From Slate Magazine · Nadira Goffe · · 1m 30s
Austin Abrams Becomes Hollywood's Hottest Breakout
Austin Abrams' role in Resident Evil makes him internet's latest obsession after his breakout in Weapons.
In brief
Austin Abrams' role in Resident Evil makes him internet's latest obsession after his breakout in Weapons. Austin Abrams' character Bryan in Resident Evil becomes a viral internet sensation after his role in Weapons. Originally reported by Slate Magazine.
Austin Abrams stars in Resident Evil
Austin Abrams stars as Bryan in Resident Evil, a medical courier caught in a mutant outbreak.
“More specifically, the people are loving Abrams, who stars as Bryan, a medical courier undergoing what has to be the worst shift of his life.”
Bryan's scrawny persona
Bryan is a hapless, scrawny character who can't catch a break amid a mutant outbreak.
“Much like Weapons ' James, Bryan is this hapless, scrawny dude who simply can't catch a break as he unwittingly makes his way into the heart of an outbreak of monstrous mutants.”
Zach Cregger's directorial choice
Zach Cregger cast Abrams to avoid a 'hot' lead, but the move backfired.
“Cregger mentioned that he wanted to make Resident Evil feel more grounded than its predecessors by, for starters, casting a lead actor who’s not 'hot.'”
Abrams' streaming popularity
Outlets publish lists of Abrams' streaming projects and deep dives into his earlier roles.
“outlets are publishing lists of other Abrams projects currently available on streaming, doing deep dives on his earlier roles.”
Abrams' filmography
Abrams played Ben in Paper Towns, Ron in The Walking Dead, and Dash in Dash & Lily.
“I remember being charmed by Abrams as Ben, the goofy loverboy best friend to the story’s protagonist. This was in direct contrast to Abrams’ other work in 2015, 2016, in the fifth and sixth seasons of the long-running zombie apocalypse series The Walking Dead, in which Abrams played Ron.”
Weapons breakout role
Abrams' role as James in Weapons made him a fan favorite despite his character's flaws.
“James, his character, plays a pivotal role in solving the film’s central mystery about what happened to a missing classroom of children, but he does it with a natural comedic timing and delightfulness that quickly alters any preconceived notions a viewer might have about what an unhoused young addict might offer the story.”
Resident Evil's success
Resident Evil breaks box office records for the video game franchise.
“the new movie breaking records for the video game franchise at the box office.”
Abrams' next project
Abrams will play a scuba diver swallowed by a sperm whale in Whalefall.
“his next film premiering later this year is Whalefall, in which he’ll play a scuba diver who is swallowed alive by a sperm whale.”
Gen Z's aesthetic
Gen Z prefers skinny, derelict-looking actors like Abrams over traditional Hollywood stars.
“In an era where Gen Z’s particular type isn’t only the Glen Powells of Hollywood, but also the actors who may be described as consumption chic, think Timothée Chalamet and Josh O’Connor, the kinds of skinny, derelict-looking weird guys with a light curl to their hair”
Internet obsession
Abrams' fans want to impregnate him or defy biology to be with him online.
“Abrams’ most ardent fans don’t just admire him; they want to be impregnated by him, or, in a better illustration of online thirst these days, they want to defy biology and impregnate him.”
Buzzfeed Thirst Tweet
Fans anticipate Buzzfeed Thirst Tweet videos about Abrams.
“Upon discussing Whalefall, my editor joked: 'I’m already anticipating the tweets: 'I’d love to swallow him in my mouth, too,' etc.'”
Abrams' future
Abrams' career continues with his next film Whalefall and growing internet fame.
“One thing that I hope won’t change, though, is the abject misfortune of the characters Abrams plays.”
The one thing
Austin Abrams' character Bryan in Resident Evil becomes a viral internet sensation after his role in Weapons.
