When Disney released a teaser for the new Star Wars movie the day after Thanksgiving, fans immediately started dissecting every detail including the importance of the very first person seen on screen, actor John Boyega in a stormtrooper uniform.
A certain segment of the Internet latched onto the image because Boyega is black. #BlackStormtrooper was trending on Twitter TWTR -0.2% as people celebrated and criticized director JJ Abrams’ decision to have a black stormtrooper. (For the record, it’s not clear if he’s an actual stormtrooper or a rebel in stormtrooper’s clothing. We’ll find out when the film hits theaters next December.)
It’s the kind of social media movement that could shake even a seasoned veteran of celebrity. But Boyega, who is best known for the British film Attack The Block handled the situation with extreme grace. He took to Instagram and posted a thank you to all of his fans. To those who took issue with him, Boyega wrote “Get used to it. :-)”
There are so many exciting actors in the upcoming Star Wars film that we could have picked any of them as celebrities to watch in 2015. We chose Boyega because of the way he handled #BlackStormtrooper. Expect him to be front and center as the actors begin what is sure to be a relentless promotional tour for the movie later this year.
Lily James is another young actor who we think people will be talking about next year. James made a splash in America on Downton Abbey playing young socialite Rose MacClare. But Hollywood is already talking up her performance in Disney’s new live-action version of Cinderella which hits theaters March 13th. James plays Cinderella in the very traditional (musical-free) telling of the classic fairy tale. She’ll have to prove that she can stand up to Cate Blanchett, who plays her stepmother, and not be overshadowed by Helena Bonham Carter as the Fairy Godmother. Allen will also star in the campy Pride and Prejudice and Zombies which is exactly what it sounds like.
A surprise entrant on our list is Chris Hemsworth. Already famous for playing Thor in the Marvel movies and recently voted People’s Sexiest Man Alive, Hemsworth is hardly a newcomer. But 2015 is the year when Hemsworth will show if he has career potential outside of the superhero world. Hemsworth needs respect more than he needs box office fireworks this year (he’ll get plenty of money when Avengers: Age of Ultron hits theaters next May). He’ll have a chance to prove his acting bone fides in two movies: Blackhat, from director Michael Mann, and In The Heart of the Sea from director Ron Howard. Hemsworth’s last movie with Howard, Rush, was a box office dud earning only $90 million at the global box office despite strong reviews. He’s likely hoping his non-Thor movies this year will attract both critics and movie-goers.
Emilia Clarke is another actor who has a chance to shine this year. Best known for playing Daeneryn Targaryen on HBO’s Game of Thrones, Clarke will take on the iconic role of Sarah Connor in the upcoming Terminator reboot. Clarke will have a lot to live up to stepping into the role made famous by Linda Hamilton. If she can hold her own and bring something new to the character, she’s got a chance of having a successful movie career to go along with her beloved television work.