Summer Sneaks: Faces to Watch
By Kate Stanhope
Where to see him: “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra,” “(500 Days) of Summer”
What he’s done: Best known for his role on the long-running NBC sitcom “Third Rock From the Sun,” Gordon-Levitt has shown consistently good taste in his post-sitcom film work. He’s starred in the indie films “Brick” and “Mysterious Skin,” as well as the highly regarded crime thriller “The Lookout.”
What he’s playing: We love Gordon-Levitt, but is he really the stuff of Cobra Commander? We shall see. (Bryan Bedder / Getty Images)
Where to see her: “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen”
What she’s done: Australian native Lucas is best known for her role on “Home and Away,” the Down Under soap where Isla Fisher, Simon Baker and the late Heath Ledger rose to fame as well.
What she’s playing: She may look innocent, but Lucas will play a Pretender Transformer named Alice in the sequel. Pretenders are a type of Transformer that can disguise themselves as humans thanks to a synthetic outer shell. Not to be confused with Beverly Hills housewives. (Dan Steinberg / Associated Press)
Where to see him: “Star Trek” and “Terminator Salvation”
What he’s done: After notable roles in smaller films such as “Alpha Dog” and “Charlie Bartlett,” it’s about time this 20-year-old charmer worked his way from indie heartthrob to bona fide movie star.
What he’s playing: In “Star Trek,” Yelchin will play a younger version of original series regular Pavel Chekov. However, Yelchin’s true test will be his incarnation of Kyle Reese in the new “Terminator” film. (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)
Where to see him: “Funny People”
What he’s done: Ansari is a familiar face both on the big screen and small screen after bit parts in the recent films “I Love You, Man” and “Observe and Report” as well as roles on the current TV shows “Scrubs” and “Parks and Recreation.”
What he’s playing: In Judd Apatow’s new film “Funny People,” Ansari plays just that, a stand-up comic named Randy. Following his own experience in stand-up, Ansari is sure to fit right in. (David Sprague / Los Angeles Times)
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Where to see him: “Star Trek”
What he’s done: Pine has played the object of affection for Anne Hathaway in “Princess Diaries 2” as well as Lindsay Lohan in “Just My Luck.” He’s also starred in ensemble films such as “Smokin’ Aces” and “Bottle Shock.”
What he’s playing: Pine is sure to feel the pressure from Trekkies everywhere in his role as Captain James T. Kirk. No one ever said filling William Shatner’s shoes would be easy. (Stephane Reix / EPA)
Where to see her: “Paper Heart”
What she’s done: Yi has made the most of her small roles thus far, first as the stoner girlfriend of one of Seth Rogen’s roommates in “Knocked Up” and also as a page who wins the heart of Kenneth on “30 Rock.”
What she’s playing: Yi plays herself in this documentary / story about love that garnered much acclaim at Sundance. Alongside Hollywood “it” boy and real-life boyfriend Michael Cera, Yi is sure to win hearts. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
