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Let's face it: If you had to pick five Hollywood starlets to become your wives in a post-apocalyptic future, chances are you would at least consider giving one of those slots to Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. It's just simple logic.

And that's why today's announcement that Huntington-Whiteley has officially joined the cast of "Mad Max: Fury Road" as one of the film's "five wives" makes so much sense.

Hey, if she's tough enough to face off against the Decepticons, chances are she can handle a few mutants on motorcycles, right?

Rebooting the "Mad Max" universe, "Mad Max: Fury Road" stars Tom Hardy as the titular hero. And this time around, he's dealing with not one but five damsels in distress, as Zoe Kravitz revealed to MTV.

"There's a group of five women being taken from one place to another place, and I'm one of those women," Kravitz said in an interview last month. "So they call us the five wives. There are five women who are five wives. No, I'm not playing all five wives."

Well, according to Just Jared, we now know who at least two of those other wives will be, as "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" star Huntington-Whiteley has joined Kravitz and Riley Keough in the sci-fi epic.

Hey, the future might be pretty bleak in the "Mad Max" universe, but at least they still have hot models. And any future with Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in it is one we're happy to live in, mutants and all.

Strike a pose and sashay down the runway with us as we celebrate those tireless women who strive to look fabulous to make the world a more beautiful place. We're talking about supermodels, and while they can't all be Meryl Streep, they can still make it work up on the big screen.

In anticipation of seeing Kate Upton in that wet nun bikini for "The Three Stooges," we're looking at our favorite models-turned-actresses. There are several famous sex symbols, a few fresh young faces, and even a couple of Academy Award winners in today's lineup, so sit back and watch them strut their stuff.

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Farewell, 2011. It's been real. We had some laughs. We cried. We met some new people and spent time with old ones and saw plenty of action -- all of it at the movies. (On the screen, silly, not in the back row!)

But 2011 isn't over quite yet, so we're taking one final look back at some of the actors, characters and films that we enjoyed most this year. Vote for your favorites -- starting with 2011's hottest babe -- and be sure to come back every day and let us know what you'll remember most about the year in movies, from apes to Muppets, vampires to wizards, superheroes to bridesmaids.

This poll will close on Dec. 26 at 11 p.m.

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There truly is "more than meets the eye" in director Michael Bay's third bombastic blockbuster based on the Hasbro toy vehicles that transformed into robots. The super-slick opening of "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" blends real footage of John F. Kennedy and Walter Cronkite during the space race of the '60s with new footage of the Apollo 11 astronauts discovering a crashed Transformers ship on the moon.

The action then cuts to the present day, where Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) is struggling to find a job and do something that matters after helping to save the world twice with Megan Fox. We learn that Fox's character dumped Sam (in real life, the actress wasn't invited back because, among other things, she called Bay a "Nazi") and Sam has shacked up with the equally hot Carly Spencer (Rosie Huntington-Whiteley). Is that a Transformer in his pocket or are supermodels just happy to see him? Just saying.

Also Check Out: These 3 "Dark of the Moon" Clips Have Got Legs, Explosions

The action picks up after Optimus Prime retrieves the dormant Sentinel Prime (voiced by Leonard Nimoy) from the wreckage on the moon and resurrects him. Unbeknownst to Optimus and his fellow Autobots, Sentinel has made a deal with the Decepticons to enslave humanity and activate a space bridge that will bring their home planet of Cybertron to Earth. The ensuing battle in Chicago between Autobots and Decepticons features jaw-dropping CGI effects that are blended with real footage of skydivers zipping between the skyscrapers.

The best news about "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" is that it is a marked improvement over the last installment, "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen." Along with Fox, gone are the ridiculous, jive-talking Transformers that sank the last picture. This time there are welcome familiar faces like Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson and even a cameo by astronaut Buzz Aldrin as himself. Franchise newcomers Frances McDormand and John Malkovich bring some Oscar cred to the giant-robot movies with their performances as director of national intelligence and Sam's boss, respectively. Patrick Dempsey also chews into his role as Carly's boss, a smarmy auto collector secretly in bed with the Decepticons.

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At one point, we are treated to a slo-mo shot of Victoria's Secret model Huntington-Whiteley -- vacant-eyed with lips pursed like she is saying the first syllable of "Thursday" for eternity -- as she walks toward the camera while cars are tossed and explosions go off behind her. She's oblivious to the destruction and seems to be protected by a Bay-sanctioned force field of supermodel hotness. She is there to remind viewers that no matter what you think of Bay as a director or his obvious weakness for smoldering babes, his movies are never boring to look at.

Extras! Both the DVD and Blu-ray are bare-bones affairs with only a digital copy included. All the extras as well as a Blu-ray 3-D version are being saved for a future combo pack, and a coupon is included for $10 off that version when it is eventually released.

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That's because we are totally enamored of Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, the Victoria's Secret Angel who impressed director Michael Bay so much during a commercial shoot that he cast her as his leading lady in the franchise's round three, "Transformers: Dark of the Moon." She's got the body, she's got the beauty, she's got a smile that says, "I'm hot but I can be a total goofball too."

In other words, she's got all the requirements of a fun Hot People Looking Hot gallery.

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Sure, Bumblebee and Optimus Prime can transform into awesome, world-dominating, larger-than-life robots, but the changeover everyone's talking about in "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" is the addition of Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.

The model-turned-actress, who replaces Megan Fox as Shia LaBeouf's onscreen girlfriend, had a great time in her first movie role, and seems especially gratuitous toward her co-star. "Shia held my hand through the whole of this like a baby," she says. "I was probably like the annoying little sister that just followed him around constantly and copied everything he did."

And the entire cast seems to agree that "Moon" is the biggest, baddest "Transformers" movie yet. It has more stunts, more explosions, and more robots, and it's all in 3-D so you can feel like you're fighting to the death right along side Sam Witwicky.

Watch the full interviews with cast members below.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

Josh Duhamel

Tyrese Gibson

Ken Jeong

Paramount

Early word from  jaded critics has "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" pegged as a fun ride filled with more Michael Bay-hem than any of the action maestro's previous movies... and that's saying something.

While this is purportedly the final film in the trilogy, at least involving Mr. Bay and his star Shia LaBeouf, we doubt this will be the last hurrah for Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, and all the other fine GM vehicles we've come to know and love since they first drove onto the silver screen in 2007.

The Autobots are absent from the following three clips, but you'll still get a taste of the jaw-dropping action and sexy underwear models you've come to expect from the "Armageddon" director. Enjoy.

1. Wing Suit Jump. If Josh Duhamel jumped off a bridge, would you? What if he jumped out of an exploding plane?

2. The Duchess. Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) is getting a little jealous of his girlfriend Carly's race-car driver boss, which is understandable since he's played by Dr. McDreamy, aka Patrick Dempsey.

3. Lucky Bunny. It's our first revealing glimpse at Rosie Huntington-Whiteley playing the Megan Fox substitute Carly, and we can't help but feel that there were hundreds of hours of production discussions about how those legs should look. They clearly settled on "hot."

