UPDATE! Even More Details On Greg Grunberg’s Character in The Force Awakens
It appears that one of the characters from The Force Awakens, that we know most about, is actor and J.J. Abrams’ best friend – Greg Grunberg. Although probably his role will not be a major one, read on for some new details we uncovered on his character…
As you probably remember in our previous report on Grunberg we made some bullet points with details about his Character from The Force Awakens:
- He has signed for three movies.
- He shot for 7 weeks in London at Pinewood.
- He is not a CG character.
- He has facial hair.
- He has no prosthetics.
- He never read the whole script. It was on red paper.
- There will be an action figure with his character.
- The actors had to wear cloaks while walking towards the set.
Now we can add a few new details to the list, thanks to a video posted on youtube by Chris Lee, discussing his ongoing project to build a full-scale replica of the Millennium Falcon. Actually the video was posted in December, 2014 so this info was actually revealed before our previous report on Mr. Grunberg. (thanks to Simon M for the heads up)
So in this video, among other things Chris Lee mentioned that Greg Grunberg came to visit their booth at a convention and reveled tiny bits about his character in The Force Awakens. According to Lee, Greg claimed that his character in the film “spends a significant amount of time in the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon in Episode 7”. He goes on to say that Greg did not specify who he plays but dropped some hints and they figured it out afterwards.
(from 36:25 min.)
POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD
Now this is really interesting. We know from rumors and confirmed by the trailer, that Han Solo and Chewie are not in possession of the Millennium Falcon in the beginning of the movie. And we know that Daisy Ridley and John Boyega do board the Falcon after being chased by some Tie Fighters. That was revealed by the image below, showed during the Celebration panel at Anaheim.
So, is Greg Grunberg’s character piloting the Falcon before Han and Chewie “got home”? Is he in the Falcon waiting for Rey and Finn to go on board in the image above. There are many possibilities, but if the stories are true and Grunberg signed for all three movies, and is heavily involved with the Falcon, then we can assume that he would probably be a new co-pilot addition to the crew, or something like that.
And here’s a pure speculation on my part – I have a feeling that Grunberg’s character will be one of the comic relieves in the movie. Something like Simon Pegg’s character Scotty from Star Trek.
What do you think? Tell us below in the comments or joins us in The Cantina for a friendly chatter over a mug of Corellian ale.
UPDATE!
We received a small update on this story. Greg Dietrich, one of the lead builders for the Full Scale Falcon project and friend of Chris Lee, sent us a few curious photos with Greg Grunberg. Here’s what he had to say:
As Chris had stated, Mr Grunberg was nice enough to chat with us for over 1/2 hour – he had a very hectic schedule and things sort of stopped when he came by to chat. It was a total geek-out and the things he was able to tell us about working on the set of EPVII and JJA was nothing less than amazing! He even took several pics of the cockpit and texted them to JJA as we stood there geeking out. Sorry… no matter how hard we tried… no plot or character info. At the end, Mr Grunberg was kind enough to sign his name on the Full Scale MF Center Console. With his name he also left a “EPVII hint” about his character.
Anyone would have immediately guessed that the initials “S.W.” mean “Star Wars”. However Grunberg said that this is a hint for Episode VII. So are these the initials of his character from the movie or is it something else? What do you think.
Special thanks to Greg Dietrich and the whole team at FullScaleFalcon.com
P.S. I see that some sites reported our story, using titles like “The Millennium Falcon owner revealed…” or something like that. That’s just their speculation based on the story we posted above, nothing more.
Founder of SWNN, MNN and The Cantina forums.
Born on April 24, 1980.
“Comic Relieves.”
I think it’s possible that GG has possession of the Falcon and has been watching over Rey the way OWK was watching over Luke in Episode IV .. only shows up in a very dire moment.
Greg is Han’s brother.
Maybe even his husband, who knows what Disney will come up with later :/
probably some nonsense ….
please, no….
Solo shares with no one!
