While some people watch Masters of the Air for its unique historical perspective, others watch it for its heart-eyes-inducing cast. It’s a mostly male cast and that may not be the best way to celebrate Women’s History Month, but if Masters of the Air proves anything, it’s that women definitely appreciate history.
Masters of the Air follows the story of the 100th Bomb Group during WWII. They went on some of the most dangerous and deadly missions throughout the war, so who better to play these heroes than the lovable Austin Butler, Callum Turner, Barry Keoghan, and Sawyer Spielberg? All four men have been circling Hollywood for years, but now they’re finally rising up as prestigious actors.
Luckily, they have a whole catalog behind them, so if you’re crushing on them, there are plenty of films and series to check out. Get ready to go down a rabbit hole of indie films and underrated series, because the Masters of the Air boys have run the industry’s gamut.
Austin Butler — ‘The Bikeriders’ (2023), ‘Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood’ (2019), ‘Elvis’ (2022)
Butler is arguably the most recognizable name in the four leads of Masters of the Air, but that’s because his career kicked off as a young Disney and Nickelodeon star. Many millennials remember him as a romantic interest in basically every show we watched as kids. He was Derek Hanson in Hannah Montana, Zippy Brewster in Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide, Jake Krandle in iCarly, James Garrett in Zoey 101, and George in Wizards of Waverly Place.
We may not recognize those characters’ names, but whenever Austin popped up in one of those iconic millennial series, he was “that guy.” Few teen stars were as prolific when it came to their catalog of guest roles. Now, Austin has successfully transitioned into becoming one of today’s most coveted leading men. But if you’re loving him in Masters of the Air, his 2023 film, The Bikeriders, is easily the first to add to your watchlist.
The Bikeriders follows a Chicago-based motorcycle gang in the 1960s, adding to Austin’s timeless intrigue. Like Masters, this film is an ensemble piece that draws on Austin’s charm and chemistry to make us fall in love with another ragtag group of boys. In fact, Austin is a “Master of Period Pieces,” playing Elvis and Tex Watson in the 1960s and 70s in Elvis and Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, respectively.
Callum Turner — ‘The Boys in the Boat’ (2023), ‘Green Room’ (2015), ‘Tramps’ (2016)
Some might think Turner became a household name because of Masters of the Air, but the British actor first made waves in 2014’s Queen and Country and the mystery miniseries, Glue. He’s always had an eye for interesting projects, however, and his part in Green Room solidified him as a notable indie actor. Turner plays the lead singer of a punk band, the Ain’t Rights, who end up accidentally performing at a neo-Nazi skinhead bar near modern-day Portland, Oregon. Their punk gig quickly turns into a horror saga as the neo-Nazis hold them hostage, threatening their lives. Reviewers described the film as “a tense gore-fest,” a “jagged-edge gem of a horror film,” “as intimate as it is unnerving,” and darkly funny.
Turner has more recently made headlines as Theseus in the Fantastic Beasts films, but his starring role in The Boys in the Boat is much more akin to his Masters of the Air role. Also a biographical project, he plays Olympic rowing champion Joe Rantz during WWII. And of course, for a little Turner-loving, Tramps is a lovable rom-com Netflix film with a bit of Turner’s signature inner turmoil.
Barry Keoghan — ‘Saltburn’ (2023), ‘American Animals’ (2018), ‘The Killing of a Sacred Deer’ (2017)
If you thought Turner had an eclectic share of projects, just wait until you dive into Barry Keoghan’s resume. An award-winning Irish actor, Keoghan rose to fame for his role as George Mills in Dunkirk, which is probably his most comparable project to Masters of the Air. Keoghan perfectly walks the line between historical fiction blockbusters and indie horror thriller absurdism that can’t be boxed into one genre. Many would argue that we are now in the era of Keoghan after his provoking role in 2023’s Saltburn. And we’re not the only ones crushing on him now that he’s allegedly dating musician Sabrina Carpenter.
Alongside his Dunkirk pop to fame, he also starred in Yorgos Lanthimos’s absurdist psychological horror thriller The Killing of a Sacred Deer alongside Colin Farrell and Nicole Kidman. Keoghan’s Martin infiltrates a family he believes is responsible for his father’s death, and the story descends into madness. American Animals takes a different approach. The ensemble film is a docudrama heist film with unreliable narrators, an unconventional storytelling structure, and memorable needle drops that make it a must-see in his catalog.
Sawyer Spielberg — ‘Honeydew’ (2020), ‘Pink Flags’ (2023), ‘Merry Good Enough’ (2023)
Surprisingly, despite his easier path to fame as Steven Spielberg’s son, Sawyer has few acting credits before Masters of the Air. But that doesn’t stop us from loving him! He was first drawn to stage acting, making his off-Broadway debut in 2012 under his stage name, Sawyer Avery. But by 2016, he found himself working in film with his directorial short film, Breathe. But his first major starring role in Honeydew opposite Lena Dunham is definitely worth a watch.
Honeydew follows a couple who travel to rural New England to investigate a fungus outbreak devastating local farms. Ironically, Honeydew also came out during COVID-19, a different type of outbreak. The film descends into a different type of horror, building tension through the fish-out-of-water premise and the unsettling hosts of the farm. Pink Flags features Spielberg opposite his real-life wife, Raye Levine as she plays a figure ice skater who believes she’s being stalked. Merry Good Enough is an indie Christmas movie, a cute film that propped Spielberg up on his way to stardom.
With at least 12 films and series to watch after binging Masters of the Air, we’ve got more than enough to keep ourselves busy ahead of our favorite boys’ next projects.
