Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is one of the most eagerly anticipated films of 2019. It’s the culmination of a story that began all the way back in 1977, when George Lucas’ original space opera, Star Wars: A New Hope, debuted in theaters. As such, the secrets of the production, which officially kicked off last summer, are closely guarded.
That hasn’t stopped the occasional tidbit from leaking out though and it seems like one interesting nugget might’ve just been let out of the bag. Disney’s UK affiliate just released a promotion touting the many returning actors, such as Billy Dee Williams and Mark Hamill reprising their iconic roles as Lando Calrissian and Luke Skywalker, respectively.
However, the list indicates some new faces joining the franchise as well, and that’s where things get interesting. Prominent among the listing is none other than Doctor Who star Matt Smith, who’s been rumored for a role in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker for quite awhile now. However, every time the question of his casting comes up, he either dodges it, or outright denies it.
In fact, after a recent interview with Smith, journalist Emily Zelmer stated:
“One takeaway: Matt Smith is not in the next [Star Wars] movie, despite reports to the contrary. He told me, ‘As far as I can tell, I’m definitely not.’ (Although maybe we’ll be surprised by his secret keeping in December.)”
Modern productions often go to extreme lengths to hide their secrets in order to maintain the element of surprise. In fact, series finales often shoot multiple endings so that, even if one leaks, no one knows if it’s the real thing.
It’s entirely likely that Disney’s simply following this trend and trying to keep a cover on the film, so everyone can be amazed when it releases in December. And while this announcement seems to confirm that Smith is actually a part of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, it doesn’t go into any specifics on his role.
As such, while the mystery of his participation might now be solved, who he’ll be portraying and what impact he’ll have on the final installment of the Skywalker Saga remains to be seen. But as soon as we learn more, we’ll be sure to let you know.
