Summers Freshest Faces
This summer's movies are full of big-name actors, but dedicated movie fans can also discover tomorrow's stars today. Some, like 'Wolverine''s Taylor Kitsch, are making the leap from TV to the multiplex; while others, like Sam Worthington, are getting their first truly big break -- and running with it.
From the telegenic new crew of 'Star Trek' to 'The Hangover''s scene stealer Zach Galifianakis, check out this summer's 12 hottest breakout stars.
Getty Images (2), Bauer-Griffin (2)
Chris Pine
'Star Trek'
He Plays: A younger, more badass version of William Shatner's James Tiberius Kirk.
What's Next? He's rumored to be in the running to play the Green Lantern in Marvel's upcoming movie, but until that's decided he'll just have to be content with teaming up with Denzel Washington for the action thriller 'Unstoppable,' in which he races to stop an out-of-control train loaded with toxic chemicals. In addition, he joins James Earl Jones, Hayden Christensen and -- wouldn't you know it? -- William Shatner in lending his voice to this September's animated sci-fi flick 'Quantum Quest,' and plays a musician with Nashville dreams in the indie drama 'Small Town Saturday Night.'
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Taylor Kitsch
'X-Men Origins: Wolverine'
He Plays: Remy LaBeau, aka Gambit, a smooth-talkin' N'Awlins-bred mutant whose weapons of choice include a super-charged deck of cards and a bo staff.
What's Next? It's not confirmed if Kitsch will return as Tim Riggins to the critical darling 'Friday Night Lights' -- will Tim go to college or stay in Dillon to help Billy run the garage? -- but we do know that the actor's set for his first starring role, as the eponymous John Carter in the upcoming sci-fi time-travel flick 'John Carter of Mars.' Before that, you can catch Kitsch on screen in the based-on-real-life 'The Bang Bang Club,' about photo journalists in apartheid-era South Africa.
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Zoe Saldana
'Star Trek'
She Plays: Easily the hottest version of Uhura the intergalactic world has ever seen.
What's Next? If you thought 'Trek' was huge, just wait until her second big sci-fi flick of the year. She'll "play" the CGI-generated alien babe star Sam Worthington ('Terminator Salvation') falls for in James Cameron's highly anticipated 3D sci-fi epic 'Avatar' (opening Dec. 18). Then Saldana be seen opposite Chris Rock and Martin Lawrence in next spring's comedy 'Death at a Funeral.'
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Sam Worthington
'Terminator Salvation'
He Plays: Marcus Wright, a mysterious figure from the past who may hold the key to helping John Connor.
What's Next? Big things are afoot for the Australian actor, who is likely enjoying the last moment of his life in relative anonymity. This December he'll have his biggest role to date, starring as a paralyzed marine in James Cameron's 3-D sci-fi thriller 'Avatar.' After that, he'll wield a mighty sword as Perseus in the 2010 remake 'Clash of the Titans.'
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Anna Friel
'Land of the Lost'
She Plays: Budding scientist Holly Cantrell, so dedicated to the work of Dr. Rick Marshall (Will Ferrell) that she winds up tagging along with him into a parallel universe.
What's Next? Sadly, the TV show that made the British Friel a star in the U.S. -- ABC's quirky dramedy 'Pushing Daisies' -- was cancelled after two seasons. But the silver lining is that she now has time to focus on other projects, such as the crime drama 'London Boulevard,' starring Ray Winstone, Keira Knightley and her real-life partner, David Thewlis. She'll also be tackling the role of Holly Golightly in a new stage adaptation of 'My Fair Lady' opening in London this fall.
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Zach Galifianakis
'The Hangover' and 'G-Force'
He Plays: He stole the show as Alan in the raunchy comedy hit 'The Hangover,' and he'll play one of the humans in 'G-Force,' a live-action Disney movie about a team of guinea-pig special agents out to save the world.
