Big stars are getting bigger as Action Man takes over from Barbie

Our favourite screen stars are getting bigger than ever – literally – so Kerry Parnell says forget Barbie, make way for Action Man.

Our favourite screen stars are getting bigger than ever – literally – as they bulk up for new roles in this year’s blockbuster movies. So much so, it’s a case of forget Barbie, make way for Action Man.

From Zac Efron turning muscle-man in The Iron Claw to Jake Gyllenhaal getting hot and heavy in Road House, here’s who has been pumping iron in preparation for their unrecognisable new roles.

Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White and Harris Dickinson turn muscle-men in The Iron Claw.

Zac Efron shows off his body in The Iron Claw.

With High School Musical, The Bear and Maleficent on their resumes, they might not be the first names you’d expect to appear all muscled-up in their trunks in a wrestling movie. But the unlikely trio are getting rave reviews for their roles as the Von Erich brothers, who became wrestling superheroes in the 1980s.

In cinemas now, all three got incredibly ripped for their roles, Zac particularly. He said it was one of the most challenging things he has ever done, not least wearing those yellow undies.

Jake Gyllenhaal is hot and heavy in Road House

Who can forget the 1989 movie, starring Patrick Swayze and Kelly Lynch, about a bouncer hired to sort out a bar in Missouri? Now Jake Gyllenhaal has shed his shirt to take on the role of Dalton, an ex-UFC fighter who starts work at a roadhouse in the Florida Keys only to discover he’s in deeper than he thought. On Prime Video in March, Jake got fighting fit with a mega-six pack. His trainer, Jason Walsh, revealed one of the secrets to his physique was hitting the vertical climber.

Ryan Gosling goes stunt-tastic in The Fall Guy

Ryan Gosling is Colt Seavers in The Fall Guy.

We’re not going to lie, we really loved Lee Majors’ The Fall Guy TV series in the 1980s and so we’re all in for Ryan Gosling’s big-screen resurrection this year. In cinemas in May, we’ve been hyped for this movie forever, as it was filmed on our shores. Co-starring Emily Blunt, Teresa Palmer and Lee Majors, as well as Aaron Taylor-Johnson who sports a stunning six-pack and leather pants combo, Gosling leaves Ken on the beach as he proves he’s an all-action man.

Paul Mescal enters the ring in Gladiator 2

Irish actor Paul Mescal told Graham Norton he was performing in A Streetcar Named Desire when Ridley Scott asked him if he wanted the lead in the Gladiator sequel and he replied, “Is the Pope Catholic?” All of Us Strangers’ star Paul plays Lucius, son of Lucilla and nephew of evil Roman Emperor Commodus, played by Joaquin Phoenix in the first movie.

It co-stars Pedro Pascal and will be in cinemas in November.

Chris Hemsworth gets dirty in Furiosa

Chris Hemsworth in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.

Anya Taylor-Joy dusts herself off for the Mad Max sequel-prequel, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, taking on the role made famous by Charlize Theron. The Furiosa origin story co-stars Chris Hemsworth in his most unrecognisable role ever. Playing the extremely muscle-bound Dementus, he says in the trailer, “The question is, do you have it in you to make it epic?” The answer is a resounding yes, Chris.

The George Miller movie, Australia’s biggest production ever, will be released in May. We can’t wait.

Dev Patel fights back in Monkey Man

It’s Dev Patel as you’ve never seen him before. Making his directional debut, the Slumdog Millionaire star goes back to India for an action movie set in Mumbai. Playing a bare-knuckle fighter who sets out for vengeance, the movie, which Dev also wrote, is out in April.

Henry Cavill is trigger-happy in The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare

In a switch-up from The Witcher, Henry Cavill takes on the lead in Guy Ritchie’s new movie based on a real-life military operation in World War II. The comedy action flick is very Inglorious Basterds-like and co-stars Henry Golding. It’s released in April.