20 Actors Once Widely Predicted To Become Major Stars
One movie can turn an unknown actor into the next big thing overnight. Buzz builds fast, headlines stack up, and predictions of long careers start rolling in.
Hollywood fame is never guaranteed.
Sometimes the stories behind the rise and fall are more gripping than anything on screen.
Note: The article is for general informational and entertainment purposes and reflects commentary on career narratives and public industry expectations. Box office figures and reported casting details can vary by source and may change as new information emerges.
20. Taylor Kitsch
Back when Friday Night Lights ruled the conversation, Tim Riggins became an instant fan favorite. After the series ended, Taylor Kitsch looked poised for a rapid rise to A list status.
Studios went all in, casting him in would be franchise starters like John Carter and Battleship with sky high expectations.
Both films underperformed relative to expectations, and industry reporting later described them as costly disappointments.
Since then, steady roles in television and supporting film parts have kept his career moving, even if that once predicted superstardom never fully arrived.
19. Josh Hartnett
Back in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Josh Hartnett was everywhere. Studios were throwing leading roles at him left and right, from Pearl Harbor to Black Hawk Down.
Industry insiders predicted he would become the next big thing, possibly even the next Tom Cruise.
However, Hartnett made a surprising choice that changed everything. He has said he turned down major roles, including Batman and Superman, because he wanted to step away from the studio track and protect the kind of work he wanted to do.
While admirable, this decision meant missing out on the superhero boom that launched so many careers into the stratosphere.
18. Sam Worthington
After Avatar shattered box office records, Sam Worthington seemed to be everywhere at once. Riding that momentum, studios quickly placed him in franchise hopefuls like Terminator Salvation and Clash of the Titans.
At the time, many expected the Australian actor to become a major household name on the strength of that massive hit.
Trouble came when those follow up films failed to connect with audiences in the same way James Cameron’s epic had. Even with returns to Pandora in later sequels, his career never quite climbed to the standalone superstar level once predicted.
17. Taylor Lautner
Twilight mania was real, and Taylor Lautner seemed poised to capitalize on it forever.
After transforming into the buff werewolf Jacob Black, teen magazines couldn’t get enough of him, and studios rushed to cast him in action films. Abduction was supposed to be his breakout vehicle, proving he could carry a movie without vampires and werewolves.
Reviews were mixed, and the film underperformed at the box office, grossing about $82 million worldwide.
The failure made Hollywood hesitant to invest in him as a leading man. Lautner has since moved into television work and smaller film roles.
16. Jai Courtney
During the early 2010s, casting calls for tough action roles often led straight to Jai Courtney.
Franchise entries like Die Hard, Terminator, and Suicide Squad added his name to some of Hollywood’s biggest brands. Behind the scenes, studios clearly hoped he would emerge as the next major action star.
Unfortunately, many of those films drew mixed or negative reactions, and audiences never embraced him the way they had earlier genre icons. Steady work has continued, yet the once predicted leap to A list leading man status never fully materialized.
15. Shailene Woodley
After The Descendants earned her critical praise, Shailene Woodley seemed unstoppable. The Fault in Our Stars proved she could open a movie, and the Divergent series was supposed to be the next Hunger Games.
Industry experts predicted she would become one of the biggest actresses of her generation.
Unfortunately, the Divergent franchise lost steam, with the planned final film never being completed or released. While Woodley has continued working in acclaimed projects like Big Little Lies, the movie star trajectory everyone predicted took a different path.
She remains a talented actress, just not the box office phenomenon people expected.
14. Miles Teller
After Whiplash exploded onto the scene, everything seemed poised to shift for Miles Teller. That intense drama highlighted his range and earned widespread critical praise.
A reboot of Fantastic Four looked like the ideal launchpad into superhero stardom alongside his peers. Instead, the movie struggled with harsh reviews and underwhelming box office results that cooled the momentum around him.
Later, a strong showing in Top Gun Maverick reminded audiences of his talent, proving how one misstep can slow even the brightest rising career.
13. Logan Lerman
Percy Jackson was supposed to be the next Harry Potter, and Logan Lerman was going to be its Daniel Radcliffe.
Studios invested heavily in the franchise, and Lerman showed real promise as the demigod hero. The Perks of Being a Wallflower further proved he had serious acting talent beyond blockbuster fare.
However, the Percy Jackson films underperformed compared to expectations, and the planned sequels were eventually scrapped. Lerman has since focused on smaller, more artistic projects, earning respect but never achieving the mainstream stardom everyone predicted.
Perhaps sometimes quality matters more than quantity when building a meaningful career.
12. Dane DeHaan
Striking eyes and unconventional features made Dane DeHaan seem tailor made for complex, edgy characters. A breakout turn in Chronicle proved he could carry a film, while The Amazing Spider Man 2 placed him in a major franchise as the Green Goblin.
Smaller projects like A Cure for Wellness kept him in conversation, and Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets was positioned as a potential career defining leap. Instead, Valerian struggled at the box office and fell far short of the massive expectations surrounding it.
Ongoing work in independent films has kept his career active, yet the once predicted mainstream breakthrough still feels just out of reach.
11. Alex Pettyfer
Teen heartthrob Alex Pettyfer seemed destined for superstardom after I Am Number Four hit theaters.
The British actor had the looks, the accent, and the action chops that typically translate to box office gold. Studios lined up projects for him, expecting a long career of blockbuster leads.
However, reports of on-set friction began circulating, and directors became hesitant to work with him. Magic Mike showed he had talent, but by then, the momentum had shifted.
