The Hollywood A-List is a constantly evolving entity, as the industry’s biggest stars inevitably age and transition to smaller roles or retirement. As new talent emerges, the spotlight shifts to highlight the freshest faces in the business. Each year, the entertainment world’s top critics, publications, and industry experts dissect the rising stars of Hollywood, scrutinizing their performances, box office draw, and overall talent as thespians.
One of the most revered and respected rankings is The Hollywood Reporter‘s list of Hollywood’s most powerful and influential players. This comprehensive analysis considers a range of factors, including critical acclaim, box office success, and artistic merit, to compile a definitive list of the industry’s most in-demand stars. The Hollywood Reporter’s list is widely regarded as the industry’s benchmark for measuring an actor’s relevance and impact. So, here are 10 actors predicted to become the next Hollywood A-Listers.
10. Zendaya
2024 has been a big year for Zendaya, making it easy to see why she made The Hollywood Reporter’s list of the next A-Listers of Hollywood. Not only did she star in the massive box office success that is Dune: Part Two, but she also took a leading role in Challengers. Both movies were a critical success, with Challengers showcasing her ability to lead a production. Although the film was released outside of the typical contention window for the Academy Awards, Challengers feels like a movie that may defy the odds and make its way to the 2025 Oscars. If this was to happen, Zendaya’s immersive role will likely get a nod. What’s more, she is set to reprise her role in the third season of Euphoria, a highly anticipated season that has been long in the works.
9. Anya Taylor-Joy
Anya Taylor-Joy has been steadily climbing the ranks in Hollywood since her role in M. Night Shyamalan‘s Split in 2016. From here, she diversified with a range of eclectic roles in projects like The Queen’s Gambit, Last Night in Soho, The Menu, and Amsterdam. Out of these roles, she shined brightest in Last Night in Soho, proving herself to be a solid leading lady. However, 2024 feels like the year that she will really propel to the masses after taking on the origin stories of Furiosa in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, which has been widely praise by critics. Anya Taylor-Joy is next set to lead Scott Frank‘s thriller Laughter in the Dark, once again working with one of the finest filmmakers in Hollywood, a move that will surely only boost her profile even further.
8. Sydney Sweeney
Sydney Sweeney is a talented American actress born on September 12, 1997, in Spokane, Washington. She began her acting career at a young age, appearing in several small projects before making her breakthrough in the 2018 HBO drama series The Handmaid’s Tale. Sweeney’s portrayal of Eden Spencer in the show earned her widespread recognition and praise, leading to subsequent roles in popular projects such as Euphoria and The White Lotus. However, 2023-2024 has been where she has really pushed herself to the forefront, starring in big productions like Anyone But You, Madame Web, and Immaculate. What’s interesting about her trajectory is how dynamic her roles are, weaving in and out of different genres, therefore resonating with a wide scope of audiences. To that, she is surely set to become a huge star.
7. Florence Pugh
Florence Pugh is a British actress born on January 3, 1996, in Oxford, England. With a career spanning over a decade, she has quickly established herself as a talented and versatile actress, with a string of critically acclaimed performances in films like Lady Macbeth and Midsommar. Pugh’s recent roles in Christopher Nolan‘s Oppenheimer and her part in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Black Widow have cemented her status as a rising star. Her Oscar-nomination for her powerful performance in Greta Gerwig‘s Little Women in 2020 further solidified her position as a top-tier talent. Despite her impressive resume, Pugh still feels like she’s one leading role away from becoming an A-Lister. Her versatility, range, and undeniable talent make her a true contender for the next generation of Hollywood elite.
6. Glen Powell
Glen Powell‘s position as one of Hollywood’s next A-Listers is somewhat striking compared to the others on this list. This is not to discredit the actor, but merely to point out that he has been around a while longer than the rest of these thespians. Powell has starred in an array of indie movies like Everybody Wants Some, Hidden Figures, and Sand Castle. He also starred in big budget studio projects like Ride Along 2, The Expendables 3, and the acclaimed horror series Scream Queens. However, he became known to the masses after starring in Top Gun: Maverick. From here, his roles have become larger, with 2023 serving as a big year, starring in Hit Man and Anyone But You. He is next set to star in Twisters, yet another big budget movie that is gearing up to be a summer blockbuster.
