{"id":1683637,"date":"2026-01-29T11:15:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-29T08:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1683637"},"modified":"2026-01-29T11:15:00","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T08:15:00","slug":"welcome-2-0-hunks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1683637","title":{"rendered":"Welcome, 2.0 Hunks"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"RegJean\"RegJean<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

The Next-Gen Issue<\/span><\/p>\n

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Welcome, 2.0 Hunks<\/h1>\n

We’re glad you’re here.<\/p>\n

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By<\/span><\/p>\n
Kristin Limoges<\/p>\n
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\"Kristin\"Kristin<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\nKristin Limoges\n<\/div>\n
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  • <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
    \nKristin Limoges is a New York-based wellness and beauty writer and has spent nearly a decade in the print and digital space. She’s constantly in search of the most up-to-date and accurate intel on topics and prides herself on providing in-depth and helpful info for her readers.\u00a0\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
    \nByrdie’s Editorial Guidelines\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
    Published on January 29, 2026 06:15AM<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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    Brad Pitt, Denzel Washington, George Clooney. Before them, Robert Redford, Harrison Ford, and Paul Newman. Generations before had no shortage of celebrity heartthrobs\u2014but 2026\u2019s hunks present<\/em> much differently than the traditional \u201cleading man\u201d stereotype. Today\u2019s hunks are hot, of course, but more than that, they\u2019re unique (see 2024\u2019s \u201crat boy summer\u201d). Personality, humility, and magnetism have never been more important for the screen heartthrobs of today. Social media has nearly required these leading men to become triple threats: talented actors, charming, and<\/em> humble. It’s a cultural shift, and one I welcome with open arms.\n<\/p>\n

    \u201cWhat’s fascinating is that modern hunks absolutely need more than just looks to set the internet on fire,\u201d says Marina May<\/u>, a graphic designer and the creator of her popular namesake Instagram account, where she curates notable films. \u201cThey need vulnerability, they need to be good actors, and honestly, they need to look a little different or unconventional.” Josh O\u2019Connor is the perfect example of this, and, arguably, no one possesses the trio of personality, humility, and charm more readily and naturally at this moment than O’Connor. \u201cWe’ve seen in Challengers<\/em> (the sauna scene was very illustrative) that he’s very attractive, but what gives him the biggest appeal is his shyness and dorkiness we’ve seen behind the scenes,\u201d says May. \u201cI can’t count the times I’ve seen that video of him holding a puppy during the Knives Out <\/em>press tour. It’s not about just being traditionally handsome anymore. It’s about being interesting, emotionally intelligent, and having an interior life that the audience can project onto,\u201d adds May. \u201cWe’ve moved from wanting to admire men from a distance to wanting to psychoanalyze them, and I think that’s much more compelling.\u201d\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

    While \u201ctraditional\u201d looking film superstars like Glen Powell and Michael B. Jordan are clearly absolute hunks (and certified box office juggernauts), May argues the new paradigm of a heartthrob is more of a quiet, tortured-looking guy, like Paul Mescal or Jeremy Allen White.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

    Meet the Modern Day Hunk <\/span><\/h2>\n

    So there\u2019s a hunk, and then there\u2019s a hunk<\/em>\u2014a hunk 2.0, says casting director and performance coach Brette Goldstein<\/u>. Think of it as perhaps the \u201cevolved hunk,\u201d she says, someone who is modern yet timeless, listens, sexy with real charisma, looks at you like you\u2019re both delicious and<\/em> a deity, with hunger and<\/em> respect, and with just the right amount of awe that proves he sees all your brilliance and strengths (and literal strength). \u201cHe can serve you, he worships you, while still being in control somehow, possibly even in command because you work hard, girl,\u201d says Goldstein. \u201cYou deserve to relax, to be worshipped. He\u2019s both in control and somewhere on the scale of feral. He knows where the line is\u2014he takes you right to it. He can read you. He\u2019s wise and ageless. He can feel his age at times and [is] timelessly wise in others. He is in his body, and his mind is whip-smart.\u201d (Okay, damn, Goldstein, write a smut romance novel already. We beg of you!)\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

    They are also required to be a \u201cnice guy\u201d in the era of DeuxMoi\u2014where everyone is now watching\u2014but they can\u2019t just be nice because everyone is watching, but because they truly are kind at heart. “Honestly, the ultimate hunk is the one who puts his ego aside instead of leading with it,” says Melissa DeZarate<\/u>, groomer to some of the biggest leading hunks in Hollywood. “True hunks don\u2019t sweat the small stuff. They\u2019re fun, they\u2019re effortlessly cool, they hold the door for the next person, and they\u2019re all-around gentlemen,\u201d she adds.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

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    Byrdie Tip<\/p>\n

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    While I use \u201che\u201d or \u201cguy\u201d a lot in this story, a hunk doesn\u2019t have to be gendered. \u201cIt\u2019s about magnetic embodiment and swagger with soul,\u201d says Goldstein. Are hunks reserved just for the screen? Absolutely not. There are hunky poets, athletes, teachers, nurses\u2014they\u2019re everywhere. “A hunk can be the cute barista that gives you an extra shot, just because they want to make you smile,” says DeZarate. Heck, be your own hunk. There are no rules! It turns out hunks are everywhere\u2014you just have to look for them (even if that\u2019s just in the mirror).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

    Are hunks just born with that inner star quality? Or can they be carefully crafted and perfected by a team of stylists, groomers, and marketing executives? Both can be true, says DeZarate, but usually when the heartthrob doesn\u2019t have that innate confidence in themselves, they usually don\u2019t stand the test of time. \u201cYou\u2019re basically Frankenstein-ing together a team that will hopefully elevate the talent\u2014sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn\u2019t.\u201d Goldstein thinks a true hunk is born, though. \u201cYou see them on screen or IRL, and you involuntarily inhale that brisk, captivated inhale because they\u2019ve just got it, and they\u2019ve got you<\/em>,\u201d she says.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

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    What is exactly so enticing about swooning over a character? Well, according to Gayle S. Stever, Ph.D., a professor of social and behavioral science at Empire State University of New York, we can blame evolution. \u201cWe are basically hardwired to be [drawn] to familiar faces and voices that are attractive to us,\u201d says Dr. Stever. \u201cThere is a part of us that doesn’t really distinguish the person on the screen from the one sitting across from us in our living room,\u201d she adds. \u201cEvolutionary science recognizes that there are two basic agendas for human beings: survival and reproduction,\u201d notes Dr. Stever. \u201cWe are looking for other people who can enhance those goals.\u201d\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

