Casting announcements for Star Wars: Episode IX are always exciting, because it means we're another step closer to seeing the highly-anticipated end to the third Star Wars trilogy. Even people in the cast have found it difficult to contain their excitement to work on the famed franchise, although they often have to, as Star Wars news is often kept very much under the wraps until a film's release. Richard E. Grant, who recently joined Episode 9 with a yet-to-be-disclosed role, couldn't wait to show his excitement to be with the franchise. Although, Grant is no stranger to nabbing geek-out worthy characters in projects like Doctor Who, Logan and Game of Thrones, his upcoming role had him smiling from ear-to-ear. He took to social media to share a video illustrating his excitement. Check it out.
Looks like J.J. Abrams just made his year! As Richard E. Grant mentions in the Twitter video, he auditioned for a generic scene blindly, completely unaware it would lead to a meeting with Abrams, who asked him to be in Star Wars: Episode IX. The beaming update from the actor certainly should have fans giddy, too. The casting announcement of Grant came along with Keri Russell and Naomi Ackie joining the film as well, all with undisclosed roles. The freshly-added cast will join main stars like Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac and Domhnall Gleeson along with Mark Hamill and Billy Dee Williams being confirmed to reprise their original trilogy roles of Luke Skywalker and Lando Calrissian. We also know that Princess Leia will have a role in Episode IX, thanks to some previously unused footage.
Of course, in Star Wars casting tradition, it has come time to speculate who Richard E. Grant will be playing in Star Wars: Episode IX. When Keri Russell was cast, fans instantly started theorizing that The Americans' actress could play Rey's mother. While we don't know who Grant's character will be, we are just as excited as Grant is to see him in the Star Wars film, whether he plays a known Star Wars Expanded Universe or brand-new character. I personally hope he is going to get a crack at playing for the dark side. His track record shows that he can definitely pull-off a quality villain and after Star Wars: The Last Jedi, the First Order is one general short. Grant most recently showed off his ability to play a villain in Fox's Logan.
Until then, you can fantasize about Grant's Star Wars: Episode IX role while seeing him as Shiver in Disney's The Nutcracker and the Four Realms to be released November 2, 2018 one year before the final trilogy film comes out in December 2019.
