2011 Summer Stars to Watch

From Jennifer Lawrence (X-Men: First Class) to Chris Evans (Captain America: The First Avenger), we bring you this summer's stars to watch.

By Elisa Osegueda
Justin Timberlake

Justin Timberlake nailed his role as Sean Parker in The Social Network. Now the hottie is making things even more interesting this summer with sexy and more relatable characters. He reunites with his ex-Cameron Diaz in Bad Teacher and steams things up with Mila Kunis in Friends With Benefits. As if two films weren’t enough, Timberlake will also be rubbing shoulders with Olivia Wilde, Amanda Seyfried and Alex Pettyfer in In Time.
Justin Timberlake

Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis in Friends With Benefits.
Elle Fanning

Elle Fanning recently stole our hearts in Sofia Coppola’s film Somewhere, and she’s headed back to the big screen in Steven Spielberg’s sci-fi thriller Super 8. She'll also be working with another film giant, Francis Ford Coppola, in Twixt Now and Sunrise.
Jessica Chastain

She seems to be everywhere, now-and-days, from Terrence Malick’s Tree of Life to co-starring with Sam Worthington in The Debt, Jessica Chastain is one star to keep your eyes on. This Juilliard drama major began performing at a young age and she seems to be working at full steam with over seven projects hitting theaters in the next two years. If you’ve seen Tree of Life keep an eye out for Chastain’s performances in The Help and The Debt.
Jessica Chastain

Jessica Chastain and Brad Pitt in Tree of Life.
James McAvoy

There’s no bigger role this summer than Charles Xavier, and James McAvoy was just the man to bring this comic book figure back to life. The much anticipated X-Men: First Class is one of many projects McAvoy is doing. He's back at work on two other films, an animated children’s movie and Welcome to the Punch with Mark Strong. Expect this summer star to continue to charm us in years to come.
Jennifer Lawrence

Academy Award nominee Jennifer Lawrence became a household name after receiving a Best Supporting Actress nomination for Winter’s Bone. It didn’t take long for major film studios to notice the young talent. She recently worked with Jodi Foster in The Beaver and is now co-starring in X-Men: First Class as Raven. All seems to be going great for Lawrence, who just recently landed the coveted lead role in The Hunger Games.
Rose Byrne

This Aussie started working in films at age 15 and since then has managed to become a TV and film sensation. She graces the big screen this summer in two mega movies Bridesmaids and X-Men: First Class.
Rose Byrne, Nicholas Hoult, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Lucas Till, Jennifer Lawrence and Caleb Landry Jones in X-Men: First Class.

Jesse Eisenberg

Jesse Eisenberg became the cutest geeky boy in Hollywood after his Oscar nominated performance in The Social Network. He left the drama behind to exercise his comedic acting chops in 30 Minutes or Less with Danny McBride and Aziz Ansari. Eisenberg will also be co-starring in Woody Allen’s next film Bop Decameron with Penelope Cruz, Ellen Page and Alec Baldwin.

Anton Yelchin

Anthony Hopkins, Robin Williams and recently Mel Gibson are just a few of the major stars Anton Yelchin has worked with. Yelchin’s latest film, Fright Night, is sure to take you on a creepy-scary ride with Colin Farrell playing a deadly vampire. The young star is currently working on a string of projects including the Untitled Star Trek Sequel scheduled for summer 2012.

Anton Yelchin

Anton Yelchin in Fright Night.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

This Victoria’s Secret model is one heavenly angel, turning heads and leaving most male moviegoers anxious for her acting debut in Transformers: Dark of the Moon. Who needs Megan Fox when you can have a true VS bombshell?

Olivia Wilde

She kicked butt last fall in Tron: Legacy and now this NYC native is back for more action. Olivia Wilde is set to co-star with Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford in the much anticipated sci-fi, action film Cowboys & Aliens in theaters July 29. The beauty will also be stirring up a few laughs with Jason Bateman and Ryan Reynolds in The Change-Up from the director of Wedding Crashers.

Olivia Wilde

Olivia Wilde and Daniel Craig in Cowboys & Aliens.

Ana de la Reguerra

Mexican soap opera superstar Ana de la Reguera is cunningly making her way up the ranks in Hollywood. Next up is her supporting role alongside Olivia Wilde in Jon Favreau’s film Cowboys & Aliens.

Zoe Saldana

From starring roles to cameos to endorsements, everyone wants a piece of Zoe Saldana. She stars this summer in Colombiana, her first role as a Latina in a major picture. In it, she plays Cat, a young woman who witnessed her parents' murder as a child in Bogota, and who then grows up to be a stone-cold assassin. Saldana will also be returning as Nyota Uhura in the Star Trek sequel.

Zoe Saldana

Zoe Saldana in Colombiana.

Chris Evans

You might remember this Massachusetts boy from such projects as Fantastic 4, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and The Losers, but consider them a thing of the past as Evans takes a big step forward as Steve Rogers/Captain American in Captain America: The First Avenger. Marvel fans are anxiously waiting for its release and Evans is sure to deliver. He’s currently filming The Avengers due out next year.

Chris Evans as Captain America.

Sam Worthington

Sam Worthington is probably one of the busiest stars in Hollywood with multiple projects coming out each year. He’ll be treating us this summer with a spy thriller starring Helen Mirren and Jessica Chastain. But expect many more projects with Worthington to hit the big screen this year including Last Night with Eva Mendez and Keira Knightley.

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2011 Summer Movie Preview