nerds and starship captains — for a fraction of Brad Pitt’s asking price. With these fiscal and practical realities in mind, here then are 10 under-40 actors who look poised to break out in the coming months as Hollywood’s high-stakes summer season gets underway.
Sam Worthington
Age: 32 You Know Him From: Nothing yet, but you will. First up: May’s Terminator Salvation, in which he stars opposite Christian Bale’s John Connor as Marcus, an amnesiac drifter who doesn’t realize he’s more machine than man. Why him? Because Hollywood’s heavyweights have had their sights on him for awhile: he was one of the finalists to replace Pierce Brosnan as James Bond, but narrowly lost the licence to kill to Daniel Craig. He got the Terminator gig after franchise creator James Cameron (who had already cast Worthington as the lead in his forthcoming science-fiction adventure Avatar) suggested him to Salvation director McG.
What’s Next: Cameron’s 3D extravaganza Avatar in December, followed by a starring role as Perseus in the mega-budget remake of 1981’s Clash of the Titans, due in April 2010. Then he swaps green screens for Oscar winners when he acts opposite Helen Mirren in the thriller The Debt.
Chris Pine
Age: 28 You Know Him From: The Lindsay Lohan flop Just My Luck and The Princess Diaries 2, in which he romanced Anne Hathaway. If that makes him sound like just another hollow heartthrob, check out his spellbinding turn as a gonzo redneck biker assassin in Smokin’ Aces. Why him?: He stars as a young James T. Kirk in J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek reboot, due May 8. What’s Next: Nothing definite, but studios are already circling in earnest. There is the inevitable Trek sequel, likely in summer 2011. But before that he has been linked to two other pricey high-profile franchises: the comic-book-based Green Lantern, due December 2010; and next summer’s The A-Team, which is being helmed by Aces director Joe Carnahan (Narc).
Kristen Bell
Age: 28 You Know Her From: The short-lived but well-loved TV series Veronica Mars; a recurring role on NBC’s Heroes; and 2008’s Judd Apatow-produced comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Why her? Because she already boasts a cult following thanks to her stint on Mars. And in August, she stars in the rom-com When in Rome as a cynical professional whose wish for a suitor goes magically and comically awry (at least we assume so since one of her pursuers is Danny DeVito). If you remember just one thing, it’s that Hollywood is always looking for the next Julia. What’s Next: October’s Couples Retreat with Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau.
Marion Cotillard
Age: 33 You Know Her From: Winning the best actress Oscar last year for the French film La Vie en Rose. She also played Billy Crudup’s wife in Tim Burton’s Big Fish and Russell Crowe’s feisty paramour in A Good Year. Why her? The Oscar doesn’t hurt. Nor does her inclusion in Michael Mann’s 1930s gangster drama Public Enemies as Johnny Depp’s dame. What’s Next: Starring with Penelope Cruz, Daniel Day-Lewis and Nicole Kidman in the musical Nine, due at the end of the year. She’s also landed a secretive role in Christopher Nolan’s next film, Inception, alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Ellen Page.
Bradley Cooper
Age: 34 You Know Him From: TV’s Alias, as Jennifer Garner’s best — and just — friend; Yes Man, as Jim Carrey’s loyal pal; and Wedding Crashers, as Rachel McAdams’ d-bag boyfriend. Why him? Because after playing so many cretins and second bananas, Hollywood is betting big on Cooper: he recently hosted Saturday Night Live and in June headlines the raunch-com sleeper The Hangover, about three groomsmen who lose the groom in Vegas after a wild night of drunken debauchery. What’s Next: The Hangover 2 is already on the drawing board. Probably, though, not a sequel to He’s Just Not That Into You. Thank the Lord.
Channing Tatum
Age: 28 You Know Him From: The hit teen dance flick Step Up, its sequel Step Up 2: The Streets and the now-in-theatres Fighting. Why him? Because he’s about to be anointed the industry’s next-gen action dude. In August, he stars in G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra as square-jawed Duke. Before that he’ll be seen as Pretty Boy Floyd in July’s Public Enemies. One concern: it wasn’t so long ago Vin Diesel was the industry’s next-gen action dude. What’s Next: The Bourne-esque The Brotherhood of the Rose, based on David Morrell’s best-seller, in which Tatum would star as one of two brothers raised to be assassins.
Paul Rust
Age: 27 You Know Him From: Will Ferrell’s basketball comedy Semi-Pro. Or not. Why him? A frequent performer at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in Los Angeles, he gets to make an impression on filmgoers twice this summer: as a soldier in Quentin Tarantino’s Nazi-scalping Inglorious Basterds with Brad Pitt; and the rom-com I Love You Beth Cooper with Heroes’ Hayden Panettiere. And for those who care about such things, Rust is also dating Saturday Night Live’s Casey Wilson. What’s Next: Fame and fortune. Just a hunch.
Zoe Saldana
Age: 30 You Know Her From: The thriller Vantage Point; Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl; and Steven Spielberg’s The Terminal with Tom Hanks. Why her? She’s about to open hailing frequencies in Star Trek as communications officer Uhura. If that wasn’t geek-tastic enough, in December she joins Worthington for Avatar. What’s Next: An adaptation of the graphic novel The Losers, about a CIA black ops team. And, we assume, many more Treks to the bank.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Age: 28 You Know Him From: The cult fave Brick; the crime noir The Lookout; Spike Lee’s Miracle at St. Anna; and of course, the 1990s sitcom Third Rock from the Sun. Why him? Because he’s the only actor we know who is plotting to both conquer the world — and date Zooey Deschanel. And really can you blame him? In July, he’s a love-struck architect in the winsome “anti rom-com” 500 Days of Summer. Then in August’s G.I. Joe, he’s the masked maniacal Cobra Commander. What’s Next: Producing original content for his website. Also, unless something goes horribly wrong, another G.I. Joe or two.
Jeremy Renner
Age: 38 You Know Him From: The zombie sequel 28 Weeks Later; the western The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford; and TV’s The Unusuals. Why him? Because of the ecstatic buzz his latest — the Iraq war thriller The Hurt Locker, about a bomb squad — has generated since it bowed at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival. It opens in June. What’s Next: Possibly a role in The Losers.
