The Revolution, Televised

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DARREN CRISS

The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story

Criss won an Emmy for playing killer Andrew Cunanan, telling V.F., "My heart is really sensitive to the people who experienced something so horrible that I'm trying to breathe life into." Up next: a role in Roland Emmerich's Midway.

Change is in the air these days. As movies and TV morph—fueled by the political moment and shifting demographics—the stories Hollywood tells are changing, too. Leading the way are the creative talent who bring a sense of mission to their work. Emmys season was a reminder that inclusive casts and socially conscious storytelling aren't just accomplishments on their own; those shows also provide a platform for actors, writers, and directors. This was on particular display at the FX Networks party in September, which was hosted with Vanity Fair and included the casts and crews of The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American

ZAZIE BEETZ

Atlanta

In addition to filming another season of Atlanta, where she plays Donald Glover's erstwhile partner, Van, Beetz stars opposite Johnny Whitworth in Meet Me in a Happy Place, an upcoming drama about a young African-American girl who disappears from her neighborhood in Brooklyn.

BRIAN TYREE HENRY

Atlanta

His revelatory role as Paper Boi has set the actor's career on fire. Up next: he's in the Viola Davis-led Widows, as well as the hotly anticipated If Beale Street Could Talk, from Barry Jenkins.

Crime Story; American Horror Story: Cult; and Atlanta. The attendees basked in their success and presented an interesting preview of more to come. Darren Criss, from the Versace mini-series, summarized the moment as the "opportunity of a lifetime."

Actors Adina Porter, Zazie Beetz, and Edgar Ramirez sparkled in their respective roles this past season, and each is moving into a film that has sharp, inquisitive social relevance. Porter will star opposite Uzo Aduba in Miss Virginia, about a financially strapped mother willing to march to Congress to secure a good education for her son. Beetz will star in Meet Me in a Happy Place, about a journalist who covers the disappearance of a young AfricanAmerican girl in Brooklyn. And Ramirez is in director Olivier Assayas's upcoming Wasp Network, about Cuban political prisoners.

Two stars from different shows found their way to Barry Jenkins's adaptation of James Baldwin's If Beale Street Could Talk, a haunting tale of life in Harlem in the 70s. Brian Tyree Henry (Paper Boi on Atlanta) is a lifelong Baldwin fan; he told V.F. he always carries a copy of The Fire Next Time in his backpack. He'll be joined on Beale Street by Finn Wittrock, who broke out this year in The Assassination of Gianni Versace, his smoldering gaze making his portrayal of closeted naval officer Jeffrey Trail one of the most affecting parts of the mini-series.

Judith Light has been dedicated to AIDS and L.G.B.T.Q, activism since the 80s. Her commitment is reflected both in her charity work and in her choice of roles, in Versace and Transparent. Light's next project, Ms. White Light, casts her in a supporting role to queer performer Roberta Colindrez.

The uproarious bro-comedy It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia conceals a streak of radical thinking about sexuality, gender, and the working class thanks to co-creator Rob McElhenney and star Kaitlin Olson (who are married). Now the two are teaming up again for an as-yet-untitled project about a blended family: a politically conservative woman (Leah Remini) and two kids living with her ex-husband (Rob Riggle) and—twist!— her new wife (Olson). McElhenney, whose character on Sunny is out as a gay man after 12 seasons in the closet, has written him into a remarkable portrait of fragile masculinity.

Last but not least: Max Greenfield, fresh off a harrowing turn as a junkie on Versace. The actor's knack for becoming the butt of humor will be on display in two studio attempts to turn an existing comedic structure on its head: the film What Men Want, starring Taraji P. Henson as the genderswapped version of What Women Want, and The Neighborhood, a sitcom about gentrification in which Greenfield and his family move into a historically black neighborhood.

SONIA SARAIYA

ADINA PORTER

American Horror Story: Cult

The longtime TV actress has starred in threeAmerican Horror Storyseasons and was Emmy-nominated for the show's seventh, Cult.Up next: she's opposite Uzo Aduba inMiss Virginia, about an inner-city mom who takes her son's education fight to Congress.

ROB McELHENNEY AND KAITLIN OLSON

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

The couple got together while working on Sunny, still going strong-and pushing boundaries. Up next: a story about a blended family-a mother, her ex-husband, and her new wife.

JUDITH LIGHT

The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story

The lifelong activist chooses her roles with advocacy in mind. Up next: Ms. White Light, starring queer performer Roberta Colindrez as a counselor for terminally ill clients.

EDGAR RAMI REZ

The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story

The Venezuelan actor who became Versace also gained accolades for his role in Carlos, in 2010. Up next: the new Olivier Assayas film, Wasp Network, about Cuban political prisoners held in America for decades.

MAX GREENFIELD

The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story

The sitcom star proved his acting chops in Versace, playing a junkie who became Andrew Cunanan's only confidant. Up next: What Men Want, with Taraji R Henson, and The Neighborhood, with Cedric the Entertainer.

FINN WITTROCK

The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story

A go-to performer for director-writer-producer Ryan Murphy, Wittrock caught the eye of director Barry Jenkins for the upcoming If Beale Street Could Talk.