Pettyfer has since worked primarily in smaller films and television, a far cry from the A-list career everyone predicted.
10. Hayden Christensen
Being cast as Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars should guarantee instant superstardom, right?
Hayden Christensen landed one of the most coveted roles in cinema history, and everyone expected him to become a household name. Unfortunately, the prequels received mixed reactions, and critics often targeted Christensen’s performance as uneven.
Whether the fault lay with the dialogue, direction, or acting remains debated, but the negative reception hurt his career momentum. Jumper failed to launch him as an action star, and work became scarce.
Recent appearances in Star Wars television shows have given him a second chance with fans.
9. Emile Hirsch
Breakout work in Into the Wild revealed Emile Hirsch’s emotional depth and impressive range. Across the industry, critics praised the role and some insiders even floated future Oscar buzz.
Hopes for a commercial leap centered on Speed Racer, a project meant to fuse bold artistry with mainstream appeal.
Instead, the Wachowskis’ film struggled to connect with audiences, and its box office disappointment cooled that rising momentum.
Later personal controversy added further strain, and while smaller acting roles continue, the once predicted path to major stardom never fully came together.
8. Armie Hammer
Tall, handsome, and talented, Armie Hammer seemed to have everything needed for movie star success.
The Social Network put him on the map playing both Winklevoss twins, and Call Me by Your Name earned him widespread critical acclaim. Hollywood seemed ready to hand him the keys to the kingdom, with leading roles in big-budget films lined up.
In 2021, misconduct allegations surfaced, and projects and representation quickly fell away. The Lone Ranger had already flopped years earlier, and the fallout made major studio work far less likely in the short term.
Sometimes, personal choices matter more than talent when it comes to sustained success.
In 2023, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office declined to file charges in the case that stemmed from the 2021 investigation.
7. Megan Fox
Overnight fame arrived after Transformers turned Megan Fox into an international sensation.
Soon after, magazines labeled her the next Angelina Jolie, and directors rushed to line up casting offers.
Momentum shifted after widely reported tensions around comments she made in a magazine interview, and she did not return for the third Transformers film.
Later releases such as Jennifer’s Body and Jonah Hex struggled commercially, cooling the rapid rise many had predicted.
Although a recent resurgence has brought renewed attention, the superstar path forecast in 2007 unfolded very differently than early buzz suggested.
6. Kate Bosworth
After Blue Crush made waves in 2002, Kate Bosworth seemed destined for A-list glory. She had the all-American look that Hollywood loves, plus genuine acting talent to back it up.
Superman Returns should have been her ticket to superstardom, playing Lois Lane opposite Brandon Routh’s Man of Steel.
Unfortunately, the film underperformed, and the planned franchise never materialized. Subsequent projects like 21 failed to launch her into the stratosphere, and gradually, the leading roles dried up.
Bosworth has continued working steadily in smaller films and television, but the predicted breakthrough never quite happened the way everyone expected.
5. Mischa Barton
Sudden fame from The O.C. pushed Mischa Barton into teen idol status almost overnight.
Soon after, film roles followed, magazine covers multiplied, and major fashion houses embraced her as a style muse.
Industry chatter suggested a smooth leap from television success to big screen stardom.
Instead, personal struggles and widely reported incidents slowed that rise at a crucial point. As projects underperformed and offers became less frequent, she later spoke openly about the pressures of early fame and its impact on her well being.
4. Garrett Hedlund
Tron: Legacy was supposed to launch Garrett Hedlund into the sci-fi action hero stratosphere.
The Disney blockbuster had all the ingredients for franchise success, and Hedlund certainly looked the part of a leading man. On the Road showcased his dramatic range, and Country Strong proved he could even sing.
Despite all this versatility, the predicted superstardom never materialized. Films he starred in consistently underperformed at the box office, and gradually, leading roles became harder to find.
Hedlund remains a working actor, but the A-list trajectory everyone predicted took some unexpected detours along the way.
3. Aaron Taylor-Johnson
Breakout energy in Kick-Ass revealed Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s fearless commitment and screen presence. Soon after, Avengers Age of Ultron placed him in the Marvel universe, and Godzilla positioned him at the center of a major monster blockbuster.
Momentum toward major stardom seemed inevitable, especially following a Golden Globe winning performance in Nocturnal Animals. Even so, the leap into full A list territory has unfolded more slowly than many expected.
Projects have kept arriving, including Kraven the Hunter, and that long predicted superstar moment may simply be taking the scenic route.
2. Sam Claflin
When Sam Claflin joined The Hunger Games as Finnick Odair, it seemed like the perfect launching pad for major stardom.
The British actor had the looks, charm, and acting ability that typically translate to leading man status. Me Before You showed he could carry a romantic drama, and Pirates of the Caribbean proved he could handle action.
Despite all these franchise credentials, Claflin never quite broke through to the A-list the way everyone predicted. Perhaps the competition was simply too fierce, or maybe the right role just hasn’t come along yet.
Either way, steady work beats unemployment any day.
1. Cara Delevingne
Global supermodel success made Cara Delevingne look poised for a seamless jump into Hollywood. Early acting turns in Paper Towns and a high profile role in Suicide Squad placed her squarely in the blockbuster spotlight.
Industry voices across fashion and film circles predicted a major crossover career was on the horizon.
Momentum stalled when Suicide Squad drew harsh reviews and Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets struggled at the box office. Although modeling remains strong and smaller screen roles continue, the once expected rise to full movie star status never unfolded quite the way early buzz suggested.
