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Previous Next June 18, 2025 WRITTEN BY: AMARÚ Sometime last year, Nick was thinking about putting a list together of the up-and-coming Hollywood movie stars. Not in the “A-listers of the day” sense, but the true, global, carry a film on their name alone, men and women faint in their presence, larger-than-life, bona fide movie star with a capital M, capital STAR of the 90s kind of way. He came to the belief that, due to the state of the movie industry and movie-going trends, cinematic superstardom like that may no longer be possible, and scrapped the article. I’m of a different belief. Firstly, I am more optimistic about the state of the industry, especially in the past few years with a combination of new box office event movies like Barbenheimer, Wicked , and Sinners , and more independent movie studios like A24 and Blumhouse breaking their own box office records with more consistency. Secondly, and more importantly, while they may not “technically” reach the over-the-top star-status of our actors of old, there is a new crop of actors that I see glimpses of our old Hollywood megastar within. From names like Michael B. Jordan to Anya Taylor-Joy, there are so many actors who inhibit the same aura as the stars we grew up with, and taking into account that everything evolves over time, we still find ways to revert back to what we know and love. Here are 10 of those actors who I believe either will, or already have great potential to, become the Hollywood Movie STARS the public has been craving. 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.

WELCOME TO CHIPPENDALES Starring: Kumail Nanjiani, Murray Bartlett, Annaleigh Ashford, and Juliette Lewis Creator: Robert Siegel ADRIANO There is something of a missed opportunity in Welcome To Chippendales . The story itself is engaging, compelling me to return every week, not to mention Kumail Nanjiani’s engrossing performance and Murray Bartlett stealing every scene he’s in. However, I wish the show wasn’t so lacking in style, which is especially noticeable for a tale of glamour and intrigue. Unfortunately, any grit present is only there because of the nature of the true crime story, not because of any conscious decision in the direction. It has enough entertainment value that I would recommend it, but it left a lot to be desired. QUENTIN Welcome to Chippendales , Hulu’s latest true corporate crime story, boasts enough sleaze and neon to make the darkly sordid tale quite a bit of fun (think of it as The Dropout through the lens of Netflix’s GLOW ). Admittedly, I’m not a huge Kumail Nanjiani fan, but he does good dramatic work here; however, he is greatly overshadowed by Murray Bartlett. The series’ only real flaw is that it covers 20+ years in eight episodes, so seemingly important plot points and characters are glossed over or forgotten quickly. And while there is clear character development, it comes at whiplash-inducing speeds. Still, I never lost interest.

THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RINGS OF POWER: SEASON TWO Starring: Morfydd Clark, Charlie Vickers, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Robert Aramayo, Markell’s Kavenaugh, Daniel Weyman, Sophia Nomvete, and Owain Arthur Creators: Patrick McKay and John D. Payne AMARÚ The Rings of Power showrunners must’ve heard fans talking about how slow Season One started because they took the momentum of its second half and kicked down every door going into Season Two. They’re fully playing in the Lord of the Rings ’ high-fantasy sandbox now. Combining multitudes of magical Middle-Earth lore with a brisker pace and heightened action pushes the dialogue-heavy scenes, some that still drag, but most of which bring far more character development to this large ensemble. So, instead of five storylines disparately plodding alongside one another, each plot races to coalesce towards one exciting climax. I’m geeked beyond measure and need more Middle-Earth pronto.

GENIUS: ARETHA Starring: Cynthia Erivo, Courtney B. Vance, David Cross, Malcolm Barrett, Patrice Covington, Kimberly Hebert Gregory, Rebecca Naomi Jones, and Shaian Jordan Creator: Suzan-Lori Parks QUENTIN With NatGeo dropping eight episodes over four consecutive nights, it feels like the network wasn't too proud of this miniseries about Aretha Franklin. I can see why. While Cynthia Erivo absolutely slays the singing parts, her performance during the non-singing parts is restrained to the point of being dull. The series also feels cheap, from the 80s-style opening credits to the fact that they couldn't get the rights to Aretha’s biggest hits (really? No “Respect”?). It's like a low budget, made-for-TV Bohemian Rhapsody - an incredibly flawed and formulaic biopic that is only as strong as your love for Aretha’s music.

DARK WINDS: SEASON ONE Starring: Zahn McClarnon, Kiowa Gordon, Jessica Matten, Deanna Allison, Rainn Wilson, Elva Guerra, Jeremiah Bitsui, Eugene Brave Rock, and Noah Emmerich Creator: Graham Roland QUENTIN Dark Winds is not without its bright spots. Zahn McClarnon and Kiowa Gordon are great as a pair of Navajo sheriffs forced into a reluctant partnership, and the cinematography should be recognized amongst the best on television. However, the central mystery is sorely lacking. Things that should be major plot points come across as afterthoughts to the show’s Native American setting, almost like the producers were so caught up in making an authentic Navajo-centric experience that they forgot to flesh out the actual story. I commend the effort to feature such an underrepresented community with total reverence, but it doesn’t make for a compelling drama.

WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS: SEASON FOUR Starring: Kayvan Novak, Matt Berry, Natasia Demetriou, Harvey Guillén, and Mark Proksch Creator: Jemaine Clement QUENTIN While still enjoyable in the general sense, What We Do in the Shadows ’ fourth season might be the series’ weakest outing yet. Nothing about it is bad, per se, but this season chooses to focus on the show’s two least interesting characters. Too much time is dedicated to Baby Colin Robinson (Mark Proksch) and Nadja’s (Natasia Demetriou) Vampire Night Club, which sideline Nandor’s (Kayvan Novak) hilarious djinn shenanigans while also leaving Laszlo (Matt Berry) and Guillermo (Harvey Guillén) severely underused. That said, Episode Eight (“Go Flip Yourself”) is a brilliant parody of home improvement shows and one of the best episodes of the show’s entire run.

SWARM Starring: Dominique Fishback Creators: Donald Glover and Janine Nabers JOSEPH Up until the final episode, Swarm had my full attention because it is a spot-on critique and representation of toxic fandom and internet culture. I cannot praise Dominique Fishback’s performance enough, and she is both entertaining and terrifying the whole way through. However, all the goodwill I had for Swarm fell apart in the final moments as this seemingly bold and profound show limps its way across the finish line. The showrunners claim they were striving for ambiguity, but truthfully, it feels like they were afraid to make a truly bold statement. QUENTIN Despite Donald Glover’s involvement, flashes of brilliance, and surreal vibes reminiscent of Atlanta , Swarm isn’t as strong as the sum of its parts. Truthfully, it’s almost too ambitious, and since it’s based on multiple true stories combined to make a composite character in Dre (Dominique Fishback), it feels very disjointed. Also…and this isn’t Fishback’s fault…but Dre, who says very little while carrying a mostly deadpan expression, is simply too dull to root for as an anti-hero or to recoil from as a villain. Lastly, the ending undercuts the messaging about toxic fandom. Still, it generally held my interest, though I wouldn’t exactly recommend it. PAIGE How do I put this? …Swarm is a very odd show, and not the good kind of odd. This series takes some bold and heightened swings on toxic fandom that, personally, don’t stick the landing. Our lead, Dominique Fishback, gives a tremendous performance, but other than that, the series really has nothing else going for it. It’s honestly kind of cringe worthy and a bloody bore. As huge a fan I am of the creator, Donald Glover, I'm sad to say his work on this series goes off the rails, crashes, and burns.

COWBOY CARTEL Creators: Dan Johnstone and Castor Fernandez QUENTIN Though at least one episode too long and short on colorful characters, Apple TV+’s Cowboy Cartel is a solid watch for anyone interested in horse racing or documentaries on criminal investigations into drug trafficking and Mexican cartels. I admit, as a Louisville native who grew up around The Kentucky Derby and a person who used to work in counternarcotics, this series features several things that appeal to my personal interests, so it’s possible I got more out of it than most others will. Nevertheless, it’s a relatively short four-hour docuseries that both engages and educates. That’s a decent win if you ask me.

THE SANDMAN: SEASON ONE Starring: Tom Sturridge, Gwendoline Christie, Boyd Holbrook, Vivienne Acheampong, Vanesu Samunyai, Jenna Coleman, David Thewlis, Joely Richardson, Patton Oswalt, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, and Stephen Fry Creators: Neil Gaiman, David S. Goyer, and Allan Heinberg AMARÚ The Sandman is a beautiful dream that feels like it was directed by The Wachowskis. While they didn’t have a hand in it, their works clearly influenced this adaptation of one of DC’s most otherworldly comics. Each episode is fluid and grandiose, simultaneously featuring spectacular successes and disjointed missteps. As a whole, the season feels like two separate shows with out-of-order episodes and disorienting tonal shifts, but its second half finds more focus to build a world worth exploring. The Sandman is a puzzle that doesn’t start coming together until the last piece is placed, and I want to continue piecing it together. QUENTIN It’s tough to review The Sandman in ~100 words because my opinion of it is as all over the place as the series itself. So much of it is terrible, yet I still want more. Explaining those contradicting views won’t be easy, but here goes… It’s an all-around disjointed mess that favors world building over character development, the CGI is laughably bad, and there is almost no narrative cohesion until the final episodes. That said, two quasi-bottle episodes are tremendous, Boyd Holbrook is outstanding as The Corinthian, and the mythology it is establishing is extremely engrossing. You’ll probably have to try this one for yourself.

