15 Young Actors Who Could be the Next Leonardo DiCaprio
Every generation gets a few performers who can carry a massive blockbuster one year and chase a fearless character study the next. Leonardo DiCaprio has done that better than almost anyone, moving from teen idol to master of high stakes drama while keeping audiences locked in the whole way.
The actors below are building that same blend of range, charisma, and taste for bold material. They already turn directors heads, they draw crowds, and they choose projects that stretch them in surprising ways. If they keep trusting their instincts, any one of them could own the next decade.
Timothée Chalamet
Chalamet brings a live wire sensitivity that makes even quiet scenes feel electric. He can play tender and haunted without losing his natural charm, which keeps his most intense characters human and watchable.
He has toggled between sweeping epics and intimate romances in projects like ‘Dune’, ‘Call Me by Your Name’, ‘Wonka’, and ‘Bones and All’. With his mix of leading man appeal and restless curiosity, he is built for a long run at the top.
Austin Butler
Butler has the kind of presence that fixes the camera on him the second he enters a frame. He radiates confidence and focus, then finds small gestures that make a role feel lived in rather than performed.
His breakout in ‘Elvis’ showed he can anchor a full scale biopic, and turns in ‘Dune Part Two’ and ‘The Bikeriders’ prove he can shift from magnetic to menacing when the story needs it. He looks ready to keep leveling up with big risk big reward choices.
Paul Mescal
Mescal specializes in quiet turbulence that sneaks up on you. He builds characters from the inside out, then lets flashes of vulnerability tell the audience everything they need to know.
His work in ‘Aftersun’ and ‘All of Us Strangers’ earned huge admiration, while ‘Normal People’ introduced him to a wide audience that keeps following his every move. With event titles like ‘Gladiator II’ on his path, he can balance prestige and spectacle with ease.
Barry Keoghan
Keoghan has a gift for unsettling nuance. He can be fragile, funny, or frightening, often within the same performance, and he never repeats himself.
From ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’ to ‘Saltburn’ to ‘The Batman’, he picks directors who let him push boundaries. His choices suggest a career that will stay surprising and unforgettable for a very long time.
Tom Holland
Holland blends athletic agility with a big open heart, which makes audiences root for him right away. He is believable as an everyday guy, yet he can shift into intense dramatic territory without losing that accessibility.
Beyond franchise fame, he has taken swings with ‘Cherry’ and ‘The Devil All the Time’ and delivered crowd pleasing adventure in ‘Uncharted’. With the right slate of character driven films, he could grow into a staple of adult drama while keeping his blockbuster footprint.
Jacob Elordi
Elordi pairs classic matinee looks with a sly sense of danger. He can play golden boy charm or twist it into something darker, often in the span of a single scene.
He broke big with ‘Euphoria’, then deepened his range with ‘Priscilla’ and ‘Saltburn’. That combination of appetite for risk and pure screen magnetism sets him up for a DiCaprio style pivot into long term leading roles.
Kelvin Harrison, Jr.
Harrison brings precise control and emotional clarity to every role. He listens on screen in a way that makes scenes feel alive, then strikes with moments that hit hard.
Standouts like ‘Luce’, ‘Waves’, and ‘Chevalier’ show he can command both contemporary tension and period elegance. He makes smart choices and always adds layers, which is exactly how great careers are built.
Lucas Hedges
Hedges has an unshowy style that sneaks under your skin. He plays uncertainty and hope with remarkable honesty, which makes his characters feel real even when the stakes are huge.
Performances in ‘Manchester by the Sea’, ‘Lady Bird’, and ‘Boy Erased’ marked him as a go to for thoughtful drama, while ‘Honey Boy’ underlined his fearlessness. With a few larger scale projects, he could step into the global spotlight without losing his quiet power.
Noah Jupe
Jupe is already one of the most reliable young scene partners around. He has a natural sense of timing, and he conveys complex feelings with clear, simple choices.
He impressed in ‘A Quiet Place’, ‘Honey Boy’, and ‘Ford v Ferrari’, holding his own with seasoned stars. As he grows into older roles, his early craft suggests he will be a major lead who can carry both thrillers and tender dramas.
Charles Melton
Melton has screen warmth and gravity in equal measure. He can play confidence without arrogance, then reveal hidden wounds that make a character stay with you.
His turn in ‘May December’ announced serious dramatic chops after the pop splash of ‘Riverdale’. With that kind of leap, he is poised to become a dependable choice for directors who want both intensity and heart.
Jeremy Allen White
White brings restless energy and a deep well of empathy to his characters. He makes ambition and anxiety feel painfully relatable while keeping every moment specific.
He became a household name with ‘The Bear’, then showed big screen impact with ‘The Iron Claw’. His instincts for material are sharp, which positions him to evolve into a commanding film lead who still chases daring stories.
George MacKay
MacKay projects quiet resilience and physical commitment. He immerses himself in the world of a film and sells the reality of every challenge the character faces.
He carried ‘1917’ with stamina and soul, then kept exploring with ‘True History of the Kelly Gang’ and other adventurous picks. His dedication and range make him a natural for prestige epics and grounded character studies.
Nicholas Galitzine
Galitzine pairs leading man polish with a playful spark. He can flirt, brood, or break your heart, often within a single arc.
He charmed audiences with ‘Red White and Royal Blue’ and ‘The Idea of You’, then shifted gears with sharp comedic beats in ‘Bottoms’ and royal intrigue in ‘Mary and George’. That adaptable vibe hints at a long career across romance, comedy, and drama.
Josh O’Connor
O’Connor has a gift for interior life that reads clearly on screen. He finds the precise physical choices that tell you who a character is before a word is spoken.
He earned praise for ‘The Crown’, then brought heat and ache to ‘Challengers’. With that combination of craft and charisma, he looks ready to anchor the kind of bold director led projects that define eras.
Harris Dickinson
Dickinson mixes intensity with a sly, observant wit. He can go icy or tender and always feels grounded even in offbeat worlds.
He broke through with ‘Beach Rats’ and showed different shades in ‘The King’s Man’ and ‘Triangle of Sadness’. His steady climb suggests a future filled with sharp auteurs and big stage films that let him show every gear.
Share the names you would add to this list in the comments so we can keep the conversation going.