Well, so much for the speculation that Domhnall Gleeson (“Ex-Machina”) would play Luke Skywalker’s son because of their vague resemblance. At San Diego Comic-Con tonight, most of the major players in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” turned up, and when it the focus turned to the dark side, Gleeson’s character was finally revealed.
READ MORE: Watch: The Behind The Scenes Comic-Con Reel Of ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’
Named General Hux, he’s English and that means he’s bad, at least in the tradition of the original “Star Wars” universe (see Gleeson’s quotes below). In the sprit of Grand Moff Tarkin, Captain Lorth Needa, Admiral Ozzel, etc., Gleeson plays a military figure in the new Empire, or First Order as they are now being referred to.
Gleeson also let out what most in the crowd sense to be a spoiler: Hux, Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), and Captain Phasma (Gwendoline Christie), the core members of the First Order, reside at Starkiller Base. Starkiller is, of course, a reference to George Lucas’ original draft of “Star Wars” — in early drafts Luke Skywalker was named Luke Starkiller. Now it’s not clear if this is just an respectful homage to what isn’t canon in “Star Wars” or if this is supposed to be some sort of reference to Skywalker. No one’s saying and we’ll find out much closer to release, if not after.
Additionally, Simon Pegg, rumored to have a role in the movie, was confirmed. He plays some kind of creature and it’s possible it’s not actually a very big part. In related "Star Wars" news, anthology film, "Star Wars: Rogue One," begins shooting in three weeks. “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” opens December 18. Below, photos from Comic-Con, tweets, plus watch the entire Star Wars panel.
The end pic.twitter.com/lmLELDoSzK
— Peter Sciretta (@slashfilm) July 11, 2015
Whu–? JJ says they are walking entire Hall H to a location for a live Star Wars concert.
— Borys Kit (@Borys_Kit) July 11, 2015
Ford: "I never thought it would come back. I never thought we’d do another."
— Josh Rottenberg (@joshrottenberg) July 11, 2015
Ford on reading script: "I was very gratified when I read the script, because I read something that I thought was really remarkable."
— moviefone (@moviefone) July 11, 2015
Original #StarWars cast in Hall H #SDCC pic.twitter.com/hFuCNQn9Sp
— Stuart Oldham (@s_oldham) July 11, 2015
Ford: "The company was the right company, the director was the right director, Larry wrote a great story… I was proud and grateful."
— Laura Prudom (@LauInLA) July 11, 2015
"I’m fine! I walked here!" Harrison Ford says. #StarWars pic.twitter.com/LZSe6qm6t2
— Laura Prudom (@LauInLA) July 11, 2015
Ford. "Fine". #SDCC #StarWars pic.twitter.com/7KYWmg742c
— Jason Gorber (@filmfest_ca) July 11, 2015
Luke and Leia! #StarWars #SDCC pic.twitter.com/nNv2QEvnpr
— JoBlo.com (@joblocom) July 11, 2015
Carrie Fisher on working with her old co-stars again, "It was the same except we all looked like we melted." #StarWars
— ScreenCrush (@screencrushnews) July 11, 2015
Carrie Fisher is here! #Sdcc2015 #StarWars pic.twitter.com/6MyA3PB3lV
— Blastr (@blastr) July 11, 2015
Star Killer Base is a big reveal admits Abrams, who is policing his panel–spoiled by Domnhall Gleason. Who plays general in charge. #sdcc
— Anne Thompson (@akstanwyck) July 11, 2015
J.J. Abrams says there will be no Darth Plagueis in STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS #SDCC #StarWars
— Ethan Anderton (@Ethan_Anderton) July 11, 2015
The First Order’s base is called The Starkiller Base, a reference to the original last name from George Lucas’ early draft.
— Peter Sciretta (@slashfilm) July 11, 2015
Hey, Domhnall Gleeson, is General Hux evil? "He’s British, so yup!" #StarWars #ComicCon
— Adam B. Vary (@adambvary) July 11, 2015
Another view of General Hux #StarWars #SDCCHallH pic.twitter.com/xzjZBppE1D
— Chewie, we’re home. (@MandyBu) July 11, 2015
Adam Driver said he approached Kylo Ren not as someone who thinks he’s bad, but who thinks he’s *right*. #StarWars #ComicCon
— Adam B. Vary (@adambvary) July 11, 2015
Domnhall Gleeson on his character: "Yeah, he’s evil." #StarWars
— ScreenCrush (@screencrushnews) July 11, 2015
Kylo Ren and the stormtroopers. #sdcc #TheForceAwakens pic.twitter.com/Wlg37iPzxd
— ErikDavis (@ErikDavis) July 11, 2015
Driver calls Kylo Ren ‘right’ but not bad. Great pic on screen w/ troopers #Sdcc2015 #StarWars pic.twitter.com/hNGQ3VnCWZ
— Blastr (@blastr) July 11, 2015
Here are your #starwars villains!!! pic.twitter.com/8IHyKXTySa
— Kyle Buchanan (@kylebuchanan) July 11, 2015
And now cast members from the Dark side: Adam Driver, Domhall Gleeson and Gwendolyn Christie #StarWars #SDCC
— Stuart Oldham (@s_oldham) July 11, 2015
The dark side. #StarWars #SDCC pic.twitter.com/MfxpF1rXtm
— JoBlo.com (@joblocom) July 11, 2015
Boyega tells story of man who came up to Harrison Ford and asked "Are you Harrison Ford?" And he replied, "I used to be."
— ScreenCrush (@screencrushnews) July 11, 2015
JJ: #StarWars is not an IP, it’s a story #SDCC
— Star Wars Underworld (@TheSWU) July 11, 2015
JJ: "We wanted the movie to look the way the world looks. I think it’s important to have all ppl represented in film."
