Looking ahead to the next year in movies, 2022 is filled with big projects featuring some of the biggest talents in Hollywood. However, as exciting as it is to watch the huge stars in their next movies, it is also fun to see which lesser-known actors might find their big break this year.
Some of these actors are relatively new to the acting world and find themselves in a highly anticipated project. Others have been working steadily for years but may have found the role to take them to the next level. Time will tell if these relatively unknown talents become household names by the end of 2022.
Some fans may already know Emma Mackey as Maeve on the terrific Netflix series Sex Education. While the show has made her a talent to watch for, Mackey will get her biggest movie role to date in the latest Hercule Poirot mystery, Death on the Nile.
While the movie features a star-studded ensemble, including Gal Gadot and Letitia Wright, Mackey could stand out in a role that is very central to the main love triangle that turns deadly.
Aldis Hodge is an actor that has been doing impressive work in movies for a number of years. His star continues to rise with notable turns in high-profile movies like Straight Outta Compton and One Night in Miami. It seemed like only a matter of time before he found that breakthrough role.
DC's Black Adam seems to have delivered that big role Hodge was waiting for. Though Dwayne Johnson will headline the superhero blockbuster as the titular character, Hodge will take on the role of popular DC hero, Hawkman which will no doubt lead to other appearances in the DCEU.
It seems as though the MCU's plans for the future include bringing in new heroes to take u the mantel of some of the older heroes. One example of this is the upcoming Ironheart which stars Dominque Thorne as Iron Man's potential successor, Riri Williams.
However, before she stars in her own series which will no doubt bring her fame, Thorne will be introduced into the MCU in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. While the role is likely not large, the MCU does a great job of helping new characters stand out in supporting roles before stepping into the spotlight.
Much of the discussion surrounding The Flash has been less about the titular hero himself and more about the inclusion of both Michael Keaton's Batman and Ben Affleck's Batman. however, the multiverse storyline also includes an exciting new addition to the MCU.
Sasha Calle will bring Supergirl to the big screen in this latest adventure which will also presumably lead to a future with the character. Without hope of Superman returning to the movies anytime soon, she could fill the role of a Kryptonian hero.
HBO Max has given the DCEU a new platform to tell their stories and the first big live-action movie that will be debuting on the streaming service is Batgirl. After impressing people with her turn in In the Heights, Leslie Grace is ready to don the new cape and cowl in this adventure.
The movie has a lot of interesting aspects including the involvement of Michael Keaton's Batman and Brendan Fraser as the villainous Firefly. However, Grace looks ready to become a new icon in her heroic role.
Austin Butler made an impression on many people with his notable role in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. However, he is stepping outside scene-stealing supporting parts to take on the role of one of the biggest icons in music history.
As if starring as Elvis Presley in a biopic wasn't a big enough break, Butler is surrounded by some incredible talent for the project. With Baz Luhrmann as his director and Tom Hanks as his co-star, Butler could be a big part of award season this time next year.
For a young actor to get a part in a Steven Spielberg movie, it is certainly a daunting way to start a career. But Gabriel LaBelle has the added pressure of taking the role of Spielberg himself in the director's autobiographical project, The Fablemans.
While he is not playing young Steven Spielberg exactly, LaBelle will be starring in the lead role of this story that is based on Spielberg's childhood. And given Spielberg's great work with child actors, there is a good chance this will be the start of a successful career for LaBelle.
It seems as though the MCU has beaten the DCEU to the punch in exploring the multiverse. Like The Flash, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of madness is rumored to be bringing back past versions of Marvel heroes. And also like Supergirl, they will be introducing a new version of a beloved hero.
Newcomer Xochitl Gomez will be starring in the sequel as America Chavez, who holds the title of Captain America in another reality. This not only presents a fun way of revisiting Captain America but Chavez also seems like an obvious choice to join the Young Avengers.
Keke Palmer has been working in notable projects since she was young, including starring in the indie hit Akeelah and the Bee. Palmer is another actor whose path to stardom seems inevitable, but it is likely to arrive as she takes the lead role in Jordan Peele's new movie.
There is not much known about Nope at this point other than the fact that Palmer will star alongside Daniel Kaluuya and Steven Yuen. But will the way Peele's Get Out launched Kaluuya into stardom, it's quite possible the same could happen for Palmer.
The casting of Tenoch Huerta in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever immediately gained a lot of attention as it was a relatively unknown actor taking a seemingly significant role in the Marvel sequel. Though there has been no confirmation to date, rumors suggest Huerta will bring Namor the Submariner to the MCU.
Namor is a fan-favorite anti-hero who is an enemy to the heroes as often as he is an ally. While he seems to be set up as the antagonist in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Huerta would likely become a major part of the MCU going forward with perhaps his own franchise.