    There\u2019s also a community aspect of crushing, says Dr. Stever. Think of the viral videos of a bar full of people collectively watching episode five<\/u> of Heated Rivalry<\/em> and cheering together. \u201cThere is a certain nostalgia in such participation, as it can take us back to these fond moments from our youth,\u201d notes Dr. Stever. And consuming fiction, like Heated Rivalry<\/em>, only enhances the fantasy and feelings. \u201cEven knowing it’s not \u2018real,\u2019 we enjoy it and engage in activities that reinforce those feelings,\u201d she says. But pining for a hunk is nothing new; research has been able to track celebrity crushes back to ancient Rome, where people crushed on rhetoricians and actors.\n<\/p>\n

    The Phenomena of (Steamy) Romance <\/span><\/h2>\n

    Two words: Heated Rivalry<\/em>. It\u2019s not just about sex (but, damn, the sex), but it\u2019s also about the yearning, the chemistry, the love story, and the acting. What\u2019s unique is that everyone is watching, too; it has universal crossover appeal. \u201cHeated Rivalry<\/em> has a huge audience that includes a lot of straight folks,\u201d says Goldstein. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of sex\u2026 and it is hot. We are not just turned on; we are moved to tears by the characters and the story,\u201d she adds. \u201cThis is the new hunk.\u201d\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

    We really haven\u2019t seen such a frenzied rise to the top for two actors in recent history. The shocking and nearly instant fandom of the Heated Rivalry<\/em> duo could\u2014and likely will be\u2014studied in psychology classes. But the rampant (nearly rabid\u2014justifiably) success of both Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie is something for the hunk storybooks. Williams leaving The Tonight Show<\/em> on January 7, 2026, is nothing short of Beatlemania. The awestruck (and perhaps slightly bemused) star weaves through a crowd of hundreds of screaming fans, their limbs outstretched, iPhones in tow, looking to capture their ultimate hunk. This show quite literally came out of nowhere, and no one knew their names months ago, and now they need security to walk down the street. Goldstein thinks both are magnetic, but Storrie, in particular, has It<\/em>.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

    But the frenzy around the show itself is really remarkable. Just a few years ago, things were far less evolved and involved a lot of homophobia, says Goldstein. \u201cI am sure many young actors were cautioned against playing queer roles earlier in their careers at that time,\u201d adds Goldstein. \u201cFears of being \u2018pigeonholed\u2019 running amok, but things have changed\u2014praise be.\u201d Now, heartthrobs, no matter their sexual orientation, embrace these roles. Goldstein notes Drew Starkey in Queer <\/em>and Outer Banks<\/em>, Paul Mescal in Normal People <\/em>and All of Us Strangers<\/em>, Jonathan Bailey in Wicked <\/em>and Fellow Travelers<\/em>, and Kit Connor in Heartstopper<\/em> and (hunk vehicle) Warfare<\/em>.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

    In a similar steamy vein of Heated Rivalry<\/em>, in Bridgerton\u2019<\/em>s upcoming season, the cast reminds us that they know how to produce a pining heartthrob. DeZarate thinks this will be Luke Thompson\u2019s year, who will lead Bridgerton<\/em> Season 4 as Benedict Bridgerton. DeZarate has worked with the actor before and notes that he\u2019s one of the \u201csweetest humans to ever exist,\u201d and because he\u2019s not on social media, he\u2019s a \u201cbeautiful mystery\u201d to his fans. The show certainly has the gravitas to elevate its leading men into household names: Just look at the prime example of the quirky and impossibly handsome superstar Jonathan Bailey. While Reg\u00e9-Jean Page became an instant hunk, he seemed to disappear from the public eye when he left the show after the successful first season. But fear not, he will be back in an exciting new rom-com coming out in April, titled You, Me and Tuscany<\/em>, opposite Halle Bailey (consider us already sitting in the theater, waiting for opening night). A welcome sight after a serious rom-com drought.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

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    While movie roles have traditionally been seen as more of a vehicle to superstardom before now, the frenzy around television shows like Heated Rivalry<\/em>, Outer Banks<\/em>,and Bridgerton <\/em>is notable (it\u2019s equally interesting that these shows allow their hunks to dance between vulnerability, longing, and showing skin).\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

    And while society might have you believe that being considered hunky is reserved for your youth, plenty of screen stars are bucking that belief. Take Noah Wyle as the in-control, empathetic, and emotionally tortured Dr. Michael \u201cRobby\u201d Robinavitch in The Pitt <\/em>(intelligence and confidence can be a major hunk indicator). Or actor, playwright, producer, and director Colman Domingo. Whether on the big or small screen, Domingo brings a soulful, intimate, and thoughtful energy to every role he takes on. We also can\u2019t miss an opportunity to mention Keanu Reeves. Even as a full-fledged action star in the John Wick<\/em> series, he\u2019s sensitive and emotional (he goes on a killing spree to avenge his puppy, after all). Also, kids, if you haven\u2019t seen 1994\u2019s Speed<\/em>, Reeves is quite possibly the hottest action lead ever<\/em>: He\u2019s confident, calm, and commanding and can wear the hell<\/em> out of a simple white T-shirt. I can\u2019t believe we\u2019ve made it this far without talking about Pedro Pascal\u2014the man, the myth, the charm<\/em>. \u201cDaddy Pascal\u201d brings his signature energy, vulnerability, and charisma to every role. And while we called Clooney a hunk of the past, his evergreen gentlemanly charm and personable nature make him a forever heartthrob (at 64, he\u2019s still a babe).\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

    The Great Hunk Way <\/span><\/h2>\n

    This shift from \u201ctraditional\u201d hunks and heartthrobs is also occurring in theater, says a theater casting agent (granted anonymity). \u201cShows like The Outsiders<\/em> have kind of glorified the grungy, lanky, long-haired, working-class guy (similar to the \u2018rat boy summer\u2019 wave in film and TV), and the actors who play the male leads typically have huge followings,\u201d says the agent. \u201cThere are still shows with more traditionally hunky leading men (Wicked<\/em>, The Great Gatsby<\/em>), but even long-running shows like Little Shop of Horrors<\/em> have shifted from traditional casting types for their leading men (having people like Milo Manheim step into the show in a role that is typically cast with a Rick Moranis type).\u201d Manheim is particularly notable at the moment because it was just announced that he\u2019s been cast as Flynn Rider in the live-action Tangled<\/em> movie. He\u2019s been described as a modern heartthrob for the Disney set, with the 24-year-old naturally drawing in a younger audience.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

    The theater casting agent interviewed thinks this leading man shift might be partly from Gen Z. \u201cI think the younger audiences have proven to be incredibly valuable in that they see shows over and over again (there are subreddits for fans of shows like The Outsiders<\/em>, Six<\/em>, &Juliet<\/em>, etc.), and they will see the same Broadway show 10+ times, buy the merch, buy tickets to the national tour, and follow the understudies specifically and wait to see performances where an understudy they love is on. They seem to be gravitating toward that type of leading man [who is] artsy and \u2018misunderstood.\u2019\u201d\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

