Dominic Monaghan joins Star Wars: Episode IX
Dominic Monaghan will be reuniting with J.J. Abrams almost a decade after working together on the ABC sci-fi drama Lost with an unspecified role in the upcoming Star Wars: Episode IX, according to Deadline.
Monaghan’s role in the final installment in the new trilogy also marks his third involvement in a big-budget franchise following his performance as Merry in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings franchise and his appearance as Chris Bradley/Bolt in the negatively-received X-Men Origins: Wolverine.
Returning cast members include Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran, Joonas Suotamo, and Billie Lourd. Joining the cast of Episode IX are Naomi Ackie (Doctor Who), Richard E. Grant (Gosford Park, Hudson Hawk) and Keri Russell (The Americans), who will be joined by veteran Star Wars actors Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, and Billy Dee Williams, who will reprise his role as Lando Calrissian.
First Official Star Wars: Episode IX Set Photo from J.J. Abrams!
The role of Leia Organa will once again be played by Carrie Fisher, using previously unreleased footage shot for Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Star Wars: Episode IX began filming at London’s Pinewood Studios on August 1, with J.J. Abrams (Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Star Trek) returning to direct the final installment of the Skywalker saga. Abrams co-wrote the screenplay with Chris Terrio (Argo, Justice League). Composer John Williams, who has scored every chapter in the Star Wars saga since 1977’s A New Hope, will return to a galaxy far, far away with Episode IX.
The film will be produced by Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams, and Michelle Rejwan, and executive produced by Callum Greene and Jason McGatlin.
Star Wars: Episode IX is scheduled for release on December 20, 2019.
(Photo credit: Getty Images)
