Top Stars to Look Out For in 2026

There are a lot of big projects already set for 2026, which makes it a strong year to keep tabs on fresh faces and fast rising names. Each pick below has a confirmed lead or pivotal role in a movie or series dated for 2026, along with key details on what they are doing and where you may have seen them before.

You will find release windows, character names, and project context so you can plan what to watch next year. Each entry focuses on concrete information so you can quickly see why each name matters in 2026.

Catherine Laga’aia

Disney’s live action ‘Moana’ sails into theaters on July 10, 2026, with Catherine Laga’aia making her feature debut as Moana opposite Dwayne Johnson as Maui. The film is directed by Thomas Kail and filmed in Hawaii and Georgia with Mark Mancina returning to compose.

Laga’aia is a Sydney native of Samoan heritage and the daughter of actor Jay Laga’aia. Disney announced her casting alongside John Tui as Chief Tui, Frankie Adams as Sina, and Rena Owen as Gramma Tala, giving the new version a Pacific lead ensemble.

Milly Alcock

‘Supergirl’ reaches theaters on June 26, 2026, with Milly Alcock starring as Kara Zor El in the second film of the new DCU. The screenplay is by Ana Nogueira and direction is by Craig Gillespie, with principal photography completed in the United Kingdom.

Alcock first reached global audiences on ‘House of the Dragon’ and continues in the DCU after a setup in ‘Superman’. The film adapts elements from the comic ‘Supergirl Woman of Tomorrow’ and includes roles for Matthias Schoenaerts as Krem and Eve Ridley as Ruthye.

Jaafar Jackson

‘Michael’ opens on April 24, 2026, with Jaafar Jackson portraying his uncle Michael Jackson in a biographical drama directed by Antoine Fuqua. Domestic distribution is by Lionsgate with international handled by Universal.

The project marks Jackson’s feature debut and includes Colman Domingo and Nia Long among the cast. Principal photography began in early 2024 and additional photography took place in 2025 to align the film with its spring 2026 date.

Kathryn Newton

Searchlight’s ‘Ready or Not 2’ is set for April 10, 2026, reuniting Samara Weaving with directors Matt Bettinelli Olpin and Tyler Gillett while adding Kathryn Newton to the ensemble. Production wrapped in 2025 following a shoot in Toronto.

Newton’s recent credits include ‘Ant Man and the Wasp Quantumania’ and ‘Lisa Frankenstein’. In the 2026 sequel she joins returning characters from the 2019 hit while expanding the lead cast beyond the original bride at the story’s center.

Samara Weaving

Samara Weaving returns in ‘Ready or Not 2’ on April 10, 2026, reprising Grace from the original film under the same directing team. The sequel completed principal photography in spring 2025 and announced its 2026 theatrical slot after wrap.

Weaving’s feature work includes ‘Babylon’ and ‘Scream VI’. The follow up brings back the deadly hide and seek premise with an expanded cast that now includes Kathryn Newton and Sarah Michelle Gellar.

Isabel May

‘Scream 7’ reaches theaters on February 27, 2026, with Isabel May joining the cast under returning creator Kevin Williamson. Production began in Atlanta in early 2025 to keep the franchise on its late winter date.

May is known for ‘1883’ and ‘Alexa and Katie’. The 2026 entry features legacy stars including Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox alongside new additions from the recent installments.

Joseph Zada

The new ‘Hunger Games’ prequel ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’ opens on November 20, 2026, with Joseph Zada playing young Haymitch Abernathy. Francis Lawrence returns to direct the Second Quarter Quell storyline.

Zada’s casting positions him as the teenage version of the mentor first portrayed by Woody Harrelson. The ensemble also includes Whitney Peak and Mckenna Grace in key District 12 roles.

Mckenna Grace

Mckenna Grace appears in ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’ as Maysilee Donner with the film dated for November 20, 2026. The story explores events in the 50th Games that shaped Haymitch’s future path.

