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When Quentin Tarantino predicted the brilliant futures of Hollywood’s most coveted Actors
Released in the summer of 2019, Quentin Tarantino’s ninth film, Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, revisits the rise of New Hollywood. But beyond uniting Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, and Margot Robbie, it also forecasted who would become the next big stars in Hollywood. Indeed, many of the film’s lesser-known actors—Austin Butler, Sydney Sweeney, Mikey Madison, and Margaret Qualley—have since gone on to lead major projects.
Publié le 2 april 2025. Modifié le 4 April 2025.
Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood: A breeding ground for talent
The ninth film from acclaimed director Quentin Tarantino, Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood was one of the standout surprises of 2019. It became his second highest-grossing film after Django Unchained, blending fiction with cinematic history to immerse us in the dawn of New Hollywood in 1969—a time when formerly taboo subjects like sex and violence were finally making their way onto the screen.
While the film rightly drew praise for its star-studded trio (Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, and Margot Robbie as Sharon Tate), it was the presence of several now sought-after actors that left a lasting impression. The film assembled a pool of young talent (Austin Butler, Margaret Qualley, Sydney Sweeney), many of whom portrayed members of Charles Manson’s cult, responsible for the murder of Sharon Tate, wife of Roman Polanski. Since its release in 2019, these emerging stars have been involved in a string of high-profile projects, some ascending to the ranks of Hollywood royalty.
Austin Butler: from Quentin Tarantino to Elvis
Now considered one of the most charismatic rising stars in Hollywood, Austin Butler has seen a steady rise in prominence since 2019. Though his role in Tarantino’s film was relatively minor—he played Tex Watson, one of Manson’s followers—the 33-year-old actor now headlines some of the biggest productions in the industry.
In 2022, he stepped into the shoes of rock’n’roll legend Elvis Presley for Baz Luhrmann. This was a breakthrough role that also paved the way for his appearance alongside Timothée Chalamet in Dune: Part Two. Next, he’ll star opposite Emma Stone in Ari Aster’s upcoming film Eddington, and join Zoë Kravitz and Bad Bunny in Darren Aronofsky’s Caught Stealing..
Sydney Sweeney: one of Hollywood’s most in-demand actresses
After her small role as one of Manson’s cult members in Tarantino’s film, Sydney Sweeney ventured into a wide array of genres. In 2024 alone, the Euphoria star appeared in a Marvel superhero flick (Madame Web), a romantic comedy with Glen Powell (Anyone But You), and a religious horror film (Immaculate).
At just 27, Sweeney is one of the most sought-after actresses in Hollywood. According to The Hollywood Reporter, she ranks alongside Austin Butler as one of the industry’s most coveted talents. She’s slated to appear with Jude Law and Vanessa Kirby in Ron Howard’s Eden, and will star with Amanda Seyfried in the adaptation of the bestselling thriller The Housemaid.
Mikey Madison: from Scream to Anora
Before delivering a breakout performance in Anora—Sean Baker’s Palme d’Or-winning film released on October 30, 2024—Mikey Madison had already made a name for herself playing villains who meet fiery ends. After being torched by Leonardo DiCaprio’s flamethrower in Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, she donned the Ghostface mask in the 2022 reboot of Scream, facing off against Jenna Ortega and Melissa Barrera.
Though she kept a lower profile in recent years, Madison has made a strong comeback in 2024 with her lead role in Anora, where she plays a Brooklyn sex worker engaged to the son of a Russian oligarch. It’s a performance that earned her an Oscar at the March 3, 2025, ceremony.
Margaret Qualley: star of The Substance and muse to Yorgos Lanthimos
Since November 6, 2024, the 30-year-old actress—who previously appeared in Tarantino’s film and the series Maid—has been turning heads in Coralie Fargeat’s The Substance. In this body horror film, she plays the younger version of a washed-up television star, portrayed by Demi Moore, delivering a performance full of energy and emotional depth. More recently, she appeared alongside Joe Alwyn and Emma Stone in Yorgos Lanthimos’s Kinds of Kindness (2024), further cementing her status as a director’s muse.
And the momentum continues: Margaret Qualley is set to star with Glen Powell in Huntington by John Patton Ford and share the screen with Ethan Hawke in Richard Linklater’s Blue Moon.
Maya Hawke: from Stranger Things to Inside Out 2
The daughter of Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman (another Tarantino muse), Maya Hawke wasn’t content with a brief appearance in the director’s 2019 film. That same year, she gained widespread recognition in Stranger Things Season 3, playing Robin, a quirky teen and the show’s first openly gay character, opposite fellow musician-actor Joe Keery (aka Djo).
In 2024, Hawke lent her voice to the emotion Anxiety in Inside Out 2, while also releasing her third album, Chaos Angel.
Victoria Pedretti: Mike Flanagan’s muse
Her talent was already evident in Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, but Victoria Pedretti truly shot to fame between 2018 and 2020. She appeared in three hit Netflix productions during that period, including Season 2 of You, where she stole the spotlight from Penn Badgley as a charming psychopath.
But it was her heartbreaking performances in Mike Flanagan’s horror masterpieces The Haunting of Hill House and Bly Manor (2018–2020) that solidified her place in viewers’ hearts. After a string of notable TV roles, Pedretti is now shifting toward the big screen, set to appear alongside Alicia Vikander in Rachel Rose’s drama The Last Day. Rumors also suggest she may join Matt Reeves’s The Batman universe in future installments.
Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood (2019) by Quentin Tarantino, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie, available on Netflix.
