With less than a month left before the release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, anticipation is at a fever pitch. The generations of fans are eager to see how J.J. Abrams will conclude the current trilogy, as well as nine-film story that began with A New Hope. Lucasfilm has been closely guarding the film's secrets, in hopes of providing the full experience at theaters. Although a new video seems to have revealed a surprising cast member: Hamilton and Mary Poppins Returns' Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Ahead of the release of The Rise of Skywalker, a video was released which highlighted the cultural significance of the beloved space opera. In addition to fan reactions and old footage, there were a few new shots from the set of Episode IX. That includes one of Lin-Manuel Miranda alongside Naomi Ackie's new comer Jannah. The shot isn't from a scene, but shows the fun side of working on a Star Wars set.
It's currently unclear how big Lin-Manuel Miranda's role is, but smart money says it's just a cameo. The Star Wars franchise has been known for its wild cameos, especially in the current trilogy. And given J.J. Abrams' relationship with the writer/actor, it stands to reason that he would get his own brief role in the upcoming blockbuster. And if it was a real role, smart money says Lucasfilm would have announced it alongside the rest of the starring cast.
Related: Is The New Star Wars Trilogy Too Much Like The Original? J.J. Abrams Understands Criticisms
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker won't be the first time Lin-Manuel Miranda worked on a Star Wars movie. He actually wrote music for Maz Kanata's cantina scene during The Force Awakens. That's how he met J.J. Abrams, with the two collaborating and even performing the track together. So the man deserves his very own onscreen cameo in the final installment of the Skywalker Saga.
You can check out the full video below, courtesy of the official Star Wars Youtube page. This includes the quick shot of Lin-Manuel Miranda in a Resistance uniform.
The Resistance might be struggling in the fight against the First Order in The Rise of Skywalker, but at least they've got Lin-Manuel Miranda on hand. It'll be interesting to see when and how Miranda pops up in the upcoming blockbuster. J.J. Abrams included plenty of cameos in The Force Awakens, giving one-liners to characters at the Resistance base. Let's just hope Lin's character has a happier fate that James Corden's ill-fated Last Jedi appearance.
Luckily, we won't have to wait much longer to see The Rise of Skywalker, including Lin-Manuel Miranda's role. Episode IX will hit theaters on December 20th, just in time for the Holidays. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies. And our 2020 release list to look ahead toward the New Year.
