We stopped making picture star . Who needs them when franchise titles and heroic character do the work ? Recent test copy : Will Smith – at one point the most bankable actor on the planet , never experiencing anything less than a $ 100 million opening weekend – is now fifth wheel in a superhero movie featuring theatrical role that no one outside the comics world has ever heard of .
During Hollywood ’s Golden Age , wizard were the total software . studio apartment boss cultivated their aureole to ensure their figure could draw crowds to the theater . The advanced age has its own expectant film thespian and warm personality , but that does n’t intend people are sound to see their movies . No one believes in the Cary Grant or Tom Cruise mold anymore . Denzel Washington is one of the last marquee name . Today , we think – or do n’t – of movie stardom in immensely different terms .
Could stardom rise once again ? We put careers under a microscope to see who could leave a unexampled generation of bankable names . Everyone on this lean is famous , but the question remains …
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Why the Hell isn’t Channing Tatum a movie star?
While studio desperately hear to makeAvatar ’s Sam Worthington happen , Tatum depart his calling with studio dramas ( Stop - Loss ) , big - budget action ( G.I. Joe ) , and syrupy romance ( Dear John ) . The fact that he was the head hero in a movie as large asJoewould have cement stardom in early era . Instead , Tatum has helped redefine what it means to be a movie star in the advanced years by swinging between action films , movies where he play a Rollerblade blank werewolf , cameo - plus appearance in Tarantino and Coen films , and dressing like Beyonce to lip - sync battle his wife . It ’s incredible . He ’s the atomic number 47 lining of the disappearance of motion picture stardom : without narrowly defined personalities , thespian are now free to take chances on the edgy and altogether bizarre .
Why the hell isn’t Emily Blunt a movie star?
In any normal universe of discourse , Blunt ’s name on a marquee would have people running to the theater . She ’s magnetized , a fierce presence both in costume dramas and in silly comedic roles , and she out - Cruised Tom Cruise inEdge of Tomorrow . Still she does n’t have many hits under her belt – a 2d silver gray lining of a star - less earned run average that sees talented role player able-bodied to function regularly without needs develop boxwood - office atomic number 79 . In another alternate macrocosm , Blunt would have play Black Widow in the Marvel movies , and that surely would have turned her into a flick star , right ?
Why the hell isn’t Scarlett Johansson a movie star?
Not so fast . Johansson has had a killer vocation , check off mostly by Avengers movies where every single character in the 37 - person ensemble catch their own poster . She ’s arguably the closest matter we have to a Golden Era movie star : a more talented Marilyn Monroe , funny and photogenic , who can also sway an original action dimension likeLucyto relative success . Unfortunately , her late career ping - niff between under - seen indie work likeHerandUnder the tegument , and hanging out with Hulk . The sad truth ? If Marvel thought of her as a movie superstar , we would have bring forth a Black Widow standalone motion-picture show years ago .
Why the hell isn’t Oscar Isaac a movie star?
After having a underage role inAmerican Graffiti , Harrison Ford rocketed to stardom in 1977 withStar Wars . He translated that impulse into the Indiana Jones series and enjoy two decades of in the lead - humans position . Isaac , who break out for general audience as the hotshot buffer of a newStar Warsmovie ( or was it playing the social lion ’s role inan all - human version ofRobin Hood ? ) , probably wo n’t get the same career . That ’s mostly due to the major studios ' disinterest in original flick , where someone like Isaac would make an even braggy name for himself . It ’s not like the guy is miss in the charisma department . See : his movie - star - without - the - film bend in HBO’sShow Me a Hero .
Why the hell isn’t Ryan Gosling a movie star?
Like Isaac , Gosling proves that meme position is a version of movie stardom in the Internet old age . He also proves that someone can be unbelievably notable for making movies , even though very few people see those movies ( aka\ " The George Clooney Principle " ) . Still , we should all hold out in a reality where hoi polloi go toDriveand this summer’sThe Nice Guysjust because Gosling ’s affect .
Why the hell isn’t Brie Larson a movie star?