Paramount

When you finally get to see "Transformers: Dark of the Moon," you'll notice a lot of the same characters from the first two installments of Michael Bay's blockbuster "Transformers" series -- like our dear Sam Witwicky, the eccentric Simmons, the loyal Bumblebee and the evil Megatron.

But you'll also notice an entirely new lineup of humans and robots that nearly eclipse the originals. Rather than just introduce the newbies, let's take a moment to review the "Transformers" regulars and get to know the first-timers with our complete "Dark of the Moon" character guide. You may want to print this out.

HUMANS

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Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf)

Once again, Sam Witwicky is our quick-thinking, quippy hero. A social outcast and Princeton grad who stumbled onto the Transformers' world when he purchased the Autobot Bumblebee as his first car, Sam has been helping the Autobots fight the Decepticons ever since. In the first two movies, Sam had a girlfriend named Mikaela Banes (Megan Fox), but in "Dark of the Moon," Sam gets a new love interest, Carly Miller, and fancy new weapons like a grappling-gun glove. Similar to his ancestor Capt. Archibald Witnicky, whose exposure to the valuable All Spark rendered him insane, Sam went crazy in "Revenge of the Fallen" when the All Spark uploaded its knowledge into his mind. The Decepticons fought to capture Sam but failed.

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U.S. Army Lt. Colonel William Lennox (Josh Duhamel)

Since helping protect Sam and the Autobots in the first "Transformers" movie, William Lennox has been promoted from captain of a special operations team to U.S. army major to commanding officer of NEST, a military organization developed to help guard the Autobots. A devoted husband and father of a young girl, Lennox developed a relationship with Sam when he escorted him to Mission City in the first film and helped save him and Mikaela from Decepticon evil in the second installment.

Agent Seymour Simmons (John Turturro)

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A former agent of the terminated Sector 7 unit, the eccentric Simmons comes from a long line of Simmons family members who were also head officers in Sector 7. Simmons was the very first outsider to realize that Sam had come in contact with a Transformer, and after the pair got off on a bad foot (Bumblebee had to intervene to protect Sam, and Mikaela demanded that Simmons strip down to his underwear), Sam and Simmons united to fight evil Decepticons in the first and second movies. At the end of "Revenge of the Fallen," Lennox praised him for saving the world. Simmons's great-grandfather apprehended the first-discovered Transformer.

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USAF Chief Robert Epps (Tyrese Gibson)

Formerly under the command of Lennox, Chief Robert Epps now serves alongside his best friend as a comical-yet-badass character who is prone to shouting "Bring it!" and "Bring the rain!" in high-stress situations. He saved Lennox's life by killing a giant robotic scorpion just before he struck in the first film.

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Carly Miller (Rosie Huntington-Whiteley)

Loosely based on the character from the original animated television series, Carly Miller is Sam's smoking hot new girlfriend who is supportive of his post-graduate endeavors in the professional world.

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Dylan Gould (Patrick Dempsey)

A race car driver with a massive vehicle collection, Dylan Gould is Carly's boss who competes with Sam for his girlfriend's affection and secretly yearns for world domination. His character is new to the franchise.

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Ron and Judy Witwicky (Kevin Dunn and Julie White)

Sam's mother Judy is an avid gardener who hates nothing more than when robots trample her flowers. Ron, Sam's father, is the head of the neighborhood watch. He bought Sam his first car (and fearless guardian) Bumblebee. Ron and Judy were kidnapped during a Parisian vacation in "Revenge of the Fallen" to help lure Sam into a Decepticon trap. The parents were both saved and forced to watch over Sam's lifeless body until he was miraculously revived by the Dynasty of Primes.

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Bruce (John Malkovich)

Sam's first boss, a loudmouth businessman who apparently enjoys self-tanner a little too much.

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Charlotte Mearing (Frances McDormand)

The straight-talking United States Secretary of Defense. She continually reminds Sam that he is just a soldier in this war against the Decepticons.

Hardcore Eddie (Lester Speight)

A new NEST member, Hardcore Eddie is an experienced soldier who is called in by Epps. Hardcore Eddie served alongside Epps' father and always promised him that he would take care of his son.

AUTOBOTS

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The "good guys," these heroic humanoid robots can transform into machines, vehicles and sometimes even humans.

Optimus Prime (voiced by Peter Cullen)

As the brave leader of the Autobots, Optimus initially traveled to Earth to find the all-powerful All Spark so that he could rebuild his home world of Cybertron and end the war with the Decepticons. Although he is prepared to sacrifice himself to save the Autobots at the end of the first film, Sam unexpectedly saves him, and afterward, Optimus invites other Autobots to join him on Earth. In "Revenge of the Fallen," Optimus is again revived by Sam and in turn saves Sam from Megatron, Starscream and Grindor.  Optimus transforms into a blue Peterbilt 379 truck.

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Sentinel Prime (voiced by Leonard Nimoy)

A legendary warrior and direct predecessor/father figure to Optimus Prime, Sentinel was thought by many to have been lost for many years. He was not in the first two films but is revived in "Dark of the Moon" by Optimus after he discovers that humans have hidden a Cybertronian ship that they found on the moon. That ship, full of technology that could have saved its people, was actually launched by Sentinel. Sentinel transforms into a Rosenbauer Panther Airport crash tender fire truck.

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Bumblebee (voiced by Mark Ryan)

Sam's trusty guardian and the Transformers' human ally, Bumblebee is a yellow robot that shapeshifts into a fifth-generation Chevrolet Camaro. Assigned to protect Sam from the Decepticons, Bumblebee speaks through the car radio and initially earns Sam's trust by protecting him and Mikaela from an attack by Barricade and Frenzy. In "Revenge of the Fallen," Bumblebee is left at home while Sam goes to college but tracks him down to protect him against the Decepticons. He tells Sam, "If there is anything you need, I won't be far away," and sure enough, he returns for "Dark of the Moon." Fans will notice that Bumblebee has undergone a few slight design changes in the new film to appear "older."

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Wheelie (voiced by Tom Kenny)

Introduced in "Revenge of the Fallen," Wheelie is a former Decepticon who was assigned to spy on Sam's ex-girlfriend. After helping Sam, Mikaela and Simmons locate Decepticon Jetfire, Wheelie swears allegiance to the "good" side. In "Dark of the Moon," Wheelie appears as Sam's pet.

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Ironhide (voiced by Jess Harnell)

The Autobot weapons specialist and Prime's oldest friend, Ironhide transforms into a GMC Topkick.

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Ratchet (voiced by Robert Foxworth)

The Autobot medic, Ratchet believes that all conflict can be solved peacefully. Just in case it cannot, though, Ratchet transforms into a Search and Rescue Hummer H2.

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Sideswipe

Having premiered in "Revenge of the Fallen," Sideswipe has two wheeled feet and transforms into a Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Concept.

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Brains

Along with Wheelie, Brains -- a small, smart Autobot -- is kept as a pet by Sam.

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Mirage

Perhaps the most exotic of the Transformers, Mirage will make his debut in "Dark of the Moon" as a red Ferrari who speaks with an Italian accent.