5. Jenna Ortega
Jenna Ortega is to many an obvious pick for Hollywood’s next A-Listers. The young and rising actress has starred in an array of projects of different levels, from supporting roles in acclaimed indie movies like X, and Yes Day, to leading the cast of the TV series Wednesday. She has also attached herself to huge franchises like the updated Scream movies, proving herself to be a rising Scream Queen. In 2024, she starred in the controversial movie Miller’s Girl, further demonstrating her range as an actress. She is also set to star in Tim Burton‘s anticipated Beetlejuice 2, once again attaching her name to a universe with massive pull.
4. Paul Mescal
Paul Mescal feels like an actor who came out of nowhere and blew audiences away with roles in an array of acclaimed movies like All of Us Strangers and Aftersun, the latter of which garnered him an Oscar nomination. He also captivated audience with his role in the TV series Normal People. Oscar nomination aside, Mescal likely made The Hollywood Reporter’s prestigious list due to the fact that he is set to lead Ridley Scott‘s long-awaited sequel, Gladiator 2. Mescal will share the screen with Hollywood heavyweight Denzel Washington, and will carry on the story of one of Hollywood’s most iconic movies of all time. So, if done right, he will undoubtedly shoot to the forefront of A-List talent in 2024.
3. Jacob Elordi
Jacob Elordi is another young actor who has made massive waves in Hollywood, largely due to his role in the groundbreaking series Euphoria. However, outside of this role, he has delivered an immersive performance as Elvis Presley in 2023’s Priscilla. In the role, he masterfully encapsulated the musical legend with a near-perfect accent and an immersive, magnetic embodiment. From here, he starred in one of 2023’s most controversial yet highly-popular movies, Saltburn. Born in 1997, Elordi is yet another young actor who has made quite the stomp in such a short amount of time. 2024 saw him nominated for two BAFTA Awards – the prestigious EE Rising Star Award and Best Supporting Actor for his role in Saltburn.
2. Timothée Chalamet
Born in 1995, for an actor of such a young age, Timothée Chalamet has made an indelible mark in Hollywood in a short time frame. He has worked with some of the biggest filmmakers in Hollywood, including the likes of Woody Allen, Wes Anderson, Adam McKay and Denis Villeneuve. In 2023, Chalamet took on the iconic role of Willy Wonka in Wonka, an origin story of one of cinema’s most beloved characters of all time. Considering he had big shoes to fill after Gene Wilder‘s legendary rendition, Chalamet held his own and received rave reviews, and the movie was a big hit at the box office, grossing over $632 million worldwide.
In the Dune movies, Chalamet really showcased his ability to command the screen in two massive productions. So, with so many box office hits to his name at such a young age, there’s no denying that Chalamet is already an A-Lister. Therefore, his place on The Hollywood Reporter’s list makes total sense. He is next set to star as legendary musician Bob Dylan in James Mangold‘s upcoming biopic A Complete Unknown, a role that is already garnering Oscar fodder in Hollywood due to the sheer magnitude of such a legendary music figure.
1. Austin Butler
Austin Butler, nicknamed “The Golden Boy” by The Hollywood Reporter, has made a significant mark in Hollywood in such a short space of time. Initially making his way into the industry starring in kid’s show like Hannah Montana and iCarly, Butler quickly unveiled a layer of sophistication and dramatic ability with roles in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Elvis. His role in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood was short yet significant, playing real-life killer Tex Watson with a menacing ferocity.
In 2022, Butler switched gears, playing the legendary singer Elvis Presley. For this role, Butler was nominated for an Oscar, which many would argue cemented him as an A-Lister. However, 2024 has really been the year that he has shined as one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, featuring in acclaimed movies like Dune: Part Two, The Bikeriders, and the smash hit TV series Masters of the Air. He is also rumoured to be starring in Michael Mann‘s Heat 2, reportedly playing a younger version of Val Kilmer‘s iconic character. If this role comes to fruition, this will be yet another seismic role for the rapidly rising actor. Want to read more about Austin Butler? Here’s our cast and character breakdown of The Bikeriders.
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