They're already here: 25 black actors who will carry the torch in the 2020s

With a promising start on television on shows like "Crossing Jordan" and "House of Cards," Mahershala Ali made his big breakout in the final film of the "Hunger Games" series and hasn't stopped yet, culminating in two Academy Award wins and a Golden Globe. Ali has the distinction of being the only black actor to win the same Oscar twice, placing him firmly at the head of the class of this generation's finest and most accomplished black actors, with a future as bright as his star status.

A bit player on a variety of TV shows in the first half of his career, Chadwick Boseman made his mark on Hollywood in 2013's "42," starring as the groundbreaking Jackie Robinson along-side Harrison Ford as Branch Rickey in a biographical account of Robinson becoming the first black major leaguer. From there his rise has yet to halt. Introduced as iconic comic book superhero Black Panther in 2016's "Captain America: Civil War," Boseman now has an additional three Marvel films under his belt and more to come. Boseman's time in the spotlight now has him in a variety of starring roles, and things don't look to slow down anytime soon.

Only 27, John Boyega is one of the most prolific actors on our list. From his 2011 debut in Joe Cornish's "Attack the Block," Boyega parlayed his roguish charm and fresh face into high-profile projects on screens both big and small. Whether it was his appearance on the revival of the popular spy show "24" to his casting as Finn on the "Star Wars" sequels, Boyega, in less than a decade, has crafted a star whose only in the first half of a long and promising career.

Sterling K. Brown spent the previous two decades in a variety of TV and film roles, always on the periphery of things yet carrying a distinctive style. He made his mark in 2016 as a headliner on NBC tearjerker "This is Us." Coupled with a breakout cameo in Marvel Studios' "Black Panther," Brown is popping in more high-profile projects, including a devastating turn in 2019's "Waves," bringing his career to the verge of full-blown stardom. Brown is one or two projects away from being the next big thing in Hollywood.

When your first four films are megahit blockbusters, there's really nowhere to go but down. However in the case of Winston Duke, the sky seems to be the limit for the 33-year-old actor. Trained onstage next to another entry on our list, Lupita Nyong'o, Duke would go on to star alongside her in 2018's "Us." Making his way into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Duke is enjoying a run as M'Baku, frenemy of Wakanda King T'Challa, better known as the Black Panther. Duke certainly cuts a large figure on screen, and the only thing that looks bigger is his future.

English actor Idris Elba had been a staple on British television since the mid '90s, but it wasn't until his turn as duplicitous gangster Stringer Bell on HBO's "The Wire" that Elba hit the big time on American shores. Parlaying his newfound popularity into high-profile film projects, including Marvel Studios fare, Elba continued to build his star internationally, returning to British television as policeman John Luther and becoming an instant icon. Elba continues to appear in higher-profile projects and exists as a favorite of many to inherit the role of 007 himself, James Bond.

Donald Glover is only 36, but for nearly half his life he's worn a variety of hats. Whether it's DJ, rapper, actor or comedian, Glover has taken his success from the writer's room on to TV screens and then to stages and finally to the big screen, appearing in Marvel's "Spider-Man: Homecoming" and "Solo: A Star Wars Story," filling the iconic boots of Billy Dee Williams as charming rogue Lando Calrissian. Today, Glover splits his time between FX's critically acclaimed "Atlanta" and the music studio, where he's better known as Childish Gambino, making Glover one of the hottest stars on our list.

A playwright at heart, Danai Gurira started out teaching playwriting and acting in Liberia and then carved a niche for herself in a number of plays back into the States until she joined the cast of AMC's "The Walking Dead" in 2012. Since her introduction as fan favorite Michonne, Gurira's status ballooned with her appearance in three Marvel Studios films and with her days on "The Walking Dead" coming to a close, Gurira is poised to be a big name in the 2020s and beyond.