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The Wreckers

A commando unit that shapeshifts into machine gun-toting NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Chevrolet Impala stock cars, these three characters are called in for last-minute backup. Roadbuster, a green and white Impala, is driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr. Leadfoot, a red-and-black Impala, is driven by Juan Pablo Montoya. Topspin, a blue and white Impala, is driven by Jimmie Johnson.

Wheeljack

Having a head design that resembles Albert Einstein (try picturing that!), Wheeljack debuts in "Dark of the Moon" as a character who transforms into a Mercedes-Benz E550.

DECEPTICONS

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The "bad guys," these villainous humanoid robots can also transform into machines, vehicles and sometimes even humans.

Megatron (voiced by Hugo Weaving)

As the biggest baddie in the "Transformers" franchise, Megatron shapeshifts into an armored Mack Titan 10-wheeler fuel tank truck with hardcore weaponry. Because of his injuries from "Revenge on the Fallen," Megatron appears in "Dark of the Moon" with half of his face covered and spider-like robots crawling into the spaces where his brain circuitry used to be. In the first film, Megatron transformed into a Cybertronian jet, and in the second, he transformed into a flying Cybertronian tank.

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Shockwave

Portrayed as an extremely dangerous psychopath among the Decepticons, Shockwave is the main villain in "Dark of the Moon." Having been imprisoned under Chernobyl for years, Shockwave is now back on the loose and transforms into a Cybertronian self-propelled cannon. Look out!

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Starscream (voiced by Charles Adler)

An air commander who transforms into an F-22 Raptor, Starscream frequently bickers with Megatron and aspires to be Leader of the Decepticons. In "Revenge of the Fallen," Starscream was savagely punished by Megatron on the top of New York City's MetLife building for not catching Sam.

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Soundwave (voiced by Frank Welker)

As the name suggests, Soundwave is Megatron's communication officer who transforms into a silver Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. Soundwave spent most of "Revenge of the Fallen" orbiting around Earth, intercepting information and conveying other intelligence to the Decepticons.

The Dreads

A Decepticon trio that follows the Autobots back from the moon, this group comprises Crankcase (best name ever), Crowbar and Hatchet -- all of whom transform into Chevrolet Suburban emergency vehicles.

Paramount

Megan Fox, the now-25-year-old actress who became a sex symbol overnight thanks to her role as Mikaela Banes in Michael Bay's "Transformers" franchise, has been… well… replaced, by 23-year-old actress-turned-model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.

And Fox's former on-screen love interest, Shia LaBeouf, has something to say about it.

“Megan developed this Spice Girl strength, this woman-empowerment [stuff] that made her feel awkward about her involvement with Michael [Bay], who some people think is a very lascivious filmmaker, the way he films women,” LaBeouf told the L.A. Times.

But why would anyone think that about the "Transformers" helmer?

“Mike films women in a way that appeals to a 16-year-old sexuality. It’s summer. It’s Michael’s style. And I think [Fox] never got comfortable with it. This is a girl who was taken from complete obscurity and placed in a sex-driven role in front of the whole world and told she was the sexiest woman in America. And she had a hard time accepting it."

Ouch.

"When Mike would ask her to do specific things, there was no time for fluffy talk. We’re on the run. And the one thing Mike lacks is tact. There’s no time for [LaBeouf assumes a gentle voice] ‘I would like you to just arch your back 70 degrees.’”

So what does Huntington-Whiteley bring to "Dark of the Moon" that Fox couldn't? She's a Victoria's Secret Angel for one, so we're pretty confident that she has no problem arching her back any way Bay likes.

LaBeouf describes Huntington-Whiteley's character, Carly Miller, as a "supportive girl" who’s "more of a maternal, loving type."

You know, one of those maternal, loving types... who also happens to be a world-famous lingerie model.

One thing you've gotta give Bay: the man has a vision.

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If the Academy Awards is like a formal cocktail hour and the MTV Movie Awards is like the after-party, then Spike's Guys Choice Awards is like the random, 2 a.m. spurt of energy you get that sends you barhopping until sunrise. That is to say, one wild time.

The "Hot or Not"-style awards show is going on its fourth year in 2011 and not slowing down, bringing in a ton of A-List celebrities to keep the show on its toes. This year, the Guys Choice Awards will feature familiar faces like "Captain America" star Chris Evans, "Transformers 3" arm candy Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Danny McBride and Aziz Ansari of "30 Minutes or Less," and the grumbly, aged badass Harrison Ford who will be ready to pimp his new action movie "Cowboys and Aliens."

Jennifer Aniston will also be on hand to receive the show's highest honor: the Decade of Hotness award. All those years sporting The Rachel have finally paid off.

Voting on the awards is currently open to fans at Spike's Guys Choice Awards site, where you'll find categories like "Biggest Ass Kicker," "Holy Grail of Hot," "Top Fantasy Leaguer," "Comedy MVP", "Best Girl on Girl Scene" and "Guy of the Year." Voters can also make their picks on Facebook, a website that is becoming quite popular with the kids.

The Guys Choice Awards air June 10 -- so lock in your votes!

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The summer movie season is here, and that means one thing: AIR CONDITIONING!!! Also, we get to watch some cool movies with our air conditioning ticket.

There will be some familiar if not downright iconic faces to greet us there, but who's not looking to make some new friends? Lucky for us Hollywood is dishing out a promising group of cinematic newcomers who just might have made the leap to stardom by the time school's back in session -- including two sons, one daughter and one cousin of pop culture royalty.

Here's a list of actors on the cusp of becoming big-time screen idols.

Chris Hemsworth

Starring In: "Thor" (May 6)
Summer Heat: You may have already read our ranking of how Marvel's "Thor" stacks up to the one from "Adventures in Babysitting," but how will it fare against the blockbuster competition in one of the biggest movie summers in recent memory? If that giant friggin' hammer has anything to say about it, pretty good. Even without the great notices Hemsworth's been getting in the early reviews, he's in the unusually lucky position of getting to prove himself as Thor again in th"Avengers" (currently film), whether or not the God of Thunder's solo film captures lightning in a bottle.

Paramount

Colin Egglesfield

Starring In: "Something Borrowed" (May 6)
Summer Heat: This former model and "All My Children" superstar is finally crawling his way out of the soaps and onto the big screen with a headlining role in "Something Borrowed." In the new rom-com he plays the fiancé of Kate Hudson, the one who her best friend Ginnifer Goodwin "accidentally" sleeps with after a drunken night. Happens. Whenever you see a poster with mega-familiar faces and then catch yourself saying, "What's a 'Colin Egglesfield?'" that usually means this dude just might have the goods.

Warner Bros.

Melissa McCarthy

Starring In: "Bridesmaids" (May 13)
Summer Heat: This adorable star of the CBS sitcom "Mike & Molly" just might be this summer's Zach Galifianakis since she clearly plays the wild card character in "Bridesmaids." Like Zach's Alan Garner in "The Hangover," McCarthy's aggressive, belching Megan has already stolen the trailer for Judd Apatow's attempt to bring raunch to the fairer sex. Best known as Sookie St. James on "Gilmore Girls" as well as being an alumni of comedy troupe The Groundlings, she gets bonus points for being the actual cousin of Jenny McCarthy.

