It’s only fitting that breakout star Ansel Elgort is reuniting with established “it girl” Shailene Woodley for one of the year’s most hotly anticipated blockbusters, “The Fault in Our Stars” – his second YA adaptation of the year. The model-turned-actor first turned heads last year in Kimberly Peirce’s “Carrie” reimagining and has been building a loyal fanbase since being cast as Augustus Waters in “TFIOS.”
Although she’s been performing almost her entire life, Brie Larson didn’t make it on the map until starring in “Short Term 12” last year. The Sundance hit earned her accolades at critics’ awards and a string of upcoming roles. Larson has also wowed in supporting roles: opposite Woodley in “The Spectacular Now” and alongside Joseph Gordon-Levitt in “Don Jon” last year. She’ll next be seen in Judd Apatow’s “Trainwreck” and Joe Swanberg’s “Digging.”
After baring her soul (among other things) in the Spirit Award and Palme d’Or-winning “Blue Is the Warmest Color,” Léa Seydoux proved she’s a force to be reckoned with. Aside from the sexual-awakening drama, the Cannes darling has also unveiled “Grand Central” and “Saint Laurent” at the festival. She even dazzled in the few minutes she was onscreen in films “Midnight in Paris” and “The Grand Budapest Hotel.”
Seydoux’s “Blue Is the Warmest Color” lesbian love interest won the Trophée Chopard last year at Cannes. The Greek-French beauty has caught the eye of Sean Penn, who will direct her in his upcoming drama “The Last Face,” with Charlize Theron and Javier Bardem.
Alice Englert proved her versatility by tackling starring roles in Sally Potter’s indie drama “Ginger and Rosa” and Richard LaGravenese’s YA adaptation “Beautiful Creatures” in the same year. Although the southern gothic tanked at the box office, the fact that the relative newcomer was given the lead in the possible franchise starter speaks volumes about her talent.
“Vampire Academy” wasn’t able to capitalize on Hollywood’s supernatural craze in the post-
“Twilight” era, but it did showcase Zoey Deutch’s brilliant comic timing. Deutch has also
appeared in “Beautiful Creatures” and Sarah Michelle Gellar’s short-lived CW series “Ringer.”
She has two comedies, “Good Kids” and “Cover Girl,” in the works.
Michael B. Jordan’s naturalistic performance as Oscar Grant in “Fruitvale Station” shed a spotlight on his acting chops, which had already been on display on the TV shows “The Wire” and “Friday Night Lights.” After his first starring role in Ryan Coogler’s heart-wrenching drama, Teller ventured into comedy with the raunchy “That Awkward Moment.” He will take on the superhero genre next as the Human Torch in “The Fantastic Four” opposite “Awkward” costar Miles Teller and sport drama in the “Rocky” spinoff “Creed.”
After starring in the now-cancelled CBS cop drama “Golden Boy,” Theo James hit it big with
“Divergent.” The hit YA novel’s rabid fanbase is shipping a real-life relationship between James
and costar Woodley, like “Twilight” fans once did with Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson.
The 29-year-old has “Insurgent” and “Allegiant” hitting theaters between 2015 and 2017. He will
star opposite Johnny Depp in the thriller “London Fields” later this year.
Another Woodley costar, another actor in hot demand. Teller’s career has taken off since appearing in “Footloose” in 2011. He’s landed some of the most coveted young adult roles of the last few years, including starring in the critically acclaimed dramedy “The Spectacular Now,” the hit franchise “Divergent” and the upcoming “Fantastic Four” movies. He’s also had his share of comedies, including the upcoming “Two Night Stand,” “That Awkward Moment” and “21 & Over.”
It’s no easy feat to carry a franchise on your shoulders, but Logan Lerman is making it happen. Lerman will likely star in a third “Percy Jackson” installment, “The Titan’s Curse,” next year. He had a lot to live up to as the lead of Stephen Chbosky’s bigscreen adaptation of his beloved 1999 novel “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” and more than delivered. Lerman has officially made it after appearing in the Russell Crowe biblical epic “Noah” and the upcoming Brad Pitt WWII drama “Fury.”
Evan Peters’ star has only gotten brighter since starring in 2010’s “Kick-Ass.” He’s now a threat
on both the TV and film front as a regular on all “American Horror Story” chapters and as
Quicksilver in the “X-Men” series. “Days of Future Past,” his first “X-Men” movie, is already the highest grossing pic of the ever-expanding franchise. Peters is set for 2016’s “X-Men: Apocalypse.”