    A Hunky Year Ahead\u2014Heartthrobs to Look Out For in 2026 <\/span><\/h2>\n

    Who\u2019s going to have a particularly hunky year? \u201cI think 2026 is going to be a massive year for the heartthrob universe,\u201d says May. Notably, many of the buzziest upcoming films are book adaptations, several thankfully through a female gaze, including a new adaptation of Sense and Sensibility<\/em> with up-and-comer George MacKay playing Edward. \u201cIt should be mandatory to have at least one man written by Jane Austen on our screens per year,\u201d says May. (Amen!) And, of course, Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights<\/em>. \u201cI’m not sure how people are going to receive this movie, but I’m certain they’ll talk about it a lot<\/em>, especially with Jacob Elordi playing Heathcliff,\u201d adds May. Elordi, although traditionally hot, has that certain je ne sais quoi<\/em> that takes him to the next hunk level, not only because of his expertly done styling and grooming, says DeZarate, but also because of the intellectual movies he chooses to be in. (There\u2019s also a bit of \u201ctortured artist\u201d energy emanating from him, which triggers an \u201cI can fix him\u201d pheromone when watching him on screen.)\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

    Speaking of Wuthering Heights<\/em>, Irish hunk Daryl McCormack will star in the Audible drama Heathcliff<\/em> this year, if you prefer your hunk in auditory form. Plus, the Good Luck to You, Leo Grande<\/em> star (still emotionally recovering from that film) will be Mr. Bingley in the Pride and Prejudice<\/em> mini series starring (Scottish babe) Jack Lowden and superstar Emma Corrin (hunk Louis Partridge also pops in as Mr. Wickham)\u2014an embarrassment of hunk riches, really.\n<\/p>\n

    Expect internet boyfriend Josh O’Connor to absolutely dominate cinema (again). \u201cHe’s going from being the indie darling he was last year to full blockbuster mode, leading Steven Spielberg’s alien movie Disclosure Day<\/em>, and I can’t wait to see him in this new register,\u201d says May.\u00a0Also, be on the lookout for the ever-charming and handsome A$AP Rocky, who had two big movie roles in 2025 (I\u2019m told the industry is particularly abuzz after his performance in If I Had Legs I\u2019d Kick You<\/em>).\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

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    Nearly every single person interviewed for this story mentioned one person: Christopher Briney from The Summer I Turned Pretty<\/em>. \u201cHe falls somewhere in between the Gen Z rat boy\/Milo Manheim\/Timoth\u00e9e Chalamet type and the handsome lead that millennials are drawn to,\u201d notes the theater casting agent. \u201cKind of grungy\/moody\/broody but traditionally attractive enough to feel like he could be in the OG Gossip Girl<\/em>.\u201d DeZarate goes as far as to say that she thinks Briney is the next Leonardo DiCaprio, and\u00a0his hair even looks similar to Leo\u2019s in Titanic<\/em>. \u201cHe’s humble and kind and has a bit of an unexpected ‘hometown hunk’ look,\u201d adds DeZarate. He\u2019s starring in The Julia Set<\/em> with the talented Chase Infiniti and, of course, there is The Summer I Turned Pretty<\/em> movie, predicted to release in 2027.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

    If your kink is Greek mythology, you’re in luck, says May, because The Odyssey<\/em> cast is packed full of cuties: Tom Holland, Matt Damon, and Robert Pattinson in full historical (although maybe not that<\/em> historically accurate) mode. \u201cI can’t tell if Christopher Nolan will give us another masterpiece, but he’ll surely give us a lot of hunk material,\u201d adds May.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

    A few of your favorite heartthrobs when you were growing up are back and better than ever, too. Josh Hutcherson, Logan Lerman, and Dylan O\u2019Brien are all making exciting comebacks. O\u2019Brien, in particular, has had a run of interesting movies, including the compelling psychological horror Send Help<\/em>, costarring Rachel McAdams, and 2025\u2019s clever Twinless<\/em>.\u00a0And finally, absolute hunk Charles Melton will star in an episode of Netflix\u2019s addictive show Beef<\/em>, taking the hunk reins from dreamboats Steven Yeun and Young Mazino. Mazino had a tremendous 2025, with a standout role in The Last of Us<\/em> and the psychological thriller Opus<\/em>, and has a few interesting projects in the 2026 pipeline.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

    2025 ushered the start of a new era of hunks, and it’s clear that Hollywood is (fortunately) doubling down in 2026. Gender identity, physicality, sexuality, and six-packs are no longer the driving force that separate the hunky from the hunkless. Instead, it’s all about charm, magnetism, care, consent, and maybe a little<\/em> brooding. (It never hurt anyone.)\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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    Read more:<\/div>\n
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          <\/main><\/p>\n

          \n
          \n
          \n
          \"RegJean\"RegJean<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

          The Next-Gen Issue<\/span><\/p>\n

          \n

          Welcome, 2.0 Hunks<\/h1>\n

          We’re glad you’re here.<\/p>\n

          \n
          \n
          \n
          By<\/span><\/p>\n
          Kristin Limoges<\/p>\n
          \n
          \n
          \n
          \"Kristin\"Kristin<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
          \nKristin Limoges\n<\/div>\n
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          • <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
            \nKristin Limoges is a New York-based wellness and beauty writer and has spent nearly a decade in the print and digital space. She’s constantly in search of the most up-to-date and accurate intel on topics and prides herself on providing in-depth and helpful info for her readers.\u00a0\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
            \nByrdie’s Editorial Guidelines\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
            Published on January 29, 2026 06:15AM<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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            Brad Pitt, Denzel Washington, George Clooney. Before them, Robert Redford, Harrison Ford, and Paul Newman. Generations before had no shortage of celebrity heartthrobs\u2014but 2026\u2019s hunks present<\/em> much differently than the traditional \u201cleading man\u201d stereotype. Today\u2019s hunks are hot, of course, but more than that, they\u2019re unique (see 2024\u2019s \u201crat boy summer\u201d). Personality, humility, and magnetism have never been more important for the screen heartthrobs of today. Social media has nearly required these leading men to become triple threats: talented actors, charming, and<\/em> humble. It’s a cultural shift, and one I welcome with open arms.\n<\/p>\n

