Simon Pegg Addresses ‘Star Wars Episode VII’ Rumor, Talks J.J. Abrams [UPDATED]
UPDATE from Germain: A few hours after this rumor aboutSimon Peggappearing inStar Wars Episode VIIbroke, the actortook to Twitter to say"I think this might be why everyone got a little bit confused" with alink to the upcomingPhineas and Ferb: Star Warsspecial. He IS a part of that project so while that’s not a denial, it’s pretty close. Plus, we’d heard rumblings Pegg merely visited the set because he is both a hugeStar Warsnerd and friends with writer/directorJ.J. Abrams. And so the rumor began.
Pegg also spoke toSky Moviesin the UK about Abrams and his approach to the film. In the clip, it sounds like he has an intimate knowledge of what the director is doing but it doesn’t sound like he’s in the movie. So, below, see that new video and read our original story.
Here’s the new video of Pegg talking about J.J. Abrams and Star Wars viaSky MoviesandStarWars7News.
And here’s his tweet.
And now, back to the original story.
At this point,J.J. Abramshasrevealedmost if not all of the core cast ofStar Wars Episode VII. But the galaxy is a big place, with lots of people and creatures of every kind in it. There’s plenty of room for more characters, and so the casting rumors will continue.
Today’s (totally unconfirmed! take it with a huge grain of salt!) rumor is that Abrams’Star TrekstarSimon Pegghas a “secret role” in the film, and in fact has already gone in front of the camera. Hit the jump for more on that story.
The source of this story isIGN Middle East. According to one of their sources, Pegg was recently on set in Abu Dhabi to shoot his scenes. No details were given about which character he was (allegedly) playing or which scenes were being shot.
If the rumor turns out to be true, it goes against Pegg’s earlier comments about not wanting to be involved in the movie. “I don’t think it would be appropriate for me to be in it, to be honest,” he told theIndependentlast fall. “I think J.J. should cast new faces with no stunt casting.”
Of course, he also told pressin no uncertain termsthat Benedict Cumberbatch wasn’t playing Khan inStar Trek Into Darkness. And he got the Internet buzzing last year witha carefully posed photofrom the Marvel offices. He’s not beyond misleading the press, in other words.
Pegg and Abrams have a long history, having worked together onMission: Impossible IIIand bothStar Trekmovies. Pegg is also a known fan of Star Wars —the original trilogy, anyway.
It’s not out of the realm of possibility that Abrams would have cast Pegg in a small role. But it’s also quite possible that Pegg was just on set for a visit or something. Either way, we’ll find out whenStar Wars Episode VIIopensDecember 18, 2015.
