10 Movie Performances That Proved People Wrong

With the sequel trilogy of the Skywalker saga now firmly in the rear-view mirror, and the films largely being seen as fairly divisive outside of Adam Driver's frequently compelling portrayal of the severely conflicted Kylo Ren, it's easy to forget that the actor was once seen as an odd choice for one of the movies' main villains.

Driver had become largely known for his work in comedy, particularly in the role of Adam Sackler on HBO's Girls series. So, seeing him cast in a part that was said to be in the vein of a Darth Vader-type definitely turned a few heads and had some critics questioning why a performer with more gravitas, like Michael Fassbender and Hugo Weaving, hadn't been snatched up instead.

J.J. Abrams' decision to put his faith in the unproven commodity, when it came to this world, paid dividends and then some once The Force Awakens jumped to hyperspace in 2015, however. Driver was hailed as one of the constant shining lights throughout the often derided set of features from there on out and has since gone on to become one of Hollywood's most reliable dramatic thespians.