Hollywood's Next Big Things
Who's the new Tom Hanks? The next Julia Roberts? Gaze into our crystal ball.
Predicting the future is never easy, especially in Hollywood. But with all the impressive young talent bursting onto the big screen these days, it's not hard to make some educated guesses. As in, the up-and-comer who figures to be the next 'Harrison Ford'. Or Jodie Foster. Or Denzel Washington. Or, well, you get the picture. Here's a look at some of today's brightest new stars, and the reigning A-listers whose footsteps they figure to follow.
John Krasinski
The Next Tom Hanks?
Krasinski has Hanks' knack for goofy faces, his everyman affability and even the same career trajectory, making the leap from sitcom ('The Office' = 'Bosom Buddies') to romantic comedies ('License to Wed' = 'Splash'). The only things he doesn't have are Hanks' Oscars. All in good time ...
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Shia LaBeouf
The Next Harrison Ford?
It's no coincidence that LaBeouf has been cast alongside Ford in 'Indiana Jones 4' (reportedly as Indy's son). The red-hot 'Transformers' star showcases the same mix of wiseass swagger and dedication to his craft that helped Ford bring Han Solo and Indy to life. It looks as though the blaster/whip is being passed.
Amy Adams
The Next Sandra Bullock?
She earned an Oscar nomination for the indie 'Junebug,' but most people know her from larger films like 'Catch Me If You Can' and 'Talladega Nights,' where she exudes likability and comic smarts no matter how small the role. Heck, even the rats love her as a fairy-tale princess in this fall's Disney pic 'Enchanted' -- can America be far behind?
Michael Cera
The Next Will Ferrell?
His understated but always hilarious turn as repressed teen George Michael Bluth on the criminally canceled 'Arrested Development' is already the stuff of TV legend. This summer's raunchy R-rated romp 'Superbad' may just solidify his place as the comedic voice of his generation.
Columbus Short
The Next Denzel Washington?
A stretch? Maybe. But Short has already proved he has one thing Denzel may never have: the moves. The dancer/choreographer strutted his stuff as the lead in the surprise hit 'Stomp the Yard.' But can he straight-out act? We'll see next year, in 'Whiteout,' based on a graphic novel and starring Kate Beckinsale as a U.S. Marshal.
Kristen Stewart
The Next Jodie Foster?
Like former child star Foster (whose daughter she played in 'Panic Room'), Stewart's got the talent to take her well beyond kiddie fare: After Sean Penn's 'Into the Wild,' she'll co-star with Robert De Niro in 'What Just Happened?' In our office pool, she's the teen actor least likely to wind up in rehab.
Emile Hirsch
The Next Al Pacino?
While Hirsch has yet to find his 'Dog Day Afternoon,' he's already been a leading man, in the cult favorite 'The Girl Next Door,' and he displays a vulnerable intensity (very Pacino-esque) in both 'Lords of Dogtown' and 'Alpha Dog.' Next he'll lead Sean Penn's ensemble 'Into the Wild' and get to drive real fast (shades of Pacino in 'Scent of a Woman') as Speed himself in the Wachowski's 'Speed Racer.' Hoo-ah!
Dania Ramirez
The Next Rosario Dawson?
It's hardly just her Latina background that reminds us of Rosario: There's also the fiery screen presence, blistering good looks and unforgiving toughness. The Dominican-born beauty has already done the blockbuster ('X-Men: The Last Stand') and the mega-TV series ('Sopranos'), yet she's bound to only get bigger.
Channing Tatum
The Next Brad Pitt?
He certainly appeals to the ladies -- in 'Step Up,' he made all the girls swoon. But instead of building slowly to superstardom, as Pitt did after his memorable turn in 'Thelma & Louise,' Tatum's striking while the iron is hot and cranking out the movies. He's got four flicks either ready for release or currently in production. We think he's got the acting chops (see 'A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints') as well as the hunk factor, so we approve of that strategy.
Emily Blunt
The Next Kate Beckinsale?
These two sassy Brits share more in common than striking looks, cute accents and (surprisingly) good teeth. Like Beckinsale, Blunt (who instantly became a hot commodity after regularly stealing scenes in 'The Devil Wears Prada') is trying her hand at a variety of genres: horror ('Wind Chill'), comedy ('Dan In Real Life') and drama ('Charlie Wilson's War'). Plus, they're both hot Brits. Did we mention that?
James McAvoy
The Next Ewan McGregor?
We admit it: This comparison is based partially on the fact that both are Scots. But that's not the only reason. McAvoy has a certain McGregory boyish charm (see 'The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe') as well as a Ewan-ian dramatic intensity (see 'The Last King of Scotland'). Now he just needs to drop a little more on-screen trou (as McGregor is famous for doing in his early years).
Alice Braga
So far the only actor to emerge from the global sensation 'City of God,' the stunning Brazilian parlayed a small role in that film into a couple foreign-language leads before landing what should be her star-maker: 'I Am Legend,' opposite Will Smith. Like Mrs. Douglas, she boasts the sort of elegance and natural beauty that'll win the world over.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt
The Next Edward Norton?
No longer "that kid from '3rd Rock from the Sun,'" this gifted, versatile actor is fearless in his choice of roles: a hustler in 'Mysterious Skin,' a mini-Bogart in 'Brick,' a brain-damaged janitor in 'The Lookout,' a psychopath in 'Killshot.' With apologies to ALF, he's the best thing ever to come out of a sitcom about aliens.
Elle Fanning
The Next Dakota Fanning?
OK, so the comparison may be obvious. But it ain't easy trying to follow in the footsteps of her eerily mature big sis Dakota, who racked up over 15 major roles by the time she was 12. So far this 9-year-old has kept pace, and impresses again in the trippy drama 'The Nines.' Don't say we didn't warn you when the Fannings complete their Hollywood takeover.
Dan Fogler
The Next Jack Black?
The movie offers have been pouring in since this bouncy comic won a Tony for 'Spelling Bee.' He's since cracked us up in 'School for Scoundrels' and will next be seen in the comedies 'Good Luck Chuck' 'Balls of Fury' and 'Kids in America.' But don't limit him to "big-boned funnyman" roles just yet: In 2008, he'll lead a star-studded cast playing Alfred Hitchcock in the dramatic thriller 'Number 13.'
Abbie Cornish
The Next Naomi Watts?
Her biggest claim to fame is as the rumored "other woman" in Ryan Phillippe and Reese Witherspoon's marriage, but this Aussie -- who blew us away in 'Somersault' and 'Candy' -- has talent to burn. And if Phillippe, her 'Stop-Loss' co-star, was tempted by her ethereal beauty? All we can say is, good on ya, mate.
Jodie Whittaker
The Next Rachel Weisz?
Forget mean girls or traveling pants. In the UK, young actresses get their feet wet by matching wits with 8-time Oscar nominees. Or maybe that's just this British neophyte, who was nothing short of a revelation opposite Peter O'Toole in last year's offbeat charmer 'Venus.' The role earned Whittaker upcoming jobs alongside Rupert Everett and Colin Firth in the 'St. Trinian's' and Viggo Mortensen in 'Good.'
Plus: Summer's Hardest Working Actors
A couple of our picks for tomorrow's superstars should harldy come as a surprise -- they're already appearing in multiple movies this summer.
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