Ezra Miller seems to have the market cornered on troubled and troublemaking teens on the indie movie scene, ever since appearing in 2008's "Afterschool." His career, however, is about to power up with the release of critical darling "We Need to Talk About Kevin," starring Tilda Swinton and John C. Reilly as the parents of a terrifying tot turned Columbine-style killer -- played by Miller, natch.
Age: 18
Hometown: Hoboken, NJ
What He's Done: He was an Internet perv in "Afterschool," a fan of large ladies in "City Island," a gay teen in "Every Day," and a self-styled Hunter S. Thompson journalist in "Beware the Gonzo."
What He's Doing Now: As the Kevin everyone needs to talk about, he creeps out his mom (Tilda Swinton), who wonders if her inability to bond with her child is what led him to become such an effing psycho.
Reminds Us of: He's got the brood (and the style) of a young Johnny Depp, the intensity of Edward Furlong circa "American History X," and the otherworldly quality of his onscreen mom Tilda Swinton. Yeah, we went there.
Fun Facts: He's in a band called Sons of an Illustrious Father; he sings and plays the drums. They recorded their most recent album in a barn in Vermont.
Quotable: "I'd like to encourage people to calm down," Miller said, in regards to the news of his popularity on sites like Tumblr.
Shout Out: "Kevin" director Lynne Ramsay spoke of the actor in glowing terms. "I also think Ezra Miller's a discovery. He was great in 'Afterschool,' but this really -- when he walked into the room, I thought, 'This is the next James Dean.' He really believed in the role," she said at Cannes.
Famous Friends: He was spied smooching "Gonzo" costar Zoe Kravitz, but that was during the Tribeca Film Festival in 2010 -- eons ago in teen time.
What's Next: He's playing Patrick in the adaptation of the beloved YA novel "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," and yes, he'll be decked out in full Frank-N-Furter regalia. He is not going to be in the "Akira" remake, despite the rumors. Which is probably for the best, right?
Originally published Dec. 5, 2011.
