If you’ve spent any time on Netflix over the last few years, you probably recognize Luca Padovan. Most people know him as Paco, the sweet, book-loving kid from the first season of You who Joe Goldberg basically "mentored" (read: traumatized). But honestly, reducing him to just that one role is a massive disservice. The kid has been a Broadway powerhouse since he was barely out of elementary school, and his recent jump into voice acting and prestige drama is actually pretty wild to track.
Now that we’ve hit 2026, his filmography looks a lot different than it did back when he was just the boy next door to a serial killer. From voicing international leads to sharing the screen with Oscar winners, Luca has carved out a space that most child actors never quite manage to reach.
The Breakout: From Broadway to Joe Goldberg’s Basement
Before he was Paco, Luca was a theater kid in the purest sense. We’re talking about a kid who was literally in the original Broadway cast of School of Rock. He played Billy, the flamboyant, fashion-forward "stylist" of the band. If you ever saw clips of him back then, he was doing the iconic "You're tacky and I hate you" line with more sass than most adults could conjure.
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That stage background is basically why his performance in You worked so well. Most child actors in thriller series are just there to look scared or be a plot device. But Luca brought this weird, quiet intelligence to Paco. You’ve probably noticed that in the 2025 final season of You, he actually made a surprise return. It was a huge moment for fans because it finally addressed the lingering question: what happens to a kid when a murderer is the only person who ever looked out for him? Seeing him "all grown up" and still defending Joe was one of the darker turns the show took in its final episodes.
Luca Padovan Movies and TV Shows: A Rapidly Growing List
It’s easy to lose track of where he’s popped up because his work is all over the place. He doesn’t stick to one genre. One minute he’s in a Nickelodeon horror revival, and the next he’s voicing an anime protagonist.
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- You (Netflix): His most famous role as Paco. He was a series regular in Season 1 and returned as a special guest for the series finale in 2025.
- Late Fame (2025): This is the prestige project people are buzzing about. Directed by Kent Jones and starring Willem Dafoe and Greta Lee, the film features Luca as a character named Winn. It’s a huge step into the "serious actor" category.
- The Boy and the Heron (English Dub): If you watched the English version of Hayao Miyazaki’s Oscar-winning film, that was Luca voicing the lead, Mahito Maki. It’s a heavy, emotional role that proved he has the range to lead a major production with just his voice.
- Are You Afraid of the Dark?: Ghost Island: He played Leo B. Stoker in this 2022 revival. It was a nice nod to his ability to handle the "creepy kid" vibe without it feeling like a repeat of Paco.
- Super Wings: For the younger crowd (or parents), he was the original voice of Jett in the first season.
Why His Voice Work Actually Matters
Most people overlook voice acting when looking at a career, but for Luca, it’s been a massive part of his "grown-up" transition. Taking on Mahito in The Boy and the Heron wasn't just another gig. It was a role that required him to carry a Studio Ghibli masterpiece. He’s also been heavily involved in the Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture dub as Rozé. It’s interesting to see a Broadway-trained kid dive so deep into the anime world; it shows he’s not just chasing Hollywood blockbusters but actually cares about the craft of dubbing.
What's Happening in 2026?
Right now, Luca is in that sweet spot where he’s no longer a "child star" but a legitimate young adult actor. With Late Fame doing the festival rounds and winning awards (like the Der Standard Reader Jury award at the Viennale), he’s being viewed through a much more mature lens.
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There's also been a lot of talk about his role in The Life List, which hit screens recently. He's moving away from the "troubled kid" trope and into more varied, ensemble-driven dramas. It’s a smart move. He’s avoiding the trap of being stuck in the "Joe Goldberg's neighbor" shadow forever.
The Broadway Legacy
You can’t talk about Luca without mentioning the stage. Besides School of Rock, he was in Marvin’s Room and even played Les in Newsies. That's three major Broadway credits before he was 15. That kind of training gives an actor a level of discipline you just don't see in kids who only grew up on film sets. When you watch him in a show like Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, that theatrical energy is palpable.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Creators
If you’re following Luca’s career or looking at how a child actor successfully transitions into adulthood, there are a few things to take away:
- Watch the Ghibli Work: If you’ve only seen him in You, go back and watch The Boy and the Heron. His vocal performance is nuanced and shows a completely different side of his talent.
- Keep an Eye on Indie Films: Late Fame is likely the blueprint for his future. He’s leaning into working with high-caliber directors (like Kent Jones) and legendary actors (Willem Dafoe).
- The "You" Final Season: If you skipped the final season of You, watch the finale. His cameo as an older Paco provides the most closure you're going to get for that character's messy arc.
The transition from "Paco" to "Mahito" to "Winn" shows a trajectory that is deliberate. Luca Padovan isn't just taking every job that comes his way; he's picking projects that challenge the way the audience sees him. Whether it’s a dark Netflix thriller or a prestigious animated feature, he’s consistently the most interesting person on screen.