These talented stars are on the rise. How many do you recognize?

These Stars Are on the Rise

From popular franchises to brand new worlds of exploration, science fiction and fantasy stories are more popular than ever. Check out our list of the best and brightest new and upcoming movies and series.

New and Upcoming Sci-Fi and Fantasy

Discover some of the most anticipated sequels, prequels, and spin-offs coming to theaters and streaming.

New Sequels, Prequels, and Spin-Offs

Emmy-nominated director and executive producer Salli Richardson-Whitfield is poised to direct and executive produce the highly anticipated HBO series "Task," created by Brad Ingelsby (Mare of Easttown). Starring Mark Ruffalo, this gripping drama explores the life of an FBI agent tasked with dismantling a wave of drug-house robberies led by an unsuspecting family man in the working-class suburbs of Philadelphia. Produced in association with wiip, the series is set to premiere in 2025, with Ingelsby, Ruffalo, and Paul Lee among the executive producers.

Salli will also return to direct the final two episodes of the third season of "The Gilded Age," premiering in 2025. Having directed half of the first season of Julian Fellowes' acclaimed series and served as an executive producer for all three seasons, Salli's contributions have been pivotal to its success.

With a career spanning over 30 years, Salli made history with her 2024 Emmy nomination for Best Director in a Drama Series for HBO's "Winning Time: The Rise and Fall of the Lakers Dynasty." This nomination marked a significant milestone as she became the first Black woman nominated in this category in the Emmys' forty-eight-year history. Additionally, she received a second nomination as an executive producer for season two of "The Gilded Age" for Best Drama. Her outstanding work has also garnered her two Gracie Award nominations. Before her impactful partnership with HBO, Salli directed across various genres. Her work on "Luke Cage" earned her an NAACP Award for Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series, and she was nominated for a Hugo Award for Amazon's "Wheel of Time."

Inspired by director Ava DuVernay, Salli transitioned from a celebrated acting career to directing, beginning with two episodes of "Queen Sugar." Her extensive directing portfolio includes notable projects such as Hulu's "Reprisal," Apple's "SEE," Netflix's "Dear White People," "The Punisher," and "Altered Carbon," as well as Starz' "American Gods," Showtime's "The Chi," and ABC's "Scandal."

Previously one of Hollywood's most sought-after leading ladies, Salli starred in over 20 major motion pictures alongside icons like Samuel L. Jackson in "The Great White Hype," Denzel Washington in "Antwone Fisher," and Will Smith in "I Am Legend." On television, she is known for her roles in the long-running Syfy series "Eureka," "Family Law," and the award-winning "The Newsroom."

When she's not behind the camera or in front of it, the Chicago native enjoys golfing and cherishes time on the green with her husband, actor/activist Dondre Whitfield, and their two children, Parker and Dre.

Salli resides in Los Angeles, California, where she continues to inspire and break barriers in the entertainment industry.

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