# Who's in the new generation of action stars? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 17, 2010, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-in-the-new-generation-of-action-stars/543533 "2010-06-17T12:18:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-in-the-new-generation-of-action-stars/543533/1 "2010-06-17T12:18:16Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-in-the-new-generation-of-action-stars/543533/2 "2010-06-17T12:46:34Z")
**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. > **[List of action films of the 2000s](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_action_films_of_the_2000s)** > > This is chronological list of action films originally released in the 2000s. Some films are of hybrid genres, including horror, comedy, and science fiction films; the list should attempt to document films which are more closely related to action, even if they bend genres. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-in-the-new-generation-of-action-stars/543533/3 "2010-06-17T13:04:52Z")
Jet Li ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-in-the-new-generation-of-action-stars/543533/4 "2010-06-17T13:11:33Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-in-the-new-generation-of-action-stars/543533/5 "2010-06-17T13:21:50Z")
I’ll add Sam Worthington. Hugh Jackman could be, but he doesn’t seem to be doing much but Wolverine in the action department. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-in-the-new-generation-of-action-stars/543533/6 "2010-06-17T13:35:47Z")
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](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. ---
**Author:** ![pancakes3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba9def/32.png) [@pancakes3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pancakes3)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-in-the-new-generation-of-action-stars/543533/7 "2010-06-17T13:57:52Z")
jaden smith ::shudder::