            \u201cWhat’s fascinating is that modern hunks absolutely need more than just looks to set the internet on fire,\u201d says Marina May<\/u>, a graphic designer and the creator of her popular namesake Instagram account, where she curates notable films. \u201cThey need vulnerability, they need to be good actors, and honestly, they need to look a little different or unconventional.” Josh O\u2019Connor is the perfect example of this, and, arguably, no one possesses the trio of personality, humility, and charm more readily and naturally at this moment than O’Connor. \u201cWe’ve seen in Challengers<\/em> (the sauna scene was very illustrative) that he’s very attractive, but what gives him the biggest appeal is his shyness and dorkiness we’ve seen behind the scenes,\u201d says May. \u201cI can’t count the times I’ve seen that video of him holding a puppy during the Knives Out <\/em>press tour. It’s not about just being traditionally handsome anymore. It’s about being interesting, emotionally intelligent, and having an interior life that the audience can project onto,\u201d adds May. \u201cWe’ve moved from wanting to admire men from a distance to wanting to psychoanalyze them, and I think that’s much more compelling.\u201d\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

            While \u201ctraditional\u201d looking film superstars like Glen Powell and Michael B. Jordan are clearly absolute hunks (and certified box office juggernauts), May argues the new paradigm of a heartthrob is more of a quiet, tortured-looking guy, like Paul Mescal or Jeremy Allen White.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

            Meet the Modern Day Hunk <\/span><\/h2>\n

            So there\u2019s a hunk, and then there\u2019s a hunk<\/em>\u2014a hunk 2.0, says casting director and performance coach Brette Goldstein<\/u>. Think of it as perhaps the \u201cevolved hunk,\u201d she says, someone who is modern yet timeless, listens, sexy with real charisma, looks at you like you\u2019re both delicious and<\/em> a deity, with hunger and<\/em> respect, and with just the right amount of awe that proves he sees all your brilliance and strengths (and literal strength). \u201cHe can serve you, he worships you, while still being in control somehow, possibly even in command because you work hard, girl,\u201d says Goldstein. \u201cYou deserve to relax, to be worshipped. He\u2019s both in control and somewhere on the scale of feral. He knows where the line is\u2014he takes you right to it. He can read you. He\u2019s wise and ageless. He can feel his age at times and [is] timelessly wise in others. He is in his body, and his mind is whip-smart.\u201d (Okay, damn, Goldstein, write a smut romance novel already. We beg of you!)\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

            They are also required to be a \u201cnice guy\u201d in the era of DeuxMoi\u2014where everyone is now watching\u2014but they can\u2019t just be nice because everyone is watching, but because they truly are kind at heart. “Honestly, the ultimate hunk is the one who puts his ego aside instead of leading with it,” says Melissa DeZarate<\/u>, groomer to some of the biggest leading hunks in Hollywood. “True hunks don\u2019t sweat the small stuff. They\u2019re fun, they\u2019re effortlessly cool, they hold the door for the next person, and they\u2019re all-around gentlemen,\u201d she adds.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

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            While I use \u201che\u201d or \u201cguy\u201d a lot in this story, a hunk doesn\u2019t have to be gendered. \u201cIt\u2019s about magnetic embodiment and swagger with soul,\u201d says Goldstein. Are hunks reserved just for the screen? Absolutely not. There are hunky poets, athletes, teachers, nurses\u2014they\u2019re everywhere. “A hunk can be the cute barista that gives you an extra shot, just because they want to make you smile,” says DeZarate. Heck, be your own hunk. There are no rules! It turns out hunks are everywhere\u2014you just have to look for them (even if that\u2019s just in the mirror).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

            Are hunks just born with that inner star quality? Or can they be carefully crafted and perfected by a team of stylists, groomers, and marketing executives? Both can be true, says DeZarate, but usually when the heartthrob doesn\u2019t have that innate confidence in themselves, they usually don\u2019t stand the test of time. \u201cYou\u2019re basically Frankenstein-ing together a team that will hopefully elevate the talent\u2014sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn\u2019t.\u201d Goldstein thinks a true hunk is born, though. \u201cYou see them on screen or IRL, and you involuntarily inhale that brisk, captivated inhale because they\u2019ve just got it, and they\u2019ve got you<\/em>,\u201d she says.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

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            What is exactly so enticing about swooning over a character? Well, according to Gayle S. Stever, Ph.D., a professor of social and behavioral science at Empire State University of New York, we can blame evolution. \u201cWe are basically hardwired to be [drawn] to familiar faces and voices that are attractive to us,\u201d says Dr. Stever. \u201cThere is a part of us that doesn’t really distinguish the person on the screen from the one sitting across from us in our living room,\u201d she adds. \u201cEvolutionary science recognizes that there are two basic agendas for human beings: survival and reproduction,\u201d notes Dr. Stever. \u201cWe are looking for other people who can enhance those goals.\u201d\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

            There\u2019s also a community aspect of crushing, says Dr. Stever. Think of the viral videos of a bar full of people collectively watching episode five<\/u> of Heated Rivalry<\/em> and cheering together. \u201cThere is a certain nostalgia in such participation, as it can take us back to these fond moments from our youth,\u201d notes Dr. Stever. And consuming fiction, like Heated Rivalry<\/em>, only enhances the fantasy and feelings. \u201cEven knowing it’s not \u2018real,\u2019 we enjoy it and engage in activities that reinforce those feelings,\u201d she says. But pining for a hunk is nothing new; research has been able to track celebrity crushes back to ancient Rome, where people crushed on rhetoricians and actors.\n<\/p>\n

            The Phenomena of (Steamy) Romance <\/span><\/h2>\n

            Two words: Heated Rivalry<\/em>. It\u2019s not just about sex (but, damn, the sex), but it\u2019s also about the yearning, the chemistry, the love story, and the acting. What\u2019s unique is that everyone is watching, too; it has universal crossover appeal. \u201cHeated Rivalry<\/em> has a huge audience that includes a lot of straight folks,\u201d says Goldstein. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of sex\u2026 and it is hot. We are not just turned on; we are moved to tears by the characters and the story,\u201d she adds. \u201cThis is the new hunk.\u201d\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

            We really haven\u2019t seen such a frenzied rise to the top for two actors in recent history. The shocking and nearly instant fandom of the Heated Rivalry<\/em> duo could\u2014and likely will be\u2014studied in psychology classes. But the rampant (nearly rabid\u2014justifiably) success of both Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie is something for the hunk storybooks. Williams leaving The Tonight Show<\/em> on January 7, 2026, is nothing short of Beatlemania. The awestruck (and perhaps slightly bemused) star weaves through a crowd of hundreds of screaming fans, their limbs outstretched, iPhones in tow, looking to capture their ultimate hunk. This show quite literally came out of nowhere, and no one knew their names months ago, and now they need security to walk down the street. Goldstein thinks both are magnetic, but Storrie, in particular, has It<\/em>.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

