As a self-proclaimed superfan, Spaced and The World‘s End star Simon Pegg has been vocal in the past about his desire to one day be involved in a Star Wars project. Imagine his delight, then, when he’s cast in J.J. Abrams’ winter blockbuster, Star Wars: The Force Awakens. But as the director reveals in an interview with Entertainment Weekly – the undisputed bastion of all things Star Wars in recent days – Pegg’s role in the film is much bigger than we first imagined.
Rather than simply embodying an unknown alien, the fan-favorite Brit’s role expanded beyond the camera, too, with Abrams revealing that he would frequently assist in the creative process. Yes, the director didn’t delve into the specifics of Pegg’s alien in question, but it’s heartening to hear that his contribution to the much-anticipated sequel wasn’t limited to a passing – if unrecognizable – cameo.
Speaking to EW, here’s what Abrams had to share.
“I will say this in terms of Simon: while he won’t be recognizable in the movie, in all honesty, his role in this – not the performance or the character – but his support and friendship has been massively important and helpful in the process. He was a wonderful partner in crime to kick the story around and ask questions and come up with ideas, and he was an incredibly helpful part of the process for all of us. I’m very grateful.”
Taking the reins on such a huge and beloved universe is certainly no mean feat, meaning that Pegg was indispensable in providing the filmmaker with objective critique on The Force Awakens as it began to take shape.
“He was a sounding board. He would drop by the set because he wanted to, and when he could, he would help… We could talk about things, and he was a perfect combination of incredibly smart screenwriter, fan of the series, critical fan of the series, and friend of mine – but not just blindly supportive. He was an honest, critical friend. And he wasn’t so close to it that he became immune to things. He would come in with fresh eyes and very smart ideas. He’s one of a handful of people along the way that has been really priceless.”
Pegg’s multi-faceted part in Star Wars: The Force Awakens is the latest in a long line of tantalizing tidbits coming out of EW’s cover story. From the murky past of Adam Driver’s Kylo Ren to a bevy of screenshots spotlighting Rey and Finn (Daisy Ridley and John Boyega, respectively), it’s been a good week to be a Star Wars fan – oh, and did we mention the first peak at Luke Skywalker, too?
Star Wars: The Force Awakens will open on December 18. With Pegg’s role ostensibly revealed, now all we need is for Abrams to spill the beans on that rumored cameo from Daniel Craig.
