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Anton Yelchin as Checkov in Star Trek

If you don’t know who Anton Yelchin is yet, you should start paying attention. Not only does the 20 year old actor steal scenes in JJ Abrams Star Trek as Checkov, the heavily accented helmsmen of the Enterprise, but next up he is sharing the screen with Christian Bale in Terminator: Salvation. In the extra confusing Oedipus-complex special Yelchin plays young Kyle Reese, a compatriot of Jon Connor, who is eventually sent back in time by Connor himself to protect his mother from Arnold in the original Terminator. And of course to get it on with Sarah Connor and conceive Jon Connor. Thats more confusing hook-ups than an episode of the hills.

He first gained notice holding his own opposite Anthony Hopkins in the Steven King thriller Hearts in Atlantis (2001), followed by roles in Steven Spieleberg’s Taken, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Alpha Dog(2006). But if you only see one Yelchin movie make it Charlie Bartlett(2007), the Risky Business-Ferris Bueller’s Day Off with prescription drugs cult-classic with future Iron Man, Robert Downey Jr. Yelchin channels Matthew Broderick a la War Games(1983) to a point that in the present remake culture of hollywood his on-screen persona is almost cause enough for a reboot in itself.

With a secure ,ensemble cast role in two major franchises it figures that we will continue to see more of Anton Yelchin. So check out some of the other films and you can say you knew about him like you knew about Chris Pine when he gets cast in the next great geek film.