If you’re still not over Eddie Munson’s death in Stranger Things Season 4, you’re not alone. But while we mourn the loss of Hawkins’ most heroic metalhead, Joseph Quinn himself has been absolutely crushing it in Hollywood.
The 31-year-old British actor hasn’t just survived his Stranger Things exit (he literally went out as a legend, come on). He’s used that breakout moment as a launching pad into what might be the most impressive hot streak any Netflix breakout has had in years.
Quinn’s transformation from unknown character actor to genuine movie star has been swift, strategic, and honestly? Kind of inspiring. Because he’s not doing the predictable thing. He’s not chasing similar roles or coasting on Eddie Munson nostalgia. Instead, he’s building one of the most eclectic filmographies in modern Hollywood, bouncing between indie prestige projects and massive blockbusters with the kind of confidence that makes you wonder if he’s been planning this all along.
The Immediate Post-Stranger Things Gambit: Going Big and Going Diverse
Let’s talk about 2024, because that was the year Joseph Quinn proved Eddie Munson wasn’t a fluke. He dropped two major studio films that couldn’t have been more different from each other, and somehow managed to steal scenes in both.
First came A Quiet Place: Day One in June 2024, where Quinn played Eric, a British law student trapped in New York City during the alien invasion. The film pulled in over $261 million worldwide and currently sits at 86% on Rotten Tomatoes. But more importantly, Quinn’s performance showcased something we didn’t fully see in Stranger Things: nuance. His portrayal of anxiety and panic attacks felt uncomfortably real, not performative. He had to carry massive emotional weight in a film where speaking above a whisper means instant death.
The physicality alone was impressive, but it was the subtle work (the trembling hands, the way his breathing patterns changed, that look of someone constantly on the edge of breaking) that made critics sit up and pay attention.
Then, just five months later, Quinn flipped the script entirely with Gladiator II. As Emperor Geta (one half of Rome’s corrupt twin emperors alongside Fred Hechinger’s Caracalla), Quinn leaned into full villain mode. Pale skin, unsettling makeup, that unhinged energy that makes you genuinely uncomfortable. He took inspiration from Philip Seymour Hoffman in Mission: Impossible III and Gary Oldman in The Fifth Element, deliberately avoiding the temptation to simply recreate Joaquin Phoenix’s Commodus.
The result? A character that felt simultaneously pathetic and terrifying, weak and dangerous. It was a complete 180 from the charming, lovable Eddie Munson, and that was exactly the point.
The War Movie That Proved He’s More Than a Pretty Face
Then came Warfare in March 2025, and this is where things got really interesting. Alex Garland co-directed this A24 war film with Ray Mendoza, a former Navy SEAL who actually lived through the Iraq mission depicted in the movie. The film holds a staggering 93% on Rotten Tomatoes, and critics specifically called out Quinn’s performance as visceral and unflinching.
Quinn spent most of the film’s 90-minute runtime as a wounded medic, screaming in pain, losing blood, and conveying the absolute chaos of combat in real time. One reviewer described his performance as “emitting ear-splitting noises from deep within the pits of hell.” That’s not hyperbole. The film doesn’t sugarcoat anything, and Quinn matched that intensity by delivering one of the most physically demanding performances of the year. No glamour, no heroic speeches, just raw survival instinct and the primal terror of someone who might not make it out alive.
What makes Warfare significant in Quinn’s trajectory is that it shows range beyond genre. It’s not horror, it’s not fantasy, it’s not a crowd-pleasing blockbuster. It’s an intense, focused character study disguised as a war movie, and Quinn proved he can hold his own in that space.
Joining the MCU: Johnny Storm Done Right
Now here’s where things get massive. The Fantastic Four: First Steps hit theaters in July 2025, and Joseph Quinn officially became part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Johnny Storm, aka the Human Torch. Early reactions from the premiere were overwhelmingly positive, with multiple critics calling Quinn a standout. One review specifically praised him as “near-perfect casting” for the role, while another said he “stole the show.”
What’s fascinating about Quinn’s approach to Johnny Storm is that he actively worked with Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige to modernize the character. In past iterations (looking at you, Chris Evans in the 2005 films), Johnny was portrayed as this cocky, womanizing playboy. Quinn flat-out said that’s not sexy anymore, and pushed for a version of the character that’s less callous with other people’s feelings, more self-aware about his attention-seeking behavior, and actually intelligent. Director Matt Shakman emphasized that this Johnny is “really smart” and not just a dimwitted hothead, reminding audiences that he’s on that spaceship for a reason.
