The films of 2015 will no doubt be dominated by the return of a certain Jedi in a galaxy far, far away.

But there are a lot of other films to look forward to in the months ahead. Joss Whedon's second Avengers movie will be on a similar scale to Star Wars and Quentin Tarantino's final film will be on in December.

Meanwhile, writer Alex Garland is stepping into the director's chair for the first time while other filmmakers are leaving their comfort zone for new and interesting projects.

Below is a guide to our most anticipated films of 2015.

Birdman

Release date: January 2

Mexican filmmaker Alejandro González Iñárritu is behind some of the most heart-wrenching and thought-provoking films of the last 15 years, including the acclaimed Babel and Biutiful.

So his decision to direct this surreal comedy about a washed-up actor who once played an iconic superhero is a strange but welcome one.

Starring Michael Keaton, Birdman is likely to be Iñárritu's most accessible film to date and reviews suggest it is just as well crafted as his earlier work.

The film also has some parallels with real life as Keaton played Batman in the late 80s and early 90s.

Ex Machina

Release date: January 23

He wrote The Beach which was adapted into a hit film by Danny Boyle and he has penned scripts for the likes of 28 Days Later, Sunshine, Never Let Me Go and Dredd.

But Ex Machina will be Alex Garland's first stint in the director's chair.

The film will see a young programmer take part in an experiment to interact with the world's first true artificial intelligence in a secluded mountain retreat. What could possibly go wrong?

Given his boundless imagination, Garland's debut is one to watch out for.

Chappie

Release date: March 6

At first glance, Chappie looks like a reboot of Short Circuit.

Both films star an experimental robot but while Short Circuit's 'Johnny 5' became a Pinocchio-style children's icon, Chappie is kidnapped by gangsters and falls under their bad influence.

South African Neill Blomkamp's previous films District 9 and Elysium have taken place in dystopian worlds which echo our own and featured stunning action sequences.

Hopefully this will offer more of the same.

Avengers: Age of Ultron

Release date: May 1

For any comic book fan, seeing Iron Man, Captain America, Thor and Hulk fighting side by side is a joy.

And after the blockbuster spectacle of the first Avengers film, it is clear the super hero ensemble are in safe hands with Firefly and Buffy The Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon at the helm.

The plot will see Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr) accidentally threaten the future of the human race when an artificial intelligence he creates to protects them backfires and attempts to eradicate them from Earth.

Expect plenty of Marvel Comics-style quips and a budget to make Michael Bay blush.

Mad Max: Fury Road

Release date: May 15

It has been an incredible 30 years since we last saw Mad Max on the big screen in Beyond Thunderdome.

The cult films saw Mel Gibson play the lead role in a sort of post-apocalyptic Western.

Now the dystopian series' creator George Miller is returning for a fourth film about Max's battles in the wasteland.

Tom Hardy is taking over from Gibson in what could reignite interest in the character from a new generation.

St James Place

Release date: October 16

The Coen brothers' films can be split into two categories – satirical comedy or gritty drama – while Steven Spielberg is renowned for his cinema spectacle and addressing human issues in historical films.

So it will be interesting to see how their styles come together for St James Place.

Based on a revised version of Matt Charman's script by the Coen brothers and directed by Spielberg, the spy thriller will see James Donovan (Tom Hanks) negotiate for the release of a pilot whose plane was shot down in the Soviet Union.

Crimson Peak

Release date: October 16

Guillermo del Toro will be going back to his roots with this chilling horror about a young author who discovers that her husband is not who he appears to be.

It echoes the tone of some of the director's earlier work like The Devil's Backbone and Pan's Labyrinth.

But while those films were set around the Spanish Civil War, Crimson Peak is set in 19th century Cumbria!

Mia Wasikowska also looks perfectly cast in the lead role as Edith after her unsettling but brilliant turn in Stoker.

Midnight Special

Release date: November 25

Like Alejandro González Iñárritu with Birdman, American director Jeff Nichols is stepping out of his comfort zone with his latest project.

Nichols is better known for his indie films like coming-of-age tale, Mud, and Take Shelter, a story about a man slowly losing his mind.

But he was inspired to make sci-fi film Midnight Special in response to the John Carpenter films he loved while growing up.

Nichol's work has always featured troubled yet intriguing characters so if he can retain that while shooting for the stars he will have another hit on his hands.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Release date: December 18

The moment every Star Wars fan has been waiting for and the pay-off after George Lucas decided to sell the rights to his sci-fi giant to Disney.

J.J. Abrams' 'EpisodeVII' will unite the original cast including Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher after more than 30 years and just the teaser trailer was enough to have fans howling like Wookiees.

After rebooting Star Trek to critical acclaim, Abrams seems to be keen to bring Star Wars back to its roots.

A must see but can the director really recreate the magic and nostalgia? There is always that niggling thought at the back of fans' minds after the disaster that was 'The Phantom Menace'.

The Hateful Eight

Release date: December 26

Quentin Tarantino's 'final film' will be another love letter to the Western.

Reuniting with some of the cast members he worked with in the early days like Samuel L. Jackson, Tim Roth and Michael Madsen, the plot, set not long after the Civil War, will see a bounty hunter taking a fugitive to face justice.

Tarantino's excellent dialogue and direction and skill for crafting non-linear storylines have made him one of the most iconic filmmakers of the current generation.

But after his decision to retire, is this really the last we will see of one of American's most talented, prolific and outspoken directors?