- Jenna Ortega. There is no star brighter on this list then that of Jenna Ortega. Having recently made an impressive dramatic performance in Finestkind, we see Jenna in 2024 with three major releases. First up with the sexy thriller, Miller’s Girl, opposite Martin Freedman, (release date January 26, 2024.) Then there is Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, (release date: September 6, 2024,)where Ortega will play Wynona’s daughter and against Michael Keaton as well. The romantic dramaWinter Spring Summer or Fall , will be helmed by writer Tiffany Paulsen, marking her feature film debut. Fall, is being billed as “Before Sunrise meets The Perks of Being a Wallflower.” Finally Jenna just wrapped Death of a Unicorn, with Paul Rudd, release date tba.
2. Ana de Armas. This Cuban-Spanish actress, who garnered an Academy Award nomination for her “Blonde,” performance, is set to enter the John Wick Universe with “Ballerina, (Release date: June 6, 2025) is the first spin-off of the John Wick franchise, and is set between the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and John Wick: Chapter 4.” – Wikipedia. Ana is also starring in the Ron Howard survival epic, Eden, in Australia. This survival thriller also co-stars, Jude Law,Vanessa Kirby and Sydney Sweeney.
A first look on Vanity Fair is now available.
3. Anya Taylor-Joy. Her biggest role to date is one of this years most anticipated films as well. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, finds herself in a nonstop battle to make her way home. Although a box office flop its now streaming sucessfully onw MAX. Make sure to watch our review on YouTube.
Anya also will be in the horror/romance film The Gorge. (released on Apple TV+ in 2024.) Gorge is about “two very dangerous young people who, despite the corrupt and lethal world they operate in, find a soulmate in each other.” Cast includes Miles Teller and Sigourney Weaver and directed by Scoot Derrickson, (Dr. Strange, The Black Phone and Sinister.)
4. Pedro Pascal The Chilean actor has never been in more demand. With a busy year ahead in filming The Last of Us season two, Marvel’s Fantastic Four and a Star Wars film, The Mandalorian and Grogu all set for 2025/26 release dates. In January of 2024 at the Sundance Film Festival, “Freaky Tales,” will premiere. Pascal stars in a story where various events collide in Oakland in the late ‘80s. Will be have an early review of that film here on the site. Pascal will be in Ethan Coen’s Drive-Away Dolls, (Release date February 23rd.) Pascal’s cameo is unknown, but he is comedically being chased down by criminals for his briefcase. But Pedro’s most anticipated 2024 films is Ridley Scott’s Gladiator 2, in what is currently an unknown role. (Release date November 22, 2024.)
Ariana in Kraven the Hunter.
5. Ariana DeBose To date, she is the only person on this list to have won an Academy Award, ( West Side Story, in 2022.) She has been busy ever since capturing the Oscar and you can see the fruits of her work this year. I.S.S,(Release date: January 19, 2024.) a space drama occurs when Nuclear war begins on Earth and members of the International Space Station must make a choice for survival. Ariana is also in the highly anticipated spy action-comedy Argyle(Release date: February 2, 2024 .) Finally you can see her as Calypso in Marvel’s Kraven the Hunter(Release date: December 13,, 2024.) DeBose recently wrapped shooting an action film, “With Love,” and Blumhouse’s House of Spoils (Prime Video).
Honorable mention: Melissa Barerra.
The powerhouse Mexicana co-starred in Universal’s horror comedy Abigail, now avail on Demand and on DVD/BluRay. Melissa re-teams with her scream directors on this. Also Your Monster debut at Sundance this year, it is a 2024 American romantic comedy-horror film written and directed by Caroline Lindy, based on her 2019 short film of the same name. The film stars Melissa Barrera, Tommy Dewey, Edmund Donovan and Kayla Foster. Your Monster is scheduled to be released in the United States on October 25, 2024.
Selena Gomez, Iabela Merced, Anthony Ramos, Renata Vaca, Diego Calva, Adria Arjona, Gabriel Luna, Camila Mendez, Oscar Isaac and Brandon Perea all are having excellent years as well.