The retro-futuristic 1960s aesthetic of the film apparently works perfectly for Quinn’s energy. Multiple reviewers compared the vibe to The Jetsons meets Star Trek, and praised the chemistry between the four leads (Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Quinn). The film’s currently sitting around 89% with critics, with particular praise for how it balances humor, action, and genuine emotional stakes. Fans are already clamoring for Quinn to team up with Tom Holland’s Spider-Man in future MCU projects, something Quinn himself said he’s “up for” because he thinks Holland is “the best Spider-Man.”
The Beatles, The Avengers, and Beyond: What’s Actually Confirmed
So what’s next? Buckle up, because Joseph Quinn’s schedule for the next three years is absolutely bonkers.
First up: Avengers: Doomsday in May 2026. Quinn’s confirmed to reprise his Johnny Storm role alongside Robert Downey Jr., who’s returning to the MCU as Doctor Doom (not Tony Stark, don’t get confused). Quinn’s already been spending time with MCU veterans preparing for the film, and he specifically gushed about Downey, calling him “an amazing leader” who’s “hilarious” and “a remarkable actor.” That’s high praise from someone who just joined the franchise, and it suggests Quinn’s being welcomed into the inner circle pretty quickly.
Then Avengers: Secret Wars in December 2027, where Quinn will return once again as the Human Torch. That’s three massive Marvel films in the span of two and a half years, cementing him as a core part of the MCU’s future.
But here’s the really wild part: in April 2028, all four Beatles biopics directed by Sam Mendes will be released theatrically in the same month. Quinn is playing George Harrison, and production is scheduled to take over a year of filming.
The ambitious project is being described as “the first bingeable theatrical experience,” with each film telling the Beatles’ story from a different band member’s perspective. Paul Mescal is playing Paul McCartney, Barry Keoghan is Ringo Starr, and Harris Dickinson is John Lennon. Sony Pictures is betting big on this project, and Quinn reportedly had to drop out of Bret Easton Ellis’s horror film Relapse due to scheduling conflicts with the Beatles shoot.
The Roles He’s Turning Down (And Why That Matters)
Speaking of Relapse, let’s talk about what Joseph Quinn isn’t doing, because that’s almost as revealing as what he is doing. He was originally set to star in Ellis’s directorial debut, a horror film about a man who checks into rehab after witnessing a horrific death at a party. It sounded like a perfect fit for Quinn’s ability to play traumatized, complex characters. But he exited the project in early 2025 to commit fully to the Beatles films.
That’s a calculated risk. Relapse would’ve been another prestige indie project, potentially Awards-friendly material. But Quinn chose the Beatles over it, betting that a once-in-a-generation biopic directed by Sam Mendes (with full music rights from Apple Corps, by the way) is worth more to his career long-term.
It’s also worth noting that Quinn won’t be returning for Stranger Things Season 5. The Duffer Brothers officially confirmed this in October 2025, with Matt Duffer saying, “Joe is so busy anyway that everyone should know he’s not coming back. He’s filmed like five movies since! When would he have time to come back and film Stranger Things? Sadly, it’s a no. He’s fully under that ground.” So if you were holding out hope for an Eddie Munson resurrection or even a flashback cameo, it’s time to let that dream die. Quinn’s moved on, and honestly, can you blame him?
Why Joseph Quinn’s Trajectory Is Different From Other Netflix Breakouts
Here’s the thing that makes Quinn’s rise genuinely unique: he’s not following the typical Netflix-to-Hollywood pipeline. Most actors who break out on a streaming show either get typecast in similar roles, struggle to transition to film, or end up back on TV because that’s where their audience is. Quinn did none of that.
Instead, he immediately went after the most challenging, diverse slate possible. Horror prequel with a major studio? Check. Historical epic with Ridley Scott? Check. Experimental war film with a visionary director? Check. Marvel superhero franchise? Check. Beatles biopic with one of cinema’s most respected directors? Check. That’s not just range. That’s someone who looked at his Stranger Things momentum and said, “I’m going to use this to do everything.”
And it’s working. By the end of 2024, Quinn was the 36th highest-grossing domestic box office star with $169 million in ticket sales from just two movies. He was named one of the breakthrough performers of 2024 by multiple outlets. He went from “that guy who played Eddie Munson” to “legitimate movie star” in roughly 18 months. That kind of velocity is rare, and it’s not an accident.
