Is Shaun of the Dead actor Simon Pegg starring in Star Wars? This could be the big surprise that director J.J. Abrams is keeping up his sleeves. Pretty much the entire core of the Star Wars Episode VII cast has been announced, but rumors persist that the actor -- who worked with Abrams in both Star Trek and Mission Impossible will be in the movie.
These rumors were fueled when the website, IGN Middle East reported that the comedian had visited the Star Wars set when it was filming in Abu Dhabi.
The World's End actor did say on Twitter that he is not part of the movie. But then, even Sherlock actor Benedict Cumberbatch may have hinted at Pegg's involvement in Star Wars Episode VII.
MTV is speculating that the Sherlock star did in fact let it slip that Simon Pegg is indeed in the new Star Wars movie. He was being asked by the music channel during Comic-con 2014, if the director had talked to him about being in the new Star Wars movies. And his answer was this:
"J.J. and I are friends, so yeah, possibly. But I think J.J. is very good at creating something original out of something known, and I think apart from his continuing use of Simon Pegg - and who can blame him, frankly - it made sense not to do it."
Simon Pegg himself addressed the Star Wars rumors. In an interview with Vulture, during a screening of Pegg's latest movie, Hector and the Search for Happiness, the actor responded to the rumor saying, "Well, J.J. uses me in different roles, and we're good friends. I feel like my face in Star Wars would pop people out of the movie. Look, I love Star Wars, and I don't want people to watch and go, 'Oh there's Simon Pegg's face. The film is cleverly cast with these amazing unknown actors."
In the same interview, he adds, "Of course I visited the set. It's amazing, and I love Star Wars... It looks wonderful, and you need to believe those characters. Any type of stunt casting might just pop you out of the movie."
Now it would seem as if Pegg is straight out quashing the Simon Pegg in Star Wars rumors, but looking at the statement closely, it's only his face that he says is not fit for the movie. So perhaps a masked/heavily made-up character? We'll just have to wait for further news to find out.