Yes but disney’s Solo is not a Solo…
So he’s the one piloting the Falcon in the trailer
I hate this. This will now be so distracting when I watch the movie. If JJ wants to cast friends it should be as a background characters, not a 3-picture deal and a character that flies the MF.
People get distracted over the silliest things. This isn’t a big deal.
I strive to be as non-over-reactionary as possible, but when it comes to things MF, THIS IS a BIG DEAL.
Like, he MIGHT be good, but guilty until proven innocent.
The actual quote is innocent until proven guilty.
Greg Grunbergh is not Tom Cruise, a huge star. He’s an actor. In a movie. Why would anyone be distracted?
But Greg is an actor. It’s not like he is Abrams’s dentist.
True story. Ed Wood needed a replacement for Bela Lugosi after he died before Plan 9 from Outer Space started. He then got his dentist to take his part.
And so began a iconic acting career.
It was actually his wife’s Chiropractor, not dentist. lol
he was in the cockpit, that doesnt mean he flies it…
theres a ridiculous amount of people in this cast.
yeah im very optimistic and excited, and i love all 6 movies thus far, im a star wars apologist i guess lol, but the ONLY thing that slightly unnerves me about ep7 is…man there’s an awful loooot of characters that are either main characters or seem at least to have at least a modest sized role. i just hope the movie isnt a frantic all over the place abrams exercise..
Pirate.
I still want him to be a background Jedi, preferably Kenth Hamner.
also this bullet point “There will be an action figure with his character.” so meaningless for Star Wars XD
Who is this Grunberg guy?
I don’t care if he is JJ’s best buddy.
I really dislike nepotism.
JJ give us Luke Skywalker instead in more as in one Scene.
And not this average Joe as a new co-pilot nobody wants or needs!!!
If this crap is true, it will be the biggest casting mistake ever.
I smell a new Jar Jar Binks incident!!!
“Who is this Grunberg guy?”
Not a fan of “Heroes” I take it?
I am Heroes fan and this guy was the one I didn’t like at all. Everytime he showed up I was like Jeeeez, not again. And then I realized he will be in TFA and sure because he was the best for the part, right. Not because being best buddy with JJ. And then I forgot the story and was happy until now, when the guy popped up again out of nowhere and BOOM – even better – 3 movies and a major character. Just great. As somebody said above I will be distracted and unpliesed by this guy every time he shows up, and it could ruin the movie for me. I’m sorry for all of you who uncritically accept everything star wars or JJ, but I’m not like that and the fact that the director pushes in a franchise of this magnitude his best friend and not as a cameo irritates me. I thought JJ is a person of certain level..
Hahaha people and their feeble brains. Ever think you simply didn’t like the character he played in heroes? He did a great job at being a dopey loser cop who didn’t know all along he was actually pretty badass. As his character progressed I liked him more cause he wasn’t such a bitch. It’s obviously your opinion, but I just never could understand ONE character ruining an entire movie. Guess it’s just like negative people in life. Can’t focus on anything but the negatives. Never pay attention to the positives.
Oh and furthermore, I love Greg Gunberg not just cause he’s pretty funny and a good enough actor but it’s because he’s such a real average joe kinda guy. Why the fuck be bummed out about an average joe being represented in a movie, and not another fucking Channing taternutts being in a movie just because they’re eye candy…..? Seems like a win for the average chode, just like most Movie goers are….
Did you forget Jar Jar?
You Sound like a Gtunberg fanboy.
And WTF is Heroes, never watched this crap, I only know the cover with Quinto, nowadays series are garbage.
I watch the old classic stuff.
If you only watch old classic stuff, why do you care about a new SW trilogy?
“I just never could understand ONE character ruining an entire movie”
Mesa so happy to hears yousa say dat
It is not allowing me to respond to good comments here: “JJ’s friend” and “facial hair character” in 3 movies but not a major character (plus we saw him in hit TV show Heroes as a non favorite character there because I liked JJ’s Spock in Star Trek as a villain in Heroes) – it sounds like he is some sort of mentor like Obi-Wan of classic trilogy!? Big deal!? Stop hiring friends and look for a cast member we already saw and judged for not being in Star Wars even as a pilot of an X-wing (only position I would put him if I were directing with screen test HEROES)!