Grace also appears in ‘Scream 7’ for February 27, 2026, joining the returning cast in the next chapter of the Woodsboro saga. Her 2026 slate spans both a major franchise prequel and a long running horror series.

Whitney Peak

Whitney Peak co stars in ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’ as a new character within the Capitol and District 12 roster. The prequel is part of Lionsgate’s fall 2026 lineup with returning crew and expanded world building.

Peak previously headlined the ‘Gossip Girl’ revival and appeared in ‘Hocus Pocus 2’. The 2026 film expands the character roster around the Games while setting up connections to existing continuity.

Ben Wang

Ben Wang is part of the ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’ cast in a role tied to the Games era that precedes the original films. The prequel maintains the production team that guided earlier installments.

Wang led the series ‘American Born Chinese’ and appears here among tributes, mentors, and Capitol figures that fill out the Second Quarter Quell timeline. His character contributes to the broader view of District dynamics during the event.

Eve Ridley

Eve Ridley plays Ruthye Marye Knoll in ‘Supergirl’ which releases on June 26, 2026. The character travels with Kara across the galaxy and comes directly from the ‘Woman of Tomorrow’ source storyline.

Ridley joined the production during the casting phase that followed Milly Alcock’s selection. Filming took place in the United Kingdom before wrapping in May 2025.

Alfie Williams

’28 Years Later The Bone Temple’ is slated for January 16, 2026, with Alfie Williams among the leads in the continuation of the ’28 Days Later’ universe. Direction is by Nia DaCosta from a script by Alex Garland.

The film was planned as a follow on to the 2025 installment and features returning and new survivors in a Rage Virus stricken United Kingdom. The cast also lists Ralph Fiennes and Jack O’Connell.

Celeste O’Connor

Celeste O’Connor appears in ‘Scream 7’ which arrives on February 27, 2026. The production brings back Kevin Williamson at the helm and adds several new roles to the ensemble.

O’Connor’s recent credits include ‘Ghostbusters Afterlife’ and ‘Madame Web’. The 2026 chapter continues the revival with legacy characters and fresh additions sharing the screen.

Jessie Buckley

Warner Bros will release Maggie Gyllenhaal’s ‘The Bride!’ on March 6, 2026, with Jessie Buckley in the title role and Christian Bale as Frankenstein’s monster. The project reimagines the classic pairing in a new city setting.

The film features Penélope Cruz, Peter Sarsgaard, and Annette Bening with music by Hildur Guðnadóttir. Warner Bros moved the title into its 2026 corridor following early industry previews.

Nate Bargatze

Sony’s ‘The Breadwinner’ opens on March 13, 2026, marking Nate Bargatze’s feature lead turn in a comedy directed by Eric Appel. The cast includes Mandy Moore, Will Forte, Colin Jost, and Kumail Nanjiani.

The story follows a role reversal after a successful pitch on ‘Shark Tank’. Production began in Atlanta in May 2025 with a spring 2026 release set during the shoot.

Lainey Wilson

‘Reminders of Him’ reaches theaters on March 13, 2026, with Lainey Wilson making her film debut alongside Maika Monroe in Universal’s adaptation of the Colleen Hoover novel. Vanessa Caswill directs the feature.

Wilson joins a cast that includes Tyriq Withers, Rudy Pankow, Lauren Graham, and Bradley Whitford. Universal positioned the film in March 2026 following scheduling updates announced in September 2025.

Pedro Pascal

‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ hits theaters on May 22, 2026, directed by Jon Favreau and bringing the Disney Plus saga to the big screen with Pedro Pascal as Din Djarin. The feature follows events established across the series.

Production shifts the volume heavy series pipeline into a theatrical scale workflow. The date places the film at the start of the 2026 summer season for the larger franchise slate.

Jeremy Allen White

Jeremy Allen White appears in ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ in a new role added during the feature’s production phase. The film remains scheduled for May 22, 2026, under the Lucasfilm slate.

