Kevin Smith teases 'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker' cameo role
Kevin Smith has revealed he spent three days visiting the set of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, adding that he “may or may not be in it”.
The self-confessed Star Wars superfan told Yahoo he visited Pinewood Studios where his buddy JJ Abrams was shooting the ninth film in the Skywalker saga back in 2018, to watch it being made. He says he and wife stayed in Slough in tribute to Ricky Gervais’ Slough-set sitcom The Office.
“We went to the set,” Smith told us while promoting his new film Jay & Silent Bob Reboot, which is in cinemas now.
“I hung out for three days. I saw the scenes getting shot, but I’ve not seen anything [of the film] more than you, in terms of the trailers and stuff like that.”
Read more: Kevin Smith opens up about heart attack
Smith made headlines back in 2014 when he shared a tearful selfie from the ultra-secretive Star Wars: The Force Awakens set saying “the Force is WITH this movie”.
He later revealed that he’d become overwhelmed with emotion when Abrams had allowed him to step aboard the Millennium Falcon.
“I was a Catholic school kid; this mattered more than Jesus,” he told LA Times.
He appeared in the credits for the film as “additional voice cast” and it was later revealed he’d recorded some dialogue as a First Order Stormtrooper.
His “may or may not be in it” line, coupled with his length of time on set, suggests his cameo in The Rise of Skywalker may be more substantial this time around.
Smith adds that he’s been a Star Wars fan since seeing the first film aged seven, and can’t wait to see the culmination of the nine-film saga teased by George Lucas many moons ago.
Read more: Star Wars 9 to explore Finn’s origins
The Clerks filmmaker already confessed to crying during his 2018 Pinewood visit too.
“JJ’s doing the Lord's work," Smith told GMA about his set visit in late 2018.
"This movie looks fantastic. It’s a year away, but man, it looks fantastic. I wept on set because I saw somebody give a career-best performance. Somebody I’ve seen in these movies before.
“I rolled a tear, it was so darn powerful. Biggest set I’ve ever seen in my life. The dude’s not directing a movie. It’s like he’s directing a small country.”
Interview by Stefan Pape.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is in UK cinemas from 19 December. Jay & Silent Bob Reboot is in UK cinemas now.