            But the frenzy around the show itself is really remarkable. Just a few years ago, things were far less evolved and involved a lot of homophobia, says Goldstein. \u201cI am sure many young actors were cautioned against playing queer roles earlier in their careers at that time,\u201d adds Goldstein. \u201cFears of being \u2018pigeonholed\u2019 running amok, but things have changed\u2014praise be.\u201d Now, heartthrobs, no matter their sexual orientation, embrace these roles. Goldstein notes Drew Starkey in Queer <\/em>and Outer Banks<\/em>, Paul Mescal in Normal People <\/em>and All of Us Strangers<\/em>, Jonathan Bailey in Wicked <\/em>and Fellow Travelers<\/em>, and Kit Connor in Heartstopper<\/em> and (hunk vehicle) Warfare<\/em>.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

            In a similar steamy vein of Heated Rivalry<\/em>, in Bridgerton\u2019<\/em>s upcoming season, the cast reminds us that they know how to produce a pining heartthrob. DeZarate thinks this will be Luke Thompson\u2019s year, who will lead Bridgerton<\/em> Season 4 as Benedict Bridgerton. DeZarate has worked with the actor before and notes that he\u2019s one of the \u201csweetest humans to ever exist,\u201d and because he\u2019s not on social media, he\u2019s a \u201cbeautiful mystery\u201d to his fans. The show certainly has the gravitas to elevate its leading men into household names: Just look at the prime example of the quirky and impossibly handsome superstar Jonathan Bailey. While Reg\u00e9-Jean Page became an instant hunk, he seemed to disappear from the public eye when he left the show after the successful first season. But fear not, he will be back in an exciting new rom-com coming out in April, titled You, Me and Tuscany<\/em>, opposite Halle Bailey (consider us already sitting in the theater, waiting for opening night). A welcome sight after a serious rom-com drought.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

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            While movie roles have traditionally been seen as more of a vehicle to superstardom before now, the frenzy around television shows like Heated Rivalry<\/em>, Outer Banks<\/em>,and Bridgerton <\/em>is notable (it\u2019s equally interesting that these shows allow their hunks to dance between vulnerability, longing, and showing skin).\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

            And while society might have you believe that being considered hunky is reserved for your youth, plenty of screen stars are bucking that belief. Take Noah Wyle as the in-control, empathetic, and emotionally tortured Dr. Michael \u201cRobby\u201d Robinavitch in The Pitt <\/em>(intelligence and confidence can be a major hunk indicator). Or actor, playwright, producer, and director Colman Domingo. Whether on the big or small screen, Domingo brings a soulful, intimate, and thoughtful energy to every role he takes on. We also can\u2019t miss an opportunity to mention Keanu Reeves. Even as a full-fledged action star in the John Wick<\/em> series, he\u2019s sensitive and emotional (he goes on a killing spree to avenge his puppy, after all). Also, kids, if you haven\u2019t seen 1994\u2019s Speed<\/em>, Reeves is quite possibly the hottest action lead ever<\/em>: He\u2019s confident, calm, and commanding and can wear the hell<\/em> out of a simple white T-shirt. I can\u2019t believe we\u2019ve made it this far without talking about Pedro Pascal\u2014the man, the myth, the charm<\/em>. \u201cDaddy Pascal\u201d brings his signature energy, vulnerability, and charisma to every role. And while we called Clooney a hunk of the past, his evergreen gentlemanly charm and personable nature make him a forever heartthrob (at 64, he\u2019s still a babe).\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

            The Great Hunk Way <\/span><\/h2>\n

            This shift from \u201ctraditional\u201d hunks and heartthrobs is also occurring in theater, says a theater casting agent (granted anonymity). \u201cShows like The Outsiders<\/em> have kind of glorified the grungy, lanky, long-haired, working-class guy (similar to the \u2018rat boy summer\u2019 wave in film and TV), and the actors who play the male leads typically have huge followings,\u201d says the agent. \u201cThere are still shows with more traditionally hunky leading men (Wicked<\/em>, The Great Gatsby<\/em>), but even long-running shows like Little Shop of Horrors<\/em> have shifted from traditional casting types for their leading men (having people like Milo Manheim step into the show in a role that is typically cast with a Rick Moranis type).\u201d Manheim is particularly notable at the moment because it was just announced that he\u2019s been cast as Flynn Rider in the live-action Tangled<\/em> movie. He\u2019s been described as a modern heartthrob for the Disney set, with the 24-year-old naturally drawing in a younger audience.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

            The theater casting agent interviewed thinks this leading man shift might be partly from Gen Z. \u201cI think the younger audiences have proven to be incredibly valuable in that they see shows over and over again (there are subreddits for fans of shows like The Outsiders<\/em>, Six<\/em>, &Juliet<\/em>, etc.), and they will see the same Broadway show 10+ times, buy the merch, buy tickets to the national tour, and follow the understudies specifically and wait to see performances where an understudy they love is on. They seem to be gravitating toward that type of leading man [who is] artsy and \u2018misunderstood.\u2019\u201d\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

            A Hunky Year Ahead\u2014Heartthrobs to Look Out For in 2026 <\/span><\/h2>\n

            Who\u2019s going to have a particularly hunky year? \u201cI think 2026 is going to be a massive year for the heartthrob universe,\u201d says May. Notably, many of the buzziest upcoming films are book adaptations, several thankfully through a female gaze, including a new adaptation of Sense and Sensibility<\/em> with up-and-comer George MacKay playing Edward. \u201cIt should be mandatory to have at least one man written by Jane Austen on our screens per year,\u201d says May. (Amen!) And, of course, Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights<\/em>. \u201cI’m not sure how people are going to receive this movie, but I’m certain they’ll talk about it a lot<\/em>, especially with Jacob Elordi playing Heathcliff,\u201d adds May. Elordi, although traditionally hot, has that certain je ne sais quoi<\/em> that takes him to the next hunk level, not only because of his expertly done styling and grooming, says DeZarate, but also because of the intellectual movies he chooses to be in. (There\u2019s also a bit of \u201ctortured artist\u201d energy emanating from him, which triggers an \u201cI can fix him\u201d pheromone when watching him on screen.)\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

            Speaking of Wuthering Heights<\/em>, Irish hunk Daryl McCormack will star in the Audible drama Heathcliff<\/em> this year, if you prefer your hunk in auditory form. Plus, the Good Luck to You, Leo Grande<\/em> star (still emotionally recovering from that film) will be Mr. Bingley in the Pride and Prejudice<\/em> mini series starring (Scottish babe) Jack Lowden and superstar Emma Corrin (hunk Louis Partridge also pops in as Mr. Wickham)\u2014an embarrassment of hunk riches, really.\n<\/p>\n

            Expect internet boyfriend Josh O’Connor to absolutely dominate cinema (again). \u201cHe’s going from being the indie darling he was last year to full blockbuster mode, leading Steven Spielberg’s alien movie Disclosure Day<\/em>, and I can’t wait to see him in this new register,\u201d says May.\u00a0Also, be on the lookout for the ever-charming and handsome A$AP Rocky, who had two big movie roles in 2025 (I\u2019m told the industry is particularly abuzz after his performance in If I Had Legs I\u2019d Kick You<\/em>).\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