The Method Behind the Madness: How Quinn Chooses Projects
So how is he picking these roles? Based on interviews and his actual filmography, a pattern emerges. Quinn seems to be prioritizing three things:
First, directors. He’s worked with Michael Sarnoski (A Quiet Place: Day One), Ridley Scott (Gladiator II), Alex Garland (Warfare), Matt Shakman (Fantastic Four), and Sam Mendes (Beatles films). That’s an absurdly impressive list of collaborators for someone three years into their mainstream career. Quinn’s clearly chasing auteurs and proven visionaries, betting that great directors will elevate his performances and give him better material to work with.
Second, variety. He’s deliberately avoiding typecasting by ping-ponging between genres and character types. Romantic interest, villain, war hero, superhero, musical icon. He’s making sure that no one can pin him down as “the guy who plays X type of character.” That versatility is his insurance policy against Hollywood’s tendency to pigeonhole actors.
Third, scale. Quinn’s mixing tentpole blockbusters with smaller prestige projects in a way that maximizes both his commercial viability and his critical credibility. Warfare and Hoard (a 2024 indie he did that premiered at film festivals) give him art-house cred. Gladiator II and Fantastic Four make him bankable. The Beatles films do both. It’s a smart balance that keeps him relevant across different audience segments.
What This All Means for His Future
If Joseph Quinn can successfully pull off George Harrison in 2028 while also establishing Johnny Storm as a core MCU character, he’ll be one of the most versatile actors of his generation. That’s not hyperbole. Name another actor in their early 30s who can convincingly play a metalhead D&D nerd, an anxiety-ridden disaster survivor, a Roman emperor, a Navy SEAL medic, a Marvel superhero, and a Beatle. The list is basically non-existent.
The real test will come after 2028, when the Beatles films are out and his MCU commitments are (presumably) fulfilled. Will he keep chasing challenging indie roles? Will he lean into being a franchise star? Will he pivot to something completely unexpected? Based on everything he’s done so far, the smart money says he’ll do all three simultaneously, because that seems to be his entire strategy: don’t let anyone predict what you’re going to do next.
There’s also the question of awards recognition. Quinn’s been nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for Stranger Things and won the MTV Movie & TV Award for Best Breakthrough Performance in 2023. But he hasn’t cracked into the Oscar/BAFTA conversation yet. Could George Harrison be that role? It’s entirely possible, especially if Mendes delivers on the ambitious vision he’s promised. Musical biopics have been Awards catnip recently (Rami Malek for Bohemian Rhapsody, Austin Butler for Elvis), and Quinn’s got the acting chops to pull off something special if the script is there.
The Spider-Man Question Everyone’s Asking
Let’s address the elephant in the room: the potential Spider-Man and Human Torch team-up that everyone (including Quinn himself) seems to want. In the comics, Peter Parker and Johnny Storm have one of the best friendships in Marvel. They’re constantly giving each other grief, pulling pranks, and backing each other up when things get serious. The chemistry writes itself.
Quinn’s been openly enthusiastic about working with Tom Holland, calling him “the best Spider-Man” and saying “that pairing makes sense to me.” Marvel would be leaving money on the table if they don’t capitalize on this in a future project, whether it’s Spider-Man 5 (which is currently in development) or some other MCU crossover. The fan demand is already there, the actors are into it, and the comic book foundation is rock solid. It feels like a “when” rather than an “if” situation.
Final Verdict: Joseph Quinn is Building Something Special
Here’s the bottom line: Joseph Quinn took the gift that Stranger Things gave him and turned it into a legitimate A-list career in record time. He’s not coasting, he’s not playing it safe, and he’s not letting anyone define what kind of actor he is. Every role feels like a deliberate choice to stretch himself and prove he can do something different.
The next three years will be crucial. If Avengers: Doomsday and ‘Secret Wars’ are massive hits, Quinn becomes a household name. If the Beatles films land with critics and audiences, he becomes a serious actor who can also do blockbusters. If both happen? He’s one of the biggest stars in the world.
The crazy thing is, based on what we’ve seen so far, it all feels achievable. Joseph Quinn’s not just surviving the post-Stranger Things transition. He’s thriving in a way that most actors only dream about. Eddie Munson would be proud.