What Happened To The ‘La La Land’ Cast 10 Years Later
One of the main reasons La La Land (2016) still holds up today is because of the cast. Damien Chazelle's idea for a story centered around Hollywood is a simple one, but it's the performances that add layers and heart. It's the characters and the love story that feel impactful. And for those of us who will gobble up any musical, the songs still hit in all the right ways.
For a story that essentially explores how to make it in Hollywood and what that looks like in terms of fame, it's particularly lovely to see the success that both Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling have had since. Stone won her first Oscar for her role as Mia, and Gosling is a name none of us could get tired of hearing. And it's also endearing to see just how much has changed in only a decade.
Emma Stone as Mia
Emma Stone's filmography continues to be impressive as she unfailingly shows us that there's nothing she's afraid of tackling. She can be the vibrant girl next door, the ambitious actress trying to chase her dreams, the Disney villain in Cruella (2021), or a grown adult with a child's brain inside of her. Since La La Land, she's won another Oscar for her performance in Poor Things (2023).
Stone's strength in embodying complex women makes her performances consistently memorable, nuanced, and fun. Even if the property itself doesn't become a favorite, there's a good chance you'll at least appreciate what she brings to the table. She'll next be seen in The Catch (2027), directed by Dave McCary.
Ryan Gosling as Sebastian
Like his scene partner, Ryan Gosling is an unmistakable star with incredible range, and his projects since La La Land continue to prove it. From stealing the show in Barbie (2023) as Ken to stealing hearts most recently in Project Hail Mary (2026), he's the kind of charming triple threat Hollywood is lucky to have.
There's a reason he'll remain booked and busy in the coming years, and it's entirely because he brings his A-game to every role. Gosling is also set to star as Johnny Blaze/Ghost Rider in the MCU, and he's also got a Star Wars film releasing in Starfighter (2027). He's essentially collecting incredible movies like Infinity Stones at this point, and they're each mostly appropriate viewing for the whole family.
John Legend as Keith
John Legend was essentially pretty well known in the industry as a musician, and he's still around making music, all while judging on NBC's The Voice (2011). Outside of Gosling and Stone, we didn't spend too much time with most of the other cast members in La La Land, but still, most people knew exactly who the actors were at the time, too.
Legend has made a few appearances here and there, occasionally as himself, like in Coming 2 America (2021), but he's also voiced Jim Posey in The Mitchells vs. the Machines (2021). He also focuses a lot on producing and soundtrack work, too, so there's a good chance we're getting work from him that flies under the radar.
J. K. Simmons as Bill
If there's one role J.K. Simmons is frequently going to take on, it's the kind of boss who'll frustrate the daylights out of you. And more often than not, while it's so easy to hate his characters, it's certainly easy to appreciate what the actor brings to the table. From movies like Whiplash (2014) to continuously tormenting Spider-Man in every universe as Jameson, he's here to voice his opinions aloud.
He might have had a smaller role in La La Land, but Simmons has a big enough presence to ensure that he leaves a mark regardless. Next up, fans can catch him in Invincible (2021), The Westies (2026), and so much more. From small cameos to starring roles, he's done plenty.
Rosemarie DeWitt as Laura
Rosemarie DeWitt also had a small role in La La Land as Sebastian's sister, Laura, and not only was it significant, but the actor was also well cast for it. The actress's versatility is part of her charm, and the way she blends into each role in a completely new way is riveting.
Since then, she's been in Pantheon (2022), The Boys (2019), Smile 2 (2024), The Last Tycoon (2017), and briefly even in Percy Jackson and the Olympians (2023). The wide variety in her filmography makes it easy for fans of different genres to check out the properties she's been in.
Tom Everett Scott as David
He might've had a small role in La La Land as Mia's husband at the very end, but make no mistake, that's Guy Patterson from The Wonders! And if you love La La Land but have somehow never seen the absolute gem that is That Thing You Do! (1996), rectify this immediately. Tom Everett Scott might not have many big roles in his filmography, but they're each still excellent regardless.
Most recently, viewers could catch him in Elle (2026) and also briefly in The Summer I Turned Pretty (2022). For a movie like La La Land, it's so easy to appreciate the small musical connection and why it served as a fun little Easter egg, whether intentional or not.
Callie Hernandez, Sonoya Mizuno, and Jessica Rothe as Tracy, Caitlin, and Alexis
While Callie Hernandez, Sonoya Mizuno, and Jessica Rothe didn't have too big a role except for the epic dance number during "Someone in the Crowd," all the actors have been in a number of movies and TV shows you might've seen. Small roles, sure, but let's be frank here: that number is still a major bop. Hernandez, for example, was in The Flight Attendant (2020) and Shotgun Wedding (2022).
Sonoya Mizuno was in Am I OK? (2024) and also stars as Mysaria, aka The White Worm, in House of the Dragon (2022). You can catch Jessica Rothe in Netflix’s Pulse (2025), as well as a few episodes of Virgin River (2019). The actor has also been in Happy Death Day (2017) and Happy Death Day 2U (2019).
