There's been much speculation in recent months about the casting for Star Wars: Episode VII, the latest entry in the iconic sci-fi franchise that will see J.J. Abrams take the director's chair following his work on the two most recent Star Trek films. Many names were thrown around, from acting heavyweights with years of experience under their belts to up-and-comers and relative unknowns. With the casting announcement now made, more of the newcomers fall into the latter category than the former and have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to kickstart their careers by co-starring with veterans of the business, as well as the returning Harrison Ford (Han Solo), Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca), Kenny Baker (R2-D2), Anthony Daniels (C3PO) and Ahmed Best (Jar Jar Binks). I'm kidding about the last one, thank God. So without further ado, lets look at some of the newcomer's best work as Episode VII looks to begin filming ahead of its Christmas 2015 release date.
7. John Boyega - Attack The Block
Some may remember Joe Cornish from The Adam And Joe Show, which aired for five years on Channel 4 between 1996 and 2001. In recent years, however, the comedic personality has been stepping up in the world of cinema, helping to write Steven Spielberg's Tintin film and directing Attack The Block, a film that depicts a group of teenage delinquents rebelling against a small scale alien invasion on a London council estate. Ludicrous as the premise sounds, the film made for a sterling debut, largely due to the performance John Boyega, who plays Moses, the leader of the group. Beginning as a dislikable individual due to his involvement in the mugging of Jodie Whittaker's nurse character, Sam, he steps up to the plate and becomes an unorthodox 'hero' of his community, working with her and his friends to stay alive and combat the alien threat. His portrayal gains the sympathy of the audience when it is revealed that he is the product of a broken home (which he describes as 'living with an uncle who comes and goes, mostly goes'), and if his performance in Star Wars is of a similiar calibre, Boyega will earn masses of new fans following the film's release.