[IMG:L]The world always needs more heroes, and these 10 next big action things are showing us what it takes to become the next Will Smith and Angelina Jolie …
Ryan Reynolds
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
(May 1)
The snarky lothario desperately wants to unleash his inner superhero. He’s already tried once as Blade: Trinity’s Hannibal King. Now he gets his second chance, as Deadpool. Like this “Merc with a Mouth,” Reynolds is quick with a quip. And Trinity proved Reynolds can take care of himself in battle. So if Wolverine slices and dices the competition and spawns a much-rumored Deadpool spin-off, expect this rom-com hunk to enjoy more action outside the bedroom.
KEEP READING: The next Angelina Jolie?
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Moon Bloodgood
Terminator Salvation
(May 22)
There’s much of Angelina Jolie in this former L.A. Lakers cheerleader. She’s not afraid to be sexually aggressive — just ask Robert De Niro in What Just Happened (the elevator scene, remember?). And, judging by her deadly moves in Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li, she cracks skulls as easily as practicing toe-touch drills. So if anyone can play a battle-tested pilot who falls for one terminator while turning thousands more into scrap metal, it’s this exotic fatal beauty.
KEEP READING: Soon to be an A-lister …
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Channing Tatum
Public Enemies; G.I. Joe
(July 1 and Aug. 7)
Does this street-Fighting and, um, Step Up-dancing fella know the associated risks of turning an action figure into a flesh-and-blood protector of freedom? Dolph Lundgren’s yet to die down the shame of Masters of the Universe. As Conrad Hauser, aka Duke, Tatum obviously needs to more animated than his namesake toy or he’s never going to live down the embarrassment. Then again, all would be forgiven if he steals Public Enemies from Johnny Depp as mobster Pretty Boy Floyd.
KEEP READING: Doing double-duty this summer …
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Anton Yelchin
Star Trek; Terminator Salvation
(May 8 and May 22)
And you thought Shia LaBeouf was a girly man. At least Yelchin’s brainpower can compensate for his lack of brawn. Star Trek allows Yelchin to be the pride of his Russian motherland by succeeding Walter Koenig as Starfleet’s Pavel Chekov. Then he finds Salvation as Kyle Reese, the future father of resistance leader John Connor. Yelchin may not have many muscles to flex, but if LaBeouf can become an unlikeliest action hero, why not Yelchin?
KEEP READING: The Israeli import not named Portman …
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Ayelet Zurer
Angels and Demons
(May 15)
For a country constantly at war, Israel hasn’t produced many men or women of action beyond Natalie Portman and Oded Fehr. But we won’t want to mess with the Zurer after this Da Vinci Code sequel. She snagged from Naomi Watts the role of a scientist working with Tom Hanks to stop the bombing of St. Peter’s Basilica. Why? As an ice-cold terrorist in Vantage Point, Zurer showed she’s no screamer — unlike King Kong’s former squeeze.
KEEP READING: … and the Aussie import not named Jackman!
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Sam Worthington
Terminator Salvation
(May 22)
Australia makes warriors out of its men, whether they’re homegrown (Hugh Jackman) or imported (Mel Gibson). Thanks to James Cameron, the next Aussie hard man should be this unknown fella. Worthington so impressed Cameron while making the upcoming Avatar that he recommend him for the role of Terminator Salvation’s amnesiac cyborg Marcus Wright. And we’ll need a man’s man like Worthington to inject some testosterone into next year’s remake of the campy Clash of the Titans.
KEEP READING: Sam Raimi’s horror gal …
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Alison Lohman
Drag Me to Hell
(May 29)
When Juno’s Ellen Page declined a one-way trip to Hades, Lohman quickly packed her bags for Spider-Man director Sam Raimi’s first horror excursion since 1993’s Army of Darkness. Smart move! Anyone could’ve outsmarted Matchstick Men Nicolas Cage and Sam Rockwell, but if Lohman can claw her way out of Hell — after her loan officer’s been cursed to spend an eternity in Satan’s company — then she shouldn’t have a problem subduing any future mortal foe.
KEEP READING: The new Captain Kirk (and Green Lantern)!
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Chris Pine
Star Trek
(May 8)
To boldly go where no man has gone before? That’s a breeze compared to making Trekkies forget William Shatner. But like the Priceline pitchman, this pretty boy looks as comfortable strutting around in uniform as James T. Kirk as he does barking orders from the Enterprise’s captain chair. And he shares a cocky charm that should ensure this reboot doesn’t disintegrate at warp speed. Pine’s reward? Donning the suit of D.C. superhero the Green Lantern.
KEEP READING: G.I. Joe‘s anti-Sienna Miller!
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Rachel Nichols
G.I. Joe
(Aug. 7)
Alias addicts already know Nichols isn’t just another blonde bombshell. But overpowering P2 stalker Wes Bentley is one thing; it’s another to save the world from the evil Cobra Organization. When it comes to G.I. Joe, Nichols’ greatest challenge will be forcing us to take our eyes off Sienna Miller’s femme fatale, the Baroness. Dying her hair red as Scarlett will only go so far. Out-scratching Miller in a catfight would definitely do the job.
KEEP READING: Ryan Howard Steps Outta ‘The Office’
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BJ Novak
Inglorious Basterds
(Aug. 21)
When there are Nazis in need of slaughtering, you can always count on … Office drone Ryan Howard? Wait, Michael Scott’s “best friend” can’t even handle drugs or women. But, hey, if Quentin Tarantino thinks the Fire Guy can go into combat with guns blazing as a Jewish-American soldier under Brad Pitt’s command, that’s good enough for us. Novak needs some manning up. And no one’s better at helping you get your blood lust on than Q.T.
More:
THE 2009 ULTIMATE SUMMER GUIDE
10 Must-See Action Flicks | The Best of the Rest | Celeb Flick Picks
Merchandise You Gotta Have | Quiz: Guess the Movie!
Summer Hotties | Villains of Summer | Star Trek Timeline
