Noah Centineo’s Career Pivot, Sobriety, and Latest News

Few actors manage to pivot from teen rom-com royalty to action lead without losing their audience, but Noah Centineo did it by playing a CIA lawyer on The Recruit and suiting up as Atom Smasher in Black Adam. In 2024, he added another twist: a candid admission about past drug use and sobriety.

Born: May 9, 1996 ·
Known for: The Recruit, Black Adam, The Fosters, To All the Boys ·
Years active: 2009–present ·
Height: 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) ·
Instagram followers: Over 10 million ·
Sobriety disclosed: 2024

Six key biographical details offer a baseline for understanding Centineo’s trajectory.

Is Noah Centineo in a relationship?

As of early 2025, Centineo is not publicly dating anyone. No confirmed girlfriend or boyfriend has appeared in his interviews or social media — and he hasn’t addressed the topic directly. Fans who search “is Noah Centineo in a relationship” or “does Noah have a boyfriend” find only speculation.

The pattern: Centineo has consistently avoided sharing relationship details since his To All the Boys fame. This contrasts with many peers who discuss partners openly. The lack of a public relationship fuels continued curiosity, but no verified partner has emerged.

What happened to Noah Centineo’s career?

From rom-com heartthrob to action star

• 2018: Centineo stars as Peter Kavinsky in To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before on Netflix — immediate viral fame (IMDb (filmography database))
• 2020–2021: Two sequels cement his teen-rom-com image
• 2022: He plays Atom Smasher in Black Adam, a DC superhero role that signals a pivot to action (Wikipedia (encyclopedic source))
• 2022–2025: Leads Netflix spy series The Recruit as CIA lawyer Owen Hendricks (Netflix Tudum (streaming platform news))

Recent roles: The Recruit, Black Adam

Centineo not only acted but served as executive producer on The Recruit. Season 2 dropped in February 2025, with filming partly in Seoul (Sharp Magazine (culture publication)). In March 2025, he confirmed Netflix canceled the show after two seasons, calling it “on to the next adventure” (The Hollywood Reporter (industry trade)).

Career trajectory and public perception

Industry observers note that Centineo’s transition mirrors that of other teen stars who struggled to shed a pigeonholed image. His choices — Black Adam, The Recruit, and upcoming Street Fighter — all tilt toward action. The trade-off: he gains credibility as a leading man but loses the broad, affectionate audience that made him a star.

Is Noah Centineo a nice guy?

Colleagues and co-stars routinely describe Centineo as friendly and professional. Lana Condor, his To All the Boys partner, has called him “a great friend” and stressed they maintained a platonic bond throughout filming (BuzzFeed). No major public scandals or misconduct allegations have surfaced. Fans at meet‑and‑greets report warm interactions. The “nice guy” reputation appears consistent with available evidence.

What this means: The question emerges partly because of the contrast between his charming on‑screen persona and a quieter off-screen life. Without controversy, the “nice” label sticks — which may help or hurt depending on the roles he picks.

What is Noah Centineo sober from?

Noah Centineo’s drug use interview

In February 2025, while promoting The Recruit season 2, Centineo told E! News (entertainment news) that he had been “doing a lot of drugs” at the height of his To All the Boys fame. He said he woke up one day and “the world looked different,” which scared him into drying out. He described getting sober for about a year, then returning to moderate drinking while avoiding partying (Just Jared (celebrity news)).

Statement from Centineo: “I Was Doing A Lot Of Drugs”

“I was doing a lot of drugs. I woke up one day and the world looked different to me, which was scary. I wanted to dry out and sober up and reconnect with myself.”

— Noah Centineo, speaking to E! News, 2025

He called sobriety “like a superpower.” The disclosure reframed his earlier party‑boy image and resonated with fans who saw his career stress firsthand.

Why this matters: Centineo’s admission is rare for an actor in his demographic — most wait until a crisis forces revelation. By voluntarily sharing his story during a press tour, he may have aimed to preempt tabloid speculation and control the narrative.

