Since his 2018 role in The Kissing Booth, Jacob Elordi has continued to make a name for himself through his involvement in popular films and TV series. With this expanding recognition, Elordi has increasingly been cast in recent and upcoming productions.
Although he is a credit to his profession, the question has popped up regarding whether or not he is being overcast and if he is the right fit for these roles.
The evolution of Jacob Elordi
I remember watching The Kissing Booth in May of 2018, along with most teen girls at the time. Since then, for many fans as well, Elordi has stayed on my radar as an actor. It is clear that his skills as Noah, one of the characters within the 2018 film, led to increased opportunities for Elordi within the entertainment industry.
He was soon cast in the 2019 TV Series known as Euphoria. This show gained attention quickly due to the inclusion of other well-known actors such as Zendaya and Alexa Demie. Allowing for further recognition to be given to his character, the toxic and possibly closeted Nate Jacobs.
After this series, and an additional 2 films in The Kissing Booth franchise, Elordi took on films that garnered an even larger amount of attention.
One of these films is the 2023 film Saltburn. The release of this movie led to a boom in social media content referencing Jacob Elordi. In this film, he played Felix Catton, the child of an aristocratic family who invites his classmate to his house for the summer. As an avid doomscroller, I myself had seen the influx of edits featuring Jacob Elordi. Many with clips from the aesthetic film that was Saltburn.
Comments flooded these edits, stating their love for the actor. One TikTok account, hadar_avraham72, stated within the comments, “It’s impossible not to love Jacob Elordi”. Many other fans commented similarly on these edits and posts, showing their love for this versatile performer. Since these productions, Elordi has continued to be cast in more recent movies as well as anticipated releases.
New and upcoming projects
The 2025 version of Frankenstein caused an uproar among fans of the novel and fans of certain actors.
Once again, our screens were graced with the presence of Elordi, who plays the innocent and newly born Creature.
We can all agree that his performance was phenomenal. His interactions as The Creature with Mia Goth’s character Elizabeth, were beautifully represented throughout the film.
However, the announcement of his involvement in the upcoming adaptation of Wuthering Heights caused some questions to arise. The closeness of these projects with Elordi cast as the leading roles in both seems a bit overboard.
The release of Frankenstein appeared on Netflix in October of 2025. I was shocked to find that Wuthering Heights will soon follow with its release in February of 2026.
These closely timed projects emphasize this continued theme of Jacob Elordi’s inclusion in films ranging from young adult to gothic romance. After turning to social media, I’ve found that I am not the only fan who is criticizing his continued appearances in these films.
Reuse and Recycle
While no one is questioning Elordi’s talent within the acting world, I can’t help but wonder if he is being overcast. I myself have followed along Elordi’s journey as an actor. Having watched movies ranging from The Kissing Booth, to Pricillla, Saltburn, and now Frankenstein.
Although I enjoyed these films and what Elordi had to offer in each of them, I feel as though the more I see him, the more the illusion these films are trying to offer is blurred. As someone who loves movies and TV shows, I enjoy the entertainment that these productions offer.
Because of his increased involvement in these productions, Elordi has become the face of many characters. With this in mind, those watching these new projects may have a difficult time finding the escape they are looking for in these productions.
It becomes harder to separate the actor from the character, disrupting the illusion for the viewer.
Along with this, it is fair to assume that continuing to use these same actors does not allow for the discovery of new and equally talented performers.
Looking at Reddit comments, it seems that others agree. AustinFriars_ stated their opinion, “I wish they would stop getting ‘it girl/boy’ actors for projects like these and actually go and find some undiscovered actors/ actresses who would more accurately fit these roles.”
Looking at the other comments, I see similar sentiments from others. With this, it’s safe to assume that this upcoming film may garner some criticism.
Gaining roles: Talent or connections?
Clearly, there was a wide range of talented actors with the potential to play the role of Heathcliff. This causes me to wonder how Elordi is continuing to gain these parts in popular productions.
The term Nepo baby has become a very well-known term in the past few years. This relates to a person who is successful due to influential parents. Many famous actors, for example, Lily Depp, face accusations that they gain roles through personal connections as a Nepo Baby rather than talent.
While some have wondered if this is the case for Jacob Elordi, the idea of him being a nepo baby is far from the truth. His background involves a father who immigrated to Australia and began working as a house painter. His mother was a stay-at-home mom and, as stated in a GQ interview, “used to volunteer at Elordi’s school”.
Coming from a humble upbringing, Elordi appears to have worked for his stardom, giving him a more relatable background. Although he may not have used connections through relatives, his past roles may have allowed him to gain connections within the industry. While this could be a possibility, it can just as easily be assumed that he is being used for his popularity by producers themselves.
Having such a large following, it wouldn’t surprise me to find that his addition in these upcoming and recent movies isn’t solely for his acting skills. Some might conclude that his presence in the industry is not only due to talent, but also for marketing purposes.
Although these are possibilities, we mustn’t discredit Elordi’s talent and the work he puts into these projects. For now, all we can do is wait and see what else he has in store for fans.
