What's Next?: Best Actor

Closing off the performance branch of this year's nominees, there are really sparse opportunities for the Best Actor nominees to dazzle in their post-awards year. Jeff Bridges doesn't have anything set for this year, but seeing as he followed up winning the Oscar last year with being nominated this year, I think we'll forgive him for not getting right to his next project. Javier Bardem has a rather high profile nemesis for his next project: James Bond. Last we heard, Bardem was in talks to play the villain of the 23rd installment in the 007 franchise. Then again, last we heard he was also set to appear on Glee this season, and that hasn't happened yet, has it?

A young actor has to keep busy these days, so Jesse Eisenberg obviously has a few films set up for the next year or so. He's voicing the main character of the animated feature Rio, playing a supporting role in the ice cream store comedy(?) Free Samples, and playing a pizza boy who gets a bomb strapped to his chest and is forced to rob a bank in 30 Minutes or Less. Colin Firth is next appearing alongside Tom Hardy in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, but is also in talks to star with Carey Mulligan in My Fair Lady. The man has an undoubted ability to chose worthy films to work on.

James Franco has perhaps the craziest follow-up schedule for any of the nominees here, and he has already gotten a head start with a hilarious and impressive cameo in The Green Hornet. He plays the stoic and heroic brother in the fantasy-comedy Your Highness in April. He's in talks to take over Robert Downey Jr.'s role in The Great and Powerful Oz. Most intriguingly he's set to play the scientist responsible for the fall of mankind in the Planet of the Apes prequel, Rise of the Apes. I can't say that's probably going to be his best film, but I'm eagerly awaiting further news on the feature. As long as it's a prequel to the original and not the remake, I think we'll be fine.

Images (in order): Jesse Eisenberg in 30 Minutes or Less; James Franco in Your Highness