Subscription required
Please subscribe to gain full access to all our articles.
The entertainment and sports worlds are always hungry for fresh faces, and 2025 promises a wave of dynamic newcomers ready to captivate global audiences. These rising stars aren’t just trending—they’re redefining their industries with raw talent, innovation, and authenticity. Let’s spotlight the names you’ll want to know before they hit the mainstream.
Film & TV: The New Faces Lighting Up the Screen
2025’s film slate is packed with actors transitioning from indie darlings to leading legends.
1. Taylor John Smith – The Indie Prodigy Going Global
- Why Watch Him: After stealing scenes in Where the Crawdads Sing (2022), Smith’s nuanced performance in The Line (2024) as a conflicted detective earned Sundance buzz.
- 2025 Spotlight: He’s set to star in Blood Mountain, a gritty Appalachian thriller directed by Chloe Zhao. Insiders compare his trajectory to a young Matthew McConaughey.
2. Thuso Mbedu – Bridging Hollywood and Nollywood
- Why Watch Her: The South African star of The Woman King (2022) is teaming with Moonlight’s Barry Jenkins for Mami Wata, a mystical West African epic.
- 2025 Spotlight: Rumored for a Black Panther spin-off, Mbedu’s poised to become a Pan-African icon.
3. Froy Gutierrez – Teen Idol Turned Auteur
- Why Watch Him: The Teen Wolf alum’s directorial debut, Ghost Light (2024), a meta horror flick, won raves at TIFF.
- 2025 Spotlight: He’s writing a coming-of-age series for A24, blending Gen Z humor with ’90s nostalgia.
Music: Viral Sensations Turning Industry Game-Changers
Streaming’s democratizing power is fueling meteoric rises.
1. Tyla – Afrobeats’ Global Ambassador
- Why Watch Her: Her 2023 hit Water topped charts in 15 countries, merging amapiano beats with R&B.
- 2025 Spotlight: Collaborations with Burna Boy and a Coachella slot could cement her as Africa’s next export.
2. Chappell Roan – Pop’s Theatrical Maverick
- Why Watch Her: Roan’s Midwest Princess album (2023) blends campy visuals with LGBTQ+ anthems, amassing 500M TikTok streams.
- 2025 Spotlight: Her Pink Pony Club tour sold out in minutes, hinting at a Lady Gaga-esque reign.
3. D4vd – Bedroom Producer Turned Chart-Topper
- Why Watch Him: The former Fortnite streamer’s lo-fi ballad Romantic Homicide went viral in 2022.
- 2025 Spotlight: His major-label debut, Petals to Thorns, features a collab with Lana Del Rey—a Gen Z meets indie icon dream.
Sports: Young Athletes Rewriting the Record Books
From courts to fields, these players are changing the game.
1. JuJu Watkins – Basketball’s Phenom
- Why Watch Her: The USC freshman averaged 27 PPG in 2024, drawing comparisons to Diana Taurasi.
- 2025 Spotlight: Expected to lead Team USA’s 3×3 basketball at the Paris Olympics—at just 19.
2. Warren Zaire-Emery – Soccer’s Teen Prodigy
- Why Watch Him: At 17, he became PSG’s youngest-ever captain, with a €100M release clause.
- 2025 Spotlight: Euro 2024 could be his global breakout, with Real Madrid circling.
3. Olivia Dunne – Gymnastics’ Social Media MVP
- Why Watch Her: The LSU star’s TikTok following (12M+) boosted NCAA gymnastics viewership by 40%.
- 2025 Spotlight: Post-NIL deals, she’s launching a women’s sports app, Flip the Script.
Digital Creators: The Innovators Redefining Online Fame
Beyond viral dances—these creators are building empires.
1. Ryan Trahan – YouTube’s Philanthropic Adventurer
- Why Watch Him: His Penny Series raised $10M for food banks.
- 2025 Spotlight: A docuseries with National Geographic will explore global hunger crises.
2. Katie Feeney – Snapchat’s Queen of Authenticity
- Why Watch Her: With 25M+ followers, her college-life vlogs defy overly curated influencer culture.
- 2025 Spotlight: Teaming with Meta to develop AI tools for content creators.
3. Draven Rodriguez – Twitch’s Inclusive Gamer
- Why Watch Him: The deaf streamer’s Silent Squad community champions accessibility in gaming.
- 2025 Spotlight: Partnering with Xbox on adaptive controller tech.
Global Wildcards: International Talents Breaking Borders
1. Iman Vellani – Marvel’s Pakistani-Canadian Trailblazer
- Why Watch Her: Ms. Marvel’s critical acclaim led to The Marvels (2023).
- 2025 Spotlight: Headlining Young Avengers—Marvel’s push for Gen Z diversity.
2. Lee Do-hyun – K-Drama’s Next Leading Man
- Why Watch Him: The Glory (2023) made him a household name; his 2024 rom-com Love in Bali broke Netflix K-drama records.
- 2025 Spotlight: Rumored for a Bong Joon-ho film, crossing into global cinema.
Why 2025 Will Be Their Year
From Tyla’s genre-blurring beats to Warren Zaire-Emery’s soccer genius, these rising stars embody the future of entertainment and athletics. They’re not just chasing fame—they’re redefining it, armed with authenticity and digital savvy. Keep these names on your radar; by this time next year, they’ll be everywhere.