Universal

Ellie Kemper

Starring In: "Bridesmaids" (May 13)
Summer Heat: Another stand-out of that crazy lineup of bridesmaids is Kemper, a prominent member of the New York sketch comedy scene who gained fans as Erin Hannon, the perky replacement for Pam's front desk job on "The Office." Before that Kemper managed nearly 20 million views on YouTube for the Derrick Comedy sketch "Blowjob Girl," in which she displayed a lack of finesse performing the title act on a fella. Her "Bridesmaids" character Becca looks to continue Kemper's tradition of the naïve, so-upbeat-they're-scary persona.

Universal

Lily Collins

Starring In: "Priest" (May 13)
Summer Heat: Featured as one of our 25 Breakout Stars to Watch for in 2011, one of the best Phil Collins releases in decades is the iconic singer's 22-year-old daughter Lily. An actress-model-columnist, Collins caught us in our "Blind Side" opposite Sandra Bullock, and will star in two big productions next year, "Mortal Instruments" and "Odd Thomas." In the meantime, you can worship her in "Priest" as the title character's niece who gets kidnapped by vampires, thus causing Paul Bettany's badass man of the cloth to go all "Taken" on the bloodsuckers.

Screen Gems

Christopher Jordan Wallace

Starring In: "Everything Must Go" (May 13)
Summer Heat: This son of the late legendary rapper Biggie made a big splash in a small role playing his own father (at a young age) in 2009's "Notorious," but is now co-starring opposite a seriously B.I.G. star: Will Ferrell. In "Everything Must Go," Ferrell plays a down-on-his-luck dude who sets up camp on his lawn selling all his possessions. He befriends a young neighborhood boy named Kenny Loftus, played by the 16-year-old Wallace, in what looks to be a sympathetic, semi-serious turn for both of them.

Roadside Attractions

Sam Claflin

Starring In: "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" (May 18)
Summer Heat: If you've seen some of the larger posters for "Pirates" floating around you may have noticed a striking gentleman holding a mermaid and asked yourself, "who's this chap where Orlando Bloom used to be?" That's Claflin as Phillip Swift, a young missionary who falls for a mermaid named Syrena (Àstrid Bergès-Frisbey) during his voyage with Johnny Depp's Captain Jack. Expect his career to be in full bloom, especially after just landing the part of the Prince in "Snow White and the Huntsman."

Disney

Gemma Ward

Starring In: "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" (May 18)
Summer Heat: One of the top It-girl models on planet Earth, this otherwordly Australian has been bit by the acting bug, the side effects of which appear to be her million-dollar legs turning into a fish tail. You see, Ward features in Johnny Depp's latest pirate fling as a mermaid, but perhaps not the kind with a seashell bra that sings "Part of Your World." These mermaids are more of the "seduce men then drag them to their deaths at the bottom of the ocean" variety. Sexy.

Disney

Mason Lee

Starring In: "The Hangover Part II" (May 26)
Summer Heat: What the hell has the Wolfpack done with Ang Lee's son? This "Hangover" features Stu getting married, and after another wild night with the boys in Bangkok, he loses his fiancé's little bro Teddy, played by Mason Lee. Mason made his film debut as a toddler in papa Ang's 1993 classic "The Wedding Banquet," but this is his first high-profile gig. If his fate is anything like Justin Bartha's in the original, it might not equal a lot of screentime, but it doesn't hurt to have the entire plot revolve around finding your character, which could also prove an excellent audition if they decide to make a "Where's Waldo" movie.

Michael Fassbender

Starring In: "X-Men: First Class" (June 3)
Summer Heat: We always thought Fassbender had a magnetic personality, but this is ridic. After taking on Persians ("300") and Nazis ("Inglourious Basterds"), the German-Irish actor with some of the leading-est leading man looks in the biz is moving forward to the '60s where he'll take on a new enemy: prejudice against mutants. Also, Cubans and Kevin Bacon. Unlike those other two hit films, we have an inkling his character Magneto might just survive this ordeal in prequel country. With Fassbender as the raging yang to James McAvoy's yin, Erik and Professor X are not yet enemies, so expect great chemistry and an X-tra nice new trilogy if all goes well.

Fox

Joel Courtney

Starring In: "Super 8" (June 10)
Summer Heat: In a summer deluged with sequels and comics adaptations, leave it to filmdom's own P.T. Barnum, J.J. Abrams, to add the spice of mystery to the mix with "Super 8." Despite some extended footage screened for reporters, the film and its central creature or force is still shrouded in C.I.A.-level confidentiality. Equally unknown is 15-year-old lead actor Courtney, who makes his film debut as the heroic leader of a team of 1970s kids making an amateur zombie film in Ohio when all hell breaks loose as a… something or other… unleashes chaos.

Paramount

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

Starring In: "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" (Jul. 1)
Summer Heat: Is it even possible to follow-up the crazy-hot force of nature that is Megan Fox? How about with FHM's "World's Sexiest Woman?" Okay, no complaints. Between babes and cars, incendiary filmmaker Michael Bay knows curves, which Rosie has definitely got, but can the Victoria's Secret model act? Since we know the "Transformers" formula by now (robots, explosions, Shia), it's fair to say this ain't exactly an Ibsen play, so we'll leave it to the next director to mine those talents after all the hoopla over the rock 'em sock 'em battlebot trilogy ends.

Paramount

Matthew Lewis

Starring In: "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" (Jul. 15)
Summer Heat: Hogwarts most gifted young Herbologist, Neville Longbottom, has been played quietly sublime by Lewis for the entire decade-long run of "Harry Potter" in cinemas. For the final chapter, Lewis will finally get his chance to shine as an integral part of the battle between Good and He Whose Name Must Not Be Spoken. He'll reform Dumbledore's army, take care of the last Horcrux, and… hey, we're not telling.

Warner Bros.

Hayley Atwell

Starring In: "Captain America: The First Avenger" (Jul. 22)
Summer Heat: This doll-faced Brit has been making our heart skip several beats as a corset queen in chamber pieces like "The Duchess" and "Brideshead Revisited." Now Atwell will finally see how we do things America-style as Cap's WWII babe-in-arms Peggy Carter, and by "arms" we mean that girl knows her way around a pistol. In the original Stan Lee/Jack Kirby comics Captain America was always moping around in present-day regretting the loss of Carter, and with Atwell in the role that emotion shouldn't be too hard to muster for star Chris Evans.

Paramount

Jason Momoa

Starring In: "Conan the Barbarian" (Aug. 19)
Summer Heat: We knew Momoa had the whole "ripped and grim" thing down pat from production stills, but with the brand-spanking new trailer we can finally see him in action as Robert E. Howard's deadly Cimmerian. One word: DAMN. Whether you think the movie itself looks like a rollicking sword and sorcery adventure or a CG-filled heavy metal album cover come to life (we're not sure either of those are bad), Hawaiian Momoa seems poised to obliterate three-decade-old memories of Schwarzenegger in the role. As long as he crushes his enemies, sees them driven before him, and hears the lamentation of their women, we're good.

