Benedict Cumberbatch is the last person I would have expected to accidentally leak some secretive Star Wars: Episode VII casting information, but it looks like that’s what just happened. During an interview with MTV at San Diego Comic-Con about his upcoming film Penguins of Madagascar, Cumberbatch was asked about Star Wars: Episode VII and whether or not there was any validity to the rumors about him nearly landing a role. His answer, while predictably cagey, contained one little stumble: Simon Pegg will be in the film.
Pegg has vehemently denied having a part in Episode VII, despite having been spotted on set. He chalked that particular set visit up to a casual meet and greet with longtime collaborator and friend J.J. Abrams, but if Cumberbatch is to be believed, that was just another classic case of misdirection.
On whether or not he personally had met with Abrams for a role, Cumberbatch said:
“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.”
So, Cumberbatch doesn’t spill all of the beans, but it sure does sound like Pegg has a role. Cumberbatch seems to be saying that his own involvement in Star Trek Into Darkness interferes with him having a role in Episode VII, but that Pegg is an exception to that.
What do you think? Did Cumberbatch just let the cat out of the bag, and announce Simon Pegg’s involvement in Star Wars: Episode VII? Or are we reading too much from his comment?
With or without Simon Pegg, Star Wars: Episode VII hits theaters on December 18th, 2015. The film does star returning cast members Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, and Kenny Baker, along with newcomers John Boyega, Gwendaline Christie, Lupita Nyong’o, Daisy Ridley, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver, and Christina Chong, Crystal Clark, Pip Anderson, Dixie Arnold, and Max von Sydow.