This one ’s a mo of a wildcard . Larson has n’t been try like most of the natural endowment on this tilt . She ’s done some cracking work as a bear out worker andrecently won an Oscarfor her operation inRoom . Now the real climb to movie - asterisk status begins . luckily , she already operate the a gritty , ' 70 - style offense drama , Free Fire , and she ’s co - star in the upcoming blockbusterKong : Skull Island . Still , it ’ll be tough to break out of the shadow of a mammoth anthropoid we ’ve all bonk for a hundred age , andFree Fireis fate for arthouse theater love . How long until Larson slips on a superhero suit ? Marvelisdeveloping its first female person - led movie , Captain Marvel , for 2019 …
Why the hell isn’t Michael B. Jordan a movie star?
Jordan is another actor like Larson who – despite being snubbed for an Oscar nomination – should be consume meetings to become the Modern Indiana Jones . Or , good : a new character that Jordan can make his own and make audience descend in love with . As you may see as we prod deeply into this lean , bighearted - name actors have hassle climb all the way to picture show - ace status these days in part because studios are n’t giving them roles that they can limit . They ’re dwarf by the iconic ( often be - spandexed ) roles that they take on . We ’re still a little miffed Sylvester Stallone earned an Oscar nomination rather of Jordan for 2015’sRockylegacy sequel , Creed .
Why the hell isn’t Chris Hemsworth a movie star?
Thor himself . This fantastic film presence sticks to dealership ( Star Trek , Avengers ) and updated reboots ( Snow White and the Huntsman , Red Dawn ) because , well , they ’re dependable and successful . The guy should be one of the satellite ’s biggest movie adept , draw in crowds like crazy , but his last two original(ish ) projects –BlackhatandIn the Heart of the Sea– test that consultation have difficultness get in the car when they do n’t recognize a moving picture ’s deed of conveyance from 30 years ago . If he broke out 20 years ago , he ’d be the new Matt Damon .
Why the hell isn’t Ryan Reynolds a movie star?
A few years ago , Reynolds , one of the thespian with the greatest shot at modern movie stardom , had a series of awful floating-point operation . His quicken safe bet , Turbo , underwhelmed . TheMen in Black-ishR.I.P.D.was an unmitigated disaster . There was that wholeGreen Lanterndebacle . Afterward , he did n’t have any mainstream projects on the skyline . interview politely enounce , “ No , thanks , ” to an role player who beguile romantic comedy and action roles . Luckily , Reynolds has simultaneously emerged from the slump , and upend that newfangled status quo , with the surprise superhero achiever , Deadpool . Reynolds exploit a pre - existing persona ( who he happens to be perfect for ) , and put his own twirl on it . By fog his face , put a character ahead of his own stardom , the worker finally found success . Go figure .
Why the hell isn’t Idris Elba a movie star?
The only grounds Elba is n’t a household name , a guy rope who engender movie made with a snap of his digit , is because audiences are n’t nostalgic for him . Otherwise , I just do n’t get it . He ’s earned an elect status that reconcile award - suitable office ( animate being of No Nation , Mandela ) and push him into contention for huge smash hit ( see : every James Bond rumor from the past five years ) . While " Netflix stardom " can expect minor , he ’ll one day be see as a trailblazer legitimizing an emergent studio apartment model . With his inevitable authorisation as Stephen King ’s weather condition - beaten cowpuncher in 2017’sThe Dark Tower , he has a new best chance to turn up why the populace ask flick stars again . Hopefully studios can meet him halfway .
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Scott Beggsis a 10 - yr veteran of cinema writing whose body of work has appeared atVanity Fair , Indiewire , Flavorwire , and more . His household has never been featured onLifestyles of the Rich and Famous . charge up the dance base with him:@scottmbeggs .
White House Down | Sony Pictures
Edge of Tomorrow | Warner Bros. Pictures
Hail, Caesar! | Universal Pictures
A Most Violent Year | A24
Drive | FilmDistrict
Trainwreck | Universal Pictures
Creed | Warner Bros. Pictures
In the Heart of the Sea | Warner Bros. Pictures
Mississippi Grind | A24
The Gunman | Open Road Films
