The entertainment industry is undergoing a generational shift, defined by a new wave of performers who are redefining stardom across major television networks, streaming platforms, and international cinema. Released on September 18, 2026, ELLE’s annual Hollywood Rising portfolio has officially introduced its Class of 2026, highlighting a diverse group of actors poised to dominate the cultural landscape. The newly unveiled roster features Chloe Bennet, Sophie Wilde, Xochitl Gomez, Tom Francis, Toheeb Jimoh, Esmé Creed-Miles, and Teddie Allen. Each of these artists is stepping into career-defining projects, ranging from high-profile prestige television to major studio features directed by acclaimed auteurs.
This year’s portfolio arrives at a pivotal moment for the entertainment ecosystem. As traditional broadcast models continue to merge with global streaming conglomerates, casting strategies have increasingly prioritized international backgrounds, theatrical versatility, and cultural authenticity. The 2026 class reflects this evolution, bringing together talent from varied cultural and professional lineages—from West End stages and Marvel cinematic universes to breakout roles in independent cinema and international productions.
Main Facts and Roster Highlights
The 2026 Hollywood Rising class brings together seven distinct talents, each anchoring major upcoming projects that have generated substantial industry buzz ahead of their releases.
Chloe Bennet is entering a major new phase of her career as she prepares to check into the highly anticipated fourth season of HBO’s critically acclaimed satire anthology, The White Lotus. Bennet, widely recognized for her foundational television work in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, reflects on the cultural gravity of joining a franchise known for capturing the contemporary zeitgeist. Beyond her upcoming HBO debut, Bennet remains vocal about her legacy as Daisy Johnson in Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., a landmark series that marked the MCU’s expansion into television.
Sophie Wilde, an emerging force in contemporary cinema following her breakout success in the psychological horror hit Talk to Me, is cementing her status as an A24 and studio favorite. Wilde is set to star opposite Tom Cruise in Academy Award-winning director Alejandro González Iñárritu’s highly anticipated upcoming feature, Digger. Wilde has frequently noted that pursuing acting has been a lifelong vocation, tracing her ambitions back to her earliest memories.
Xochitl Gomez continues to expand her cinematic footprint following her breakout role in Marvel’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and her victory on Dancing with the Stars. Gomez is pivoting toward animation by joining the voice cast of the Dr. Seuss universe adaptation The Cat in the Hat, starring alongside Bill Hader and America Ferrera. Gomez’s career has been characterized by high-profile studio projects accompanied by navigating intense public scrutiny at a young age.
Toheeb Jimoh, an Emmy nominee globally recognized for his beloved portrayal of Sam Obisanya in Apple TV+’s Ted Lasso, is transitioning into sophisticated dramatic roles. Jimoh stars in Clarissa, a contemporary, Lagos-set adaptation of Virginia Woolf’s classic novel Mrs. Dalloway. The project represents a milestone in international co-productions, having filmed on location in West Africa to capture authentic cultural nuances.
Tom Francis is making a major leap from the West End stage—where he earned critical acclaim and a Tony nomination—into feature films. Francis stars in Peter Berg’s military drama The Mosquito Bowl, alongside a robust ensemble cast. His physical transformation and intense training for the role underscore the rigorous demands being placed on modern stage actors transitioning to action-heavy studio features.
Esmé Creed-Miles, recognized for her starring role in Amazon’s television adaptation of Hanna, is continuing to build a diverse resume. Creed-Miles takes on the classic literary role of Marianne Dashwood in an adaptation of Sense and Sensibility, showcasing her range from guarded physical action to emotive classical drama.
Teddie Allen rounds out the class as a breakout star of the gritty crime drama MobLand. Working alongside heavyweight veterans such as Tom Hardy, Pierce Brosnan, and Helen Mirren, Allen has quickly transitioned from balancing standard service industry work with early auditions to commanding the screen in high-end television.
Chronology and Career Trajectories
The pathways of the Hollywood Rising Class of 2026 illustrate the shifting timelines of modern celebrity development. Unlike previous decades where young actors typically spent years in minor television guest roles before securing studio recognition, today’s talent often experiences rapid elevation through streaming algorithms, global fandoms, and prestige platforms.
Chloe Bennet’s career trajectory spans over a decade, beginning with her historic work on the foundational Marvel television series that ran for over 130 episodes. Her transition to prestige cable via The White Lotus represents a strategic pivot toward auteur-driven television. Similarly, Toheeb Jimoh leveraged the global platform of Ted Lasso to spearhead localized international narratives like Clarissa, demonstrating how streaming success can fund culturally specific storytelling.
For younger honorees like Xochitl Gomez and Teddie Allen, the timeline has been compressed by the demands of instant digital exposure. Gomez entered the global consciousness as a teenager in major superhero cinema before transitioning to competitive reality television and independent creative ventures, such as her apparel collaborations with Hot Topic. Allen’s rapid ascension into MobLand—moving directly from waitressing to sharing scenes with cinematic icons—highlights the unpredictable nature of contemporary talent scouting.
Supporting Data and Industry Context
The entertainment landscape of 2026 reflects a growing demand for authentic representation and cross-cultural narratives. Projects like Clarissa, which filmed entirely on location in Nigeria, signal a broader industry shift away from soundstage simulations toward authentic geographic production. According to industry analyses, shooting on location in emerging cinematic hubs like Nollywood not only provides cultural accuracy but also leverages established local infrastructure to optimize production value.
Furthermore, physical and psychological preparation for roles has intensified. Actors such as Tom Francis report enduring months of rigorous multi-hour military and athletic training regimens for features like The Mosquito Bowl, mirroring the physical commitment typically reserved for elite stunt performers. This dedication aligns with audience expectations for realism in contemporary war dramas and action features.
Official Responses and Personal Reflections
The Hollywood Rising portfolio provides a rare glimpse into the internal philosophies of actors navigating early-to-mid career milestones. Several honorees have used the platform to address the structural challenges of the industry, ranging from identity representation to public privacy.
Discussing her mixed heritage, Chloe Bennet has remained candid about the psychological complexities of being a white-passing woman of color in Hollywood, noting the industry’s historical biases regarding racial proximity and professional worth. In a similar vein, Toheeb Jimoh has emphasized the importance of embracing his Nigerian heritage rather than suppressing it, noting that cultural specificity has become an asset rather than a barrier to mainstream casting.
Xochitl Gomez addressed the darker side of modern fandom, opening up about the severe online harassment and cyberbullying she faced following her entry into major franchise filmmaking at age 14. Rather than succumbing to public pressure, Gomez instituted strict boundary-setting measures regarding her social media presence and personal safety, eventually relocating to Spain to cultivate a more secure living environment outside the hyper-accelerated culture of Los Angeles.
Broader Impact and Industry Implications
The curation of the ELLE Hollywood Rising 2026 portfolio offers valuable insight into the future direction of film and television. As streaming platforms face pressure to deliver sustainable profitability, studios are increasingly relying on actors who possess both international appeal and critical credibility.
The inclusion of theater-trained actors like Tom Francis and Esmé Creed-Miles alongside internet-era breakout stars indicates that casting directors continue to value classical discipline fused with modern screen presence. As these seven artists deploy their talents across upcoming theatrical releases, prestige limited series, and international co-productions, their collective trajectory will likely set the benchmark for Hollywood stardom for the remainder of the decade.
