Actors like Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, George Clooney and Denzel Washington (to name a few) are powerhouse actors; they’ve studied their craft, worked on their brands and built careers that are hard to replicate. But there are some actors positioning themselves for the fame and success their predecessors currently have. Here are the young actors we could see having careers some will only dream of.
Lucas Hedges
2016 was a big year for Hedges. He stormed onto the scene with a monster award show film like Manchester by the Sea under his belt. But he’s already become a Wes Anderson favorite, previously starring in his films Moonrise Kingdom and The Grand Budapest Hotel. He’s also just getting started. In 2017, he’ll star alongside Peter Dinklage in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and Saoirse Ronan in Lady Bird.
Haley Bennett
Bennett has been on the Hollywood scene for a while now, but it was her role in 2016’s The Girl on the Train that really made her a name to watch. This year, she’s set to star alongside Amy Schumer and Miles Teller in the film Thank You for Your Service and Ryan Gosling and Natalie Portman in Song to Song.
Ezra Miller
Miller gave his breakout performance as a haunting and chilling young adult in 2011’s We Need to Talk About Kevin. But now, he’s making his way onto the superhero scene as The Flash. He also nabbed himself a role in the J.K. Rowling adaptation of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
Tom Holland
Holland is the Marvel man to watch right now. He’s taking on the role of Spiderman for a new generation and made his first appearance as the character alongside Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark. And he held his own. That in and of itself is a testament to his acting chops, but Holland is just getting started. You can also catch him this year in Pilgrimage alongside Jon Bernthal.
Billie Lourd
As the granddaughter of Debbie Reynolds and the daughter of Carrie Fisher, Lourd already has Hollywood royalty in her blood. But she isn’t banking on her family alone. She’s hustling herself. After appearing in the Fox show Scream Queens, Lourd now seems to be making her way to film. She will star in Star Wars: The Last Jedi as Lieutenant Connix.
Jeremy Irvine
You know someone has star quality when Steven Spielberg hand-picks him to star in his movie. That’s pretty much what happened to a young Irvine in War Horse. In 2017, he’ll star alongside Emma Roberts and Kevin Spacey in Billionaire Boys Club and Mel Gibson and Sean Penn in The Professor and the Madman.
Ansel Elgort
Elgort first caught our attention starring in The Fault in Our Stars, but he has since established himself as a force to watch. He has a list of films coming in 2017 that will make your jaw drop, including Baby Driver with Kevin Spacey and Jamie Foxx, and November Criminals with Chloë Grace Moretz.
Rowan Blanchard
Blanchard isn’t just a Disney star in Girl Meets World, she’s also an activist and a great role model for young girls. She’s slated to star in 2018’s A Wrinkle in Time alongside Chris Pine and Reese Witherspoon.
Chloë Grace Moretz
Moretz has already become a Hollywood heavyweight in her own right, and she’s only 20. From If I Stay to Kickass, Moretz has shown off her range at every turn, and she’ll only continue in 2017. She’ll star in November Criminals alongside Ansel Elgort and Suspiria with Tilda Swinton and Dakota Johnson.
Natalie Dormer
Dormer killed it in The Hunger Games films, and obviously rocked it as Margaery in Game of Thrones, but 2017 will see her become a leading lady in her own right. She’ll star in Official Secrets alongside Anthony Hopkins and Harrison Ford and Patient Zero with Matt Smith.
Kiersey Clemons
Clemons’ name is one to remember. You’ll be hearing a lot of it in 2017. With her role in The Flash, Clemons is poised to be the next it girl. But she’s also taking on films like Flatliners with Ellen Page and Kiefer Sutherland.
Zoë Kravitz
Kravitz’s father may be Lenny Kravitz, but she’s making a film name for herself that’s all her own. Catch her in 2017’s Rock That Body with Scarlett Johansson and Kin with James Franco.
Nicholas Hoult
Talk about a character actor. from X-Men to Mad Max, Hoult delivers stunning performances. He’ll star alongside Benedict Cumberbatch in 2017’s The Current War and Henry Cavill in Sand Castle.
John Boyega
Boyega easily found his way into our hearts with his breakout role in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Aside from continuing with the Star Wars franchise, he has roles coming up in The Circle with Tom Hanks and the new Pacific Rim movie with Scott Eastwood.
Emilia Clarke
Clarke is Daenerys Targaryen. But she is becoming just as much of a real-life powerhouse in Hollywood. She’s currently filming a role in the Han Solo anthology slated to release in 2018.
Craig Roberts
Roberts took our breath away with his role in The Fundamentals of Caring. Though he has a ton of credits to his name, he is only just becoming someone everyone is buzzing about. Catch him in TV movie Alt this year.
Saoirse Ronan
Ronan has already been nominated for two Oscars at just 22 years old for her roles in Atonement and Brooklyn. In 2017, catch her in The Seagull alongside Annette Bening and Lady Bird with Lucas Hedges.
Elle Fanning
At just 17, Fanning carries herself like an actress twice her age. She recently starred alongside Ben Affleck in Live By Night and has a slate of eight films coming in 2017 and 2018, including The Beguiled alongside Nicole Kidman and Kirsten Dunst.
Asa Butterfield
Butterfield is only 19 and already has credits to rival the best of the best. He first broke onto the scene in Hugo and has only continued his rise from there. In 2017, you can catch him in Departures with Nina Dobrev and Maisie Williams and The House of Tomorrow with Nick Offerman.
Rooney Mara
It seems like during every award show season of late, Rooney Mara’s name has always been in the mix somehow. This year, it was her role in Lion. Before that, Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Carol and The Social Network. Even with this impressive list of films, Mara shows no signs of slowing down any time soon.
America Ferrera
Ferrera isn’t just an actress; she’s an activist. She’s made a name for herself in television, standing up for diversity and women’s rights in the roles she’s playing, like on Ugly Betty and Superstore.
Yaya DaCosta
DaCosta has come a long way since her America’s Next Top Model days, when she got her start. She’s had a string of television show roles and also appeared in The Nice Guys with Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe.
Millie Bobby Brown
Stranger Things‘ Millie Bobby Brown captured our hearts both on her Netflix show and during the award show season circuit. Not only will she return for Stranger Things Season 2, but she is also slated for a role in 2019’s blockbuster Godzilla.
Donald Glover
Glover has been on the scene for a while, but after he created and starred in his own series, Atlanta, which won two Golden Globes this year, Glover is officially on the map as one of the biggest up-and-coming stars of his age.
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