Every year there seems to be a few actors who erupt on the scene out of nowhere. Actors such as Daisy Ridley (Star Wars), Hugh Jackman (X-Men), Henry Cavill (Superman) rose from obscurity to lead franchise films.
Looking ahead, 2016 is sure to be a big year for a handful of actors that are looking to breakout and cement their status as household names. Some of these actors are already known among film buffs, but 2016 looks like the year they might go from being familiar faces to A-list stars.
Here are Screen Rant’s 10 Breakout Actors To Watch For in 2016:
10. Natalie Dormer
Natalie Dormer is best known for her role as Margaery Tyrell on HBO’s Game of Thrones. She’s appeared in small roles in films such as Rush and in the Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 & 2. None of her film work to date has translated into anything substantial.
This week, however, she will headline her first movie, the horror flick The Forest, and later in the year she will star in the global pandemic horror movie Patient Zero. Her two leading roles will be her most prominent film roles yet. People should finally get to see why Dormer is as worthy a film actress as she is a television one.
9. Toby Kebbell
Toby Kebbell has appeared on-screen since the early 2000s. He’s had roles in Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, and Wrath of the Titans. He played the villainous ape Koba, through motion capture animation, in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, and he was supposed to gain worldwide recognition playing Dr. Doom in the new Fantastic Four, but we all know how that thing turned out.
He will be reintroducing himself to audiences this summer in the blockbusters Ben-Hur and Warcraft. In addition, he will also appear in the children’s fantasy A Monster Calls, as well as the Stephen Gaghan-drama Gold. Kebbell is a promising actor that will be a mainstay in movies as long as he avoids another box office blunder such as Fantastic Four.
8. Teresa Palmer
Seems like Teresa Palmer will be in every film coming out in 2016. She will appear in seven movies and one short. Palmer has looked to breakout for a few years, but she hasn’t gotten the right roles or movies to help get her on the list of Hollywood’s go-to young actors. First up, she will star in The Choice, a romantic drama based on a Nicholas Sparks novel.
Knight of Cups is the Terrence Malick film she will be starring along with Christian Bale, Natalie Portman, and Cate Blanchett. Take Me Home Tonight was one opportunity for her to breakout, but for whatever reason, the film was a huge bomb. Warm Bodies was another chance, but that zombie movie might have been too niche of a success to really break her into the mainstream.
To say time is running out on a 29-year-old actress would be misleading, but time might be running out for her to garner leading lady status. With all those movies coming out, 2016 will be her best opportunity to do that.
7. Scott Eastwood
Clint’s boy is ready to make a name for himself without daddy’s help. Scott had gained recognition for his leading role in the Nicholas Sparks romantic drama The Longest Ride. This is a big upcoming year for Eastwood, as he’s about to venture out into some more serious work in Oliver Stone’s Snowden.
Just like some the other names on this list, Eastwood will also be part of the Suicide Squad movie, although it hasn’t yet been revealed as to what his character will be. Rumors persist that he could be playing Nightwing in the movie. Appearing in a superhero movie appears to be a smart decision if you are an up-and-coming actor looking for exposure. Aside from Suicide Squad and Snowden, he will also star in leading roles in smaller films like such as Overdrive and Mercury Plains.
6. Alicia Vikander
Sure, Vikander has built a reputation as a trustworthy actress with roles in Ex Machina, The Man from U.N.C.L.E, Burnt, and the highly touted The Danish Girl. But what’s left for Vikander to achieve is mainstream notability, and she very well might accomplish that this year.
Vikander is set to star in Tulip Fever, The Light Between Oceans, Submergence, and the untitled fifth Jason Bourne movie, with the latter being the biggest film that she taken part in yet. Vikander has an incredible amount of talent, but so far she’s been talked about about more often within the industry and by critics, but that’s about to change quickly. Not only can Vikander be the biggest star among anyone on this list, but she should become an A-list talent in a matter of months due to her natural ability and the quality of the films she’s starring in.
5. Margot Robbie
Who could forget Robbie bursting out in The Wolf of Wall Street and establishing herself as Hollywood’s most desirable woman. She followed up her Wolf of Wall Street success by starring opposite Will Smith in the con movie Focus, but Robbie is set to have a huge first six months of 2016 by appearing in the war comedy Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, followed by the summer releases of Tarzan and Suicide Squad.
In Tarzan she will play Jane, while in Suicide Squad she will take on the fan-favorite role of Harley Quinn. There is already huge buzz for Robbie’s portrayal of Quinn. Combine her talent and beauty with a couple upcoming summer blockbusters and Robbie will rise to superstardom by the end of the year.
4. Emory Cohen
He charmed his way into prominence as Tony, the shy and charming Italian who falls in love with an Irish immigrant girl in last year’s Oscar contender Brooklyn. But Cohen’s name won’t only be tossed around in reference to Brooklyn, as he will be appearing in six movies this upcoming year. These movies include; By Way of Helena, War Machine, Vincent-N-Roxxy, Shot Caller, Hot Summer Nights, and Detour. That’s a lot of films in one calendar year for an actor that’s not recognizable to most people.
The most interesting of his movies should be War Machine, where he joins Brad Pitt in the satirical take on America’s war with Afghanistan. Cohen will get plenty of exposure in 2016, and hopefully audiences won’t get sick of him.
3. Cara Delevingne
Paper Towns was a nice stepping stone into the film world for the former model turned actress. The British Delevingne will star in five films; Tulip Fever, London Fields, Kids in Love, Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie, and Suicide Squad. Delevingne is taking on a lot of work in one year. Her role as the Enchantress in Suicide Squad will put her film career in an immediate spotlight, due to the immense exposure the film will give her.
The variety of films she will be part of will give Delevingne a great opportunity to prove herself as one of the fastest rising young actors. Models turned actors isn’t a rare occurrence in Hollywood, as several former models have had success as actors (Cameron Diaz, Sharon Stone, to name a few). Delevingne could easily join that list in 2016.
2. Matt Bomer
Neal from White Collar as a breakout star? Yes. Bomer has been scratching the surface of Hollywood fame with some small supporting roles, such as the role of Ken, the sensitive musician male stripper in the Magic Mike movies, but 2016 looks to be Bomer’s most promising year yet. Bomer will be starring alongside Denzel Washington and Chris Pratt in Antoine Fuqua’s highly anticipated Magnificent Seven. Additionally, he is slated to feature prominently in Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe comedy thriller The Nice Guys.
Bomer was also announced to play Montgomery Clift in a biopic slated for a 2016 release. Chances are that 2016 will be the year that will springboard Bomer’s career. Worst case scenario: the big screen exposure will be more than he ever has had, and people will stop referring to him as the guy who looks like the guy who plays Superman.
1. Gal Gadot
She arrived on the scene as Gisele in Fast & Furious, the fourth film of the Fast/Furious franchise, and reprised her role in the following two films in the series, but one could argue that she was just a hot girl overshadowed by the handful of stars in that franchise. In Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, Gadot takes on the biggest role of her life as Wonder Woman. She’s been scrutinized by the passionate fanatics even though they’ve only seen a few seconds of footage in the latest trailer.
Zach Snyder had faith to cast her in this iconic role, but he’s not the only one that believes in her. Gadot will be starring in two other potentially breakout films of 2016, Triple 9 and Criminal. Assuming she doesn’t completely fall flat as Wonder Woman, this could be the year Gadot becomes a household name in and outside the superhero world.
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