So what if you have not heard of Emile Hirsch or James McAvoy? You're certainly not the only one.

But this hasn't bothered Hollywood's major movie studios like Warner Brothers from casting the 22-year-old Hirsch in upcoming blockbuster Speed Racer, or Universal from choosing 28-year-old McAvoy to be the leading man of next year's action film, Wanted, alongside superstar Angelina Jolie.

What about Sam Worthington, the 30-year-old Aussie who was in the running to play James Bond, but lost out to Daniel Craig. Worthington recently got lucky when he landed the lead in Titanic director James Cameron's Avatar, due out in 2009.

Even new rising star Shia LaBeouf, a former Disney Channel star, has already managed to make waves in the industry with the help of his recent release of Disturbia. A teenage version of Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window, this healthy box office hit opened to $22million (Dh80.7million) – definitely more than what Nicolas Cage, Bruce Willis and Mark Wahlberg's recent films raked in in their opening weekends.

LaBeouf will also star in the big budget Transformers, based on the popular TV show. And if that weren't enough, she has also been hand picked by one of Hollywood's greatest directors, Steven Spielberg, to co- star with Harrison Ford in the fourth Indiana Jones instalment.

The age of the pretty boy is over, as the New York Times bluntly headlined recently. In a large scale attempt to appeal to the millennial generation (anyone born after 1978), Hollywood is pouring billions on a hunt for new male movie stars – a handful of unknowns – to fill in the shoes of actors like Tom Hanks, Tom Cruise and even Brad Pitt – old enough to be father figures by now.

Review: Fly boys

Director: Tony Bill
Cast: James Franco, Jean Reno, Martin Henderson, Jennifer Decker

This war movie follows a group of young Americans who, despite disagreeing with the 'Great War' of 1914, volunteer for various personal reasons to fight alongside French against the Germans prior to US entry into the war.

The men learn how to fly and this film follows their relationships during their training period as well as the warring aerial combat that this squadron of only 38, known as Lafayette Escadrille, fought.

Based on a true story, this is a detailed portrayal (despite some factual inaccuracies according to reviews) of the lives and life decisions of these brave men as they face their fears of war, love and revenge in the sky and on the ground.
We Say: Mediocre message

60-second Profile: James Franco
Born: April 19, 1978
Background: After enrolling at the University of California, Los Angeles, as an English major, Franco dropped out in his first year to study acting and to pursue a professional career as an actor.
First seen: Cast in a leading role in the short-lived but popular TV series Freaks and Geeks (1999).
Lucky break: First major film was the romantic comedy Whatever It Takes in 2000. He was then cast as James Dean in the 2001 biographical TV film of the same name, which brought Franco much critical acclaim, as well as a Golden Globe Award, and an Emmy Award nomination.
Real Claim to Fame: Was chosen for a supporting role in the Spider-man franchise, with three Spider-man films so far. Actor Robert De Niro handpicked Franco to star in the drama City by the Sea. Franco's film Flyboys is currently screening at theatres.
Career Flops: The Company (2003) with Neve Campbell; Annapolis and Tristan and Isolde, in which he played legendary hero Tristan, were all major discredits to his rising acting credibility, but did no harm to his Hollywood heartthrob status.
Future Plans: Will be seen later this year in Finishing the Game and Good Time Max and is currently working on Pineapple Express.

The writer is a movie mad 19-year-old