The Josh Hartnett Renaissance is really upon us. Long-time Hartnett fans will disagree with me, but Hartnett’s “wilderness years” lasted longer than I expected. Josh was one of the hottest properties twenty years ago, and he could have been one of the biggest movie stars in the world. It’s not entirely his fault – at a moment where he should have been hitting his professional stride, Hollywood didn’t really know what to do with conventionally handsome leading men. So Hartnett’s Wilderness Years sort of took over – I’m looking through his Wiki and my God, the 2010s were rough for his career. But then last year, he had a supporting, scene-stealing role in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer. And at some point, he got a call from M. Night Shyamalan – the lead in a horror-drama called Trap. The trailer just came out:
Much like Hartnett, Shyamalan’s had some extreme ups and downs, but he’s currently riding a professional high with a decade-long string of hits. Trap looks like new territory AND a return to form. You’ve got to think that if the trailer “spoils” the fact that Hartnett’s character has a guy chained up in his basement, there are plenty of other twists and turns. Hartnett’s casting here is interesting too – I would not have chosen a conventionally handsome guy like Hartnett to play a psycho killer, but that sort of makes it work too. That’s how it works in real life as well – sometimes the personable, attractive guy is the biggest psycho. Also: the singer, “Lady Raven,” is being played by M. Night’s real-life adult daughter Saleka Shyalaman.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
Josh Hartnett at the British Academy Film Awards 2024 at the Royal Festival Hall in Waterloo, London, United Kingdom on 18 February 2024.,Image: 848412176, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Cat Morley / Avalon 
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA – FEBRUARY 24: Josh Hartnett, winner of the Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture award for ‘Oppenheimer’ poses in the press room at the 30th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall on February 24, 2024 in Los Angeles, California, United States.,Image: 850613931, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Josh Hartnett, Credit line: Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / Avalon 
Tamsin Egerton and Josh Hartnett arrive on the red carpet of the 96th Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 10, 2024.,Image: 855656098, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Mike Baker / AvalonncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pLHLnpmirJOdxm%2BvzqZmcW5nboJ1e8yYpaKfmKmstLTYmqSapJGjwKDA0ZqnmKyilratsdGYoKyXpJ22tKvToZyYop%2BotaC0wKurp52kqaykrdGenKuXopq7orXSrJinm5Vk