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            Nearly every single person interviewed for this story mentioned one person: Christopher Briney from The Summer I Turned Pretty<\/em>. \u201cHe falls somewhere in between the Gen Z rat boy\/Milo Manheim\/Timoth\u00e9e Chalamet type and the handsome lead that millennials are drawn to,\u201d notes the theater casting agent. \u201cKind of grungy\/moody\/broody but traditionally attractive enough to feel like he could be in the OG Gossip Girl<\/em>.\u201d DeZarate goes as far as to say that she thinks Briney is the next Leonardo DiCaprio, and\u00a0his hair even looks similar to Leo\u2019s in Titanic<\/em>. \u201cHe’s humble and kind and has a bit of an unexpected ‘hometown hunk’ look,\u201d adds DeZarate. He\u2019s starring in The Julia Set<\/em> with the talented Chase Infiniti and, of course, there is The Summer I Turned Pretty<\/em> movie, predicted to release in 2027.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

            If your kink is Greek mythology, you’re in luck, says May, because The Odyssey<\/em> cast is packed full of cuties: Tom Holland, Matt Damon, and Robert Pattinson in full historical (although maybe not that<\/em> historically accurate) mode. \u201cI can’t tell if Christopher Nolan will give us another masterpiece, but he’ll surely give us a lot of hunk material,\u201d adds May.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

            A few of your favorite heartthrobs when you were growing up are back and better than ever, too. Josh Hutcherson, Logan Lerman, and Dylan O\u2019Brien are all making exciting comebacks. O\u2019Brien, in particular, has had a run of interesting movies, including the compelling psychological horror Send Help<\/em>, costarring Rachel McAdams, and 2025\u2019s clever Twinless<\/em>.\u00a0And finally, absolute hunk Charles Melton will star in an episode of Netflix\u2019s addictive show Beef<\/em>, taking the hunk reins from dreamboats Steven Yeun and Young Mazino. Mazino had a tremendous 2025, with a standout role in The Last of Us<\/em> and the psychological thriller Opus<\/em>, and has a few interesting projects in the 2026 pipeline.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

            2025 ushered the start of a new era of hunks, and it’s clear that Hollywood is (fortunately) doubling down in 2026. Gender identity, physicality, sexuality, and six-packs are no longer the driving force that separate the hunky from the hunkless. Instead, it’s all about charm, magnetism, care, consent, and maybe a little<\/em> brooding. (It never hurt anyone.)\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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              Brad Pitt, Denzel Washington, George Clooney. Before them, Robert Redford, Harrison Ford, and Paul Newman. Generations before had no shortage of celebrity heartthrobs\u2014but 2026\u2019s hunks present<\/em> much differently than the traditional \u201cleading man\u201d stereotype. Today\u2019s hunks are hot, of course, but more than that, they\u2019re unique (see 2024\u2019s \u201crat boy summer\u201d). Personality, humility, and magnetism have never been more important for the screen heartthrobs of today. Social media has nearly required these leading men to become triple threats: talented actors, charming, and<\/em> humble. It’s a cultural shift, and one I welcome with open arms.\n<\/p>\n

              \u201cWhat’s fascinating is that modern hunks absolutely need more than just looks to set the internet on fire,\u201d says Marina May<\/u>, a graphic designer and the creator of her popular namesake Instagram account, where she curates notable films. \u201cThey need vulnerability, they need to be good actors, and honestly, they need to look a little different or unconventional.” Josh O\u2019Connor is the perfect example of this, and, arguably, no one possesses the trio of personality, humility, and charm more readily and naturally at this moment than O’Connor. \u201cWe’ve seen in Challengers<\/em> (the sauna scene was very illustrative) that he’s very attractive, but what gives him the biggest appeal is his shyness and dorkiness we’ve seen behind the scenes,\u201d says May. \u201cI can’t count the times I’ve seen that video of him holding a puppy during the Knives Out <\/em>press tour. It’s not about just being traditionally handsome anymore. It’s about being interesting, emotionally intelligent, and having an interior life that the audience can project onto,\u201d adds May. \u201cWe’ve moved from wanting to admire men from a distance to wanting to psychoanalyze them, and I think that’s much more compelling.\u201d\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

              While \u201ctraditional\u201d looking film superstars like Glen Powell and Michael B. Jordan are clearly absolute hunks (and certified box office juggernauts), May argues the new paradigm of a heartthrob is more of a quiet, tortured-looking guy, like Paul Mescal or Jeremy Allen White.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

              Meet the Modern Day Hunk <\/span><\/h2>\n

              So there\u2019s a hunk, and then there\u2019s a hunk<\/em>\u2014a hunk 2.0, says casting director and performance coach Brette Goldstein<\/u>. Think of it as perhaps the \u201cevolved hunk,\u201d she says, someone who is modern yet timeless, listens, sexy with real charisma, looks at you like you\u2019re both delicious and<\/em> a deity, with hunger and<\/em> respect, and with just the right amount of awe that proves he sees all your brilliance and strengths (and literal strength). \u201cHe can serve you, he worships you, while still being in control somehow, possibly even in command because you work hard, girl,\u201d says Goldstein. \u201cYou deserve to relax, to be worshipped. He\u2019s both in control and somewhere on the scale of feral. He knows where the line is\u2014he takes you right to it. He can read you. He\u2019s wise and ageless. He can feel his age at times and [is] timelessly wise in others. He is in his body, and his mind is whip-smart.\u201d (Okay, damn, Goldstein, write a smut romance novel already. We beg of you!)\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

              They are also required to be a \u201cnice guy\u201d in the era of DeuxMoi\u2014where everyone is now watching\u2014but they can\u2019t just be nice because everyone is watching, but because they truly are kind at heart. “Honestly, the ultimate hunk is the one who puts his ego aside instead of leading with it,” says Melissa DeZarate<\/u>, groomer to some of the biggest leading hunks in Hollywood. “True hunks don\u2019t sweat the small stuff. They\u2019re fun, they\u2019re effortlessly cool, they hold the door for the next person, and they\u2019re all-around gentlemen,\u201d she adds.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

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              While I use \u201che\u201d or \u201cguy\u201d a lot in this story, a hunk doesn\u2019t have to be gendered. \u201cIt\u2019s about magnetic embodiment and swagger with soul,\u201d says Goldstein. Are hunks reserved just for the screen? Absolutely not. There are hunky poets, athletes, teachers, nurses\u2014they\u2019re everywhere. “A hunk can be the cute barista that gives you an extra shot, just because they want to make you smile,” says DeZarate. Heck, be your own hunk. There are no rules! It turns out hunks are everywhere\u2014you just have to look for them (even if that\u2019s just in the mirror).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

