The last of this list's Star Wars stars, Adam Driver, up until now best known the TV series Girls and a small part in the Coen Brothers' Inside Llewyn Davies, will feature as The Force Awakens' major antagonist. Whether or not this is Kylo Ren, the character seen in the trailer with the controversial crossguard lightsaber, remains to be seen, although it does seem likely. Bad guys tend to get all the attention after all. That's not the only reason why Driver is more likely to have a big career step up in 2015 than co-stars Daisy Ridley and John Boyega. Unlike those two, who only have Star Wars in cinemas this year, the former US marine has gone from minor supporting roles on the big screen to three more movie leads with major directors. Along with comedy-drama While We're Young from Frances Ha director Noah Baumbach and Jeff Nichols' intriguing sci-fi Midnight Special, Driver's real shot at the big time is in the new Martin Scorsese film. Silence, based on the historical novel by Shusaku Endo, sees Driver and Andrew Garfield as Jesuit priests enduring hardship and persecution trying to spread Christianity in 17th century Japan. With the director on top form following The Wolf Of Wall Street, Silence gives Driver a chance to work with one of the world's leading filmmakers and a meaty dramatic leading role too.