Chicago native Laura Harrier started her career on the runway as a model, but with her role as Destiny Evans on long-running soap "One Life to Live," Harrier began to cut a path for herself in film roles including supporting turns in "Spider-Man: Homecoming" and Oscar darling "BlacKkKlansman." Harrier has two films on the schedule for 2020 and only more to come in the near future.

What started as a venture into jazz soon turned into feature film roles for Kelvin Harrison Jr., who at the young age of 25 is looking at a career on the rise with a star-making turn in the controversial "Luce" and notable roles in "Waves" and 2020's "The Photograph." This is only the beginning for Harrison, as his biggest role to date comes this year with "The Trial of the Chicago 7," in which he stars as ill-fated Black Panther party leader Fred Hampton, who was famously gunned down in his apartment by Chicago police as he slept.

Best known for his breakout role as Alfred "Paper Boi" Miles in FX's "Atlanta," Brian Tyree Henry has a big year ahead of him with roles in Marvel Studios' "The Eternals" and the highly anticipated "Godzilla vs. Kong." Couple all that with a robust resume on TV and a number of upcoming projects, and Henry looks to have a big decade in Hollywood.

Starting with a bit part in HBO's "The Sopranos" in 1999, Michael B. Jordan started a path that finds him as a legitimate A-list celebrity in 2020. Thanks to a number of pivotal roles in 2013's "Fruitvale Station," which also launched the career of director Ryan Coogler, who would continue his roll with Jordan in "Creed" and "Black Panther." That made both among the hottest commodities in Hollywood, something Jordan is also parlaying into a career behind the camera, having produced 2018's "Kin." When it's all said and done, Michael B. Jordan could end up at the top of this list of up-and-comers. 

Getting his start in improvisational theater in his native Britain, Daniel Kaluuya quickly carved a niche for himself on British television, most notably BBC's sci-fi anthology "Black Mirror." After a prime role in 2011's "Johnny English Reborn," Kaluuya increased his presence in film roles, leading to a starring role as Chris Washington in the instant classic horror film "Get Out." The success of Jordan Peele's directorial debut thrust Kaluuya into a supporting role in the blockbuster "Black Panther" and another leading role in 2019's "Queen & Slim." 2020 has Kaluuya appearing in the much-talked about biopic of slain Black Panther Fred Hampton, making Kaluuya a household name.

Of the actors on our list, Lupita Nyong'o is the only one to have her debut rewarded with a Best Actress Oscar. Nyong'o's role as Patsey in "12 Years a Slave," based on a real-life account of a young woman who lived as a slave with captured freedman Solomon Northup, was a searingly melancholic performance that made an unknown into a star. Since her Oscar win, Nyong'o is in high-demand with high-profile roles in the "Star Wars" franchise and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, thanks to her casting in "Black Panther." Whether she's a household name today is not nearly in dispute. The real question is how big her star will get in 2020 and beyond.

Equally successful on both stage and screen, British actress Gugu Mbatha-Raw parlayed her work in a series of minor roles (including "Doctor Who) into a solid career in dramatic films. Mbatha-Raw looks to have an equally successful 2020, coming off signature roles in the indie superhero film, "Fast Color" and a starring role in the Edward Norton passion project, "Motherless Brooklyn," just the year before. While not immediately a household name, she gives a strong argument for her being a dramatic presence in films for the foreseeable future.

Starting professionally onstage as an understudy for Don Cheadle, Julliard graduate Anthony Mackie debuted onscreen alongside Eminem in 2002's "8 Mile." Since then, Mackie has maintained a balance of stage and screen, culminating in a career-defining turn as Sam Wilson, better known as "The Falcon" in "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," kicking off a long-term tenure in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that continues with Disney + series "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" in 2020. Paying his dues paid off for Mackie, as he carves out a niche as a black action star for this generation.

