The Next Generation Of Action Stars

by Helen Earnshaw | 27 March 2013

Dwyane Johnson in G.I. Joe: Retaliation

We have been spoilt over the last twenty years with the likes of Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone lighting up the big screen in a whole host of action movies.

And while these three are still going strong who is going to take up the action mantel? We take a look at the new generation of action stars.

Dwayne Johnson

It seems that there is nothing Dwayne Johnson loves doing than kicking the ass of a bad guy on the big screen - and he does perhaps lead the pack when we are looking at new action stars.

Johnson is back this week as one of the new faces in the G.I. Joe franchise as he takes on the role of Roadblock.

Over the years Johnson has starring in a whole host of action roles including The Mummy Returns, Faster as well as Fast Five.

He will be back as Luke Hobbs in Fast & Furious 6 later this year and is set to take on the role of Hercules in a new movie.

Jason Statham

One actor's name that immediately jumps to mind when you think action is Jason Statham - he has been showing off his fighting skills in a whole bevy of movies in recent years.

So is the British actor the new face of the action genre?

It was really The Transporter that put him on the map as a bit of an action hero as he did all of his own fight scenes and stunt work in that movie.

Over the years he has appeared two more Transporter movies, Safe, The Mechanic and the Expendables franchise - to name just a few.

Jason Statham in Safe

Jason Momoa

Jason Momoa is another actor to watch out for in this genre as he has made the move from TV to big screen.

He has starred in the likes of Game of Thrones and Stargate: Atlantis on the small screen but it was 2011 when he really made the jump to film with Conan the Barbarian.

Momoa took over the role of Conan - made famous by Schwarzenegger - as the franchise was rebooted.

OK so the movie really wasn't that great, mainly because the script was a bit naff, but Momoa really does have the credentials to be a huge action star.

Jason Momoa in Conan The Barbarian

Channing Tatum

Another actor who has the potential to be a bit of an action hero is the very lovely Channing Tatum.

He has already starred in the likes of G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra, Haywire and 21 Jump Street - which has some great action elements - and he really does seem to have a bit of a knack for it.

He hasn't stuck with this genre most recently with drama and rom-com roles but he is back this week as he reprises the role of Duke in G.I. Joe: Retaliation.

We are also going to be seeing him kicking some ass in White House Down later this year as he is tasked with projecting the President.

He is also set to star in action/sci-fi movie Jupiter Ascending where he will flex his action chops once more.

Channing Tatum in G.I. Joe: Retaliation

Daniel Craig

Daniel Craig cannot be overlooked as he is currently playing the ultimate action hero... of course I am talking about James Bond.

The action genre really isn't one that Craig has concentrated on during his career until he took on the role of 007 - which is a bit of a shame.

He is one of the most exciting Bond's of all time and he really has breathed new life and menace into this character.

Daniel Craig in Skyfall

Matt Damon

Matt Damon turned himself into an action hero when he took on the role of Jason Bourne - a franchise that really propelled him onto Hollywood's A-list.

The Bourne franchise is one of the most successful of all time and it really showed off a very different side to this actor.

Since then he has stayed away from this genre starring only in Green Zone but there still remains plenty of talk about him returning to the role of Jason Bourne.