White is widely known for ‘The Bear’ and recent feature projects. The 2026 ‘Star Wars’ film marks a major franchise appearance within a theatrical release year.

Simone Ashley

‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ is set for May 1, 2026, with Simone Ashley added to the returning ensemble that includes Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci. David Frankel returns to direct from a script by Aline Brosh McKenna.

Filming began in June 2025 in New York with plans to include Milan. New additions reported in 2025 also include Lucy Liu and Kenneth Branagh with plotlines that address the current media landscape.

Ariana Grande

The ‘Meet the Parents’ sequel ‘Focker in Law’ is dated for November 25, 2026, with Ariana Grande featured in a role discussed during the 2025 development cycle. The film continues the long running series with returning cast members.

The project places Grande among an ensemble that includes Robert De Niro and other franchise regulars. The 2026 date puts the film in the holiday corridor for a wide release.

Dwayne Johnson

Dwayne Johnson returns as Maui in Disney’s live action ‘Moana’, which is planned for a theatrical release in 2026. The feature is directed by Thomas Kail and pairs Johnson with Catherine Laga’aia as Moana.

Filming is centered around locations in Hawaii and Georgia with Disney producing through its live action banner. The story adapts the animated hit while introducing a new ensemble that reflects Pacific Islander casting.

Anne Hathaway

Anne Hathaway reprises Andy Sachs in ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ with David Frankel directing and Aline Brosh McKenna writing. Production is set around New York with additional work planned in Milan.

Hathaway reunites with returning cast members and steps back into the fashion media setting that powered the original. The sequel is part of a 2026 theatrical slate from the studio behind the first film.

Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep returns as Miranda Priestly in ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’. The production maintains the creative team that launched the franchise and schedules principal photography across fashion capitals.

Streep’s scenes are expected to anchor newsroom and runway world sequences that expand the business landscape of the story. The film aligns its release within the same corridor as other studio tentpoles in 2026.

Emily Blunt

Emily Blunt is back as Emily Charlton in ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’. The project positions her character in a senior role within the global style ecosystem that the sequel explores.

Blunt’s involvement connects legacy characters with new faces in media and branding. Location work in New York and Italy supports the international storyline planned for the 2026 release window.

Christian Bale

Christian Bale appears as Frankenstein’s monster in ‘The Bride!’ from director Maggie Gyllenhaal. The feature is set in a period city backdrop that reframes the classic characters for modern audiences in 2026.

Bale stars opposite Jessie Buckley in the title role with a supporting cast that includes Penélope Cruz and Annette Bening. The studio has the film scheduled in the first half of the year to open its genre slate.

Penélope Cruz

Penélope Cruz co stars in ‘The Bride!’ alongside Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale. The production uses large scale sets and practical effects to stage laboratory and theater sequences that drive the plot.

Cruz’s role connects the human world around the reanimated leads to the social circles that shape the conflict. The film completes post production ahead of a 2026 rollout backed by a wide theatrical plan.

Annette Bening

Annette Bening features in ‘The Bride!’ with principal photography completed and a 2026 debut on the calendar. The ensemble cast brings multiple award winners together under Maggie Gyllenhaal’s direction.

Bening’s character is integrated into the civic and artistic communities that frame the reimagined narrative. The release timing places the film near the start of the studio’s spring offerings.

Colman Domingo

Colman Domingo appears in ‘Michael’, the biographical drama centered on Michael Jackson. The production shot across multiple stages and locations to recreate family homes, rehearsal halls, and tour backdrops.

The film is set for a 2026 theatrical run under a wide release strategy. Domingo’s role supports the central performance by Jaafar Jackson and connects key periods of the singer’s life.

Nia Long

Nia Long co stars in ‘Michael’ with principal photography and follow on work completed ahead of its 2026 date. Sets include performance venues and residence interiors that match the time frames depicted.

