USA TODAY International Edition
Stars of summer 2021 are ready to shine
Famous faces like John Cena and Emma Stone, as well as up- and- comers, hit the big screen as moviegoers start heading back to theaters.
Just when our pandemic- filled existence might need it the most, summer movie season is back and that means a host of big stars returning to even bigger screens. h Vin Diesel (“F9”), Dwayne Johnson (“Jungle Cruise”), Scarlett Johansson (“Black Widow”) and Ryan Reynolds (“Free Guy”) are no stranger to lighting up a summer blockbuster franchise. After COVID- 19 sent pretty much all of last year’s huge movies packing, the payoff comes in the next few months as moviegoers gradually make their way into reopening theaters and get to see some familiar faces. h Here are 10 stars of upcoming films who are about to have a cool summer, from familiar faces to up- and- comers ready for a breakout:
Emily Blunt (‘ A Quiet Place Part II,’ ‘ Jungle Cruise’)
In the sequel ( in theaters May 28) to the 2018 sci- fi horror hit “A Quiet Place” – again directed by her husband John Krasinski – the British actress is a mom trying to keep her kids safe in a world full of blind vicious alien monsters. The biggest thing she has to deal with in “Jungle Cruise” ( July 30), though, is Johnson: Blunt’s doctor and The Rock’s buff skipper sail down the Amazon to find a magical tree in the family fantasy based on the Disney theme park ride.
John Cena (‘ F9,’ ‘ The Suicide Squad’)
The former pro wrestler goes against his usual good- guy roots for a very bad- guy summer. First, Cena’s assassin Jakob is the antagonistic bro of Diesel’s “Fast & Furious” main man Dominic Toretto in the action extravaganza “F9” ( June 25). Then Cena joins his own colorful crew – including Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn – playing patriotic oddball Peacemaker in James Gunn’s DC supervillain- filled “The Suicide Squad” ( in theaters and on HBO Max Aug. 6).
Winston Duke (‘ Nine Days’)
Duke impressed in high- profile supporting roles – as the fearsome M’Baku in “Black Panther” and a loyal dad in Jordan Peele’s horror flick “Us” – and proves ready to lead in “Nine Days,” an insightful sci- fi
fantasy ( in theaters this summer) that played the film festival circuit last year. Duke’s main character is a quiet and reclusive guy who chooses which human souls will be born, interviews a series of candidates when a spot opens up, and in the process learns how to live himself.
Henry Golding (‘ Snake Eyes’)
The Malaysian- British actor ( and new dad!) has mainly played Hollywood heartthrobs, breaking through in the romantic comedies “Crazy Rich Asians” and “Last Christmas.” Now he’s getting to strut his action hero stuff as the sword- swinging title ninja commando of “Snake Eyes” ( in theaters July 23). Based on the 1980s cartoon- and- toy G. I. Joe franchise, the martial art movie serves as the origin story of the fan- favorite silent masked character focusing on his early days as a soldier and his involvement with the Arashikage ninja clan.
Lil Rel Howery (‘ Fatherhood,’ ‘ Free Guy’)
The “Get Out” scene- stealer currently is causing chaos with Eric Andre in Netflix’s hidden- camera comedy “Bad Trip.” He’s got a double feature incoming: With “Fatherhood” ( streaming June 18 on Netflix), about a dad ( Kevin Hart) who raises his baby daughter after the death of his wife, Howery joins an ensemble including Alfre Woodard and Anthony Carrigan, and in the action comedy “Free Guy” ( Aug. 13) Howery is a bank security guard and Ryan Reynolds’ BFF in a crazy video game world.
LeBron James (‘ Space Jam: A New Legacy’)
The biggest star in the basketball universe is making his mark in Hollywood just by being himself. He had a super- fun cameo in 2015’ s “Trainwreck” and now takes a page out of Michael Jordan’s playbook teaming up with Looney Tunes characters. In the new “Space Jam” ( in theaters and on HBO Max July 16), LeBron and his son ( Cedric Joe) are trapped in a virtual space by an antagonistic AI ( Don Cheadle), and to escape, LeBron hoops it up with Bugs Bunny and Co. against the monstrous Goon Squad.
Taylour Paige (‘ Zola’)
The actress and dancer is a part of the SAG- nominated cast of Netflix’s 1920s- set August Wilson adaptation “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” as a young woman caught between Viola Davis and the late Chadwick Boseman’s dueling personalities. Director Janicza Bravo’s “Zola,” based on a viral Twitter thread, could be a huge breakout for the onetime Laker Girl, who plays a Detroit waitress on an absolutely bonkers, 48hour odyssey in Florida with a customer ( Riley Keough).
Florence Pugh (‘ Black Widow’)
Although Scarlett Johansson’s secret agent Avenger is getting her own solo film, “Black Widow” ( in theaters and on Disney+ July 9) doubles as a debut for Pugh in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The “Little Women” and “Midsommar” star – and purveyor of Instagram cooking shows – plays Russian operative Yelena Balova, and after what happened to Johansson’s character in “Avengers: Endgame,” Pugh could have a new superhero gig for a while.
Anthony Ramos (‘ In the Heights’)
Film fans will recognize him as Lady Gaga’s friend in “A Star Is Born” or from playing dual roles in Disney+’ s “Hamilton.” Now, Ramos steps up as a majorleague showstopper in “In the Heights” ( in theaters and on HBO Max June 11). The movie musical casts him as Usnavi de la Vega ( the role played on Broadway by the show’s creator, LinManuel Miranda), a Dominican American bodega owner in the tightknit New York City neighborhood of Washington Heights who sings and dreams of a better life.
Emma Stone (‘ Cruella’)
In recent years, she won an Oscar for “La La Land,” played the iconic Billie Jean King in “Battle of the Sexes” and had books thrown at her in “The Favourite.”
In other words, taking on the early years of a heinous Disney villainess is par for her versatile course. In “Cruella” ( in theaters and on Disney+ May 28), Stone’s Estrella is a punk rock 1970s Brit and clever young fashion maven who embraces her dark side and sets her sights on taking down a designing legend ( Emma Thompson) with a thing for Dalmatians.