25 Actors to Watch for 2025
Welcome to the third annual Film Updates 25 Actors to Watch list! This list highlights actors who have had a great 2025 and are set to have an even bigger 2026 across film and television. Although we believe in every single name featured and their future success, this list was curated and ranked based on either how strong their 2025 was or the nature of their upcoming projects and overall trajectory. Amongst last year’s selection of actors, Ruaridh Mollica (Vision Quest), Jayme Lawson (Sinners), Tyriq Withers (I Know What You Did Last Summer and Him), among others, have since had a wonderful year. Without further ado, here is who we think will have a great 2026.
25. Joshua Odjick:
Joshua Odjick broke out with a haunting supporting turn in Wildhood that earned him a Canadian Screen Award and critical buzz. Now, with major projects like The Long Walk and the It: Welcome to Derry prequel already part of his filmography, his trajectory is accelerating undeniably fast.
24. True Whitaker:
With starring roles in Rachel Sennott’s highly anticipated HBO series I Love LA and Spring Breakers spin-off Salvation Mountain opposite Bella Thorne, Grace Van Dien and Ariel Martin, 2026 is set to be True Whitaker’s breakout year.
23. Simon Lööf:
Simon Lööf first turned heads with his impressive performance in Swedish series The Threesome. Since then, he’s appeared in a small but crucial role in dark fantasy In The Lost Lands and the Netflix film adaptation of beloved novel An Honest Life, for which he has received rave reviews.
22. Ben Wang:
The second (and definitely not last) cast member of The Long Walk to make an appearance on this list, Ben Wang had a big 2025 with the lead role in Karate Kid: Legends and a scene-stealing turn in the aforementioned Stephen King adaptation. He’s primed for an even bigger 2026 with roles in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping and a new comedy from Ken Marino and David Wain opposite Jon Hamm.
21. Anyier Anei:
It’s hard to believe Couture marks Anyier Anei’s first ever performance in a film, period. In the film, directed by Alice Winocour, Anei delivers a charismatic, deeply layered performance as an up-and-coming model, holding her own against Oscar winner Angelina Jolie.
20. Jordan Gonzalez:
Following his breakout turn in Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin, Jordan Gonzalez made an even bigger splash with his small yet crucial performance in The Long Walk. It’s going to be exciting to see what he does next.
19. Jack Martin:
Best known for his starring role as Josh Harris in NBC’s hit show La Brea and his sketch comedy videos on social media, Jack Martin is primed for a massive 2026 with roles in Katie Holmes’ Happy Hours alongside Joshua Jackson, the untitled BriTANicK Pizza movie and upcoming sitcom Not Suitable for Work.
18. Rohan Campbell:
Rohan Campbell first made waves with his haunting performance in Halloween Ends. Since then, he’s appeared in a small but impactful role opposite Theo James in Osgood Perkins’ The Monkey. Next up for him is a starring role in the highly anticipated reboot of Silent Night, Deadly Night, as well as a new Netflix series alongside Josh Hartnett.
17. Tut Nyuot:
With a highly-acclaimed performance in The Long Walk and a supporting role opposite Cillian Murphy in Steve in 2025, Tut Nyuot is set for an even bigger 2026 with a starring role in Ashley Walters’ directorial debut Animol opposite Stephen Graham and Sharon Duncan-Brewster.
16. Tonatiuh:
Known mostly for their performances in Carry-On and Angelyne, Tonatiuh broke out in a major way with their dual performances as Luis Molina and Kendall in Bill Condon’s take on Kiss of the Spider Woman opposite a fantastic Jennifer Lopez. A stunning, soulful powerhouse of a performance that has already garnered them awards buzz, it’s going to be genuinely exciting to see what they decide to do next.
15. Jake Dunn:
Following his acclaimed performance in groundbreaking BBC3 series What It Feels Like For a Girl, and impressive supporting turns in William Tell and Renegade Nell, Jake Dunn is poised for a major breakthrough in 2026 with a starring role in the Netflix series adaptation of My Brilliant Career.
14 Michael Cooper Jr.:
Thanks to his brilliant, soulful performance in Netflix series Forever from Mara Brock Akil, a warm, effervescent and deeply layered romance based on Judy Blume’s book of the same name, Michael Cooper Jr. has cemented his status as an exciting new name in the industry and a new talent to watch out for in 2026.
13. Garrett Wareing:
Garrett Wareing had a great 2025 with a starring role opposite Josh Duhamel and Minka Kelly in breakout Netflix series Ransom Canyon and a strong supporting turn in the film adaptation of Stephen King’s The Long Walk. With a second season of Ransom Canyon already confirmed and a starring role opposite Tanner Buchanan and Quvenzhané Wallis in upcoming horror film Hide and Don’t Speak, 2026 is primed to be the biggest year of his career thus far.