What's Next? He stars alongside Michael Cera in the October coming-of-age dramedy 'Youth in Revolt,' plays an assassin in the ensemble black comedy 'Rogue's Gallery,' and will reprise his role as Alan in an already in-the-works 'Hangover' sequel. In the meantime, we hope -- and we're assuming Natalie Portman does too -- that he'll find some time to do more 'Between Two Ferns' interviews for FunnyOrDie.com.
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Rachel Nichols
'Star Trek' and 'G.I. Joe'
She Plays: In 'Star Trek,' she's the green-skinned redhead -- and Uhura's roommate -- whom Kirk tries to bed; in 'G.I. Joe,' she's ponytailed crossbow expert Scarlett.
What's Next? Known primarily to TV fans as computer expert Rachel on 'Alias,' Nichols will try to parlay this summer's visibility into higher-profile roles than what she's currently got on tap -- namely, two TV movies and a small horror film entitled 'For Sale By Owner.'
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Anton Yelchin
'Star Trek' and 'Terminator Salvation'
He Plays: The USS Enterprise's token Russian Chekov in 'Star Trek'; and Kyle Reese, the young rebel whom John Connor must protect in 'Terminator.'
What's Next? Yelchin will have a tough time following up his double bill of summer '09 sci-fi blockbusters, but the fall anthology 'New York I Love You' finds him in good company (Shia LaBeouf, Natalie Portman and Orlando Bloom are among the large ensemble). He'll then appear in 'Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac,' a romantic drama based on the book by Gabrielle Zevin.
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Oliva Wilde
'Year One'
She Plays: Princess Inanna, the object of Jack Black's affection.
What's Next? You may have caught this captivating beauty on the tube as Dr. Hadley on the award-winning TV show 'House.' But given Wilde's slow and steady transition into movies and the spotlight -- she was number 1 on Maxim's Hot 100 list -- 'House' may soon lose its sexiest doctor. She is also slated to star in the upcoming indie-thriller 'In NorthWood' with Nick Stahl and 2011's highly anticipated 'Tron 2.0.'
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My Theaters
Theaters Near Me
| AMC Loews Cherry Hill Theatre (0.5 mi) |
| United Artists Moorestown (2.8 mi) |
| AMC Theatres Marlton 8 (4.8 mi) |
| Ritz Theatres Ritz Sixteen (6.3 mi) |
| Cinemark Movies 16 (6.4 mi) |
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User comments
Add a commentMore informations about 2009 Summer Movies http://www.mediasoftmac.com/special/summer-movie-pomotion.html#129
07/29/2009, 11:47 pm
HEY WILL THAT WEBSITE HOOK ME UP WITH LIKE ANTON YELCHIN OR ZACHARY QUINTO EVEN THOUGH THEY R LIKE SOOOOOO MUCH OLDER THAN ME!!!!!!!!!
07/11/2009, 12:05 pm
vow she looks beautiful
07/07/2009, 1:04 am
she is beautiful bu ti mean there are way more better looking ppl than her
07/07/2009, 12:14 am
I LOVE ANTON YELCHIN AND ZACH QUINTO BUT I THINK EWAN MCGREGOR SHOULD BE ON THIS LIST!!!! TOTALLY HE IS SO CUTE!!!!
07/05/2009, 8:52 pm
who cares about these hollywood *****
07/04/2009, 2:01 pm
Give me a break XDirtyOldManx1, there's plenty of black/non white actresses that look A MILLION TIMES BETTER than that woman.
07/04/2009, 1:52 pm
Yeah, who needs talent when your hot.
07/04/2009, 1:43 pm
She's so Hyperbeauty!!
07/04/2009, 1:37 pm
JEHSPLACE WHEN YOU SAY THE TERM" WHITE GIRL " THAT TELLS ME YOUR NOT WHITE . SORRY ABOUT THAT LOL!!! BUT HOW MANY BLACK OR NON WHITE WOMEN DO YOU SEE THAT LOOK THAT DAMN GOOD!!!!!
07/04/2009, 1:35 pm