Movie Stars in the Making: 8 Names to Watch in 2014

Griffin Conlogue ’15 / Emertainment Monthly Editor
Every year there seems to be a new face in Hollywood that catches everyone by storm.  In recent years we’ve had Jennifer Lawrence, Miles Teller, Dane DeHaan, and many more. But who is next to join this group of up-and-coming superstars?  These 8 actors are the ones you should watch in 2014.

Morgan Saylor

Known mostly for her polarizing role on Showtime’s hit drama Homeland, Saylor has recently had a meaty role in Jamie Marks Is Dead, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.  While the movie received mixed reviews, Saylor’s performance has received mild praise.  With a role in the sports drama McFarland and her absence as a main character on Homeland, big things should be expected in the near future.

Boyd Holbrook

Though many may have been disappointed with his performance in The Host, the Hatfields & McCoys actor will hope to turn public perception around this year with roles in a Terrence Malick film. He will also be seen in a starring role next to Liam Neeson in A Walk Among the Tombstones.  Perhaps his biggest performance this year will be in potential Best Picture nominee Gone Girl, directed by acclaimed director David Fincher.

Josh Wiggins

Wiggins was the toast of Sundance this year, breaking out in his captivating performance in Hellion.  Wiggins is a 15-year-old actor from Texas who was discovered from some YouTube videos made by director Kat Candler.  He’s already being compared to Leonardo DiCaprio, and though he has no projects announced in the near future, he should be on everyone’s radar as a star to watch.

Johnny Flynn

Flynn is a British folk-rock singer by the way of Johannesburg, South Africa.  He stars in Song One in 2014 alongside Anne Hathaway and Mary Steenburgen.  The news regarding his performance during Sundance has been positive.  Flynn will hopefully look to keep active in the film industry along with his growing career with his band: Johnny Flynn & The Sussex Wit.

Mackenzie Davis

Davis really made an impact with her performance in Drake Doremus’ Breathe In.  Doremus is known to help launch the careers of young stars, credited for both Jennifer Lawrence and Felicity Jones.  Davis has been featured in both That Awkward Moment and The F Word, the latter of which earned her a nomination at the 2014 Canadian Screen Awards.

Nicola Peltz

Granted, Nicola Peltz has yet to display a quality performance in her career.  She underwhelmed in The Last Airbender and has consistently been the weak link on Bates Motel.  Regardless, she is the female lead in this summer’s Transformers: Age of Extinction.  She’s a beautiful actress, and as the Transformers franchise helped launch the career of Megan Fox, surely director Michael Bay hopes to do the same for Peltz.

Ansel Elgort

Being announced as the lead in The Fault in Our Stars, Elgort has already been thrust in to the teen heartthrob spotlight.  It doesn’t hurt that he’s also starring in Divergent, once again alongside TFiOS co-star Shailene Woodley.  With the films he’s attached to, we could have another Robert Pattinson/insert-Harry–Potter-cast-member here on our hands.

Joel Kinnaman

Kinnaman has been the charismatic star on AMC’s The Killing since 2011, but has long avoided the spotlight of stardom.  He has recently popped up into the public eye since he started a relationship with Olivia Munn, as well as being announced as the star of RoboCop, which could be the film that makes or breaks Kinnaman as a Hollywood star.