              Are hunks just born with that inner star quality? Or can they be carefully crafted and perfected by a team of stylists, groomers, and marketing executives? Both can be true, says DeZarate, but usually when the heartthrob doesn\u2019t have that innate confidence in themselves, they usually don\u2019t stand the test of time. \u201cYou\u2019re basically Frankenstein-ing together a team that will hopefully elevate the talent\u2014sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn\u2019t.\u201d Goldstein thinks a true hunk is born, though. \u201cYou see them on screen or IRL, and you involuntarily inhale that brisk, captivated inhale because they\u2019ve just got it, and they\u2019ve got you<\/em>,\u201d she says.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

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              What is exactly so enticing about swooning over a character? Well, according to Gayle S. Stever, Ph.D., a professor of social and behavioral science at Empire State University of New York, we can blame evolution. \u201cWe are basically hardwired to be [drawn] to familiar faces and voices that are attractive to us,\u201d says Dr. Stever. \u201cThere is a part of us that doesn’t really distinguish the person on the screen from the one sitting across from us in our living room,\u201d she adds. \u201cEvolutionary science recognizes that there are two basic agendas for human beings: survival and reproduction,\u201d notes Dr. Stever. \u201cWe are looking for other people who can enhance those goals.\u201d\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

              There\u2019s also a community aspect of crushing, says Dr. Stever. Think of the viral videos of a bar full of people collectively watching episode five<\/u> of Heated Rivalry<\/em> and cheering together. \u201cThere is a certain nostalgia in such participation, as it can take us back to these fond moments from our youth,\u201d notes Dr. Stever. And consuming fiction, like Heated Rivalry<\/em>, only enhances the fantasy and feelings. \u201cEven knowing it’s not \u2018real,\u2019 we enjoy it and engage in activities that reinforce those feelings,\u201d she says. But pining for a hunk is nothing new; research has been able to track celebrity crushes back to ancient Rome, where people crushed on rhetoricians and actors.\n<\/p>\n

              The Phenomena of (Steamy) Romance <\/span><\/h2>\n

              Two words: Heated Rivalry<\/em>. It\u2019s not just about sex (but, damn, the sex), but it\u2019s also about the yearning, the chemistry, the love story, and the acting. What\u2019s unique is that everyone is watching, too; it has universal crossover appeal. \u201cHeated Rivalry<\/em> has a huge audience that includes a lot of straight folks,\u201d says Goldstein. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of sex\u2026 and it is hot. We are not just turned on; we are moved to tears by the characters and the story,\u201d she adds. \u201cThis is the new hunk.\u201d\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

              We really haven\u2019t seen such a frenzied rise to the top for two actors in recent history. The shocking and nearly instant fandom of the Heated Rivalry<\/em> duo could\u2014and likely will be\u2014studied in psychology classes. But the rampant (nearly rabid\u2014justifiably) success of both Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie is something for the hunk storybooks. Williams leaving The Tonight Show<\/em> on January 7, 2026, is nothing short of Beatlemania. The awestruck (and perhaps slightly bemused) star weaves through a crowd of hundreds of screaming fans, their limbs outstretched, iPhones in tow, looking to capture their ultimate hunk. This show quite literally came out of nowhere, and no one knew their names months ago, and now they need security to walk down the street. Goldstein thinks both are magnetic, but Storrie, in particular, has It<\/em>.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

              But the frenzy around the show itself is really remarkable. Just a few years ago, things were far less evolved and involved a lot of homophobia, says Goldstein. \u201cI am sure many young actors were cautioned against playing queer roles earlier in their careers at that time,\u201d adds Goldstein. \u201cFears of being \u2018pigeonholed\u2019 running amok, but things have changed\u2014praise be.\u201d Now, heartthrobs, no matter their sexual orientation, embrace these roles. Goldstein notes Drew Starkey in Queer <\/em>and Outer Banks<\/em>, Paul Mescal in Normal People <\/em>and All of Us Strangers<\/em>, Jonathan Bailey in Wicked <\/em>and Fellow Travelers<\/em>, and Kit Connor in Heartstopper<\/em> and (hunk vehicle) Warfare<\/em>.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

              In a similar steamy vein of Heated Rivalry<\/em>, in Bridgerton\u2019<\/em>s upcoming season, the cast reminds us that they know how to produce a pining heartthrob. DeZarate thinks this will be Luke Thompson\u2019s year, who will lead Bridgerton<\/em> Season 4 as Benedict Bridgerton. DeZarate has worked with the actor before and notes that he\u2019s one of the \u201csweetest humans to ever exist,\u201d and because he\u2019s not on social media, he\u2019s a \u201cbeautiful mystery\u201d to his fans. The show certainly has the gravitas to elevate its leading men into household names: Just look at the prime example of the quirky and impossibly handsome superstar Jonathan Bailey. While Reg\u00e9-Jean Page became an instant hunk, he seemed to disappear from the public eye when he left the show after the successful first season. But fear not, he will be back in an exciting new rom-com coming out in April, titled You, Me and Tuscany<\/em>, opposite Halle Bailey (consider us already sitting in the theater, waiting for opening night). A welcome sight after a serious rom-com drought.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

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              While movie roles have traditionally been seen as more of a vehicle to superstardom before now, the frenzy around television shows like Heated Rivalry<\/em>, Outer Banks<\/em>,and Bridgerton <\/em>is notable (it\u2019s equally interesting that these shows allow their hunks to dance between vulnerability, longing, and showing skin).\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

              And while society might have you believe that being considered hunky is reserved for your youth, plenty of screen stars are bucking that belief. Take Noah Wyle as the in-control, empathetic, and emotionally tortured Dr. Michael \u201cRobby\u201d Robinavitch in The Pitt <\/em>(intelligence and confidence can be a major hunk indicator). Or actor, playwright, producer, and director Colman Domingo. Whether on the big or small screen, Domingo brings a soulful, intimate, and thoughtful energy to every role he takes on. We also can\u2019t miss an opportunity to mention Keanu Reeves. Even as a full-fledged action star in the John Wick<\/em> series, he\u2019s sensitive and emotional (he goes on a killing spree to avenge his puppy, after all). Also, kids, if you haven\u2019t seen 1994\u2019s Speed<\/em>, Reeves is quite possibly the hottest action lead ever<\/em>: He\u2019s confident, calm, and commanding and can wear the hell<\/em> out of a simple white T-shirt. I can\u2019t believe we\u2019ve made it this far without talking about Pedro Pascal\u2014the man, the myth, the charm<\/em>. \u201cDaddy Pascal\u201d brings his signature energy, vulnerability, and charisma to every role. And while we called Clooney a hunk of the past, his evergreen gentlemanly charm and personable nature make him a forever heartthrob (at 64, he\u2019s still a babe).\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

