Is Jai Courtney the Next Sam Worthington. Or Something More?
Thursday, March 27, 2014 at 6:30PM 
Jai Courtney photographed by Davis Factor for Flaunt MagazineNews broke today that 28 year-old rising star Jai Courtney won't have to turn down Terminator: Genesis as previously suspected due to his Divergent contract. He'll be able to make both Insurgent and the stupidly rebooting Terminator franchise. (I know I've said it about a dozen times but why on earth would anyone need to reboot a time travel franchise? You've got your "do-over!" right there in the narrative for chrissakes). The studios have worked out a deal and so he's officially on board Terminator: Genesis. He'll be taking over the role of Kyle Reese originated by Michael Biehn and later played by both Jonathan Jackson and Anton Yelchin. None of those three previous actors are anything alike so the role of our future savior's time travelling babydaddy is flexible you might say.
But is Jai Courtney?
I'm not here to judge but to ask you to. I regret to inform that I'm not as familiar as I possibly should be given his current "in demand" status in Hollywood. I've seen him attempt and fail to break Shailene Woodley's spirit in Divergent (reviewed) and attempt and succeed in breaking lots of Russian bones in A Good Day To Die Hard but I haven't seen his breakthrough role on the Spartacus TV series or his work in Jack Reacher or I, Frankenstein. Perhaps you have?
In Divergent and in Die Hard 5 there was something of a Sam Worthington vibe: capable, masculine, nice to look at but not (yet?) distinct exactly. Are the features too blandly handsome*? Is there star charisma inside? If there is he needs to unpack it soon.
I was about to say that being Australian suggests that he is a lot more than the new Sam Worthington (they make such fine movie stars down under) but then I remembered that Sam Worthington was also, in fact, Australian. Oopsie.
The evidence remains inconclusive! I await your verdict in the comments.
*The most distinct feature might well be his nose which has an adorable slope/tip
Reader Comments (20)
I liked him a lot in Spartacus. He never struck me as generic (I have a hard time remembering what Sam Worthington looks like even when I'm staring at a photo of him, and his looks are more memorable than his acting, at least to me), so I hope he doesn't end up being Sam 2.0.
He was super hot in Spartacus and definitely more expressive and likeable than Worthington usually is, but if we're discussing hot aussies here, I still prefer Eric Bana.
What you're really asking -- does he have Channing Tatum potential? Possible if he finds a sense of humor. Quickly by working with the Apatow ensemble company. Tatum knows his limitations and operates from a place of pure star making charisma. Courtney needs auteurs in his pocket and simply not sell tickets for junk.
I really thought he was terrific in Spartacus but he made no impact at all in Die Hard whatever number it was. To be fair to him though that thing was such a piece of junk even Bruce Willis was buried under the non stop noise and explosions. I haven't seen the rest of his films but hopefully my initial impression was the right one.
I barely remember him (his acting anyway) in Spartacus and I loved that series. I think it's a slight Season 1 mental block I have, though.
joel6: It was called a Good Day to Die Hard, and it's certainly an excellent point for the series to follow that advice.
He displayed lots of beefcake on Spartacus but only serviceable acting skills.
Like you said Nat he's 'capable, masculine, nice to look... (but) Is there star charisma inside?'
I haven't seen it yet but I wish him well because he's awfully nice to look at while we wait.
IMO he is a lesser version of Sam Worthington. In looks and talent.
Never watched Spartacus but he was enjoyable as the heavy in Jack Reacher. As for Divergent and A Good Day To Die Hard, he was mostly forgettable (Then again, so were the films). He's certainly more interesting than Worthington but that's not saying much, so the jury is still out on Mr. Courtney...
He's got better looks and personality than Sam Worthington who is completely dull in every way. I don't know if he'll be a big star though.
BTW, for those who fancy him, he's completely naked in the gay short film Boys Grammar.
I think Sam Worthington was pretty awesome in Somersalt and in The Debt. Maybe he needs Abbie Cornish/Jessica Chastain caliber actresses to make him bring the charisma, but it is there.
I always thought he was cast in Spartacus because of all the muscles (he looked much bigger, body builder bigger) because his acting, which is being generous, was.........well, if he hadn't been nearly naked most of the time.......which describes many who were cast. He was also very blond in that show. I say boy should grab the paychecks while he can.
Worthington doesn't really register for me.
Fun fact: my cousin dated him in high school. Unfortunately he's apparently still a nice guy, and he was one of the better parts of Jack Reacher so I can't hate him for being successful.
This is one of the most hilarious conversations seen here lately lol.
I thought Sam Worthington was brilliant casting in Avatar, a hero we felt immediate understanding and empathy for. Worthington was great in The Debt with Jessica Chastain. I like that he isn't a 'grab you by the lapels' 'scream in your face' actor. It's interesting the way he slides away from immediate branding. For me, he's a quiet actor with lots of interior action going on. I will actually see a movie because he's in it.
We should just clone Harrison Ford every 25 years or so. I know human cloning is not ethical, but when has Hollywood cared for ethics?
Jai Courtney, despite the gay twink porn star name, won me over with FELONY. He's really good and yet again suggests these hunkish actors can be good when they're not slavish to Hollywood. See, indeed, also Sam Worthington who was excellent as the closeted man in SOMERSAULT.
Glenn, that dude's name is really terrible LOL
I have not seen ANY of Jai Courtney's film work, but I did see the first professional play he did out of drama school (a stage adaptation of Tim Winton's "The Turning"). He was excellent -- outstanding, even. So keep in mind that his lack of apparent range in film work probably has a lot more to do with branding than with capability.
Carmen -- you're so right. He's kind of irreplaceable as action heroes go.