With the beginning of a new year, it’s time for fans to look ahead at what’s coming to cinemas and streaming services in 2020. Of course, with all the anticipated films, we will see the return of some of Hollywood’s biggest stars like Scarlett Johansson and Dwayne Johnson. But it’s also fun to consider which up-and-comers might make a big impact in the new year.
From the big superhero movies to high-profile films from renowned filmmakers, there’s plenty of potential for lesser-known talents to stand out and have their time in the spotlight. Here are some of the actors who might break out big in 2020.
Michael Gandolfini
There is a continued trend of beloved television shows being revisited to tell more stories. In 2020, we will return to the world of The Sopranos with the prequel film, The Many Saints of Newark. While the film is said to focus on some of the older wise guys, Tony Soprano will make an appearance, played by Michael Gandolfini.
Michael Gandolfini is the son of James Gandolfini, so it’s fitting and touching that he will be taking over his late father’s most memorable role. While it is surely a daunting task, the young Gandolfini could make a big impression with such a high-profile role.
Thomasin McKenzie
Thomasin McKenzie is a young talent who seems to have been on the brink of breaking out for the last couple of years. She gained a lot of attention for her powerful performance in the indie drama Leave No Trace and recently starred in Taika Waititi’s satire Jojo Rabbit.
The new year will see her teaming with another fan-favorite filmmaker, Edgar Wright, in his latest film Last Night in Soho. The movie is said to be a bit of a departure for Wright, leaning more towards a thriller than comedy. McKenzie will be headlining to film alongside Anya Taylor-Joy.
Harris Dickinson
Taron Egerton managed to become a huge star thanks to his breakthrough role in Kingsman, so it makes sense that the franchise would serve as the jumping-off point for another young talent.
Harris Dickinson will be starring in the prequel film The King’s Man, which is about the formation of the secret spy organization during the First World War. Though the film will feature such big names as Ralph Fiennes and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Dickinson looks to be the action hero of the film and could follow a similarly successful path as Egerton.
Ferdia Shaw
Ever since the worldwide success of the Harry Potter franchise, Hollywood has been searching for the next children’s fantasy series that will catch on in the same way. There is hope that Artemis Fowl, based on the popular books, could be that next big franchise.
The story centers around the young titular main character who also happens to be a criminal genius. Ferdia Shaw will be taking to the main role in the film which is a tall order for a young actor. But if the series catches on, he could be a household name before long.
Yifei Liu
The trend of live-action remakes of Disney classics has been a little hit-or-miss. Some see them as fun nostalgia trips while others consider them as downright pointless. However, even the most cynical critics seem to have been impressed with the first trailer for Mulan.
The story of the young Chinese girl who poses as a boy to fight in the army is huge in scale, and that seems to be captured in this remake. And at the center of this huge story is Yifei Liu as Mulan. The role could show a lot of sides of the young actor and create a unique big-screen hero.
Anthony Ramos
Cats has proven that bringing successful Broadway musicals to life on the big screen doesn’t always work. But the trailer for In the Heights, based on the musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda, certainly does look to be a whole lot of fun.
The story focuses on a young man living in Manhattan and dreaming of the day that he can leave his neighborhood and return to the Dominican Republic. Anthony Ramos scored the lead role and from the looks of the trailer, he could be impressing a lot of people with his triple-threat performance.
Rachel Zegler
Landing one of the lead roles in a remake of West Side Story is a pretty good indication that your star is on the rise. When that remake is being directed by Steven Spielberg, it becomes a much bigger deal.
Rachel Zegler beat out several high-profile actors to secure the role of Maria in the upcoming musical. Clearly this will be one of the most talked-about films of the year and all eyes will be on Zegler to see how she pulls off the iconic role. However, the fact that Spielberg cast her suggests she is something special.
Barry Keoghan
Barry Keoghan has been gradually building an impressive resume of films in his short career and has become an actor to watch. Roles in Dunkirk and The Killing of a Sacred Deer have been impressive, but 2020 seems to be the year everyone really takes notice.
Not only will Keoghan be starring in the lead role in a television adaptation of Y: The Last Man, but he is also said to be playing the villain in the upcoming MCU epic, Eternals. You can expect some stellar performances in these high-profile projects that will get a lot of attention.
Florence Pugh
2019 was already a big year for Florence Pugh with acclaimed roles in Midsommar and Little Women. But 2020 is destined to be the year that Pugh becomes the next big thing. As people are still talking about her scene-stealing performance in Little Women, Pugh will be joining the MCU in Black Widow.
She looks to have a very significant role as another badass assassin with ties to Natasha Romanoff’s past. There are even rumors Pugh will have a much larger role in the MCU in the future. Regardless, expect to hear her name a lot.
Lashana Lynch
Lashana Lynch is another actor who started to get some attention thanks to her appearance in the MCU. She had a solid role as Maria Rambeau in Captain Marvel. In 2020, she will be joining another huge franchise in an even more intriguing role.
Lynch will be next seen in the new James Bond adventure, No Time to Die, where she is rumored to be playing the new 007. While there are a lot of questions as to what that means exactly, it is sure to be a role that makes people sit up and take notice. From the look of the trailer, she handles the badass spy role wonderfully.
