The actor Steven Soderbergh called the next great movie star: “Everybody’s chasing him”
Steven Soderbergh knows a thing or two about movie stars. He’s worked with plenty of them across his illustrious filmmaking career and has had a hand in making some too. George Clooney helped establish himself as a leading man with his performance in Out of Sight, whilst Julia Roberts proved she could take on a ‘serious’ part when she played the title role in Erin Brockovich.
The difference between an ‘actor’ and a ‘movie star’ has long been the subject of debate without film-loving circles. The two definitions require completely different skill sets; just because you’ve read your Stanislavski, doesn’t mean you can pack an audience into a multiplex to justify a $200 million budget. According to Soderbergh, the requirements needed for the latter aren’t what they used to be.
“It’s interesting to think about how you make a movie star now, because movies aren’t the same as they were 25 years ago,” the director told Men’s Health. “Leading men, or people who become stars, do so by getting opportunities and making good on them. A lot of the conversation now, if you talk to filmmakers in terms of casting, is using people who have already established themselves and who everybody’s chasing.” But who could possibly fit such a demanding description? Soderbergh figures he has the answer.
“It would appear Timothée Chalamet is a movie star,” he announced. “This guy can make movies hits, and they’re a wide range of movies. So, everybody’s chasing him. I don’t know him, but he seems to be making interesting choices. Even the stuff he’s got coming up sounds and looks interesting. He seems to be pretty savvy about finding things that allow him to build out a range that people will accept, which is smart.”
This interview was published in early 2025. The previous year, Chalamet had only starred in two movies, but what a pair they were. The first was Dune: Part Two, the second in Denis Villeneuve’s opulent worship at the feet of Frank Herbert. His performance as Paul Atreides, who undergoes a significant character shift in this sequel, was roundly praised, silencing a lot of critics who had initially deemed him unworthy of such a titanic role. Timmy’s second role was as Bob Dylan in the biopic A Complete Unknown. He won further praise for his portrayal of the iconic singer, won a SAG Award, and was nominated for ‘Best Actor’ at the Oscars. Both of the aforementioned films featured in the ‘Best Picture’ category at the same event.
Chalamet’s 2024 is the perfect summary of what Soderbergh was talking about. Here we have two very different movies that both had the young actor at the helm and both turned out to be major successes in their own way. Whilst it would be unfair to attribute all of that to just Chalamet’s involvement, his ability to pick a project with potential and see that potential through to the end must be admired. His next project, Marty Supreme, is already gathering significant buzz.
Soderbergh clearly has an eye for talent in the movie business and his endorsement of Chalamet is yet another indicator that there are big things in his future. The two have yet to do a movie together, but given one’s feelings about the other, expect to see one announced in the near future.