JJ,
” You can waste time with your friends when your chores are done. I want those new droids on the south ridge working on those condensers.”
” JJ? JJ? JJ?”
” Have you seen JJ this morning?”
” He left early. Said he had some things to do before he got started.”
” Did he take the new droids with him?”
” I think so.”
” He better have those units repaired by midday, or they’ll be Hell to pay!”
make sure Grunberg can speak Bocce.
I’ve never seen such devotion in a
droid before. He claims to be a property
of an JJ Abrams. Is he relative of yours or do
you know what he’s talking about?
Yet you haven’t realize this movie will be the end of SW as we knew it…Best thing is to send them to h*** and do not take them seriously.
He could ruin the movie for me. I have NO interest in this guy whatsoever and don’t want him distracting me from the story.
My guess is that he was one of the imperials stranded on jakku
he was terrible in heroes
So, Gruberg might the Wedge of the sequel trilogy right?
This worries me a little bit. I thought our adventure would revolve around Oscar Isaac, John Boyega, and Daisy Ridley.
I can’t see this guy fitting in.
im still staying optimistic. Until the reviews for the movie say its trash, i have full confidants in watever JJ is doing.
Hmm. This month sucks for Star Wars news
Fans today are so spoiled. God forbid we don’t get a teaser or major announcement every month.
GG was brilliant as the short-lived pilot on the pilot episode of LOST. I doubt he’ll detract from the ST in any way, shape, or form.
He probably kept Han’s seat warm for the last 30 years.
I pretty much enjoy people getting frustrated over this. Because you know, you are basicaly ruining it for yourslf to be so f#cking biased obout almost verything. So yes, sigh and roll eyes when Grunberg is in your face in Imax while i will so much enjoy this movie, I cannot wait!
He will be Dash Rendar. BOOM. I know his cousin but she has absolutely refused to spill the beans but says she knows what his role is. I worked with her when Heroes was still on the air and she knew stuff about that show before it happened.
If she doesn’t spill the beans how do you know he’s Dash Rendar?
The Dash Rendar bit was a joke. Still trying to get the cousin to slip up and say something. I’m not convinced she knows more than was revealed here.
He looks like he could be dash. That would be awesome I loved shadows of the empire. Is it still canon?
I think Kurt Russell would’ve made a nice Dash.
I believe he also played a director of a fake tv series in the show Psych.
wow these comments are some of the most hateful insane bullcrap I have ever seen, you know who else spent a significant time in the cockpit of the millenium falcon?
those two guys that sat behind Lando and Nien Nunb…
Cool your jets people… honestly though given the three movie deal, the beard, and the cloak… I think he might be one of the remaining few jedi that luke managed to train.
He probably wont even be named. So I am putting my money on him being an unamed jedi, that will be retconned to be Kenth Hamner.
I really want to type some expletives here. I know SW7N are only doing their job but all this ‘Jobs for The Boys’ stuff from JJ is vile. This guy is smarmy and its a tragedy he is constantly hired by Abrams.
Am sure my dislike for the guy however, will not detract from this film.
the last co-pilot the Falcon ever had was Nien Nunb. Go from there!
“And here’s a pure speculation on my part – I have a feeling that Grunberg’s character will be one of the comic relieves in the movie. Something like Simon Pegg’s character Scotty from Star Trek.”
not considering the fact that Simon Pegg is actually funny and not an annoying turd. This guy’s presence could potentially ruin the movie for me. I really hope that’s not the case.
Pegg is actually funny and not an annoying turd? This is news to me. Pegg is the definition of an annoying turd.
cantina bar tender
There’s someone named “captain Trilla” on Ward’s call sheets.
Also, what if he’s piloting the Falcon in the scenes after Han is dead? That concept art showed the Falcon flying in the bg amongst a lightsaber battle in a snowy forest.
The concept in question shows the Millenium Falcon parked. Also it’s concept art, as in it’s not production art.