From YouTube star to Hollywood star in less than a decade, Issa Rae parlayed her popularity in her web series "Awkward Black Girl" to a comedy pilot with former Comedy Central host Larry Wilmore that became the even more popular "Insecure" on HBO. Rae didn't rest on her laurels, as she made the jump to feature films in 2018, with a role in "The Hate U Give," leading into the release of starring roles in "The Photograph" and "The Lovebirds" in 2020. For Issa Rae, her time as a household name seems to be just about here.

A double threat as an actor and singer, Chaley Rose made a name for herself in the recurring role of Zoey on ABC/CMT musical drama "Nashville." Making a number of bit appearances on high-profile TV shows, like the Charlie Sheen sitcom "Anger Management," Rose moved up to films for the Hallmark Network, "A Christmas Duet" and "Holiday Heist." Rose is an actor to look out for as continuing appearances in 2020, like on "Lucifer," may be a sign that she's one role away from being a household name among actors of color.

Taylor Russell is having a big 2020, hot off a critically acclaimed performance in "Waves" and currently appearing in Netflix's update of sci-fi adventure "Lost in Space." As Dr. Judy Robinson, Russell conveys a presence far beyond her 25 years. Next up for Russell is a starring role in "Dr. Bird's Sad Advice for Sad Poets," a potential Season 3 of "Lost in Space" and from there is a certainty that Russell will have a long and promising career.

Best known as the teen version of lead character Chiron in the Oscar-winning "Moonlight," Ashton Sanders has had an active last couple of years, starring in "Captive State" and "Native Son." 2020 looks to be just as big for the 24-year-old, as Sanders has a sizable role in a bio-pic on slain Black Panther Fred Hampton. Sanders' calm demeanor and steely eyes are reminiscent of actors like Don Cheadle, and this early in his career,he  is likely to see the same sort of success Cheadle has enjoyed.

Enjoying a star turn early this decade is Jurnee Smollett-Bell, currently lighting up screens in "Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)" as superhuman songstress Black Canary, a long way from her beginnings as a child actress getting her big screen break in 1997 indie darling "Eve's Bayou." Things will only get brighter for Smollett-Bell as she stars in the upcoming HBO horror series "Lovecraft Country."

Lakeith Stanfield started his career promisingly enough with an Independent Spirit Award nomination for his work in 2013's "Short Term 12." From there his career has been on an upward trajectory, as he has appeared in a number of acclaimed films like "Straight Outta Compton," "Get Out," "Sorry To Bother You" and "Knives Out." 2020 is shaping up strongly for Stanfield, with a starring role in "The Photograph" and another film recounting the life and times of slain Black Panther leader Fred Hampton.

Breaking out in 2009 as Kari Peterson in indie darling "Mississippi Damned," Tessa Thompson found herself in a number of bit parts until her turn in "Dear White People" made her into a true acting commodity with a penchant for prime roles in films like "Creed," "Thor: Ragnarok," "Sorry To Bother You" and a prime role in HBO's blockbuster series "Westworld." Whether she's carving a niche for herself in the Marvel Cinematic Universe or ensembling in groundbreaking TV, Thompson is certainly here to stay, with her star only growing brighter.

The apple of greatness does not fall far from the tree, as John David Washington, the son of Denzel, seeks to supplant dear old dad with significant work of his own, kicked off (pun intended), with a role in five seasons of HBO's "Ballers" and expanding into Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for his starring role in Spike Lee's Academy Award-winning "BlacKkKlansman." 2020 looks to be huge for Washington as he stars in Christopher Nolan's newest big screen epic, "Tenet," which is poised to cement Washington as a bona fide star.

Starting out as a child model, it wasn't long before mainstream success would come for Zendaya, as her beginnings on Disney's "Shake It Up" would lead to a recording career and her ultimate coming out party with a starring role in Marvel Studios' "Spider-Man: Homecoming" and its sequel. Not one to pigeonhole herself in any one genre, Zendaya received positive reviews for her work on HBO's eclectic and dark look at high school life under pressure, "Euphoria." In 2020, Zendaya stars alongside Timothee Chalamet in Denis Villeneuve's adaptation of sci-fi epic "Dune."