8. Nicolas Winding Refn and Michael Fassbender
The Danish auteur has established a reputation as being a daring and experimental filmmaker and Michael Fassbender has himself established a reputation as being a relentless actor who will challenge himself endlessly. With Refn beginning to crossover to America through his Ryan Gosling collaborations - Drive and Only God Forgives - it's time to branch out and work with some of the world's finest, and I can't think of an actor better suited to Refn than Fassbender. Fassbender can play a whirlwind of emotions, which is particularly emphasised in his masterful portrayal of a sex addict in Shame. Refn is very much a visual and atmospheric director and lets that drive the film instead of conventional plot which is a great combination with a powerful actor as it proved with Mads Mikkelson, Tom Hardy and Ryan Gosling. Fassbender seems intent on continually testing himself and he can take it one step further by working with Refn in what no doubt would be a violent and visceral thriller.