Lionsgate

Disney

Temperatures are rising, movies are packed to the brim with explosions and the biggest names and faces grace the cineplexes for a solid three months. It's summer and that means things are getting hot.

This year's blockbuster slate is no exception to the time honored tradition of featuring the sexiest, young actresses in Hollywood making cinematic magic while barely batting an eyelash. Here are 15 shining starlets who should have no problem keeping your attention in-between car chases and fist fights.

Natalie Portman

Starring in: "Thor" (May 6)
Summer Heat: Portman is an attractive young lady, but it's not all looks -- the girl graduated from Harvard and she has the brains to prove it. So it's no surprise that the "Black Swan" Oscar-winner is making her foray into the world of comic book movies by playing Jane Foster, scientist and norse God skeptic, in Marvel's tentpole "Thor."

Paramount

Maggie Q

Starring in: "Priest" (May 13)
Summer Heat: The "Nikita" star is no stranger to the summer movie spectrum: she's previously brought her smooth moves and signature brand of leggy ass-kicking to films like "Mission: Impossible 3" and "Live Free or Die Hard," and it never fails to entertain. Now, Maggie Q returns with "Priest," where she'll be preaching the good word (of punching bad guys in the face). Obviously, the "Q" stands for... a "Q" word that means hot lady action hero, which we might be worth making up just for her.

Screen Gems

Rose Byrne

Starring in: "Bridesmaids" (May 13), "X-Men: First Class" (June 3)
Summer Heat: Byrne proved she could bring the funny in last summer's "Get Him to the Greek," and now she's part of the the elite team of lady comics assembled for the raunchy "Bridesmaids." Byrne plays the primp and proper Helen, but the movie is anything but -- few actresses could pull off the gros- out humor in "Bridesmaids" and still come out looking good.

Universal

Penelope Cruz

Starring in: "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" (May 20)
Summer Heat: Whipping up a fourth installment of "Pirates of the Caribbean" without the main cast is no easy task, but Penelope Cruz shoudn't have a problem filling Keira Knightley's corset. The Spanish actress joins Johnny Depp as Angelica, Jack Sparrow's love interest and partner in his search for the Fountain of Youth. Not that she needs it.

Disney

Jamie Chung

Starring in: "The Hangover Part II" (May 26)
Summer Heat: Chung is the latest bride-to-be that will have to deal with the drunken misadventures of Phil, Stu and Alan, The Wolfpack from the original "Hangover." Fresh from her own beat'em-up adventure in Zack Snyder's "Sucker Punch," Chung gets to flex a comedy muscle alongside some of the fastest wordslingers in the West (Hollywood) as Stu's love interest. Hopefully she looks just as adorable when she's screaming at her future hubby to get his butt to the altar.

Warner Bros.

Jennifer Lawrence

Starring in: "The Beaver" (May 20), "X-Men: First Class" (June 3)
Summer Heat: What a 2011 it's been for Jennifer Lawrence: she was nominated for an Oscar for her work in "Winter's Bone," her movie "Like Crazy" was a hit at Sundance, she's been cast as the lead in "The Hunger Games" and she has not one, but two movies opening this summer! In "X-Men: First Class," Lawrence takes over the role of Mystique, originally played by Rebecca Romijn. We imagine she'll look just as good in blue paint.

Fox

January Jones

Starring in: "X-Men: First Class" (June 3)
Summer Heat: In comic books, Emma Frost is a stunning blonde psychic who manipulates and trumps her opponents using her sharp wit and curvy body almost as much as she does her super powers. Fitting then that "Mad Men" star January Jones will bring the character to life on the big screen in "X-Men: First Class," as she's been winning us over with those same powers for years. Can't imagine it's too hard for her to read people's minds either.

Fox

Blake Lively

Starring in: "Green Lantern" (June 17)
Summer Heat: With all the space aliens,  intergalactic wars and giant-foreheaded madmen, it can be easy to overlook Blake Lively in "Green Lantern," one of the few characters who isn't decked out in prosthetics or CG bodysuits. It's 100 percent-pure Blake, which is what you want when you have someone as enchanting as the "Gossip Girl" star. But don't count her out of the action -- her character Carol Ferris is a test pilot just like Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds) and she'll be keeping up with the speedster every step of the way.

Warner Bros.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

Starring in: "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" (July 1)
Summer Heat: Other than a few Victoria Secret TV specials, "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" will be Rosie Huntington-Whiteley's first stab at acting -- and you don't need many details on the movie to know it'll be an explosive debut. Michael Bay treats his ladies right (the first two installments made Megan Fox a worldwide sex symbol), but Huntington-Whiteley has her work cut out for her navigating the ongoing war between shape-shifting robots. Hopefully she exchanged her heels for running shoes!

Paramount

Emma Watson

Starring in: "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II" (July 15)
Summer Heat: She's grown from nerdy bookworm to full-fledged starlett, and now we only have one more round of "Potter" with Emma Watson's multifaceted Hermione Granger. Judging from the first glimpses of the film, "Deathly Hallows: Part II" is going to put the wizarding trio through even crazier and more dangerous situations, but as Watson has proved in the past, there's no reason she can't cast deadly spells while looking simply dashing.

Warner Bros.

Mila Kunis

Starring in: "Friends With Benefits" (July 22)
Summer Heat: Mila Kunis talking dirty and hooking up with Justin Timberlake. Sounds good to us. The "Black Swan" star returns to her roots (don't forget she's a "That '70s Show" vet and "Family Guy" regular) while exploiting her good looks for this sex comedy that doesn't look to skirt around some of the more uncomfortable (read: hilarious) situations that arise when relationships start forming.

Screen Gems

Sofia Vergara

Starring in: "The Smurfs" (July 29)
Summer Heat: Easily the breakout star of the Emmy-winning "Modern Family," Sofía Vergara has simultaneously left us chuckling and picking our jaws off the floor from her combo of comedy and allure. She's the complete package and she'll be flaunting it all this summer in the live-action adaptation of the kids cartoon "The Smurfs." Thankfully, she plays a real person in the movie -- rather than being committed to a tiny blue animated creature.

Columbia

Olivia Wilde

Starring in: "Cowboys and Aliens" (July 29), "The Change-Up" (August 5)
Summer Heat: Wilde escapes the computer world of "TRON: Legacy" for two projects that let her be a little more like herself. That is, not made of pixels and incredibly attractive. "Cowboys and Aliens" sees the "House" actress fighting extraterrestrials alongside Daniel Craig, while "The Change-Up" is a straight-up R-rated comedy with Jason Bateman and Ryan Reynolds. Two wildly different projects with one Wilde leading lady.

Universal

Emma Stone

Starring in: "Crazy, Stupid, Love." (July 29), "Friends With Benefits" (July 22), "The Help" (August 12)
Summer Heat: Emma Stone will be dominating 2012 in the new "Spider-Man" reboot, but this summer she'll bring a little heart to the array of epic visuals and blasting sounds. For fans of the actress who need convincing she's the next great romantic lead, you can catch her (and be subsequently absorbed by her) romancing Ryan Gosling in "Crazy, Stupid, Love.," while her wit will be on full display in the adaptation of the bestseller "The Help." Oh, and she's also in "Friends With Benefits." Amazingly, the world could still use more Emma Stone.

