The Three Biggest Actors After the Strikes

Paul Mescal in the 2022 musical drama film "Carmen.” Canburak via Flickr

The WGA and AMPTP have agreed after 148 days, meaning the writer’s strike is at last over. This leaves many speculating about what the landscape of the movie industry will be as 2023 wraps up and 2024 is around the corner.

The reality is, that many actors used the time during the strikes to bolster their presence within the Hollywood sphere. These are the actors that have begun to make a statement within the industry, due to both their acting abilities and rising status.

Here are the three actors that could have a massive 2024, and why their careers will flourish when the strikes fully end.

Austin Butler

You may know Austin Butler from his roles in “Zoey 101,” “Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventures” or the 2009 movie “Aliens in the Attic.” Or, you may have recognized him from his show-stopping turn as Elvis in the musical biopic of the same name, which earned him a multitude of awards and almost won him an Academy Award.

It feels like Butler has been everywhere in the film industry recently, starting with Quentin Tarantino’s 2019 film “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood.” After that, he booked “Elvis,” who is set to star as the lead villain in the massive blockbuster “Dune: Part Two” in 2024. Furthermore, he is going to star in Jeff Nichols’ newest film “The Bikeriders,” set for December of this year, a WWII miniseries “Masters of the Air,” and is even rumored to be starring in Michael Mann’s sequel to the original “Heat” film, alongside Adam Driver and Al Pacino.

Butler is becoming a household name, and with performances this showy and mesmerizing, he’s proved his career post-strikes will be strong.

Paul Mescal

Paul Mescal is arguably one of the best working actors in Hollywood right now, even at only 27 years old. It seems as though Mescal has infinite range, and most of his performances prove how talented he is.

His breakout role was in the 2020 miniseries “Normal People,” an adaptation of the book of the same name by Sally Rooney, acting alongside fellow newcomer Daisy Edgar-Jones.

His stellar performance as Connell Waldron, a teen dealing with first love and mental health issues like depression earned him massive praise from fans and critics alike and got his foot into the door of Hollywood.

Since starring as the lead in Charlotte Well’s “Aftersun,” Mescal has been propelled into the spotlight for his performance for the 2022 film. One of the best movies of that year, it was a role that earned him a nomination for Best Lead Actor at the 2023 Academy Awards.

Mescal is lined up for “Foe,” Garth Davis’ sci-fi thriller alongside Saoirse Ronan, set for October 6th. Also, Mescal is set to star in Andrew Haigh’s “All Of Us Strangers,” which has been garnering rave reviews after premiering at Telluride Film Festival in August.

However, what fans are most anticipating is Mescal to star as Lucius, the secret son of Maximus in the sequel of 2000’s “Gladiator.” “Gladiator 2” takes place decades after the first film where he sets out to uncover the truth about his father. The film is set to star Mescal alongside Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Barry Keoghan, and Connie Nielsen.

Mescal is linked to a multitude of other projects, and it makes sense given his rising status. If anything, the strikes have only made him a more coveted star due to his high demand.

Ayo Edebiri

To preface, if you haven't watched FX’s “The Bear,” drop what you are doing, and go binge the entire series. It’s only two seasons, with the second having come out this past June, and it’s genuinely one of the best shows on TV right now.

Eiebiri stars alongside Jeremy Allen White as Sydney Adamu, an incredible chef who takes an opportunity to work under Jeremy Allen White’s character, Carmy, a master chef brought back to his failing family restaurant in Chicago.

This show took Ayo Edebiri, and the rest of the cast, to new heights, with Edebiri being one of the centerpieces.

Edebiri has quietly taken 2023 by storm. “The Bear” has skyrocketed her into the mainstream, as she has starred in smaller, yet well-crafted movies in 2023 like “Theater Camp” and "Bottoms.” She also has writing chops, co-writing an episode of “What We Do in the Shadows,” and even had an appearance in the heralded sitcom “Abbot Elementary.” Things are only going up for Edebiri, who has proven her versatility as an actor and writer.

With the strikes possibly ending shortly, these actors may start to take over the industry. The strikes have only given them time to work on their craft, and their careers should only be stronger from here.