As you read this, Disney and Lucasfilm are going through post production on "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" while also filming Rian Johnson's "Star Wars: Episdoe VIII." You would think that means the studio has gotten "Star Wars" movie making down to an exact science after the amazing success of "The Force Awakens," but apparently not.
Despite cameras rolling on "Episode VIII" this very moment, one actor who is pretty important to the project still hasn't seen a script. Andy Serkis, who provided the voice and the motion-capture animation for the mysterious First Order head honcho Supreme Leader Snoke, still hasn't seen a lick of dialogue.
Serkis' wife Lorraine Ashbourne was asked recently how she deals with the secrecy of the "Star Wars" franchise and she let it be known that her husband doesn't reveal a thing. That's great, but it would be even more impressive if he actually had any insider knowledge to share!
"I don't know anything....I'm due to be filming and I haven't even seen the script yet," Serkis said.
The actor is expected to join filming in the near future, but he apparently doesn't know what he'll be doing once he shows up. We know that Lucasfilm goes to extreme lengths to keep their "Star Wars" properties tightly under wraps, as they did with "The Force Awakens." But it's interesting that Serkis hasn't even seen an early draft. He is, after all, Kylo Ren's master and the leader of the First Order. We assume he'll have a crucial role to play going forward.
While fans were particularly curious about Kylo Ren's turn to the Dark Side and Rey's unknown lineage, it was Supreme Leader Snoke that caused the most head scratching in "The Force Awakens." Where did this powerful Dark Side Force user come from and how long has been making power plays? Is he a character from "Star Wars" history or is he an entirely new evil? What's his end game? Fans don't stand a chance at unearthing answers if not even Serkis himself knows what's going on.
While the actor should finally get his hands on a script once he shows up at Pinewood Studios for filming, it's doubtful that he'll become privy to any other character's intriguing secrets. Unfortunately, we'll all have to find out the answers to our questions the old fashioned way: waiting.
"Star Wars: Episode VIII" is scheduled to arrive on Dec. 15, 2017.
Follow Brandon Katz on Twitter at @Great_Katzby
