10 Actors Who Could Be The Breakout Stars Of 2018
The stars of tomorrow...Today!
It's arguable that the message that we can take from the failure of Universal's Dark Universe and the success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is that the box office draws of today are not old fashioned stars like Tom Cruise, but rather iconic characters like Iron Man, Captain America and Spider-man, that the "movie star" as we knew it is a concept that no longer applies.
While there is a certain validity to this theory, and it allows studios to hire much less well known names to head up their tentpole franchises, it is still undoubtedly the case that those less-known actors are indeed catapulted to stardom once those characters become successful.
It might have been relatively cheap for studios to hire Robert Downey Jr. as the lead in Iron Man or Jennifer Lawrence to compete in The Hunger Games. But by the time the sequels rolled around they had become proper stars with all the expected baggage and price tags.
Hollywood still needs new stars and, with old idols from Kevin Spacey to Johnny Depp falling due to disgraceful behaviour off screen, there is more need than ever for new blood to take their place.
10. Storm Reid
You Know Her From:
Probably nothing yet. Reid's major credits thus far include single episodes of US crime dramas NCIS: Los Angeles and Chicago P.D., along with a minor part as a child in 12 Years A Slave.
In 2018:
The teenage actress has her first lead role heading up ambitious Disney time- and space-hopping adventure A Wrinkle In Time. Starring opposite an impressive ensemble including Chris Pine, Reese Witherspoon and a return to the big screen for star of the moment and future president Oprah Winfrey, it is nevertheless Reid's Meg Murry who will carry the weight of the film's action and drama.
A Wrinkle In Time has been adapted by Frozen's Jennifer Lee from Madeleine L'Engle's book, which has drawn comparison with C.S. Lewis' Chronicles Of Narnia (a past success for Disney). Helmer Ava Du Vernay is the first African American director to be given a nine figure budget. So there may be a lot symbolically riding on the film, but that does also indicate the studio's confidence in it and in Reid as the lead.
Reid also features this year in Only You, a sci-fi horror from producers of all recent horror hits Blumhouse. It features David Oyelowo as a cop who must protect his neice (Reid) from something sinister.