5 Royal Revelations: What Josh Dallas Has Been Doing Since Manifest Ended (He’s Unrecognizable!)

The world knows Josh Dallas as the heroic Prince Charming on Once Upon a Time or the determined, complex Ben Stone on the sci-fi hit Manifest. As of December 2025, with the final season of Manifest concluded, fans are eager to know what the classically-trained actor is up to next, and the answer involves a significant career shift, a surprisingly “unrecognizable” public appearance, and a rare family moment that stole the spotlight.

The transition from a high-profile, long-running series like Manifest is always a pivotal moment for an actor. For Dallas, it has meant stepping behind the camera, embracing a dapper new style, and prioritizing his family life with wife Ginnifer Goodwin, all while keeping the door open for a potential return to the 828 universe. The latest updates reveal a star who is confidently navigating his next chapter in Hollywood, proving his talents extend far beyond the beloved characters he’s played.

The Complete Profile: Josh Dallas’s Journey from Kentucky to King

Joshua Paul Dallas is an American actor best known for his leading roles in two of the last decade’s most popular television dramas. His journey to Hollywood stardom is marked by extensive classical training, particularly in the United Kingdom, which shaped him into the versatile performer he is today.

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• Full Name: Joshua Paul Dallas
• Date of Birth: December 18, 1978
• Place of Birth: Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
• Education: Graduated from New Albany High School in 1997, where he studied theatre.
• Spouse: Ginnifer Goodwin (m. 2014)
• Children: Two sons, Oliver Finlay Dallas (b. 2014) and Hugo Wilson Dallas (b. 2016)
• Early Career: Spent 11 years working in the UK, including training with the prestigious Royal Shakespeare Company and the English National Opera.
• Breakthrough Film Role: Fandral in the 2011 Marvel film Thor.
• Major TV Roles:
  • Prince Charming / David Nolan in Once Upon a Time (ABC, 2011–2018)
  • Ben Stone in Manifest (NBC/Netflix, 2018–2023)
• Notable Entities: Ginnifer Goodwin, Oliver Finlay Dallas, Hugo Wilson Dallas, Prince Charming, David Nolan, Ben Stone, Once Upon a Time, Manifest, Thor, Fandral, Royal Shakespeare Company.

Dallas’s early experience on the stage, particularly his classical training, is often cited by fans and critics as the foundation for his ability to portray both the fairytale hero, Prince Charming, and the intense, grounded academic, Ben Stone. This diverse background allows him to easily transition between genres, a skill proving essential for his post-series career.

Unrecognizable Royalty: Josh Dallas’s Dapper 2025 Public Appearances

The year 2025 brought two major, highly-publicized appearances from Josh Dallas and his family, both of which generated significant buzz for entirely different reasons. These events showcased a new, more private side of the star and a polished, "dapper" look that left fans doing a double-take.

The Royal Event That Sparked the ‘Unrecognizable’ Buzz

In June 2025, Josh Dallas and Ginnifer Goodwin attended a high-profile Royal Event, where photos of the couple quickly went viral. Dallas, known for his more casual, rugged look as Ben Stone on Manifest, appeared in a sharply tailored suit, leading many fans to call him "practically unrecognizable." The couple was dubbed "true royalty" by fans online, a nod to their iconic roles on Once Upon a Time and their enduring real-life romance. This unexpected fashion moment highlighted Dallas’s versatility, proving he can effortlessly transition from a dramatic TV lead to a sophisticated red carpet presence.

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A Rare Family Debut at the Zootopia 2 Premiere

A few months later, in November 2025, Dallas and Goodwin made headlines again, this time for a momentous family first. The couple’s two sons, Oliver and Hugo, made their first-ever red carpet debut at the premiere of Zootopia 2. The couple is notoriously private about their family life, making the appearance a rare and special occasion for fans to see the family of four together. Goodwin has previously shared that she and Dallas have a major rule about keeping their sons' lives private, making this event a significant exception. This highly publicized outing underscores a current focus on family and a comfortable balance between their professional careers and private lives.

Beyond the Callings: Directing, Future Projects, and a Manifest Spinoff

While the search for Josh Dallas’s next major acting vehicle is ongoing, his post-Manifest career has already seen him take a significant step behind the camera, exploring new creative avenues that demonstrate his topical authority in the television landscape.

The Directorial Debut on Manifest

One of the most significant developments in Dallas’s career is his move into directing. During the final season of Manifest, he made his directorial debut with episode 407. This transition from actor to director is a common path for seasoned television stars and signals Dallas's interest in shaping the narrative from a new perspective. He has expressed enthusiasm for the experience, which allowed him to deepen his understanding of the production process and the world of the 828 passengers. This new skill set positions him for a broader range of opportunities in the future, whether as a director, producer, or actor-director.

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Teasing the Future of the 828 Universe

Even though Manifest has concluded its final season on Netflix, the conversation around the show's potential future has not ended. Dallas himself has openly teased the possibility of a sequel or a spinoff, suggesting the world of the Stone family and the Callings has "major sequel or spinoff potential." This willingness to return to the character of Ben Stone or the universe he helped create is a positive sign for the dedicated Manifesters fan base. Entities like Ben/Saanvi, the Death Date, and the overall mystery of Flight 828 continue to be hot topics, and Dallas's involvement would be key to any future project.

The Search for the Next Leading Role

As of late 2025, Josh Dallas has not officially announced his next major acting project. This period of quiet is typical after the demanding schedule of a successful, multi-season television show. Given his background, fans anticipate he could pivot in several directions:

• Return to Fantasy: A project that leverages his experience as Prince Charming, perhaps in a streaming fantasy series or a big-budget film.
• A Gritty Drama: A role that contrasts with the moral compass of Ben Stone, showcasing his dramatic chops.
• Comedy: A lighter role to demonstrate his range, a departure from the intense, life-or-death stakes of his last two series.

The current lack of a confirmed project suggests Dallas is taking his time to choose a role that is both challenging and creatively fulfilling, potentially focusing on his family and new directorial pursuits in the interim. His recent public appearances and career pivots indicate that his focus is on quality over quantity, ensuring his next move is a strong one.

Conclusion

Josh Dallas is currently in a dynamic phase of his career, transitioning from the end of one massive hit, Manifest, to the beginning of his next chapter. The most current information from late 2025 shows a man embracing new roles both professionally—with his directorial debut—and personally, with a rare, public family moment alongside his wife, Ginnifer Goodwin, and their sons, Hugo and Oliver. His recent "unrecognizable" appearance in a dapper suit at a Royal Event confirms that while his on-screen characters may be finished, his presence in the public eye is as strong and captivating as ever. Fans can expect him to re-emerge soon with a project that capitalizes on his classical training and newfound experience behind the camera, keeping the promise of a long and varied career.