10 Rising Actors to Watch in 2027: New Faces in Movies and TV
The rising actors to watch in 2027 include young performers joining major film franchises, taking leading television roles and gaining recognition through recent screen performances. David McKenna, Beatrice Campbell and Bo Bragason have particularly clear connections to 2027 through confirmed upcoming films.
Other names, including Jake Connelly, Lox Pratt and Alfie Williams, have already appeared in widely recognized productions. Their next career moves are worth following, although not every actor on this list has a confirmed project scheduled for 2027.
Here are ten emerging actors whose verified film and television work makes them worth knowing.
| Actor | Notable movies or TV shows |
|---|---|
| Cal O’Driscoll | Peaky Blinders, Video Nasty |
| David McKenna | Lord of the Flies, Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew |
| Beatrice Campbell | Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew, The Phoenician Scheme |
| Jake Connelly | Stranger Things Season 5 |
| Bo Bragason | The Legend of Zelda, The Jetty, King & Conqueror |
| Lox Pratt | Harry Potter, Lord of the Flies |
| Alice Halsey | Little House on the Prairie, Lessons in Chemistry |
| Alfie Williams | 28 Years Later, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple |
| Mitchell Robertson | Half Man, Mayflies, Curfew |
| Sebastian Sero | Anaconda (2025) |
Rising actors to watch in 2027: How these ten were selected
This list focuses on actors whose recent performances or confirmed casting announcements provide a reason to follow their careers. Some have already played substantial roles, while others are preparing to appear in productions with established international audiences.
The selection considers acting credits, the importance of confirmed roles and upcoming releases. It is an editorial shortlist rather than an official industry ranking, and inclusion does not mean an actor is guaranteed future commercial or critical success.
1. Cal O’Driscoll joins the new Peaky Blinders series
Irish actor Cal O’Driscoll has joined the cast of the new Peaky Blinders television series as Aidan Keeler. His character is the son of Clemmy Keeler, played by Conleth Hill, whose gangster family becomes involved in the struggle for influence in Birmingham.
The casting places O’Driscoll within an established British crime-drama franchise. He previously appeared in Video Nasty, an Irish comedy-horror series, and has built additional experience through other film and television productions.
In its official casting announcement, production company Banijay identified Aidan as part of the Keeler family. The character’s connection to a rival criminal organization gives O’Driscoll a specific place in the new storyline.
Although a 2027 premiere date was not confirmed in the reviewed announcement, his involvement makes the series an important development to follow in his acting career.
2. David McKenna takes on Lord of the Flies and Narnia
David McKenna is a young Northern Irish actor known for portraying Piggy in Lord of the Flies. He has also been cast as Digory Kirke in Greta Gerwig’s upcoming film Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew.
His two major roles come from literary works with very different stories. Piggy is a central character trying to maintain reason and order among stranded schoolboys, while Digory becomes involved in the events surrounding the creation of Narnia.
During an interview published by Netflix, McKenna discussed learning to make his performance more natural for the camera. His comments provide some insight into his transition from earlier performance experience to screen acting.
Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew is scheduled for theatrical release on February 12, 2027, followed by Netflix streaming on April 2, 2027. McKenna’s leading role in that adaptation is one of the strongest reasons to follow his career during the coming year.
3. Beatrice Campbell plays Polly Plummer in Narnia
Beatrice Campbell will portray Polly Plummer in Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew, appearing opposite David McKenna as Digory Kirke. The characters are two young friends whose adventures introduce them to other worlds and eventually to Narnia itself.
The film is written and directed by Greta Gerwig and features an established supporting cast, including Daniel Craig, Emma Mackey and Carey Mulligan. Campbell’s role places her among the main characters rather than in a minor background appearance.
Before Narnia, Campbell appeared in the 2025 film The Phoenician Scheme and the television drama The Stolen Girl. Those credits provide some earlier context for a career that is now moving toward a major fantasy production.
Netflix confirmed Campbell and McKenna as the young leads in its October 2026 announcement. With the film scheduled for 2027, Campbell is among the newcomers whose next performance already has a confirmed release window.
4. Jake Connelly gains attention as Derek Turnbow in Stranger Things
Jake Connelly joined the fifth and final season of Netflix’s Stranger Things as Derek Turnbow. The character initially appears as a school bully but becomes more involved in the story as the season progresses.
Connelly had limited professional screen experience before joining the series. His casting gave him an opportunity to work within a large television production and alongside performers who had already spent several seasons developing their characters.
Series co-creator Matt Duffer explained in a Netflix interview that Derek was originally conceived as a more conventional bully. Connelly’s performance persuaded the creative team to expand the character’s involvement.
Stranger Things introduced Connelly to a substantial international audience in 2025. His next confirmed acting project remains a separate question, but Derek Turnbow gives viewers a clear starting point for following his career.
5. Bo Bragason will play Princess Zelda in The Legend of Zelda
British actress Bo Bragason has been cast as Princess Zelda in the live-action film adaptation of The Legend of Zelda. Benjamin Evan Ainsworth will portray Link, while Wes Ball is directing the production.
Bragason already has several television credits, including The Jetty, Renegade Nell and King & Conqueror. In The Jetty, she played Amy Knightly, while King & Conqueror featured her as Queen Gunhild.
