ISABELA MERCED 

Hear me out here (not the first time I’ll say this), but know that this is my dark horse pick that I want to present front and center. Starting with her appearance in Alien: Romulus, Isabela has the potential to have a killer run between that, The Last of Us Season Two, and multiple appearances as Hawkgirl (in Superman and Peacemaker). Her excellent performance as Dina in The Last of Us shows that she has that scene-stealing, girl next door that everyone wants to be around charisma and the ability to fill that role that Jennifer Lopez used to (big emphasis on used to) fill. Smart, charismatic, authentic, and eye-catching, Isabela has the chops to be love interest, best friend, stand-out, and lead in any four-quadrant movie that everyone wants to see.

GLENN POWELL 

Since I put my long shot out first, it’s only right to talk about the guy that everyone has already crowned as the second coming of Tom Cruise (do they say Tom, or is that just me?). Either way, Glenn is first to mind when mentioning the new crop of leading men with the perfect smile, masculine charm, and acting chops. He’s already stood toe-to-toe opposite of Cruise as the roguish bad-ass in Top Gun: Maverick, has proven capable of flipping to the absolute boy toy in Twisters and Hit Man, and with his name constantly in the running whenever top-billing roles like X-Men’s Cyclops are being fan-casted, Powell is already ticking all the boxes that Mr. Cruise is still doing to this day.

COLMAN DOMINGO 

Everyone loves stories like Colman’s. Working in the industry for more than 30 years as a recognizable and dependable character actor, it wasn’t until the last five that his star absolutely skyrocketed. Similar to another man I thought of for this list, the equally talented Mahershala Ali, Domingo has finally been recognized for his tremendous talent with back-to-back Best Actor Oscar nominations for his roles in Sing Sing and Rustin. But unlike Ali, who has become a little more selective with his roles, Domingo’s output has not slowed down from his pre-Oscar buzz. His range is impeccable, from voice acting roles in mega franchises (Transformers, Spider-Man), to series regular in notable shows (Euphoria, Fear the Walking Dead), and continued stand-out supporting move roles (The Color Purple & Drive-Away Dolls), he’s taking the actor’s actor spot that Ali and Denzel Washington occupy, and ramping up the front-facing workload and spotlight (and I didn’t even mention his always cover-worthy fashion sense).

AUSTIN BUTLER

Another top name that is spoken about in the new crop of leading men, Butler fills that mysterious bad boy with a heart of gold role to the point where he can easily be the Brad Pitt to Glenn Powell’s Tom Cruise. He fully encompasses the roles he takes on, from real-life subjects like Elvis Presley (Elvis), to fictional psychos like Feyd-Raufa (Dune: Part Two), and that enigmatic magnetism will continue to bring people to his movies for decades to come. I can easily see him leading the next David Fincher film, being the dependable wing-man in a Stephen Soderbergh caper, or starring alongside Powell as sexy, co-lead, centuries-old vampires. He can do whatever he wants in any movie he wants, and the people will always be intrigued to see him do it.

JENNA ORTEGA 

Jamie Lee Curtis is somehow forgotten as the mega superstar she was/is, but there will always be room for the Scream Queen that has comedic chops to stand above her male and female counterparts. Enter Jenna Ortega. She IS Wednesday Adams in the global Netflix phenomenon Wednesday, should have been starring in at least three more Scream films with Melissa Barrera, and was the only choice to be the next female lead opposite Michael Keaton in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Ortega is the It Girl for all things gothic, horror, and horror-comedy these days, and whether these days, the old days, or days of future past (sorry…), horror will never not bring droves of people to the theaters. Just like Jenna.

TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET

Personally, before Timmy made that “I want to be one of the greats” speech, and was seen game-in and game-out, sunglasses and slick-backed hair in tow during this latest New York Knicks playoff run, I liked him, but kind of let everyone else fawn over him. But now, as a fellow New York Knick lifer, and a respecter of confidence and coolness, I can’t help but see a young Jack Nicholson. And who the hell doesn’t love Jack?! In my eyes, Timmy will forever be GOATed, and his ability to carry a movie and a role since a young age proves this opinion beyond my Knicks bias. He caught everyone’s eye in Call Me by Your Name, then stole everyone’s heart in the Dune franchise, and after his Oscar nomination for A Complete Unknown, there isn’t a person on the planet that he doesn’t do something for. More than something if you ask me.

JOHN BOYEGA 

Ok hear me out (I told you…), even though this movie is not good in almost any way, once I saw Boyega play absolute charm, cool, and allure in Pacific Rim: Uprising, I said he needs to be put in every action comedy from here on out. Stupid fandom aside, he rocked it as Finn in the Star Wars sequel series, proved his sci-fi/action chops from the jump in Attack The Block, but also showed his range in dramatic roles from the stoic title character in They Cloned Tyrone to the regal Dahomey king in The Woman King. With all this ability to reach the masses in multiple ways, Boyega reminds me a lot of the captivating range Jamie Foxx encompasses, and if given the opportunity, he can become just as beloved.

DANIEL KALUUYA 

Oscar winner and multiple time nominee, multiple comic-book movie actor, horror movie lead, and possibly the coolest motherfucker on screen no matter who is standing next to him, Daniel Kaluuya has that chill about him that never goes unnoticed. Similar to George Clooney, he just feels like he always has everything under control, including every aspect of Hollywood superstardom. You need box office numbers, put him with Jordan Peele and watch the masses flock. You need some awards consideration, put him with damn near any worthy director and watch the masses flock. You need an injection of effortless cool in any films, put him in the film and do what… watch ‘em flock!

ZENDAYA 

What was the film that you realized America’s Sweetheart Sandra Bullock could also be devilish, sinister, and outright mean? Maybe it never was a full heel turn, but her against-type roles in The Proposal, Our Brand is Crisis, and Ocean’s 8, just upped my love for Sandy B. Now, imagine what people already think about Zendaya since we’ve fallen in love with her during her Disney Channel days, got enamored with her even more by taking on one of the most iconic love interests in franchise history (MJ in the MCU), and then absolutely trembled in the shadow of her awesome diabolical behavior in Euphoria AND Challengers. There’s no question that she is more than capable of adding to the long line of American actresses who have held that sweet mantle.

FLORENCE PUGH 

Does anyone know if Florence Pugh can carry a note? Because (one more time) hear me out, if she can do that as well as Meryl Streep did in Into The Woods, I would not be surprised if Pugh eventually comes for the title of the most nominated, best actress not named Viola Davis (aka best white actress). No offense to Saoirse Ronan, but Pugh has that additional unteachable quality about her that only a few, like Streep and Davis, possess alongside their acting ability. She is the chameleon that steals every scene, fills every role, plays any genre, and slays any heart. She has already outdone her contemporaries in the same film (she stole the title for favorite March sister from Ronan in Little Women), the same franchise (she is now the Black Widow, sorry Scarlett), and the same life (let me have my Florence is a better Paige than the real life Paige in Fighting With My Family, even if I’m wrong). Florence has that thing that all Hollywood stars have, that unnameable, unknowable, characteristic that will blast her to superstar status.