ALIEN: EARTH: SEASON ONE Starring: Sydney Chandler, Timothy Olyphant, Alex Lawther, Samuel Blenkin, Essie Davis, Adarsh Gourav, Kit Young, David Rysdahl, Babou Ceesay, Jonathan Ajayi, Erana James, Lily Newmark, Diêm Camille, and Adrian Edmondson Creator: Noah Hawley QUENTIN In case you have the same fear I did — that Alien: Earth would only tease the xenomorphs until the finale — fear not! The titular aliens (and other related creatures) show up in the premiere and make regular and frightening appearances throughout the entire series. On top of that, the biggest compliment I can give is that Earth is very much in line with Ridley Scott’s classic in horror tone, terrific imagery, and compelling characters (Episode Five, especially). Although the plot is sprawling, featuring a lot of moving parts and very dense, slow-burn storytelling that can occasionally lead to pacing issues, every franchise fan should be thrilled. PAIGE Creator Noah Hawley does a wonderful job of skillfully crafting a series that fits right in and expands Ridley Scott’s Alien franchise. Though there are some wonky CGI moments and pacing issues, when the show uses practical effects and leans into its themes, it thrives. Alien: Earth combines heady sci-fi ideas with thought-provoking topics that feel so relevant and topical to today’s real world. Packed with strong performances from its ensemble and unique comparisons and references to Peter Pan’s “Neverland,” this series certainly proves that this franchise still has something worth bursting out of the chest for. ROBERT When you hear that an established movie IP is being translated to TV, you get nervous. How will that look on the small screen? Well, if you have Noah Hawley at the helm, it works out fantastically. Alien: Earth further expands the lore of the Alien universe by showing creatures beyond the Xenomorphs and fleshing out how long Weyland/Yutani has been trying to monopolize the bioweapon market. Centering the story around corporate jockeying and espionage is timely and thought-provoking, but to have the type of scaled action revolving around it is truly special. While a slow burn, it emanates bright.

THE MORNING SHOW: SEASON THREE Starring: Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Billy Crudup, Mark Duplass, Jon Hamm, Greta Lee, Julianna Margulies, Nestor Carbonell, Karen Pittman, Nicole Beharie, and Holland Taylor Creator: Jay Carson QUENTIN Although The Morning Show hasn’t changed all that much over the course of its three seasons, I think it has just run out of narrative steam for me. I found it extremely difficult to be interested in any of the way-too-many characters, even if the performances themselves are solid across the board. It just tries to tackle too many hot-button issues at once, even featuring COVID and January 6th, neither of which I need to see more of in late 2023. Add in a few too many soapy elements, and The Morning Show has become something I may cancel from my watchlist. NICK The Morning Show had a great two-year run, but its newest offering feels a little lost. With the conclusion of the Mitch Kessler (Steve Carell) storyline last season, there was no clear path forward, and this season reflects that. Yes, Jennifer Aniston continues to thrive as Alex Levy while Jon Hamm is a solid addition, but it just doesn’t work as well. Everything feels watered down, including Billy Crudup's Cory Ellison, who was a highlight of the previous seasons. With no clear party to root for and haphazard storylines throughout, this series must bring more to the table to justify a fourth season.

MOBLAND: SEASON ONE Starring: Tom Hardy, Pierce Brosnan, Helen Mirren, Paddy Considine, Joanne Froggatt, Lara Pulver, Anson Boon, Jasmine Jobson, Mandeep Dhillon, Daniel Betts, Geoff Bell, Janet McTeer, Toby Jones, and Jordi Mollà Creator: Ronan Bennett QUENTIN If you didn’t know, MobLand was originally conceived as a spinoff to Ray Donovan before being retooled into its own thing. Thankfully, despite seeing the Donovan DNA throughout, not to mention shades of Gangs of London , this is just a damn good show. Granted, a surly Tom Hardy, ruthless Pierce Brosnan, devious Helen Mirren, and director Guy Ritchie go a long way to elevate fairly standard mob fare, but this one also has the benefit of sharp writing, gritty style, brutal violence, tense moments, and dark humor. Also, you’ll be seeing a lot of people next Tuesday, especially Eddie (Anson Boon), if you catch my meaning. AMARÚ MobLand is as entertaining as a British crime drama from Guy Ritchie, starring Pierce Brosnan, Helen Mirren, Paddy Considine, and Tom Hardy, sounds like it would be. It reaches Power - and Game of Thrones -levels of twisty turny, but there’s a clear difference with this family mob story: it’s fucking hilarious. Watching an unhinged Brosnan and Mirren alongside Hardy's personification of the quintessential never-shaken fix-it man you don’t fuck with – not to mention Considine continuing his more-than-solid run of roles made for genuine belly laughs – through a string of jaw-dropping reveals and crazy violent blowups… yeah, I’d definitely like some more, please. ROBERT Dark, absurdist humor through twisted, British gang violence is what Guy Ritchie does, and his schtick fits well for prestige TV, as seen with MobLand . The juxtaposition of the cool, collected machinations of Tom Hardy’s Harry as fixer and the raw, animalistic jawing of both Pierce Brosnan’s Conrad and Helen Mirren’s Maeve as mob royalty is captivating. Everything is slick but grimy, like you can see the muck and mud trying to swallow the fiefdom as built by the Harrigan family in real time. If you are in the mood for blokes getting nicked before their teapots are wiped and getting stuffed in boots, this is a show for you.