One of Hollywood’s most exciting new leading men, Garfield takes the honour as anticipation builds for summer 2012 blockbuster The Amazing Spider-Man.
He follows in the footsteps of previous winners including Super 8 director JJ Abrams and Christopher Nolan, who drops to number five this year despite fevered interest in The Dark Knight Rises, the completion of his Batman trilogy.
In second position is legendary producer/director Ridley Scott, age 73 but showing no signs of slowing down thanks to Alien prequel Prometheus as well as the controversial sequel to sci-fi classic Blade Runner.
New Zealand auteur Peter Jackson is at number three ahead of his return to Middle-earth with The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. And long-time SFX favourite Joss Whedon takes fourth place thanks to his role at the helm of forthcoming superhero-fest The Avengers.
Dave Bradley, Editor-in-Chief of SFX, says: “With people from some of Hollywood’s most anticipated films at the top of the list, the 2011 Hot 50 shows sci-fi and fantasy are bigger and more popular than ever before. Our Spidey-sense is telling us to expect great things from this year’s number one Andrew Garfield.”
The SFX Hot 50 claims to be the definitive guide to the brightest stars in the sci-fi universe; an authoritative annual examination of the fantasy zeitgeist. Actors, directors, novelists, producers – if they’re hot, they’re on the list.
The full Hot 50 can be found in issue 215 of SFX, on sale now. Also in the issue: an world exclusive report from the set of Misfits and the inside track on season two of zombie-bashing smash hit The Walking Dead.
SFX Hot 50 2011 – the top five
1. Andrew Garfield
2. Ridley Scott
3. Peter Jackson
4. Joss Whedon
5. Christopher Nolan
