It’s been a while since we heard anything about this one, but about eight months back a rumor hit the web that claimed Tom Hardy (Mad Max: Fury Road, Lawless, Dunkirk) was set to shoot a cameo for Rian Johnson’s follow-up to The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII. Apparently, the Academy Award-nominated actor was going to appear in a brief scene as a First Order Stormtrooper, in much the same way Daniel Craig popped up in the previous film.
Up until now, Hardy hasn’t commented on the rumor one way or the other, but during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he was quizzed about it again and although he did play coy, it’s worth pointing out that there was no denial.
Here’s the exchange in full:
Rumor has it you’re going to be a Stormtrooper in the next Star Wars movie. True?
I don’t know if I can even say that. Where did you hear that?
The internet.
Ah, the internet is a glorious web of deceit and misinformation, isn’t it? (Laughs.)
So that’s misinformation?
It could be, couldn’t it?
This is some expert-level avoidance from Hardy, but that first part (“I don’t know if I can even say that”) definitely suggests that there could be some truth to the rumor…unless of course Hardy is just having some fun with the interviewer, which he’s been known to do in the past.
You can find more specific details on the actor’s cameo here – though just in case it does turn out to be on the level, we suggest you don’t spoil it for yourself, because it does sound like a really fun scene.
Star Wars: Episode VIII is set to hit theaters on December 15, 2017.