Looking at the cast of the upcoming movie The Expendables, it made me realize how many of these guys are getting up in age with seemingly no one to take over their mantles. Who will be the next Stallone, Ah-Nuld or Willis? Who is waiting in the wings? All I can think of are Matt Damon, Jason Statham, and MAYBE Dwayne Johnson, though he seems to be more fixated on comedies.
Mark Wahlberg
Clive Owens
Vin Diesel could always make his way back
Hugh Jackman
Christian Bale
Eric Bana
James McAvoy
…really the list is pretty endless.
Jet Li
I don’t know about James McAvoy. I think Wanted worked because he was playing the unlikely action hero. With a sequel in the works, the playing-against-type aspect isn’t going to hold up as well, but he’s never going to be a Clive Owenish tough guy. Oh, sure, he could kick my ass, but that’s not good enough. Prove me wrong, James!
Clive Owen himself, on the other hand, is in his late 40s. I’m sure he’s got lots of good years left, but I don’t know if I’d include him in the “new generation” of anything. Hugh Jackman and Vin Diesel are close to the same age, I think. If you are going to count them, might as well add Daniel Craig. He was a sensation as Bond, and the upcoming “Cowboys & Aliens” looks interesting.
ETA: Jet Li has been an action star since the '80s.
I’ll add Sam Worthington. Hugh Jackman could be, but he doesn’t seem to be doing much but Wolverine in the action department.
Two years ago I made a thread asking this very same question. I said Christian Bale was today’s premier action star, but others argued the action star died in the mid-90s.
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=469245&highlight=christian+bale
On the other hand, in the years since this thread, Sam Worthington has made a little name for himself. A few more action movies and he might really have something.
jaden smith
::shudder::