The Next A-List: Stars on the Verge

These celebs are about to blow up.

John Boyega - After his debut performance as tough teen Moses in Attack the Block, the British-Nigerian actor has caught the attention of every major director in Hollywood. Eventually, it's Spike Lee that got him for his upcoming HBO series Da Brick, in which Boyega stars as a character loosely based on Mike Tyson.  (Photo: Samir Hussein/Getty Images)

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John Boyega - After his debut performance as tough teen Moses in Attack the Block, the British-Nigerian actor has caught the attention of every major director in Hollywood. Eventually, it's Spike Lee that got him for his upcoming HBO series Da Brick, in which Boyega stars as a character loosely based on Mike Tyson.  (Photo: Samir Hussein/Getty Images)

Zoe Kravitz - Zoe Kravitz has all the makings of a star. The 22-year-old daughter of musician Lenny Kravitz and actress Lisa Bonet has quietly been racking up both indie cred with festival films like Yelling to the Sky and Birds of America. In addition, she is demonstrating blockbuster potential by taking smaller parts in big films like X-Men: First Class.(Photo: Scott Gries/PictureGroup)

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Zoe Kravitz - Zoe Kravitz has all the makings of a star. The 22-year-old daughter of musician Lenny Kravitz and actress Lisa Bonet has quietly been racking up both indie cred with festival films like Yelling to the Sky and Birds of America. In addition, she is demonstrating blockbuster potential by taking smaller parts in big films like X-Men: First Class.(Photo: Scott Gries/PictureGroup)

Kevin Hart - Comedian Kevin Hart has been building a film career by playing wingman to A-list funnymen like Eddie Murphy, Steve Carrell and Ben Stiller. However, with the unexpected success of his concert documentary Laugh at My Pain, Hart proved that he can bring in audiences, too. Up next for the actor and comedian, the star-studded adaptation of Steve Harvey's advice book Think Like a Man. (Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

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Kevin Hart - Comedian Kevin Hart has been building a film career by playing wingman to A-list funnymen like Eddie Murphy, Steve Carrell and Ben Stiller. However, with the unexpected success of his concert documentary Laugh at My Pain, Hart proved that he can bring in audiences, too. Up next for the actor and comedian, the star-studded adaptation of Steve Harvey's advice book Think Like a Man. (Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

Adewale Akinnaye-Agbaje - Can't pronounce his name? That's okay. Adewale Akinnaye-Agbaje tends to let his muscles do the talking. The strapping British actor has starred in action films like GI Joe: The Rise of the Cobra and Killer Elite. Next year, he'll get to use his accent, not his biceps, as the voice of a parrot in the animated film Pirates! Band of Misfits. (Photo: PNP/ WENN.com)

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Adewale Akinnaye-Agbaje - Can't pronounce his name? That's okay. Adewale Akinnaye-Agbaje tends to let his muscles do the talking. The strapping British actor has starred in action films like GI Joe: The Rise of the Cobra and Killer Elite. Next year, he'll get to use his accent, not his biceps, as the voice of a parrot in the animated film Pirates! Band of Misfits. (Photo: PNP/ WENN.com)

Anthony Mackie - After stealing scenes as a supporting actor in high-profile films like Real Steel, The Adjustment Bureau and The Hurt Locker, Mackie is poised for leading man status with above-the-title roles in upcoming prison drama Liberty Lane and a biopic of athlete Jesse Owens, which Mackie is also producing. (Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards)

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Anthony Mackie - After stealing scenes as a supporting actor in high-profile films like Real Steel, The Adjustment Bureau and The Hurt Locker, Mackie is poised for leading man status with above-the-title roles in upcoming prison drama Liberty Lane and a biopic of athlete Jesse Owens, which Mackie is also producing. (Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards)

Photo By Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards

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Mehcad Brooks - After making a name for himself in the world of television (he did stints on Desperate Housewives and True Blood) Mehcad Brooks is ready to do the same on the big screen — and behind the scenes. Next year he'll star in X Files creator Chris Carter's film Fencewalker and try his hand at directing for the first time on the indie feature The Wolf.  (Photo: Fame Pictures)

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Mehcad Brooks - After making a name for himself in the world of television (he did stints on Desperate Housewives and True Blood) Mehcad Brooks is ready to do the same on the big screen — and behind the scenes. Next year he'll star in X Files creator Chris Carter's film Fencewalker and try his hand at directing for the first time on the indie feature The Wolf.  (Photo: Fame Pictures)

Photo By Photo: Fame Pictures

Amber Riley - After getting rejected from both American Idol and Dreamgirls, Amber Riley got her big breakthrough as scene-stealer Mercedes Jones on Glee. Now, the 25-year-old Los Angeles native is working on a solo album and various philanthropic endeavors, all while maintaining her day job. (Photo: Kevin Winters/Getty Images)

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Amber Riley - After getting rejected from both American Idol and Dreamgirls, Amber Riley got her big breakthrough as scene-stealer Mercedes Jones on Glee. Now, the 25-year-old Los Angeles native is working on a solo album and various philanthropic endeavors, all while maintaining her day job. (Photo: Kevin Winters/Getty Images)

Evan Ross - Don't let his famous DNA fool you (his mother is legendary soul singer Diana Ross), this industry scion works hard for his paper. The 23-year-old skipped the studio offers in favor of working the indie film circuit. Upcoming projects include the Tracey Edmonds produced Four to the Floor, and festival favorite 96 Minutes. (Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

