Brandon Sklenar debuted a striking platinum, cropped blond hairstyle at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, September 27, in Los Angeles, stepping out at the Peacock Theater red carpet ahead of serving as a ceremony presenter. The 36-year-old actor traded his signature dark locks for the dramatic makeover, marking a noticeable change from the darker hair fans are used to seeing on him in projects including 1923 and The Housemaid.
Red Carpet Look and Event Presence
Sklenar looked casually cool on the red carpet wearing a black leather bomber jacket over a white T-shirt and coordinating black trousers. He accessorized his ensemble with a pair of dark aviator shades, oversized sunglasses, and snake-printed boots or snakeskin shoes. The actor hit the carpet alongside his The Rescue costar Hassie Harrison, who wore a black sheath dress with her blonde tresses piled into an elegant updo. CBS and MTV previously announced Sklenar as part of the presenter lineup alongside stars including Charli xcx, Teyana Taylor, Troye Sivan, Tyla, and David Corenswet.
Teasing The Rescue and Western Training
Sklenar and Harrison, also 36, star together in the upcoming action thriller The Rescue, playing former partners and a former couple who are forced to work together and unite to rescue their daughter after she is kidnapped. Paramount released the first trailer for the movie just days prior. The film follows a former rodeo cowboy, played by Sklenar, who sets out to rescue his kidnapped daughter with her dog by his side. The movie also stars Josh Lucas, Lorelei Olivia Mote, Nick Searcy, Austin Amelio, Spencer Treat Clark, Tim Blake Nelson, and Josh Duhamel, and is scheduled to hit theaters on January 29, 2027.
Discussing his role as an ex-rodeo cowboy, Sklenar shared details about filming in nature. Ninety percent of this film is outside in nature, and I spent most of the time working with a dog and a horse,
Sklenar told People in an interview published Wednesday, September 23. Seeing how that affects the crew and just the overall vibe on set, it’s a different tone when you’re in nature on a horse with a dog for a majority of scenes and filming.
He added, It’s a different feeling, and it can be very meditative and healing spending that much time with a dog and a horse in nature all at once.
In preparing for the Western film, Sklenar relied on his previous experience. I just kind of took to it pretty well and then competed in a cattle cutting competition with Taylor [Sheridan] and some other people from some of his shows, and I did all right at that,
the 1923 alum quipped. I was very comfortable on a horse. Love being on a horse, love riding fast on a horse. I feel like I understand them and I have a good way with them.