12. The cast of OVERCOMPENSATING:
Led by creator-star Benito Skinner and supported by Wally Baram, Mary Beth Barone, Adam DiMarco, Rish Shah, Corteon Moore, Owen Thiele and Nell Verlaque, Overcompensating was one of 2025’s most talked-about shows. With high-profile guest turns from Kaia Gerber, Kyle MacLachlan, and Charli XCX (who also serves as exec-music-producer) and a second season already confirmed, the show is already turning dozens of names into instant “ones to watch.”
11. The cast of ADULTS:
Led by Malik Elassal, Lucy Freyer, Amita Rao, Jack Innanen, and Owen Thiele, Adults brings a fresh, lived-in energy to the screen. The FX comedy follows a group of friends navigating the chaos of their twenties, anchored by sharp writing and a cast full of natural charm. Expect to see several names from this ensemble everywhere next year.
10. The cast of THE PITT:
With an ensemble of emerging talent — including Tracy Ifeachor, Patrick Ball, Supriya Ganesh, Taylor Dearden, Isa Briones, Gerran Howell, and Shabana Azeez — The Pitt proved to be one of 2025’s defining breakout projects. In addition to the show’s second season, which is set to debut next year, it’ll be interesting to see what projects the cast take on next.
9. Owen Cooper:
In 2025, Owen Cooper, 15, made his debut acting in the Netflix crime drama Adolescence. In 2025, he also became the youngest male actor in history to win an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie for that same performance. 2026 is set to be another banner year for him with his role in Emerald Fennell’s film adaptation of Wuthering Heights.
8. Regan Aliyah:
Following her break-out role as Zelma Stanton in the excellent Ironheart TV show, Regan Aliyah is set to undoubtedly reach major new career heights in 2026.
7. Kieron Moore:
Following a scene-stealing turn in the series adaptation of the beloved Vampire Academy books, Kieron Moore owned 2025 with 3 wildly different performances in Code of Silence, Blue Film and Boots, each revealing a performer in full command of his craft. With his haunting, searing, incredibly dynamic performance in festival darling Blue Film and an impressive showcase in Netflix series Boots, it’s only upwards from here.
6. Charli xcx:
After conquering the music industry, Charli xcx has set her sights on the film industry with not one, not two, not five but a staggering 8 new films set for release throughout the next two years. With a surprisingly nuanced and incredibly natural performance in Pete Ohs’ Erupcja, a scene-stealing turn in Romain Gavras’ Sacrifice, and a larger-than-life supporting role in Julia Jackman’s 100 Nights of Hero, it’s going to be genuinely exciting to see what she decides to do next.
5. Lovie Simone:
With a string of phenomenal performances in the past few years, including her highly acclaimed breakout turn in Selah and the Spades and an impressive supporting performance in Apple TV+ series Manhunt, Lovie Simone has cemented her status as one of the most exciting new names in the film and TV industry this year with her incredibly complex and highly nuanced performance in Forever, one of the best shows of the year.
4. Joseph Zada:
Following impressive performances in Invisible Boys and We Were Liars, Joseph Zada is set for a major 2026 following what will undoubtedly be his breakout role as young Haymitch Abernathy in The Hunger Games prequel Sunrise on the Reaping, due next November, and a role opposite Florence Pugh, Mike Faist and Christopher Abbott in Zoe Kazan’s series adaptation of East of Eden.
3. Lola Tung:
Following her brilliant performance in The Summer I Turned Pretty, 2026 is set to be the biggest year of Lola Tung’s career thus far thanks to her starring roles in not one, not two but three films: Meredith Alloway’s Forbidden Fruits opposite Lili Reinhart, Victoria Pedretti, Alexandra Shipp, Emma Chamberlain and Gabrielle Union, Osgood Perkins’ The Young People opposite Nico Parker and the film spin-off of The Summer I Turned Pretty.
2. Chase Infiniti:
Following a killer turn in Apple TV+ series Presumed Innocent, where she was able to hold her own against screen veterans Ruth Negga and Jake Gyllenhaal, Chase Infiniti has cemented her status as one of the most exciting new names in the film and TV industry with her powerhouse performance in Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another.
1. Miles Caton:
It’s hard to believe Sinners is Miles Caton’s first on-screen role. With a phenomenal, incredibly nuanced portrayal of aspiring blues musician Sammie in the Ryan Coogler-directed film, a role that has garnered him universal critical acclaim and awards buzz, it’ll undoubtedly be exciting to see what he does next.