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Evan Ross - Don't let his famous DNA fool you (his mother is legendary soul singer Diana Ross), this industry scion works hard for his paper. The 23-year-old skipped the studio offers in favor of working the indie film circuit. Upcoming projects include the Tracey Edmonds produced Four to the Floor, and festival favorite 96 Minutes. (Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

Rutina Wesley - Three seasons on HBO's True Blood has made Rutina Wesley a household name, but landing the coveted lead role as real-life heroine Immaculee Ilibagiaza in next year's Rwanda-based drama Left to Tell could snag her an Oscar.(Photo: Donna Ward/Getty Images)

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Rutina Wesley - Three seasons on HBO's True Blood has made Rutina Wesley a household name, but landing the coveted lead role as real-life heroine Immaculee Ilibagiaza in next year's Rwanda-based drama Left to Tell could snag her an Oscar.(Photo: Donna Ward/Getty Images)

Erica Hubbard - For the star of Lincoln Heights,The Replacements and now BET's first scripted show Let's Stay Together, the line between success and struggle was always a very thin one. The actress, who grew up in one of Chicago's tough Southside neighborhoods, started the Erica Hubbard Foundation to motivate at-risk inner city kids. "It's important for me to tell these kids, 'You can be a success story.' Look at me," she told Essence. (Photo: Nikki Nelson / WENN.com)

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Erica Hubbard - For the star of Lincoln Heights,The Replacements and now BET's first scripted show Let's Stay Together, the line between success and struggle was always a very thin one. The actress, who grew up in one of Chicago's tough Southside neighborhoods, started the Erica Hubbard Foundation to motivate at-risk inner city kids. "It's important for me to tell these kids, 'You can be a success story.' Look at me," she told Essence. (Photo: Nikki Nelson / WENN.com)

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Kali Hawk - Kali Hawk has the enviable combination of good looks and pitch-perfect comedic timing. After small parts in Couples Retreat and Bridesmaids, Hawk is ready to become a big fish with We the Peeples, opposite Kerry Washington and Ana Gasteyer, and Let Go with Kevin Hart. (Photo: David Livingston/Getty Images)

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Kali Hawk - Kali Hawk has the enviable combination of good looks and pitch-perfect comedic timing. After small parts in Couples Retreat and Bridesmaids, Hawk is ready to become a big fish with We the Peeples, opposite Kerry Washington and Ana Gasteyer, and Let Go with Kevin Hart. (Photo: David Livingston/Getty Images)

Jurnee Smollett - Jurnee Smollett first made waves in her breakthrough performance in 1996's Eve's Bayou. After a detour into television (Friday Night Lights, The Defenders), Smollett is rumored to be returning to the big screen in Tyler Perry's upcoming The Marriage Counselor and as Florence Ballard in Blondie: The Florence Ballard Story, also starring Solange Knowles. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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Jurnee Smollett - Jurnee Smollett first made waves in her breakthrough performance in 1996's Eve's Bayou. After a detour into television (Friday Night Lights, The Defenders), Smollett is rumored to be returning to the big screen in Tyler Perry's upcoming The Marriage Counselor and as Florence Ballard in Blondie: The Florence Ballard Story, also starring Solange Knowles. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Michael B. Jordan - California native Michael B. Jordan has done stints on some of televisions best and longest-running shows, including The Wire, Friday Night Lights and All My Children. This year, he'll move out of his comfort zone as part of the ensemble cast of Red Tails, director George Lucas's epic big-screen drama about the Tuskegee airmen, and a leading role in horror-science fiction flick Chronicle. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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Michael B. Jordan - California native Michael B. Jordan has done stints on some of televisions best and longest-running shows, including The Wire, Friday Night Lights and All My Children. This year, he'll move out of his comfort zone as part of the ensemble cast of Red Tails, director George Lucas's epic big-screen drama about the Tuskegee airmen, and a leading role in horror-science fiction flick Chronicle. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Chiwetel Ejiofor - A favorite of directors like Steven Spielberg and Woody Allen, Chiwetel Ejiofor often snags the roles much bigger actors are dying to play. Up next, Oscar buzz for his roles in a pair of upcoming Steve McQueen films: Twelve Years a Slave and the title role in Fela, the story of Fela Kuti.(Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

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Chiwetel Ejiofor - A favorite of directors like Steven Spielberg and Woody Allen, Chiwetel Ejiofor often snags the roles much bigger actors are dying to play. Up next, Oscar buzz for his roles in a pair of upcoming Steve McQueen films: Twelve Years a Slave and the title role in Fela, the story of Fela Kuti.(Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Yaya DaCosta - After losing to Eva Pigford on Cycle 3 of America's Next Top Model, Yaya DaCosta auditioned her way into a highly credible big-screen career, appearing in such films as The Messenger, the Oscar-nominated The Kids Are All Right and TRON: Legacy. Next, she stars opposite Brendan Fraser in Whole Lotta Sole and Justin Timberlake in In Time. Not a bad consolation prize, huh? (Photo: Andy Kropa/Getty Images)

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Yaya DaCosta - After losing to Eva Pigford on Cycle 3 of America's Next Top Model, Yaya DaCosta auditioned her way into a highly credible big-screen career, appearing in such films as The Messenger, the Oscar-nominated The Kids Are All Right and TRON: Legacy. Next, she stars opposite Brendan Fraser in Whole Lotta Sole and Justin Timberlake in In Time. Not a bad consolation prize, huh? (Photo: Andy Kropa/Getty Images)