Facing a sea of Hollywood heavyweights and clutching his first golden statuette, Owen Cooper’s Warrington accent filled the hushed auditorium at last weekend’s Emmy Awards.
His assured but humble acceptance speech and his historic win left few in doubt that this schoolboy from Cheshire would be a future star.
And, just six months after Netflix’s Adolescence become the streamer’s breakout hit and propelled the teenager into the global spotlight, we can reveal the offers are coming in thick and fast – with one particular rumoured role that could send him stratospheric.
Cooper, who turns 16 in December and will sit his GCSEs next year, is already being eyed to make good on his reputation as a boy wonder, amid rumours he could be in the running to play Robin opposite another former British child star Robert Pattinson in The Batman 2.
Director Matt Reeves, who loves to drop hints about his casting and story decisions, has gone public in his admiration for Cooper, after recently catching up on Adolescence.
Speaking on the red carpet at this year’s awards, Reeves said: ‘We’re starting to gear up and we’re talking about different crew people for [The Batman: Part 2], and I was … blown away by Adolescence.’
He added: ‘That show really got to me. I was really affected.’
As well as Reeves’s praise, Cooper has the support of DC Comics fans, who are calling for him to be cast in the role in numerous online forums.
His assured but humble acceptance speech for his Outstanding Supporting Actor award at the Emmys in a historic win left few in doubt he would be a future star
Robert Pattinson will reprise his role of Batman in the follow-up film
‘This industry is buzzing about what is next for Owen, and everyone is saying he’d be the perfect casting for Robin,’ an industry insider told the Daily Mail. ‘But, Matt likes to keep things close to his chest.’
‘Owen’s now attracting the attention of big-name directors,’ said another. ‘He’s proved he’s got the talent and now he’s on a lot of wish lists, people are reaching out.’
The character of Robin, also known as Dick Grayson, was originated in 1940 to serve as a younger sidekick to Batman.
He has been played on screen by Burt Ward in the 1966 TV series, Chris O’Donnell in Joel Schumacher’s Batman and Robin and Joseph Gordon-Levitt in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy.
Pattinson has already been confirmed to return to the role of Batman for the sequel film, with Reeves saying: ‘I really do think this movie will be better than the last.’
For his part, Cooper has admitted he’s keen to add some action roles to his CV, saying: ‘I’d love to do stunts. Probably not like Tom Cruise – I’m scared enough going on rollercoasters, let alone hanging off the side of a plane. But, jumping off the side of a cliff into water? I could probably do that.’
But whether or not Cooper would want to take the role remains to be seen, as he is already thought to have become extremely discerning on the advice of his inner circle.
‘Owen and his family are very level-headed and don’t want him to get chewed up and spat out by the Hollywood machine,’ said one insider. ‘Getting an education and staying grounded is just as important as landing big roles.’
Cooper in Adolescence as schoolboy killer Jamie Miller, after Stephen Graham and the production team sought to cast an unknown actor
The youngster, who took his homework with him to Los Angeles for the Emmys, is already back at school following his win.
In fact, Cooper is so keen not to get swept up in the Hollywood rigmarole that he is rumoured to have turned down a role in Star Wars: Starfighter, starring Ryan Gosling and Amy Adams.
Principal filming for the big screen epic started last month and is expected to run until at least the end of the year, meaning that Cooper would have missed a whole term at school.
While Cooper, who lives with carer mother Noreen, 52, and IT worker father Andy, 45, in a modest £135,000 terraced house, could have received an eye-watering pay day for the blockbuster film, it seems he is prioritising his schooling.
Although he is thought to have made just £40,000 for the four-part mini-series that won him his Emmy, he has now been signed by powerhouse agency Independent Talent Group and employed Public Eye Communications to work as his publicists.
‘Owen Cooper’s Emmy win has put him on the map in a way very few young actors ever experience. The whole world is now watching Owen’s next step,’ Jonathan Shalit, chairman of InterTalent agency, told the Daily Mail.
‘Being linked to Robin opposite Robert Pattinson will immediately show Owen’s versatility as an actor. Turning down a Star Wars role, if true, shows there’s a clear long-term strategic plan at work.
‘At just 15, balancing a career, GCSEs and mental health is vital. Hollywood will still be there in two years’ time.’
He added: ‘My instinct is Owen will take on one more carefully chosen prestige role before a blockbuster, positioning him as one of the most bankable stars of his generation.’
The film, starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi as Cathy and Heathcliff, will be released in February next year and has already offended Emily Bronte purists for its sexed-up take on the story.
Cooper has also already filmed a role in White Lotus star Aimee Lou Wood’s forthcoming BBC Three series, Film Club, which is due for release later this year.
The teenager landed his gritty role in Adolescence as schoolboy killer Jamie Miller after Stephen Graham and the production team sought to cast an unknown actor and contacted northern drama schools.
Cooper attended Coronation Street actress Tina O’Brien’s The Drama MOB once a week, and a tape of him performing was submitted for consideration.
‘When I started these drama classes a couple of years back, I didn’t expect to even be in the United States, never mind here,’ he told the A-list crowd at the Emmys.
‘I think tonight proves, if you listen, and you focus, and you step out of your comfort zone, you can achieve anything in life. Who cares if you get embarrassed? Anything can be possible. I was nothing about three years ago, I’m here now.’
While Cooper might be treading carefully when it comes to his next roles, one thing is certain: this probably won’t be the last time we see him raising a statuette above his head in a room full of applauding A-listers.
