Variety Announces Star-Studded ‘Actors on Actors’ Pairings for Awards Season

Variety has revealed the pairings for its annual ‘Actors on Actors’ series, launching December 3 ahead of the Oscars race. The lineup features 13 conversations between prominent Hollywood talents discussing their recent performances. Episodes will stream on CNN’s Max app and air on CNN, with select pairings debuting weekly through mid-January.

Jennifer Lawrence and Leonardo DiCaprio reunite for the series after collaborating on ‘Don’t Look Up’ in 2021. Their discussion centers on her role in ‘The Wives’ and his work in ‘One Battle After Another’. Lawrence portrays a woman entangled in a polygamous thriller, while DiCaprio plays a detective in Paul Thomas Anderson’s dystopian thriller. The pair’s chemistry, evident in past promotions, promises insights into franchise fatigue and indie risks.

Julia Roberts pairs with Sean Penn, exploring her dramatic turn in ‘After the Hunt’ opposite his performance in ‘Daddio’. Roberts embodies a professor facing ethical dilemmas in a campus scandal, drawing from real university controversies. Penn’s cab driver role in the indie drama involves a single-night dialogue with Dakota Johnson, emphasizing raw emotional exchanges. Their conversation highlights shifts in prestige cinema distribution.

Dwayne Johnson converses with Brendan Fraser, reflecting on Johnson’s action-comedy in ‘Red One’ sequel and Fraser’s revival in ‘The Whale’ follow-up ‘The Whale 2’. Johnson balances family adventure with DC commitments, while Fraser discusses physical transformations for dramatic roles. The duo addresses comeback narratives, with Fraser crediting his 2023 Oscar win for renewed opportunities.

Cynthia Erivo and Hugh Jackman discuss Broadway-to-screen transitions, focusing on Erivo’s ‘Wicked’ portrayal of Elphaba and Jackman’s Wolverine in ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’. Erivo’s vocal training spanned 18 months for the musical adaptation, incorporating aerial choreography. Jackman’s return to the Marvel role involved 6,000 pounds of prosthetic muscle. Their pairing underscores the integration of theater techniques in blockbusters.

Gwyneth Paltrow interviews Jacob Elordi, contrasting her Goop empire reflections with his breakout in ‘Euphoria’ Season 3. Paltrow shares production insights from ‘The Politician’ revival, while Elordi details his Australian roots influencing the HBO drama’s intensity. The episode delves into wellness trends intersecting with on-set mental health protocols.

Sydney Sweeney pairs with Ethan Hawke, examining Sweeney’s horror lead in ‘Immaculate’ sequel and Hawke’s directorial effort ‘The Good Lord Bird’ extension. Sweeney’s performance features 12-minute single-take sequences, while Hawke discusses historical accuracy in abolitionist tales. Their talk covers genre evolution, with Hawke advocating for practical effects over CGI.

Stellan Skarsgård and Alexander Skarsgård represent family dynamics in acting, with Stellan’s ‘Dune: Messiah’ role and Alexander’s ‘Nosferatu’ vampire. The elder Skarsgård embodies a Fremen leader in Denis Villeneuve’s epic, requiring dialect coaching for 45 days. Alexander’s gothic horror involved motion-capture for nocturnal hunts. They compare Scandinavian training methods to Hollywood’s pace.

Michael B. Jordan and Jesse Plemons tackle directing debuts, Jordan on ‘Creed IV’ and Plemons on ‘Kinda Pregnant’. Jordan’s sequel expands the boxing saga with international bouts, filming across Philadelphia and Tokyo. Plemons’ comedy stars Amy Schumer in a body-swap premise, shot in 28 days. The conversation addresses multihyphenate challenges in a streaming era.

Kate Hudson and Jeremy Allen White explore comedic timing, Hudson in ‘Mindhunter’ spin-off and White in ‘The Bear’ Season 4. Hudson’s true-crime role requires archival research, while White’s kitchen chaos escalates with 15 new episodes. Their pairing highlights ensemble improvisation techniques.

Oscar Isaac and Teyana Taylor discuss music-infused dramas, Isaac in ‘Moon Knight’ Season 2 and Taylor in ‘A Thousand and One’ follow-up. Isaac’s Marvel series incorporates Egyptian mythology with practical sets in Morocco. Taylor’s directorial turn features Harlem street performances. They share experiences blending hip-hop with narrative arcs.

Jonathan Bailey and David Corenswet address superhero origins, Bailey in ‘Bridgerton’ extended universe and Corenswet as Superman in James Gunn’s reboot. Bailey’s Regency drama adds queer storylines across six episodes. Corenswet’s Kryptonian portrayal involved 4,000 hours of flight training. The episode probes comic fidelity versus modern inclusivity.

Colin Farrell and Jessie Buckley pair for Irish cinema insights, Farrell in ‘The Batman Part II’ and Buckley in ‘Roma’ spiritual successor. Farrell reprises Oswald Cobblepot with penguin prosthetics weighing 50 pounds. Buckley’s period piece examines 1960s Dublin unrest. Their discussion covers transatlantic collaborations.

Ariana Grande concludes the lineup with Adam Sandler, reflecting on Grande’s ‘Wicked’ Glinda and Sandler’s ‘Leo’ animation voice. Grande’s musical role demanded 22 songs recorded live on set. Sandler’s Netflix hit features classroom puppetry with Bill Burr. The conversation celebrates genre-blending successes.

Variety’s series, now in its 15th year, has influenced 78 Oscar nominations since inception. Episodes average 20 minutes, edited from two-hour sessions. Executive producer Jonathan Levin emphasized diverse pairings to reflect 2025’s industry breadth. The full schedule posts on Variety.com, with premieres starting December 3 at 8 p.m. ET.