Warner Bros.

Freida Pinto

Starring in: "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" (August 5)
Summer Heat: The Indian actress has been slipping in to lower-budget, dramatic roles since her debut "Slumdog Millionaire" took home Best Picture at the 2009 Oscars, but this summer she'll charge into the world of blockbusters with "Rise of the Planet of the Apes." A welcome change of pace from the usual monotone talent pool in Hollywood, Pinto should have no problem being the best-looking thing on screen -- forget the monkeys, she's co-starring with James Franco.

Fox

Sony

As of next year, three of America's most famous superheroes will be played by Brits: Superman (Henry Cavill), Spider-Man (Andrew Garfield), and Batman (Christian Bale). No, we're not going to protest out of some misguided jingoism (although we will point out the horror with which our friends across the Atlantic responded to Renee Zellweger playing Bridget Jones once upon a time).

We don't know if it's the popularity of rigorous youth drama programs or what, but the British are invading Hollywood at a rate that rivals the arrival of the Aussies in the late '90s. Looking at the more established young slate of English talent (Keira Knightley, Carey Mulligan, the Harry Potter trifecta, and Robert Pattinson to name a few), we say welcome to the next gen of Bright Young Brits.

Alex Pettyfer

Move over Robert Pattinson, Pettyfer is the new Prince of Young Adult adaptations. Fresh off his portrayal of a sexy alien in "I Am Number Four," he's now the heavily tattooed "ugly" lead in "Beastly," opposite Vanessa Hudgens – and he's being considered for nearly every upcoming teen page-to-screen adaptation, including "City of Bones," "The Hunger Games" and "The Last Apprentice." Soon it won't just be teens and Young Adult-reading adults who know about the blond and beautiful Brit.

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Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

She's a well-born model-turned-actress, but her blue-blood pedigree matters not to the legions of "Transformers" fanboys waiting to judge her performance in "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" by how closely she can approximate her predecessor Megan Fox's hotness. She doesn't have any other films in production, but if things don't go as planned, she can always return to her titillating career as a Victoria's Secret model.

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Andrew Garfield

After this last awards season, it’s impossible to ignore the "Social Network" star, whose on-screen raging outburst made Justin Timberlake's Sean Parker flinch. He’ll next play Peter Parker in Matthew Vaughn's new "Spider-Man" flick. We're not sure what it is about Brits taking over our favorite Superhero films, but if it means more of Garfield (and Cavill), we're all for it. For more evidence of his serious acting chops, check out his brooding, intense performance in the English made-for-television "Red Riding" trilogy or the riveting indie drama "Boy A."

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Nicholas Hoult

Ages ago he was the blue-eyed, scene-stealing primary schooler from "About a Boy," but he happily grew into the bedroom-eyed scene-stealing bad boy in the first two seasons of the original, British "Skins." Since his breakout performance as Tony Stonem, Hoult has gone toe-to-toe with Colin Firth in "A Single Man," sword-to-sword with Sam Worthington in "Clash of the Titans," and mutant-to-mutant as a young Beast in the upcoming "X-Men: First Class."

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Kaya Scodelario

The broody brunette played Nicholas Hoult's wild-child younger sister Effy in two seasons of "Skins" before taking over his place as the main character in the third and fourth seasons. Off-screen, Scodelario has also been following in her fictional big brother's footsteps, taking a turn in "Clash of the Titans" and the acclaimed indie drama "Moon." She's set to play Catherine in English director Andrea Arnold's new "Wuthering Heights" adaptation, and she's a perpetual fan favorite to portray Katniss Everdeen in the much-hyped "Hunger Games" trilogy.

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Henry Cavill

The next Man of Steel hails not from a crowded metropolis but from Jersey in the Channel Islands between England and France. Cavill spent most of the last decade playing bit parts in period films, most notably baring all as the womanizing Duke of Suffolk on Showtime's "The Tudors." His come-hither performance, which People named "the Sexiest Courtier Alive," landed him the much-coveted role in Zack Snyder's "Superman" reboot.

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Lily Collins

The petite beauty broke into Hollywood as the high-school-aged daughter of Oscar winner Sandra Bullock in "The Blind Side." But Collins is no Southern belle. The daughter of rocker-turned-composer Phil Collins, she has since scored leading roles in two thrillers, "Priest" with Paul Bettany and "Abduction" with Taylor Lautner, both of which roll out this year. She also snagged the better-than-Bella role of Clary in the "The Mortal Instruments" series, a potential "Twilight"-sized franchise.

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Tom Hardy

Turning in the stand-out performance in an ensemble thriller with Leo DiCpario, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page and Oscar winner Marion Cotillard sounds like a dream come true, but Hardy managed to steal the show in Christopher Nolan's "Inception." The hard-working Englishman (he's made 21 other films since his blink-and-miss introduction in "Black Hawk Down") is now one of Hollywood's most sought-after actors, with roles in five more action-dramas, including Nolan's "The Dark Knight Rises."

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Imogen Poots

With such varied movies on her slate as the horror-comedy remake "Fright Night" (with Colin Farrell as the seductive vampire, of course) , the Mia Wasikowska-Michael Fassbender version of "Jane Eyre," and the vampire love-story "Hello Darkness," Poots could be the next Mia or Carey or Keira herself. She's got the looks, and after this year it will be obvious if she has the chops.

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Sam Claflin

Subscribers to premium cable network Starz might recognize Claflin as the valiant Richard from the Golden Globe-nominated medieval miniseries "The Pillars of the Earth." Claflin traded in his 12th-century knight's armor for 19th-century attire as a handsome young missionary (think Orlando Bloom replacement) that falls -- literally -- for a beautiful mermaid in an upcoming summer swashbuckler you may have heard of, "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides."

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Aaron Johnson

In his home country, Johnson's a hardcore tabloid target for falling in love with, impregnating, and proposing to his much-older "Nowhere Boy" director, Sam Taylor-Wood, but in the rest of the world, he's best known for being one of the bad-ass young stars of "Kick Ass." The controversial blockbuster was a sleeper hit last year, and plans are underway for a sequel in 2012. In the meantime, Johnson will star opposite Glenn Close and Mia Wasikowska in Rodrigo Garcia's 19th Century Irish drama "Albert Nobbs."

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Hayley Atwell

Like many of her fellow Brits, Atwell popped up in costume dramas and miniseries for several years before winning the lead female role in the BBC-produced "The Pillars of the Earth." Since most Americans don't have Starz, it's safe to say her breakout performance will be in this summer's "Captain America: The First Avenger," in which she plays Peggy Carter, the patriotic hero's love interest. She's rumored to next appear in "The Great Gatsby" with Leo DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan.

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Asa Butterfield

This not-quite-14-year-old has already appeared in four movies: the indie action-comedy "Son of Rambow," the Holocaust weepie "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas," the family sequel "Nanny McPhee Returns" and the horror remake "The Wolfman." But Butterfield is poised for Serious Stardom with his next film, as the titular orphan in Martin Scorsese's period drama, "Hugo Cabret," opposite Jude Law, Christopher Lee, Ben Kingsley, and American wünderkind Chloe Moretz.