              The Great Hunk Way <\/span><\/h2>\n

              This shift from \u201ctraditional\u201d hunks and heartthrobs is also occurring in theater, says a theater casting agent (granted anonymity). \u201cShows like The Outsiders<\/em> have kind of glorified the grungy, lanky, long-haired, working-class guy (similar to the \u2018rat boy summer\u2019 wave in film and TV), and the actors who play the male leads typically have huge followings,\u201d says the agent. \u201cThere are still shows with more traditionally hunky leading men (Wicked<\/em>, The Great Gatsby<\/em>), but even long-running shows like Little Shop of Horrors<\/em> have shifted from traditional casting types for their leading men (having people like Milo Manheim step into the show in a role that is typically cast with a Rick Moranis type).\u201d Manheim is particularly notable at the moment because it was just announced that he\u2019s been cast as Flynn Rider in the live-action Tangled<\/em> movie. He\u2019s been described as a modern heartthrob for the Disney set, with the 24-year-old naturally drawing in a younger audience.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

              The theater casting agent interviewed thinks this leading man shift might be partly from Gen Z. \u201cI think the younger audiences have proven to be incredibly valuable in that they see shows over and over again (there are subreddits for fans of shows like The Outsiders<\/em>, Six<\/em>, &Juliet<\/em>, etc.), and they will see the same Broadway show 10+ times, buy the merch, buy tickets to the national tour, and follow the understudies specifically and wait to see performances where an understudy they love is on. They seem to be gravitating toward that type of leading man [who is] artsy and \u2018misunderstood.\u2019\u201d\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

              A Hunky Year Ahead\u2014Heartthrobs to Look Out For in 2026 <\/span><\/h2>\n

              Who\u2019s going to have a particularly hunky year? \u201cI think 2026 is going to be a massive year for the heartthrob universe,\u201d says May. Notably, many of the buzziest upcoming films are book adaptations, several thankfully through a female gaze, including a new adaptation of Sense and Sensibility<\/em> with up-and-comer George MacKay playing Edward. \u201cIt should be mandatory to have at least one man written by Jane Austen on our screens per year,\u201d says May. (Amen!) And, of course, Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights<\/em>. \u201cI’m not sure how people are going to receive this movie, but I’m certain they’ll talk about it a lot<\/em>, especially with Jacob Elordi playing Heathcliff,\u201d adds May. Elordi, although traditionally hot, has that certain je ne sais quoi<\/em> that takes him to the next hunk level, not only because of his expertly done styling and grooming, says DeZarate, but also because of the intellectual movies he chooses to be in. (There\u2019s also a bit of \u201ctortured artist\u201d energy emanating from him, which triggers an \u201cI can fix him\u201d pheromone when watching him on screen.)\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

              Speaking of Wuthering Heights<\/em>, Irish hunk Daryl McCormack will star in the Audible drama Heathcliff<\/em> this year, if you prefer your hunk in auditory form. Plus, the Good Luck to You, Leo Grande<\/em> star (still emotionally recovering from that film) will be Mr. Bingley in the Pride and Prejudice<\/em> mini series starring (Scottish babe) Jack Lowden and superstar Emma Corrin (hunk Louis Partridge also pops in as Mr. Wickham)\u2014an embarrassment of hunk riches, really.\n<\/p>\n

              Expect internet boyfriend Josh O’Connor to absolutely dominate cinema (again). \u201cHe’s going from being the indie darling he was last year to full blockbuster mode, leading Steven Spielberg’s alien movie Disclosure Day<\/em>, and I can’t wait to see him in this new register,\u201d says May.\u00a0Also, be on the lookout for the ever-charming and handsome A$AP Rocky, who had two big movie roles in 2025 (I\u2019m told the industry is particularly abuzz after his performance in If I Had Legs I\u2019d Kick You<\/em>).\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

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              Nearly every single person interviewed for this story mentioned one person: Christopher Briney from The Summer I Turned Pretty<\/em>. \u201cHe falls somewhere in between the Gen Z rat boy\/Milo Manheim\/Timoth\u00e9e Chalamet type and the handsome lead that millennials are drawn to,\u201d notes the theater casting agent. \u201cKind of grungy\/moody\/broody but traditionally attractive enough to feel like he could be in the OG Gossip Girl<\/em>.\u201d DeZarate goes as far as to say that she thinks Briney is the next Leonardo DiCaprio, and\u00a0his hair even looks similar to Leo\u2019s in Titanic<\/em>. \u201cHe’s humble and kind and has a bit of an unexpected ‘hometown hunk’ look,\u201d adds DeZarate. He\u2019s starring in The Julia Set<\/em> with the talented Chase Infiniti and, of course, there is The Summer I Turned Pretty<\/em> movie, predicted to release in 2027.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

              If your kink is Greek mythology, you’re in luck, says May, because The Odyssey<\/em> cast is packed full of cuties: Tom Holland, Matt Damon, and Robert Pattinson in full historical (although maybe not that<\/em> historically accurate) mode. \u201cI can’t tell if Christopher Nolan will give us another masterpiece, but he’ll surely give us a lot of hunk material,\u201d adds May.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

              A few of your favorite heartthrobs when you were growing up are back and better than ever, too. Josh Hutcherson, Logan Lerman, and Dylan O\u2019Brien are all making exciting comebacks. O\u2019Brien, in particular, has had a run of interesting movies, including the compelling psychological horror Send Help<\/em>, costarring Rachel McAdams, and 2025\u2019s clever Twinless<\/em>.\u00a0And finally, absolute hunk Charles Melton will star in an episode of Netflix\u2019s addictive show Beef<\/em>, taking the hunk reins from dreamboats Steven Yeun and Young Mazino. Mazino had a tremendous 2025, with a standout role in The Last of Us<\/em> and the psychological thriller Opus<\/em>, and has a few interesting projects in the 2026 pipeline.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

              2025 ushered the start of a new era of hunks, and it’s clear that Hollywood is (fortunately) doubling down in 2026. Gender identity, physicality, sexuality, and six-packs are no longer the driving force that separate the hunky from the hunkless. Instead, it’s all about charm, magnetism, care, consent, and maybe a little<\/em> brooding. (It never hurt anyone.)\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

              Source URL: https:\/\/www.byrdie.com\/return-of-heartthrobs-11880664<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

              The Next-Gen Issue Welcome, 2.0 Hunks We’re glad you’re here. By Kristin Limoges Kristin Limoges Kristin Limoges is a New York-based wellness and beauty writer and has spent nearly a decade in the print and digital space. She’s constantly in search of the most up-to-date and accurate intel on topics and prides herself on providing […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1683655,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[83,226],"class_list":["post-1683637","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics","tag-byrdie-com","tag-crawlmanager"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1683637","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1683637"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1683637\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1683655"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1683637"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1683637"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1683637"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}