Long’s character is positioned within the family narrative that drives the story through early career milestones. The studio coordinates music clearances and archival elements to support the film’s release.

Tom Hanks

Tom Hanks returns as Woody in ‘Toy Story 5’, which is scheduled for a 2026 theatrical bow from Pixar and Disney. Voice recording sessions are staged to align with animation timelines through final delivery.

The production brings back the core ensemble and introduces new toy characters designed for fresh settings. The film is planned for a wide family release with global localization completed ahead of opening.

Tim Allen

Tim Allen is back as Buzz Lightyear in ‘Toy Story 5’. The project continues the buddy dynamic at the center of the series while expanding the toy lineup for new environments.

Allen’s recording schedule aligns with editorial and animation checkpoints through 2026. The studio positions the film for a prime summer corridor with merchandising and park integrations prepared to support rollout.

Mike Myers

Mike Myers returns as the voice of Shrek in ‘Shrek 5’, which the studio has placed on its 2026 slate. The production reunites the original creative leads and updates character models for current animation pipelines.

Story work focuses on family and kingdom scale antics that accommodate returning and new fairy tale figures. International dubbing and music placement run in parallel with final animation and lighting.

Eddie Murphy

Eddie Murphy is back as Donkey in ‘Shrek 5’. Recording blocks are arranged to capture music and dialogue that fit the character’s comedic beats.

The film targets a broad family audience with a global release plan in 2026. Marketing includes legacy nostalgia pieces and new character introductions timed to trailers and teasers.

Cameron Diaz

Cameron Diaz returns as Fiona in ‘Shrek 5’. The production approach balances legacy performances with updated animation technology for facial nuance and action.

Diaz’s sessions integrate with ensemble reads to preserve chemistry across returning leads. The studio maps the film to a peak holiday window in select markets within the 2026 schedule.

Anya Taylor-Joy

Anya Taylor Joy voices Princess Peach in the sequel to ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ set for 2026. Illumination and Nintendo partner again with recording and layout underway ahead of final animation.

Peach’s role expands the adventure scope across multiple game inspired worlds. The release plan includes synchronized worldwide dates with tie in products and music drops aligned to trailer beats.

Chris Pratt

Chris Pratt returns as Mario in the next ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ entry. Production timelines are structured around voice work, editorial, and test screenings that shape comedic timing.

Pratt’s vocal performance anchors the ensemble that includes returning and new characters from the game franchise. The studio targets a spring 2026 corridor to optimize family attendance patterns.

Jack Black

Jack Black is back as Bowser in the sequel to ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’. Recording sessions include musical sequences and dialogue passes that match the character’s energetic style.

The film’s post production calendar runs through late 2025 into early 2026 with scoring and sound design assembled in parallel. Global rollout planning accounts for both theatrical and later home formats.

Neve Campbell

Neve Campbell returns as Sidney Prescott in ‘Scream 7’, which is dated for early 2026. The production shoots on location with a mix of practical sets and nighttime exteriors that define the series look.

Campbell’s participation links the new story to the franchise’s original arc. The studio coordinates a targeted marketing campaign that emphasizes legacy characters alongside new cast members.

Courteney Cox

Courteney Cox is back as Gale Weathers in ‘Scream 7’. The schedule places filming and reshoots to meet delivery deadlines ahead of the 2026 release.

Cox’s role positions the investigative thread within the plot while connecting returning characters. The distribution plan opens with a wide domestic launch followed by international markets.

Katee Sackhoff

Katee Sackhoff returns as Bo Katan Kryze in ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’, which is set for theaters in 2026. The production expands from series scale stages to feature level sets and locations.

Sackhoff’s character coordinates with Din Djarin in a storyline that follows events established on the series. Lucasfilm plans the release for the start of the summer window with ancillary content timed to the film.

Share the names you are planning to watch in 2026 in the comments so everyone can compare watchlists.