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Juno Temple

She's not well-known in America yet, but after 17 films, she's already worked with Oscar winners Cate Blanchett and Judi Dench ("Notes on a Scandal"), nominees Keira Knightley, James McAvoy and Sairose Ronan ("Atonement") and comedians Jack Black, Michael Cera ("Year One") and Ben Stiller ("Greenberg"). We think 2011 is her year, with key roles lined up in Matthew McConaughey's "Killer Joe," the "Three Musketeers" and as one half of the titular lesbian couple in the indie "Jack and Diane."

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Jamie Campbell-Bower

He first played the lovesick young sailor in Tim Burton's Oscar-nominated musical "Sweeney Todd, " then landed supporting roles in two of Hollywood's biggest movie franchises. He's Caius the vampire in the "Twilight" saga and Grindelwald the legendary wizard in the final "Harry Potter" films. Apparently he can't get enough of period costumes: Campbell-Bower makes his prime-time debut next month as a young King Arthur in the sexy new Starz series, "Camelot."

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Warner Bros.

There are only so many Will Smiths and Natalie Portmans to go around, and as much as Hollywood producers would love to cast them in everything (for reals, Portman's in like 100 movies this year) they have to eventually take a chance on some fresh faces. 

But which of those faces have the appropriate level of freshness? Our handy guide will let you know exactly which ponies to bet on (like "Sucker Punch" lead Emily Browning, left) as we scour through the wheat and the chaff to predict the most promising breakout success stories of the year to come. 

Hayley Atwell

Paramount

To Be Seen In: "Captain America: The First Avenger" (July 22) 

NextFactor: This stunning Brit brunette first caught our eye as the femme fatale in Woody Allen's dark drama "Cassandra's Dream," then continued to turn heads as a corset queen in "The Duchess." She won't be the only bombshell on screen when she plays Peggy Carter, the World War II gal-pal of Marvel's Star Spangled Avenger (Chris Evans). 

Emily Browning

Legendary Pictures

Starring In: "Sucker Punch" (March 25) 

NextFactor: "She's going to break a million hearts." That's what no less than Jim Carrey said of Browning when at age 16 she co-starred with ol' rubberface in "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events." This could be the year the prophecy comes true when the ethereal actress flashes those doe-eyes, a piece, and a samurai sword in Zack Snyder's berzerker action-fantasy hybrid, "Sucker Punch." 

Asa Butterfield

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Starring In: "Hugo Cabret" (Dec. 9) 

Next Factor: After winning heaps of praise in 2008 for the lead role in Holocaust drama "The Boy in Striped Pyjamas," this lad of only 13 years has landed the second plum role of his career, the title character in Martin Scorsese's "Hugo Cabret." Based on the stellar young adult novel by Brian Selznick, the movie blends magic, mystery, and real-life cinema history, and will showcase Butterfield in 3-D. 

Jay Chou

Sony

Starring In: "The Green Hornet" (Jan. 14) 

Next Factor: This Taiwanese music superstar is so lauded in Asia that a special denotation ("Chou Style") was created for his brand of cross-genre pop. Now he is poised for international film superstardom playing Kato, the flashy sidekick to Seth Rogen's Green Hornet. Early indications suggest Chou's quiet-cool and martial-arts prowess steals the show, living up to the previous incarnation of Kato played by a little guy called BRUCE-FRICKIN'-LEE! Ka-Pow! 

Jamie Chung

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Starring In: "Suckerpunch" (March 25), "The Hangover Part II" (May 26) 

Next Factor: Former resident of MTV's "Real World: San Diego," Miss Chung is going to double your pleasure, double your fun with two minty-fresh blockbusters in a row (but not a sorority row). First up we'll see her kicking all sorts of android/dragon/zombie/giant samurai butt alongside Emily Browning in "Sucker Punch," then she'll sleaze it up with the wolfpack as Stu's fiancé in "Hangover II." This superstar-to-be already has action-packed "Premium Rush" in 2012. 

Lily Collins

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Starring In: "Priest" (May 13), "Abduction" (September 23) 

Next Factor: There's no jacket required to love the 21-year-old daughter of Genesis front man Phil Collins, who came into our line of scrimmage as Sandra Bullock's daughter in "The Blind Side." She'll pull double-duty opposite Paul Bettany's vampire slaying "Priest," and will be there when Taylor Lautner gets abducted (not by vampires). And there are even bigger things to come: She's also landed the lead character of Clara Fray in the 2012 "Mortal Instruments" book adaptation. 

Brooklyn Decker

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Starring In: "Just Go With It" (Feb. 11) 

Next Factor: This Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover girl and Esquire's 2010 "Sexiest Woman Alive" has been seeking to simultaneously conquer the worlds of both entertainment and hotness, and is doing a damn good job. After a few odd TV gigs, she's landed a key role in the Adam Sandler farce "Just Got With It," and then in 2012 she'll be screaming "You sunk my Battleship!" in theaters everywhere. 

Shiloh Fernandez

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Starring In: "Red Riding Hood" (March 11), "Skateland" (Jan. 25) 

Next Factor: One of the original contenders to play Edward Cullen, Fernandez will get a second shot to recreate gothic folklore with "Twilight" helmer Catherine Hardwicke as the male love interest to Amanda Seyfried in "Red Riding Hood." The model-turned-actor will also get to spread his indie wings as a Texan riding the disaffected teenage confusion train in "Skateland." 

Claire Foy

Relativity Media

Starring In: "Season of the Witch" (Jan. 7) 

Next Factor: Though the movie itself is pure camp silliness, Miss Foy emerges from "Season"'s B-movie forest unscathed, bringing far more intrigue and nuance than her seasoned co-stars, or Nicolas Cage's hairpiece. She almost comes across as a sweeter British Kristen Stewart, so when the time comes for the inevitable reboot ("Twilight Begins") we'll know who to turn to. Read Foy's NextFactor Q&A 

Dave Franco

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Starring In: "Fright Night" (Aug. 19) 

Next Factor: If his famous bro James is the modern-day James Dean, then Dave has inherited the looks of Montgomery Clift. What was going on in that womb? Dave has had notable bit parts in "Milk" and "Greenberg" but may step out of his brother's shadow in the remake of "Fright Night" opposite Colin Farrell. As scary as it may be, it can't be any scarier than these acting tutorials. 

Greta Gerwig

Magnolia Pictures

Starring In: "No Strings Attached" (Jan. 21), "Arthur" (April 8th) 

Next Factor: This former darling of the low-budget mumblecore scene blipped onto the radar last year for her sweet turn opposite Ben Stiller in "Greenberg." Now she'll parlay that easy charm into studio big-time as the token best friend in "No Strings Attached" and Liza Minnelli's role in the "Arthur" remake with badboy Russell Brand. If she follows in Minnelli's footsteps with a one-woman-show called "Greta!" then we'll start to worry. 

