For the most part, J.J. Abrams and the crew at Disney have kept a tight rein on footage and information pertaining to the company’s top-secret Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Aside from some early set photos from last year, our window into Abrams’ galaxy far, far away has been restricted to the official – and admittedly brilliant – trailers. But what about casting?
Granted, Disney confirmed the chief players of The Force Awakens in one fell swoop with that nostalgic black and white photo, not to mention detailing the roles of the villains during last weekend’s Comic-Con. However, will there be room for small cameo appearances? Last year, Simon Pegg – who does indeed have a minor role in the film – seemingly let slip that James Bond star Daniel Craig was on board to play an unnamed Stormtropper.
[zerg]Daniel Craig, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to agree. Speaking with Entertainment Weekly during the event in San Diego, the British actor categorically denied any involvement in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
“Why would I ever bother doing something like that? Fucking hell! Pffft. Play an extra in another movie? Talk to Simon Pegg. He obviously knows way more than I do. He’s just jealous because he’s not in Star Wars. He’s got some issue with J.J. I don’t know what the f— it is. You need to talk to Simon about it.”
What makes us question Craig’s response, though, is the fact that Simon Pegg is in The Force Awakens, and it seems more likely that the Bond star is simply being melodramatic and toying with the press in order to uphold his end of the bargain with Disney about keeping things hush hush. Of course, this is merely conjecture at this stage, and we’ll only know about the actor’s involvement – or lack thereof – in a few months’ time.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens will launch into theaters with or without Daniel Craig on December 18.