Lost and Lord of the Rings star Dominic Monaghan has joined the cast of the final installment in the Star Wars sequel trilogy: Episode IX, directed by Lost creator J.J. Abrams. Per Deadline, the actor actively petitioned Abrams for a part in 2015’s The Force Awakens, but for whatever reason, it didn’t happen.
Nothing is known about who Monaghan will play, but he sounded psyched to be part of the process. “The galaxy far far away has had almost as much influence as the one I live in, so I am delighted to be involved,” he said in a statement. Between playing Merry the hobbit in The Lord of the Rings, Charlie Pace on Lost and now a role in Star Wars, Monaghan is breathing rarified air, so far as fandom goes.
Monaghan’s casting isn’t the only bit of Episode IX news we have today, as some set photos have leaked. Beware: SPOILERS below.
Are you still with us but need a moment to dry your eyes after reliving Charlie’s death? Take a beat.
Okay, let’s jump into hyperspace with some very cool on-set photos from Star Wars: Episode IX; they recently surfaced in The Sun.
#StarWars New images from the set of #EpisodeIX reveal first look at Finn, Poe and possibly newcomer Naomi Ackie. pic.twitter.com/u3q9Ugm1qy
— Off Colour (@OffColourOrg) August 23, 2018
That’s Oscar Isaacs as Poe Dameron and John Boyega as Finn on a grassy hillside. Are they looking for someone? Joonas Suotamo is there as well, suited up as Chewbacca. We’re not sure why this particular trio is on this particular planet, together with cool-looking extras and shaggy-looking horses, but at the end of The Last Jedi, General Leia did have the Resistance send out a distress call to any allies in the Outer Rim, so this planet may be located in that region of space.
You can get a closer look at even more photos at The Sun.
Elsewhere, fansite Making Star Wars nabbed some shots of the Millennium Falcon in a heavily wooded forest that recalls the forest moon of Endor from Star Wars: Return of the Jedi.
A first glimpse of the Millennium Falcon from Black Park Star Wars: Episode IX set? - Gallery https://t.co/1JkzUgzhP7 pic.twitter.com/RRyXPwkktf
— Jason Ward (@MakingStarWars) August 22, 2018
Does this mean we’ll be seeing Ewoks in Episode IX? I’m hoping no.
Star Wars: Episode IX is in production now, and will hit theaters worldwide in December of 2019. Yub Nub!
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