When Atlanta first premiered on FX back in 2016, most of its top-billed stars were relatively unknown. Though each actor held a handful of IMDb credits, performers such as LaKeith Stanfield, Zazie Beetz, and Brian Tyree Henry were not yet household names. By the same token, series creator and star Donald Glover gained prominence primarily through his work on the NBC sitcom Community or his music career under the moniker Childish Gambino. Over the course of four incredible seasons, Atlanta stunned audiences and launched each of its key players to stardom, resulting in all four of the main cast starring in big-budget films such as Godzilla Vs. Kong and Judas And The Black Messiah.
Atlanta concluded its run in November of 2022 with the mind-bending finale "It Was All a Dream." With each of its leading performers quickly accumulating massive film credits, it seemed inevitable that the surrealist series would not go on forever. Here's a look at what each of the stars has been up to since the show premiered.
Donald Glover
Donald Glover is a multi-hyphenate performer who has experimented with nearly every artistic medium you can think of. Before creating and starring in Atlanta, Glover got his start as a comedy writer on 30 Rock. Since then, the actor-turned-rapper has released stand-up comedy specials, explored numerous musical genres, directed several television episodes, and starred in many blockbuster films. Glover starred in Solo: A Star Wars Story in 2018 as a young Lando Calrissian. He is slated to reprise his role in the upcoming Disney+ project Lando, which he wrote alongside his brother and frequent collaborator Stephen Glover.
Donald Glover has also starred in Guava Island, The Lion King, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, and has most recently lent his voice to the animated series Adventure Time: Fionna & Cake. In 2023, Glover co-created the series Swarm alongside Janine Nabors. He also launched a creative studio called Gilga, which seeks to staff talented artists. Glover also holds credits for several upcoming projects, including the Community movie, a mini-series adaptation of Mr. & Mrs. Smith, and the recently announced American Dream: The 21 Savage Story.
LaKeith Stanfield
Before joining Atlanta as the spiritual and perpetually spaced-out Darius, Stanfield made his acting debut in 2013's Short Term 12. After appearing in bit-parts and small roles in films such as The Purge: Anarchy, Selma, Straight Outta Compton, and Get Out, the prolific actor's career truly began to blossom once Atlanta began. During the years Atlanta was airing, LaKeith took on leading duties in films such as Sorry To Bother You, Uncut Gems, Knives Out, Judas And The Black Messiah, and The Harder They Fall.
Since Atlanta has concluded, Stanfield's career has continued to see massive success, with recent outings including Haunted Mansion, The Book Of Clarence, and Apple TV+'s The Changeling, all in 2023. In recent years, Hollywood has hailed Stanfield as one of the most sought-after leading men, showing no signs of slowing or stopping.
Zazie Beetz
Like her Atlanta co-stars, Zazie Beetz has been racking up IMDb credits in recent years, appearing in a number of blockbuster films as well as television roles. Known for her work in films like Geostorm, Deadpool 2, and Joker, the German-American actress has made a mark in the industry. Beetz also has a penchant for collaborating with her fellow Atlanta performers, appearing alongside LaKeith Stanfield in 2021's The Harder They Fall and Brian Tyree Henry in 2022's Bullet Train. Most recently, the Emmy-nominated actress has lent her voice to several animated series, including Robot Chicken, Big Mouth, and Invincible. Zazie Beetz will appear in the upcoming film Joker: Folie à Deux, reprising her role as Arthur's neighbor and love interest Sophie.
Brian Tyree Henry
In the years since Atlanta kicked off, Brian Tyree Henry has starred in a host of massive Hollywood blockbusters. Some of his biggest projects include front-and-center placements in films such as If Beale Street Could Talk, Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse, Godzilla Vs. Kong, and Marvel's Eternals. The Paper Boi actor has also starred alongside a number of Atlanta alumnus in projects such as Bojack Horseman with LaKeith Stanfield, Joker and Bullet Train with Zazie Beetz, and Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse with Donald Glover.
Brian Tyree Henry's star has only continued to rise in recent years, with many significant projects currently in development. The acclaimed actor will reprise his role as Bernie Hayes in the upcoming film Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. He is also confirmed to appear as Jefferson Davis, the father of Miles Morales, in Spider-Man: Beyond The Spider-Verse. In addition to these giant franchise features, Brian Tyree Henry is also slated to join the Transformers film franchise, securing a leading role in the upcoming film Transformers One.
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