George Clooney Names 3 Rising Stars That Stand Out to Him

George Clooney recently spoke about the younger generation of actors who have impressed him, naming Timothée Chalamet, Glen Powell, and Zendaya.

But he also reflected on how the era of the movie star has changed. “The thing where you put someone’s name above the title and you go see a movie because they’re in it has ended,” Clooney said.

“And I’m part of the last generation of stars who were a beneficiary of a studio really investing in them.”

Chalamet has had a busy few years. In 2025, he hosted Saturday Night Live for the third time. He produced and starred in the sports film Marty Supreme, directed by Josh Safdie. Safdie said he wrote the role specifically for Chalamet.

Critics praised his performance, with The Independent calling him “truly one of our greatest talents” and comparing his energy to Al Pacino. IndieWire described his work as “one of the most colossal movie performances of the 21st century.” His role earned him a third Best Actor nomination at the Critics’ Choice Awards and a fifth Golden Globe nomination.

Looking ahead, Chalamet will reprise his role as Paul Atreides in the final installment of the Dune trilogy, Dune: Part Three, in 2026. He will also reunite with director James Mangold for the motocross heist film High-Side, reportedly earning $25 million for the role.

Glen Powell has also been busy. In 2025, he starred as Russ Holiday in the comedy series Chad Powers, which he helped create and produce. Powell then played the lead in Edgar Wright’s remake of Stephen King’s thriller The Running Man, released in November. He is set to star next in the black comedy thriller How to Make A Killing and J.J. Abrams’ fantasy film Ghostwriter.

Zendaya continues to impress as well. At the 82nd Golden Globe Awards in 2025, she received a nomination for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for her role in Challengers.

She is set to star opposite Robert Pattinson in The Drama and will appear in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey in 2026. Zendaya will also return as Michelle in Spider-Man: Brand New Day and reprise her role as Rue Bennett in the third season of Euphoria.

In March, she was confirmed to play Ronnie Spector in the biopic Be My Baby, based on Spector’s memoir, and will serve as a producer on the project. Spector had personally chosen Zendaya for the role before her death in 2022.

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