There’s a kind of lethargy that sets in when a new movie comes out, only to feature the same actor in the lead role. Think Jacob Elordi, Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Paul Mescal. They’re all incredibly talented, no doubt. You’ll never catch me diss Zendaya; I’m a hardcore fangirl with no shame. But there comes a point where you see an actor so often that you can’t help but associate them too strongly with their past roles. I had this problem with Paul Mescal. I couldn’t see past Connell from Normal People, so when I watched Aftersun, I was intrigued by his performance, but I couldn’t fully believe in the story. The nuances of his role as a depressed father and the perspective of an adolescent pre-teen made the film an essential tearjerker, but all I could think about was how this was an extension of Connell and his anxiety. I couldn’t shake it. Maybe it was a lack of a fresh outlook, a disconnect that wouldn’t have been there with a new face in the role.
Then again, would I have ever seen those films if it weren’t for him? Probably not. So, is this where the recycling of actors comes in? These big names drive attention and amplify the work. While I can’t quite picture him as Lucius in the new Gladiator (and I haven’t seen it yet, so maybe I’ll be proven wrong), it’s interesting how casting a familiar face can shape our expectations.
Take Timothée Chalamet, for example. He’s basically a household name by now, especially in every household with a teenage girl. Dominating since Call Me by Your Name in 2017, nearly eight years ago, he’s starred in Little Women, Dune, Bones and All, and even The King, a bit of a departure for him. His romance with Lily-Rose Depp only fuelled the fire, dragging fans in to catch a glimpse of the couple for just five minutes of film. Talk about parasocial relationships. Gosh.
That said, I can’t deny his talent. He’s a phenomenal actor. But do I see him too much? Maybe… The thrill of discovering a new performance that takes your breath away is something I miss. The excitement of thinking, maybe this cast will surprise me, that’s fading. It’s hard to find that now.
Same goes for Zendaya, who’s absolutely crushing it in the industry. Her work in Challengers as Tashi, the ambitious and career-driven woman whose controlling nature shapes the entire film, was, to say the least, very exciting to watch. But even though we see her everywhere, I don’t think anyone else could have nailed this role like she did. Her part in Euphoria was groundbreaking, winning her an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. That show had me hooked as a teenager, and the raw talent it takes to play Rue, the drug-addicted, unfaithful narrator, is something I can’t even put into words. I think my fangirling is in full force here.
She starred alongside Jacob Elordi and Sydney Sweeney, who’ve both made it big in Hollywood. We see them in everything. Sydney’s work in Immaculate, a different take on Rosemary’s Baby, was one of her best performances. As someone who thought I could never see her as anything other than Cassie from Euphoria, I was totally surprised by this film. Jacob’s work in Saltburn gave me chills, his attractive demeanour and the plot twists left me with something to discuss with my friends for days. Some clubs even had Saltburn-themed nights. Even though he was a side character, he absolutely dominated his role in Priscilla, sometimes overshadowing his co-star, Cailey Spaeny. I loved that movie. Seriously, it’s brilliant, thanks to Sofia Coppola’s aesthetic and direction. But was casting him a mistake? So much of the focus was on him, even though the film was supposed to showcase Priscilla’s story.
So, is this just a way for actors to show their range, or does it somehow hinder the narrative? I’m not sure, but I’ll tell you this: I eat it up every time.
“Sydney Sweeney at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival 06” by Jay Dixit is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.