Why didn’t Lana Condor and Noah Centineo date?

During the To All the Boys press circuit, both actors confirmed they had a “no‑dating pact” to preserve their professional relationship. Lana Condor explained that they agreed not to date each other to avoid complicating the filming of a trilogy centered on their characters’ romance (BuzzFeed (digital media)). The pact was mutual and adhered to strictly.

The implication: Fans who ship the actors often ignore the deliberate boundary they set. The no‑dating pact was a practical decision, not a sign of hidden tension or rejection. Condor has since married, and Centineo remains single publicly.

Why don’t people like Noah Centineo?

The question appears regularly in search data. Criticism tends to center on acting range — some viewers find his performances one‑note, especially in rom‑coms. Others cite “overexposure” during the 2018–2020 period when he appeared in multiple Netflix projects. No organized backlash exists, but a subset of online commenters contrast his early praise with what they see as limited growth.

Notably, the criticism is not personal or scandal‑based: it’s about taste and screen presence. Centineo has not faced credible allegations or public feuds.

The pattern: The “dislike” is likely a natural correction after an intense hype cycle. As he moves into action and away from teen roles, he may outgrow this reputation — or reinforce it if performances don’t evolve.

Noah Centineo movies and upcoming projects

Black Adam and DC future

Centineo’s performance as Atom Smasher in Black Adam (2022) marked his first superhero role. The film underperformed at the box office, and DC’s reboot under James Gunn leaves Atom Smasher’s return uncertain. No official announcement exists yet.

The Recruit season 2

Season 2 of The Recruit streamed on Netflix in February 2025. Centineo executive‑produced and starred. Despite positive reviews, Netflix canceled the series shortly after the season launched (The Hollywood Reporter (industry trade)).

Street Fighter and other 2026 projects

As of early 2025, Centineo is attached to a new Street Fighter film and an untitled Rambo project. Both are in early development. He also appeared in the war drama Warfare (2025), premiering around the same time as The Recruit cancellation news.

The upshot: Centineo’s filmography shows a clear arc: Disney Channel → Netflix rom‑coms → superhero movie → streaming action series → war film and franchise reboots. For an actor who started as a teen heartthrob, the next two years will determine whether he builds a durable adult career or fades into nostalgia.

Timeline

• 2011–2012: TV debut on Disney Channel’s Austin & Ally (IMDb (filmography database))
• 2013–2018: Regular role as Jesus Adams Foster on The Fosters
• 2018: Breakout film role: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before
• 2022: Plays Atom Smasher in Black Adam; launches Netflix series The Recruit (Sharp Magazine (culture publication))
• 2024: Publicly discloses past drug use and sobriety (E! News (entertainment news))
• 2025: Continues lead role in The Recruit (canceled); announces Street Fighter and Rambo projects (The Hollywood Reporter (industry trade))

Clarity section

Quotes

“I was doing a lot of drugs. I woke up one day and the world looked different to me, which was scary. I wanted to dry out and sober up and reconnect with myself.”

— Noah Centineo, to E! News, 2025

“We had a no-dating pact. We were like, ‘We cannot date. That would be so weird for the movie. We’re playing this couple — if we date and then break up, it’s going to be awkward for everyone.'”

— Lana Condor, to BuzzFeed, explaining the pact with Centineo

“It doesn’t align with what Netflix needs right now, but I’m proud of the show. On to the next adventure.”

— Noah Centineo, to The Hollywood Reporter, on The Recruit cancellation

Summary

Noah Centineo’s story is one of deliberate reinvention: he left the safe harbor of teen rom‑coms for action roles, disclosed a past drug habit on his own terms, and now faces a career crossroads with The Recruit behind him and franchise reboots ahead. For the actor himself, the next chapter depends on whether he can prove his dramatic range beyond the persona that made him famous. The choice is clear: commit to challenging, adult roles, or risk being remembered as the charming boy next door who never grew up.

Frequently asked questions