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Go back to the early 2000s and there is no way that you won’t know the Hollywood heartthrob, Josh Hartnett. Famous for his incredible filmography fromPearl HarbortoBlack Hawk Down, the actor vanished from the film industry while still at the top of his career. Yet starting in 2023, the actor made a remarkable comeback and went on to star in the Oscar-winningOppenheimer.
And now he will be seen next in M. Night Shyamalan’s horror thriller,Trap. Portraying a serial killer, the trailer is enough for fans to be convinced that the actor has one hell of a performance in store for them. As the whole world seems to be hypnotized by his incredible performance, it is a no-brainer that his resurgence can be dubbed as theBrendan Fraser Effect.
TheBrendan Fraser Effect:Josh Hartnett Entices Fans By Starring as a Serial Killer
Only an incredible actor likeJosh Hartnettcan look as alluring as he does by starring as a serial killer. The actor, who has largely been missing from Hollywood since the late 2000s, had a remarkable comeback last year by starring inOppenheimerand season 6 ofBlack Mirror. And just like his contemporaryBrendan Fraser, whose remarkable resurgence inThe Whaleblew fans away, Hartnett too has found a role that is bound to take him back to the top of Hollywood.
Josh Hartnett Did Not Have The Best Time Working With Harrison Ford, Allegedly Called Him “Old Fart” After Many Awkward Moments
Onceslated to become a Hollywood legend, Hartnett took a break from the film industry due to the extreme fame and attention he was subjected to (seeThe Hollywood Reporter). While he still does not seem to be okay with the attention, the actor seems much more at ease. And now he is once again ready to show his talents to the world throughM. Night Shyamalan’sTrap.
Starring as a serial killer who takes his daughter to a concert, he soon discovers the police have trapped the whole place to capture him. An apparently heart-pounding and gripping tale, as is characteristic of Shyamalan, the movie is sure to be filled with several twists and turns.
“They also hired my girlfriend at the time”: Josh Hartnett Was Heartbroken After Christopher Nolan Chose Scarlett Johansson for $110M Thriller After He Refused to Play Batman
And as the trailer went viral, arousing the same effect as Shyamalan had intended (seeNerd Reactor), fans declared that theJosh Hartnett Renaissanceis here.
Fans React to Josh Hartnett’s Resurgence via TheTrap
For years fans have wondered what has happened to Josh Hartnett. The actor disappeared back when he was fast rising at the top of Hollywood’s altar of fame. Not because he was not getting any roles, but because of the brutality and scrutiny that the world inflicts upon anyslated to be a Hollywood legendactor.
“You see the direct influence of that”: M. Night Shyamalan Admits ‘Trap’ Borrows Heavily from Harry Potter Star’s Critically Acclaimed Series Even Guillermo del Toro is a Fan of
And so while he did a few roles here and there, mostly non-leading roles,Trapwill be Hartnett’s one of the first major roles in years on the big screen. And as the chilling and intriguing trailer of the film went viral, this is how fans reacted:
The Josh Hartnett renaissance is upon us.🖤pic.twitter.com/5MVoUBS2JF
— Diandra Krueger //// (@SassySledgehmmr)July 01, 2025
May Josh Hartnett always continue to grace the horror/thriller genre with his presencepic.twitter.com/jgRlcgzEcj
— Emilio (@TheFilmMaestro)June 19, 2025
Growing up is when your childhood crush on Josh Hartnett as a rebellious, angsty teen in The Faculty and Halloween H20 evolves into an adulthood crush on Josh Hartnett as a DILF serial killer in Trappic.twitter.com/XiOEfJ5m3J
— Chase 🎃🔪🩸🏳️🌈 (@ohheyitschase)August 04, 2025
I would be absolutely fine if Josh Hartnett has a comebackpic.twitter.com/vaC8AZffB3
— Jeremiah (@lebontempkid)July 13, 2025
I believe Josh Hartnett could have been a huge star if only he had gone to a respectable barber in the 90s. I joke, but I’m really glad to see him in more and more films recently. Dudes a great actor.pic.twitter.com/hoNMvQPBsS
— Horror Fan Ryan👻💀🧟♂️🎃🎃 (@HorrorFanRyan)July 24, 2025
Josh Hartnett still hot in 2024… god is so goddamn goodpic.twitter.com/KI0HZt3GYK
— samanthamcfarland (@SailorSammy93)June 15, 2025
In the same waythat Brendan Fraser re-climbed the ladder of fame and acclaimwith his roles inThe WhaleandKillers of the Flower Moon, Josh Hartnett’s role inTraplooks promising enough to do the same for his career. As his journey seems to mirror that of Fraser’s, Hartnett rises to the challenge of portraying a character as complex as a serial killer is similar to how Fraser rose to portray his Oscar-winning role inThe Whale.
As fans await a potential great comeback, they hope the actor is truly back to the land of acting this time.
Traphits the theatres on August 9.
Maria Sultan
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2703
Maria Sultan is a dedicated News Content Writer at FandomWire. With over five years of professional experience and hundreds of published articles, she brings a wealth of expertise to her coverage of Marvel, K-dramas, and the latest on streaming platforms.Her work is not just about reporting news; it’s about providing insightful perspectives on the entertainment trends that matter most.
