My next prediction is that Danny Ramirez will be A Big Deal

Captain America: Brave New World opens on Friday. I’ll have a full review after I think on it a little more, but in short: Danny Ramirez is the only reason to watch it, and he’s not in it nearly enough to justify it. 

Ramirez was at the premiere, in a wide-legged suit I approve of, and he was joined by his Top Gun: Maverick co-stars Lewis Pullman and Greg Tarzan Davis. While yes, Pullman has a reason to be at a Marvel premiere as he stars in Thunderbolts*, those young guns show up for each other in a very real way, even years after working together. It’s sweet, and a reminder that we will someday look back on Maverick as an incubator for a generation’s worth of A-list talent.

To that end, let’s get real about Danny Ramirez. Remember when I said Chris Pratt would be a huge movie star? And when I said Monica Barbaro is a STAR, and predicted her Oscar nomination before A Complete Unknown even came out? And when I said everyone is sleeping on Lewis Pullman’s sex appeal? And then I was right about all of those things? Well, Danny Ramirez is also a STAR. The man is a complete charm bomb on screen, he turns the most mundane-ass nothing moments into delightful little scenes. 

I’m not sure what direction it will take yet, because Ramirez will make his feature directorial debut with a soccer movie he also wrote—and is produced by David Beckham—and will star in, too. But beyond THAT, he’s also worked as a cinematographer on a couple Gucci ads, which tells me he has some technical know-how, too (cinematographers are like directors who actually know what all the lenses do). 

That’s a lot of talent in one person, with a lot of potential. I want to see how Ramirez acquits himself behind the camera—and as a writer—but if he’s half as good at directing as he is at performing, Ramirez could be a defining actor-director for his generation. I truly do not think there is a limit on this kid. If you’re placing bets, take the over on Danny Ramirez.