There’s something that’s been bugging since last Sunday. Ya see.. the box office result was announced and the tween movie 17 AGAIN won by earning $23.7 Million in its opening weekend. All of a sudden, Hollywood Reporter had a shocking title for its headline stating that Zac Efron might be the next Tom Cruise.
The 21 year old might not be a thesp but he’s banking money on the fans he has and his fans are many but is it fair to compare Zac Efron to the Cruise control, the man who, despite his weird behaviors and his freaky laughs at times, is a 3 time Oscar nominee?
Maybe they’re thinking the torch has moved on, while assuming that 17 AGAIN would give Zac Efron the same stardom that Risky business did for Tom Cruise.
Stating that a rising star is the next.. whoever.. isn’t something new in Hollywood. They’re always looking for the next big thing because like it or not, the stars we grew up with back in the 80s and 90s are growing old.
Another example that I’ve heard is that Amy Adams is the next Meryl Streep… I’m sure some of us remember back when Meryl Streep used to be called the next Katherine Hepburn.
Adams and Streep shared screen time in last year’s DOUBT and can be seen in the same movie again in this year’s Julie & Julia. Call it what you want but if the great Meryl Streep wants to act with the same young actress again, doesn’t that seem to you like she’s giving Adams her blessing?
What about our very own action star, Jason Statham. The guy probably won’t ever win an Oscar but he’ll make sure the $10 you spent on that movie ticket will be worth the excitement he’s got to offer. At one point, some say he could be the next Bruce Willis. They’re both bald, they’re both badass, and they both can say their lines and make them sound awesome. But Bruce Willis likes to venture off to mystery (The Sixth Sense), family (The Kid), animation (Over the Hedge) and drama (The Astronaut Farmer).. so who will Jason Statham be compared to? Recently there’s info that he’s going to remake the 1972 classic THE MECHANIC, the original version starred the late great Charles Bronson.. Perfect! Jason Statham could be the next Charles Bronson, just think about it.. Bronson did nothing but action movies and he didn’t give a monkey’s ass what other thought of him. Hell he would’ve made DEATH WISH 98 if he had still lived right now.
Last example.. and I’ve heard this quite a number of time thanks to media and the interweb. Shia Labeouf as the next Tom Hanks. Although Shia probably might not get his Forrest Gump moment anytime soon, I’m sure the comparison comes from judging the fact that Tom Hanks started the same way, TV gigs. That and Steven Spielberg are very fond of those two individuals. Now if Hanks and Labeouf could both star in a movie, that would definitely seal the deal.
Actingwise, the movie Eagle Eye is probably evidence that Shia might have what it takes to take on the Oscar winner someday but I think Shia lives in a faster lane than Hanks when he was younger. I think if Shia wants to get the same respect that Hanks has gotten all these years, he needs to take on more challenging roles and slow down on the MTV lifestyle.