Chris Hemsworth

Paramount

Starring In: "Thor" (May 6), "Red Dawn" (TBA) 

Next Factor: This slab of Melbourne beefcake appeared briefly as the poppa of James T. Kirk during the opening of 2009's "Star Trek." Now he'll embody The God of Thunder himself as the eponymous "Thor," dishing out justice with his mighty hammer Mjöllnir, and continue Thor's reign of superhumanness into Marvel's 2012 "The Avengers." Somewhere in there he managed to shoot both "Cabin in the Woods" and the "Red Dawn" remake for ailing MGM, which has yet to set release dates for either. Boo. 

Nicholas Hoult

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Starring In: "X-Men: First Class" (June 3) 

Next Factor: We still remember him from "About a Boy" as the precocious 12-year-old opposite caddish Hugh Grant (is there any other kind of Hugh Grant?), yet Hoult is growing up fast and winning raves in films like "A Single Man." Now he'll get to flex his furry blue muscles as Beast in the latest "X-Men" spin-off. Our sympathies to Kelsey Grammer. 

Julianne Hough

Sony Pictures

Starring In: "Footloose" (Oct. 14) 

Next Factor: Any country music star who appears in a Snoop Dogg video, a Juicy Fruit commercial, and dates Ryan Seacrest is just asking for trouble, but since appearing in "Burlesque" last year Hough is looking to champion all media. The first high-profile role on her dance card is Craig Brewer's remake of "Footloose," so if all else fails she'll at least be one degree closer to Kevin Bacon. 

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

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Starring In: "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" (July 1) 

Next Factor: Ooh la la! Rosie will put the color back in anyone's cheeks. When Michael Bay needed to prove how replaceable Megan Fox was to the "Transformers" franchise, he nabbed this lingerie model with no acting experience to play Shia's love object… er, interest in the battlebot threequel. She must have had a very impressive audition to win the role, but only Victoria knows her secret. (*wink*) 

Jeremy Irvine

DreamWorks

Starring In: "War Horse" (Dec. 28) 

Next Factor: Irvine came out of nowhere (well, a UK Disney Channel show) to take the reins of Steven Spielberg's "War Horse," a World War I adventure tale in which he plays the lead of a young boy who enlists in order to find his pal Joey, the title horse. Aside from noted Brit thesps (Emily Watson, David Thewlis), Irvine is carrying a flick from the biggest director in the world; someone has some major faith in this kid. 

Zoë Kravitz

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Starring In: "X-Men: First Class" (June 3) 

Next Factor: The multi-talented progeny of Lenny Kravitz & Lisa Bonet (She can siiiiiiiiiing! She can aaaaaaaact!) has been making big moves in the indie world since bursting onto the scene in 2007. Now she's letting her freak-flag fly as acid-spitting winged insectoid mutant Angel Salvadore for the much-anticipated "X-Men" prequel. If all goes well she'll hop right into shooting the delayed "Mad Max: Fury Road." 

Rooney Mara

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Starring In: "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" (Dec. 21) 

Next Factor: This sharp 25-year-old beat out some of the top names in Hollywood for what might seriously be the most sought-after female role since Scarlett O'Hara: Lisbeth Salander in David Fincher's English-language remake of "Dragon Tattoo." It helped that she dominates every scene she had as straight-talking Erica Albright in Fincher's "Social Network," and we look forward to seeing her ride motorcycles, hack computers and solve crimes, i.e. "livin' the dream." 

Elsa Pataky

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Starring In: "Fast Five" (April 29) 

Next Factor: Having just married Chris Hemsworth, does that make this Spanish actress a goddess by default? Elsa doesn't actually need any assist from Thor to fit that bill, as her beauty has been scorching international audiences for over a decade, and now her career will get a Diesel injection when she co-stars in the latest "Fast and Furious." Still too early to tell if she'll be around when they get to "Fast Fifteen" in 2025. 

Alex Pettyfer

DreamWorks

Starring In: "I Am Number Four" (Feb. 18), "Beastly" (March 18), "Now" (Sept. 30) 

Next Factor: Pulling triple-duty this year is blonde teen-idol in-the-making Pettyfer, whose lead role in the Spielberg-produced sci-fi action-adventure "I Am Number Four" could make this chiseled actor/model number one with the ladies. He'll also learn to be pretty on the inside with Vanessa Hudgeons in "Beastly," and then stops aging completely for the sci-fi thriller "Now." 

Noomi Rapace

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Starring In: "Sherlock Holmes 2" (Dec. 16) 

Next Factor: Rooney Mara may get to play Salander in English, but this Swedish babe has already made that dragon tattoo her own in the original versions seen round-the-world. Rapace will run from many-an-explosion as a French Gypsy in the second of Robert Downey Jr.'s adrenaline-injected turns as Holmes, her first foray into Hollywood. If her continental English accent is as sexy as she is, we're in for a treat. 

BooBoo Stewart

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Starring In: "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1" (Nov. 18) 

Next Factor: Although he only had a minor role in "Eclipse," Stewart's character Seth Clearwater becomes integral in the two-part "Twilight Saga" finale "Breaking Dawn" as both Jacob's second-in-command and an unlikely werewolf ally to Bella and Edward. That's good news for the 16-year-old actor/wrestler/singer/dancer/model. Team Clearwater, anyone? 

Aimee Teegarden

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Starring In: "Scream 4" (April 15), "Prom" (April 29) 

Next Factor: Best known as Julie on "Friday Night Lights," Teegarden will be stalked and slashed by Ghostface in Wes Craven's 4th trip into post-modern meta-horror. She'll then take a (hopefully) more bloodless trip to Disney's "Prom" where she will no doubt learn life lessons about love, maturity, and limo rentals. 

Gemma Ward

Getty Images

Starring In: "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" (May 20) 

Next Factor: Part of the wave of elfin, baby-doll featured models to hit runways in recent years, she was last seen as one of the three masked weirdos in "The Strangers," appropriately named "Dollface." She'll mince it up with Captain Jack in his latest pirate jaunt, playing a mermaid named Tamara. Whatever gets her closer to playing a Gelfling in a "Dark Crystal" sequel is fine by us. 

Kenny Wormald

Paramount

Starring In: "Footloose" (Oct. 14) 

Next Factor: "Wormald" definitely wins the "least likely superstar name" award. You have to wonder if his agents ever encouraged him to change it… But we digress. Wormald will step out into the lead in "Footloose," which he won after both Zac Efron and Chace Crawford bowed out. This professional dancer is gonna bring some pizzazz to a Tennessee town that don't like dancin', but don't forget, Kenny… JAZZHANDS!

Paramount

Mega-bomshell Megan Fox was one heck of an important piece to the epic robot vs. robot franchise. Needless to say, hearts were broken when we heard she wasn’t returning for "Transformers 3."  (Actually, our hearts were broken when she married Brian Austin Green, but let's not split hairs.)

But Fox's former co-star Shia LaBeouf is trying to look on the bright side, saying, "It's kind of beautiful in that we get a new set of eyes... for the audience to vibe with." While we remain slightly skeptical, we’re giving Fox’s replacement Rosie Huntington-Whiteley the benefit of the doubt considering she’s a Victoria’s Secret model and all.

Check out MTV.com to find out what else Shia said about his new co-star.