— Carly Mallenbaum (@ThatGirlCarly) July 11, 2015
"He wants to be a hero, he wants to take on the mantle, sometimes even recklessly so." Oscar Isaac on Poe #TheForceAwakens #sdcc
— ErikDavis (@ErikDavis) July 11, 2015
Your #Sdcc2015 #StarWars cast pic.twitter.com/p1lsTBLmFb
— Blastr (@blastr) July 11, 2015
Daisy Ridley talking about training pic.twitter.com/js6mfUcgqw
— Peter Sciretta (@slashfilm) July 11, 2015
Footage had Simon Pegg, Leia’s costume, Neim Numb, a crashed tie fighter, and so much more it would be impossible to sum it up here.
— Steven Weintraub (@colliderfrosty) July 11, 2015
Just showed a couple of minutes of behind the scenes footage. Really pushing that this Star Wars has a "foot in the pre-digital world."
— Josh Rottenberg (@joshrottenberg) July 11, 2015
Simon Pegg WAS a creature in the movie. #SDCC #Starwars
— Chris Taylor (@FutureBoy) July 11, 2015
Abrams: The only real mandate we had was ‘what delights us?’ Doesn’t mean it has to be fun all the time, but it has to be compelling.
— Laura Prudom (@LauInLA) July 11, 2015
Star Wars: Rogue One begins shooting in 3 WEEKS. #saber
— Rob Keyes (@rob_keyes) July 11, 2015
Meet Bobba Joe from ‘STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS’. #SDCC2015 #SuperheroNews pic.twitter.com/F0HTZN1qOz
— Adam Hlavac (@adamhlavac) July 11, 2015
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There’s Peter Mayhew hiding in crowd! #Sdcc2015 #StarWars pic.twitter.com/JsdvjqeiaT
— Blastr (@blastr) July 11, 2015
Abrams: Just because you direct a scene on the Millennium Falcon doesn’t make it good. Harness the past, don’t be blinded by it.
— Russ Fischer (@russfischer) July 11, 2015
JJ Abrams: "We wanted to tell a story that would make us feel." Says Episodes 4, 5 & 6 were treated as canon.
— Borys Kit (@Borys_Kit) July 11, 2015
Abrams: "To be asked to write a script with Larry Kasdan – it’s like, ‘What would Han say?’ ‘I’ll TELL you what Han would say.’ " #StarWars
— Josh Rottenberg (@joshrottenberg) July 11, 2015
The (just barely) subtext of this panel is “this ain’t the prequels."
— Russ Fischer (@russfischer) July 11, 2015
A new #starwars character walks the #sdcc stage! He makes funny sounds https://t.co/zAIZYYwv8U
— Carly Mallenbaum (@ThatGirlCarly) July 11, 2015
"We wanted to tell a story that would make us feel." —JJ Abrams #TheForceAwakens #ComicCon
— Adam B. Vary (@adambvary) July 11, 2015
JJ Abrams says 100s of creatures practical sets were built for ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ but "there will be CG, you can’t avoid it."
— Angela Watercutter (@WaterSlicer) July 11, 2015
New #StarWats character Baba Joe (not sure of spelling) walks across Comic-con stage. #SdccBill pic.twitter.com/1UAwLldlWA
— USA TODAY Life (@usatodaylife) July 11, 2015
Check out new #StarWars creatures #SDCC #TheForceAwakens pic.twitter.com/HjW64LNiQO
— ErikDavis (@ErikDavis) July 11, 2015
They just brought out a grunting creature on stage to show how practical effects were the order of the day on FORCE AWAKENS.
— Borys Kit (@Borys_Kit) July 11, 2015
En route to the #StarWars panel #sdcc https://t.co/psDcPqVog3
— Jarett Wieselman (@JarettSays) July 11, 2015
#StarWars #SDCC pic.twitter.com/D5cFWdglD5
— JoBlo.com (@joblocom) July 11, 2015
JJ Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan #SDCC2015 #StarWars pic.twitter.com/lUyiLb37DG
— LatinoReview-Kel (@Latinoreview) July 11, 2015
I asked John Williams to score a #StarWars movie he hadn’t seen yet that I made. This isn’t normal – JJ #SDCC pic.twitter.com/4TQhMK94Q7
— JoBlo.com (@joblocom) July 11, 2015
J.J. Abrams: "I’ve been a fan since I was a little kid. And there is nothing normal about getting to write a movie with Lawrence Kasdan."
— Rob Trench (@robtrench) July 11, 2015
Cool #TheForceAwakens shot on screen now #sdcc pic.twitter.com/CFh1DNEFSG
— ErikDavis (@ErikDavis) July 11, 2015
Kasdan gives all the credit to George Lucas for getting him involved with #StarWars. Went "berserk" when Abrams asked him back #SDCC2015
— Gotham News (@GothamNews_) July 11, 2015
Kathleen Kennedy, JJ Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan take the stage. pic.twitter.com/COERMcxdGN
— Josh Rottenberg (@joshrottenberg) July 11, 2015
Kathleen Kennedy, JJ Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan on stage now. "We have a cut of the movie. — Abrams #TheForceAwakens
— ErikDavis (@ErikDavis) July 11, 2015
OMG! Just saw all the new Storm Troopers going into #HallH #SDCC @starwars @andysignore pic.twitter.com/and6NcsFd8
— screenjunkies (@screenjunkies) July 11, 2015
#StarWarsTheForceAwakens #SDCC2015 pic.twitter.com/y69E0XYTCQ
— Gotham News (@GothamNews_) July 11, 2015