Every year we see a handful of actors make the brave decision of stepping behind the camera for the first time... and 2015 is no exception.
The Water Diviner
This year we are going to see some of the films that these great actors have delivered, while other stars will be filming their debut projects.
We take a look at some of the actors who are making that leap in 2015 - but will we seem them return to the director's chair in the future?
- Russell Crowe - The Water Diviner
I don' know about you, but I would have expected Russell Crowe to have made the move into the director's chair before now. However, the Oscar winner is making his debut this week with The Water Diviner.
Not only is Crowe in the director's chair for the film, but he is set to take on the central role of Connor - a father who sets of to Turkey in search of his three missing sons who fought in the Battle of Gallipoli.
The screenplay has been penned by Andrew Anastasios and Andrew Knight and is based on the book of the same name by Anastasios and Dr Meaghan Wilson-Anastasios - which was inspired by true events.
Crowe has described working on The Water Diviner as one of the best creative experiences that he has ever had and it seems to be winning over the critics.
Crowe has brought together a terrific cast as Olga Kurylenko, Jai Courtney, Isabel Lucas, Cem Yilmaz, and Yilmaz Erdogan are all also on board.
The Water Diviner is promising to be both a moving and intelligent war drama and I can't to see what Crowe delivers as both an actor and a filmmaker. I think The Water Diviner will kick off a brand new chapter in Crowe's already very successful career.
The Water Diviner is released 3rd April
- Ryan Gosling - Lost River
Ryan Gosling's directorial debut Lost River screened on the festival circuit last year, and finally it will be coming to the big screen in the UK in April.
Gosling has penned the screenplay as well as being in the director's chair; however, we will not be seeing the popular actor star in his debut.
And while we are not seeing Gosling in Lost River, the actor has brought together a terrific cast as Christina Hendricks, Iain De Caestecker, Ben Mendelsohn, Saoirse Ronan, Eva Mendes, and Matt Smith are all on board.
Lost River premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in competition last year, and has recently screened as part of the SXSW festival. However, it has struggled to win over the critics.
Lost River looks set to be an experimental and arty film that may not be the taste of everyone, but Gosling has to find himself and his style as a filmmaker.
It is going to be interesting to see what path he goes down over the next few years - will he focus on acting? Or will directing take more of a front seat?
Lost River is released 10th April
- Elizabeth Banks - Pitch Perfect 2
Elizabeth Banks is no stranger to the director's chair with a couple of short films and a segment of Movie 43 under her belt. However, she is set to make her feature film directorial debut this year with comedy Pitch Perfect 2.
Banks took on the role of Gail in the hugely successful first film, and, while she will be reprising that role, she has taken over the helm from Jason Moore.
And Banks possibly has the most pressure on her as a first time feature filmmaker as Pitch Perfect 2 is one of the most anticipated films of 2015 - the movie comes three years after the success of the first in 2012.
The Bellas are back and this time they are facing an even bigger challenge... they are entering an international competition that no American team has ever won.
Anna Kendrick is back in the central role of Beca, while Rebel Wilson, Alexis Knapp, Brittany Snow, and Skyler Astin are also reprising their roles of Fat Amy, Stacie, Chloe, and Jesse from the first film.
The big new addition to the cast list is Oscar nominated actress Hailee Steinfeld, as she takes on the role of Emily in the new film.
Pitch Perfect 2 looks set to be one of the biggest and best comedy movies of 2015, and I am excited to see what Banks delivers this time around.
Pitch Perfect 2 is released 15th May.
- Chris Evans - Before We Go
Before We Go is another film that premiered on the festival circuit last year, but we are still waiting for it to be released here in the UK.
Before We Go sees Chris Evans step into the director's chair for the first time as well as star in the film. Ronald Bass has penned the screenplay.
The movie - which was originally 1:30 Train - received its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last year, where it was picked up by RADiUS, a studio that distributed Evans' Snowpiercer.
Evans will take on the role of Nick and is joined on the cast list by Alice Eve, Scott Evans, and Emma Fitzpatrick.
Set in Manhattan, the story follows two strangers after their serendipitous meeting in Grand Central. Over the course of one night, they form an unlikely bond and the conflicts in their own lives become the basis for exploration into each other and themselves.
No UK release date has yet been announced.
- Bradley Cooper - A Star Is Born
Bradley Cooper is set to make the move into the director's chair this year as work will get underway on a remake of A Star Is Born.
The movie is based on the 1937 musical starring Janet Gaynor and Fredric March, and will see Coper team up with Warner Bros for the project.
As well as being in the director's chair, Cooper is set to produce the film alongside Jon Peters, Bill Gerber, and Basil Iwanyk.
A Star Is Born is a remake that has been in the pipeline for some time - in fact, Clint Eastwood has been linked to the project since 2011. Not Cooper is at the helm and it will be exciting to see him transition into a filmmaker.
While nothing is concrete and no cast has official been announced, Beyonce has one again been linked to the project. The singer looked set to be involved with the Eastwood looked set to direct - we are going to have to wait and see if she does finally come on board.
- Ewan McGregor - American Pastoral
Ewan McGregor is set to take up the director's chair as well this year as he begins work on American Pastoral, which is based on the novel by Philip Roth.
McGregor will be starring in the film as well as in the director's chair, while Dakota Fanning and Jennifer Connelly are also on the cast list.
McGregor did direct a segment of Tube Tales, but American Pastoral will mark his feature film directorial debut.
Set in the U.S., the movie follows a man whose life is starting to fall apart due to his daughter's new political affiliation.