Her previous roles have involved different genres and production styles. Playing Zelda now introduces her to a film based on one of Nintendo’s most established entertainment properties, with an international theatrical release planned.
According to Nintendo’s September 8, 2026 announcement, The Legend of Zelda is scheduled to arrive in theaters worldwide on April 30, 2027. The date replaces an earlier May 2027 schedule reported by some outlets.
Among the actors on this list, Bragason has one of the clearest upcoming opportunities because both her character and the film’s planned release date have been officially announced.
6. Lox Pratt plays Draco Malfoy and Jack in major TV adaptations
Lox Pratt has been cast as Draco Malfoy in HBO’s Harry Potter television series. He also portrays Jack in the 2026 adaptation of William Golding’s Lord of the Flies.
Both roles involve characters who come into conflict with the central protagonists, although their personalities and circumstances differ. Jack becomes increasingly concerned with power and control, while Draco enters Harry Potter as a student shaped by family expectations and school rivalries.
In Lord of the Flies, Pratt appears alongside David McKenna, who plays Piggy. The series gives both young actors experience in a story centered on shifting relationships and conflicts among children isolated from adult society.
Warner Bros. confirmed Pratt’s casting as Draco Malfoy alongside Johnny Flynn as Lucius Malfoy. HBO subsequently announced a Christmas 2026 debut for the first season, titled Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
Pratt’s performances in these two literary adaptations offer audiences an opportunity to compare how he approaches characters with different motivations as his television career develops into 2027.
7. Alice Halsey leads Netflix’s Little House on the Prairie
Alice Halsey portrays Laura Ingalls in Netflix’s adaptation of Little House on the Prairie. The series is based on Laura Ingalls Wilder’s books and follows the Ingalls family as they attempt to build a life on the American frontier.
The role gives Halsey substantial responsibility within a family-centered television drama. Her earlier screen credits include Lessons in Chemistry and Days of Our Lives, but playing Laura places her at the center of a multi-season adaptation.
Netflix released the first season in July 2026 and renewed the series before its premiere. The production also explores the experiences of Indigenous communities affected by westward settlement, extending the story beyond the Ingalls family’s perspective.
In an October 9, 2026 update, Netflix confirmed that filming on Season 2 had finished. The streamer had not announced a premiere date for the second season at that time.
Halsey’s continuing role as Laura provides a concrete reason to follow the series, even though its next release date remains unconfirmed.
8. Alfie Williams continues Spike’s story in 28 Years Later
Alfie Williams plays Spike in 28 Years Later and its follow-up, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. The character is a young survivor living in a Britain transformed by the Rage Virus outbreak.
The first film follows Spike as he ventures beyond his isolated community and encounters the dangers of the mainland. His experiences continue in The Bone Temple, where he becomes involved with another group of survivors.
Williams appears alongside performers including Ralph Fiennes and Jack O’Connell. His role requires him to carry significant parts of the story while working within a horror franchise that combines personal drama with large-scale action.
Sony Pictures confirms that Williams returns as Spike in The Bone Temple, directed by Nia DaCosta. The film was released in 2026, following 28 Years Later in 2025.
These two credits establish Williams as a young actor with experience in prominent theatrical films. His inclusion among the actors to watch in 2027 reflects those recent performances, not a claim that another sequel featuring him has already been confirmed.
9. Mitchell Robertson portrays young Niall in Half Man
Scottish actor Mitchell Robertson portrays the younger version of Niall in Half Man, the BBC and HBO drama created by Richard Gadd. Jamie Bell plays Niall in the later period of the story, while Stuart Campbell portrays the younger Ruben.
The six-part drama follows Niall and Ruben across several decades, examining how their early experiences influence their relationship as adults. Robertson’s scenes establish important parts of Niall’s background before the character reaches the period portrayed by Bell.
Robertson previously appeared in Mayflies and Curfew, along with other British television productions. Those roles gave him experience before joining a drama built around complex relationships and events unfolding across different time periods.
Banijay’s official production announcement identifies Robertson as young Niall. Half Man premiered in 2026, and the role has become one of the most substantial credits in his television career.
Although no specific 2027 release was established in the announcements reviewed, Robertson’s work in Half Man gives audiences a performance through which to assess his developing range.
10. Sebastian Sero receives AACTA Young Stars recognition
Australian actor Sebastian Sero appeared as Charlie McCallister in the 2025 film Anaconda. The movie stars Jack Black and Paul Rudd and follows a group of friends whose attempt to recreate a favorite adventure film takes an unexpected turn.
Sero’s role gave him experience in a studio production with established performers. It also provided a screen credit that preceded recognition through an Australian industry initiative for emerging young actors.
In 2026, the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts named Sero as the recipient of its AACTA Young Stars: National Youth Casting Call. The program is designed to connect promising young performers with industry professionals and provide opportunities for professional development.
The official AACTA announcement confirms his selection. This recognition is distinct from winning an AACTA acting award and should be described by its proper name.
Sero remains at an early stage of his screen career. His Anaconda credit and 2026 Young Stars selection provide documented reasons to follow his future work, while any specific 2027 casting announcement will need confirmation before it can be added to his filmography.
