Andrew Garfield

The British actor was cast July 2, 2010 as Peter Parker/Spider-Man in Columbia's The Amazing Spider-Man, to be released in 3D on July 3, 2012. Directed by (500) Days of Summer helmer Marc Webb and co-starring Emma Stone as Peter's first love Gwen Stacy, Andrew Garfield has some big shoes to fill, taking over web-slinging duties from Tobey Maguire. 

Where You've Seen Him Before: Eduardo Saverin in The Social Network, Tommy in Never Let Me Go, Eddie Dunford in The Red Riding Trilogy

Where You Will See Him Next: The Amazing Spider-Man

Tobey Maguire

Drama surrounded the Spider-Man franchise last year when Sam Raimi, the director of the first three with Tobey Maguire, exited the project, prompting the studio to decide to reboot the series, bringing in newcomer Andrew Garfield. But prior to that, Maguire donned the red-and-blue suit for three films (released in 2002, 2004 and 2007); though the three were successful at the box office, with a combined domestic gross of about $1.1 billion, it declined over the years.

Wonder Woman

Adrianne Palicki as Wonder Woman in NBC's failed pilot

Lynda Carter

Lynda Carter starred as Diana Prince, a.k.a. Wonder Woman, in the TV series The Adventures of Wonder Woman, which ran from 1975 to 1979. On a DVD commentary, the actress revealed that she invented the spin move when Diana would transform into Wonder Woman. The TV series was successful and is considered a significant part of popular culture still to this day.

Henry Cavill

British thespian Henry Cavill is the latest to join the "next generation of superheroes," a lot of whom aren't American. He was cast at the end of January in the role of Clark Kent/Superman in Zack Snyder's reboot. In the upcoming Superman: Man of Steel, slated for a December 2012 release, Cavill took over from his predecessor Brandon Routh. 

Where You've Seen Him Before: Charles in The Tudors, Humphrey in Stardust and Albert Mondego in The Count of Monte Cristo

Where You Will See Him Next: Immortals

Brandon Routh

Brandon Routh took on the persona of Clark Kent/Superman in the 2006 film Superman Returns, directed by Bryan Singer. The film — which grossed $200 million in the U.S. box office — was well-received by critics and audiences and the actor was expected to reprise his role for a sequel, however, Warner Bros. decided to revamp the franchise, dropping Routh in favor of Cavill.

James McAvoy

British actor James McAvoy got a glimpse into the geek world when he starred alongside Angelina Jolie in Wanted, and now, as a young Professor X — a role played by veteran actor Patrick Stewart — in the upcoming X-Men: First Class, he'll be fully entrenched. McAvoy's casting in the Matthew Vaughn film was announced in late May of last year.

Where You've Seen Him Before: Robbie in Atonement, Wesley in Wanted and Steve in U.K.'s Shameless

Where You Will See Him Next: Gnomeo & Juliet, Arthur Christmas and X-Men: First Class

Patrick Stewart

Patrick Stewart played Professor X in three X-Men films. James McAvoy plays a young version of Stewart's character in the upcoming prequel.

Michael Fassbender

The Irish actor was cast as Magneto last June in Matthew Vaughn's X-Men: First Class prequel for Fox, a role that was originally played by Sir Ian McKellen in the early 2000s. Michael Fassbender, who starred in Inglourious Basterds, got his big break in Steve McQueen's Hunger. Fans will have to wait until June 3 to see if Fassbender can fill McKellen's shoes.

Where You've Seen Him Before: Sgt. Burton "Pat" Christenson in Band of Brothers, Lt. Archie Hicox in Inglourious Basterds and Connor in Fish Tank

Where You Will See Him Next: X-Men: First Class, Shame and Prometheus

Sir Ian McKellen

Veteran thesp Sir Ian McKellen played Magneto in the first three X-Men films. In the new reboot, X-Men: First Class, Michael Fassbender plays a younger version.

Jennifer Lawrence

Nominated for an Academy Award for Winter's Bone, 20-year-old actress Jennifer Lawrence has a big year ahead, taking over for Rebecca Romijn as shapeshifter Mystique in Matthew Vaughn's X-Men: First Class, out June 3.

Where You've Seen Her Before: Lauren in The Bill Engvall Show and Ree in Winter's Bone

Where You Will See Her Next: X-Men: First Class, Like Crazy and The Beaver

Rebecca Romijn

Rebecca Romijn played Raven Darkholme/Mystique for three films: 2000's X-Men, 2003's X2 and 2006's X-Men: The Last Stand. All three films were successful, making $606.6 million domestically at the box office and producing a spinoff, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, starring Hugh Jackman. X-Men: The Last Stand, however, was panned by critics.

Anne Hathaway

The Oscar co-host landed the role of Selina Kyle, a.k.a. Catwoman in Christopher Nolan's anticipated Batman followup, The Dark Knight Rises, in mid-January. Anne Hathaway was on the shortlist for the role, along with Jessica Biel and Keira Knightley. She may not have anything to worry about, though, as her predecessor Halle Berry didn't exactly drum up critical acclaim in the 2004 flick Catwoman. The Warner Bros. threequel will be released July 20, 2012.

Where You've Seen Her Before: Mia Thermopolis in The Princess Diaries, Andie in The Devil Wears Prada, Maggie in Love and Other Drugs and Lureen in Brokeback Mountain

Where You Will See Her Next: Rio and One Day

Halle Berry

The actress played Catwoman in the film of the same name, which was released in theaters July 23, 2004 — and played Storm in the X-Men movie franchise. Catwoman, which made $40.2 million in the domestic box office, was widely panned by audiences and critics alike, with Halle Berry winning a Razzie for her performance.

Tom Hardy

Tom Hardy joined Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises last October, but details as to who he was playing stayed under wraps until mid-January. The Inception star will play the villainous Bane in the Warner Bros. pic, reuniting with Nolan. The film, with Anne Hathaway (a.k.a the new Catwoman), is out July 20, 2012.

Where You've Seen Him Before: Eames in Inception

Where You Will See Him Next: Warrior and This Means War

Jeremy Renner

Best known for his Oscar-nominated performance in last year's best picture winner The Hurt Locker, Jeremy Renner is back — but this time as master archer Clint Barton/Hawkeye in Joss Whedon's anticipated film, The Avengers, set for release May 4, 2012. His casting was announced at last year's Comic-Con.

Where You've Seen Him Before: William James in The Hurt Locker, James Coughlin in The Town and Det. John Walsh in The Unusuals 

Where You Will See Him Next: Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol and Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters

Ryan Reynolds

Many know Ryan Reynolds as a comedic actor, but later this year, moviegoers and critics will see him exercise a different set of chops in Green Lantern, to be released in theaters June 17. The Canadian actor was cast as test pilot Hal Jordan in the Warner Bros. pic in mid-July 2009. Directed by Martin Campbell, Lantern co-stars Blake Lively as Hal's love interest. Previously, Reynolds was seen as Deadpool in X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

Where You've Seen Him Before: The Proposal, Just Friends, X-Men Origins: Wolverine and Buried

Where You Will See Him Next: Safe House, The Change-Up and Green Lantern

Chris Hemsworth

Aussie Chris Hemsworth broke through with a brief appearance in J.J. Abrams' Star Trek in 2009 as Captain Kirk's father, and finds himself as fallen warrior god Thor in the upcoming Paramount picture of the same name, directed by Kenneth Branagh and co-starring Natalie Portman. Thor will be released May 6, nearly two years after he was cast.

Where You've Seen Him Before: Kim in Australian soap Home and Away and Star Trek

Where You Will See Him Next: Thor, Red Dawn and The Cabin in the Woods