Variety has confirmed the full roster for Season 23 of Actors on Actors, unveiling a high-profile slate that pairs some of the year’s most talked-about performers in candid, one-on-one conversations. The new season rolls out December 5, marking the series’ first release under Variety and CNN’s newly announced partnership, with episodes premiering daily across both platforms.
The Emmy-winning franchise returns with 13 consecutive days of interviews, beginning with Ariana Grande and Adam Sandler, followed by a mix of returning Oscar winners, blockbuster leads, and breakout stars. This season also reunites Dwayne Johnson and Brendan Fraser, who last appeared together in 2001’s The Mummy Returns.

Episodes premiere each morning at 9 a.m. ET on CNN, with a second debut at 3 p.m. ET on Variety’s YouTube channel. CNN streaming subscribers will have exclusive early access, while Variety’s annual Actors on Actors print issue — photographed by Alexi Lubomirski — hits newsstands Dec. 17.
Ramin Setoodeh, Variety’s co–editor in chief and co-president, described the season as one of their strongest yet, highlighting conversations featuring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Julia Roberts, Sean Penn, Michael B. Jordan, Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, and others.
Below is the full day-by-day release schedule for Season 23:
- Friday, Dec. 5: Ariana Grande (“Wicked: For Good”) and Adam Sandler (“Jay Kelly”)
- Saturday, Dec. 6: Julia Roberts (“After the Hunt”) and Sean Penn (“One Battle After Another”)
- Sunday, Dec. 7: Jonathan Bailey (“Wicked: For Good,” “Jurassic World Rebirth”) and David Corenswet (“Superman”)
- Monday, Dec. 8: Dwayne Johnson (“The Smashing Machine”) and Brendan Fraser (“Rental Family”)
- Tuesday, Dec. 9: Gwyneth Paltrow (“Marty Supreme”) and Jacob Elordi (“Frankenstein”)
- Wednesday, Dec. 10: Cynthia Erivo (“Wicked: For Good”) and Hugh Jackman (“Song Sung Blue”)
- Thursday, Dec. 11: Sydney Sweeney (“Christy”) and Ethan Hawke (“Blue Moon”)
- Friday, Dec. 12: Stellan Skarsgård (“Sentimental Value”) and Alexander Skarsgård (“Pillion”)
- Saturday, Dec. 13: Michael B. Jordan (“Sinners”) and Jesse Plemons (“Bugonia”)
- Sunday, Dec. 14: Kate Hudson (“Song Sung Blue”) and Jeremy Allen White (“Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere”)
- Monday, Dec. 15: Oscar Isaac (“Frankenstein”) and Teyana Taylor (“One Battle After Another”)
- Tuesday, Dec. 16: Colin Farrell (“Ballad of a Small Player”) and Jessie Buckley (“Hamnet”)
- Wednesday, Dec. 17: Jennifer Lawrence (“Die My Love”) and Leonardo DiCaprio (“One Battle After Another”)
Throughout the rollout, CNN entertainment correspondent Elizabeth Wagmeister will provide behind-the-scenes coverage across CNN’s platforms. Select episodes from previous seasons are also available to stream for CNN subscribers.
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