Variety & CNN’s Actors on Actors series boasts some impressive pairings for its 23rd season.
The season will kick off with a sit-down interview between Wicked: For Good’s Ariana Grande and Jay Kelly’s Adam Sandler. For the first time ever, the series will air on CNN under a new partnership between the network and the outlet throughout December.
“Our next season, in which Hollywood A-listers once again get candid in one-on-one conversations, features some of the most revelatory, intimate and hilarious moments yet,” Ramin Setoodeh, Variety’s co-editor in chief and co-president, said in a statement. “We cannot wait for fans of this franchise to watch — and rewatch — these episodes on CNN’s new streaming offering and on Variety‘s social media channels.”
Scroll below to see the full lineup for Variety’s Actors on Actors season 23.
Ariana Grande and Adam Sandler
For the first episode of the season airing on December 5, Variety tapped two of the biggest stars in Hollywood: Ariana Grande and Adam Sandler. The pair are already generating a ton of Oscar buzz for their roles in Wicked: For Good and Jay Kelly, respectively.
Julia Roberts and Sean Penn
After the Hunt’s Julia Roberts and One Battle After Another’s Sean Penn are teaming up for the second episode on December 6. They previously costarred in the 2022 limited series Gaslit, portraying married couple Martha and John Mitchell.
Jonathan Bailey and David Corenswet
Wicked: For Good’s Jonathan Bailey and Superman’s David Corenswet are sure to make Us swoon with their December 7 episode.
Reuniting and it feels so good! Over the years, casts and costars have come together at awards shows to celebrate one another — and to revisit their old friends. “Appropriately enough, the theme for tonight is ‘together again,’” Lin-Manuel Miranda said at the 28th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in February 2022, while opening the […]
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and Brendan Fraser
The Smashing Machine’s Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Rental Family’s Brendan Fraser will be center stage on the series on December 8.
Gwyneth Paltrow and Jacob Elordi
Marty Supreme’s Gwyneth Paltrow and Jacob Elordi, fresh off of his captivating role in Frankenstein, were paired up for the December 9 episode.
Cynthia Erivo and Hugh Jackman
Wicked: For Good’s Cynthia Erivo and Song Sung Blue’s Hugh Jackman will no doubt bond over their love for music in the December 10 episode.
Sydney Sweeney and Ethan Hawke
Christy actress Sydney Sweeney will be joined by Blue Moon’s Ethan Hawke on December 11.
Stellan Skarsgård and Alexander Skarsgård
Father-son acting duo Stellan Skarsgård, who is an Oscar frontrunner for Sentimental Value, and Alexander Skarsgård, who stars in Pillion, will appear in the December 12 episode.
Michael B. Jordan and Jesse Plemons
Fans will be getting a Friday Night Lights reunion. Sinners’ Michael B. Jordan, who is a strong contender for a Best Actor nomination at the 2026 Oscars, and Bugonia’s Jesse Plemons were paired up for the December 13 episode.
Kate Hudson and Jeremy Allen White
Kate Hudson, who stars in Song Sung Blue, and Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere’s Jeremy Allen White will headline the December 14 episode.
Oscar Isaac and Teyana Taylor
Frankenstein’s Oscar Isaac will chat with One Battle After Another standout Teyana Taylor on December 15.
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Colin Farrell and Jessie Buckley
The December 16 show will feature Ballad of a Small Player’s Colin Farrell and Hamnet star Jessie Buckley.
Jennifer Lawrence and Leonardo DiCaprio
The season will conclude with Die My Love’s Jennifer Lawrence and One Battle After Another’s Leonardo DiCaprio on December 17. They previously costarred in the 2021 political satire Don’t Look Up.
Full episodes of Variety & CNN Actors on Actors will air each day on CNN at 9 a.m. ET. The interviews will also air at 3 p.m. ET on Variety’s YouTube channel.