Doesn’t look parked to me. Looks like it’s hovering right off the tree line, akin to what we saw in Qui-Gon/Maul fight. But, Anons like you do need something to fight over..
clearly you like to have a go at anons.
Frankly I could care less about anyone too lazy to put a name on their comment. Really, how hard is that, anon?
What ever happened to Nien Numb?
a chubby Kanan Jarrus!
Who was he in Star Trek?
He played kirk’s step-father. It is his corvette young James T steals
Could he be Chewbacca in scenes that Peter Mayhew was unable to do? Facial hair, Falcon, in all 3 movies… Peter seems barely able to walk so wouldn’t be able to film many of Chewbacca’s scenes. Plus if Chris Lee figured out who he was from the hints dropped then presumably he must be an existing character. It all adds up for me.
That’s what I thought when I saw that Chris Lee video ages ago …Then that Ian Whyte Double thing surfaced…Now I think he’s Lumpy Chewies kid..he kinda looks like him.
Peter Mayhew is a lot taller than Grunberg.
i was gonna say, ‘could be chewbacca’…on stilts?
Kyle Katarn??
I thought it was common knowledge that he’s playing a sith general ?
So, Greg has a tiny part?…fantasy ruined!
Be heard!
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/more-luke-skywalker-in-episode-8
Admiral Ackbar.
I can already hear my Dad’s opinion on this when we see the movie this Christmas:
“who the hell is this guy?”
It’s entirely possible this guy is a good choice, but that’s not really too reassuring.
I’ll TRY to like this guy in the film.
Though the fact that he’s just straight-up appearing IN the Falcon is reminding me of Simon Pegg’s entrance to the USS Enterprise: random buddy was let onto the set and i’m expected to enjoy/tolerate what is clearly a half-assed casting/character decision because director.
Too bad he signed for three movies. If it weren’t for that news, we could at least hold out hope that his character dies at some point in VII.
Greg Gungan
Such an annoying actor. Was awful since Alias.
Hate to say it more time goes on and more things are leaked ” im a getting a bad feeling about this” .
I think Disney will end up killing this, over hyped over priced endless merchandise. Women in all lead roles inc the spin off movies. I really hope i am wrong
Nothing wrong with women leading Star Wars for a change. Men have had a good six films and an almost 40 years head start, not to mention all the countless male-led cartoons, video games, novels, etc.
OMG
Greg is a SkyWalker. Maybe he is Lobots son.
his character’s initials are S.W?
S.W.= short wiener.
Another commenter also noted the repeat of the phrase “tiny part.”
Are we getting to something here? Perhaps he tries to bone Rey but ends up disappointing her, so she lets him drive her space ship for 3 full length movies.
With facial hair all i can think of he is being some sort of wookie. And with S.W. i’ll go along with him being Shew Wacca or something like that lol
S.W. – Skywalker? Son of Wedge? Scarlet Witch?
Señor Wences
Im getting kinda tired of hearing so much about an actor’s role I care so little about in a movie I care so much about… It’s aggravating.
Maybe it’s a clue to who destroyed the Horcrux… wait that was RB… Different series. My bad. lol 😉
Super Weapon
Sando Walrissian
Forest Whitaker in talks to join ROGUE ONE!
http://variety.com/2015/film/news/star-wars-rogue-one-forest-whitaker-cast-1201496190/
S.W. = Second Wookiee
Crap! I read trouh every last post looking for someone who had said “second wookie”. And you, the last post stole my thing! A big LIKE to you 🙂
If he’s a Skywalker Abrams can get lost. Am sick of this guy.
S.W. = Son of Watto
Does the fact that he is allowed to scrawl over the Falcon’s console mean that it (The set) won’t be needed for future instalments? Gulp!
It’s not the one used on set. I think it’s a fan-made Falcon
Phew! I thought we might have a Star Trek III scenario here.
S W = Son of Wedge
Son of Skywalker, SW…
Stunt Wookie
SW = Sidious Wraith
Obvious if you ask me. Sidious always wanted to pilot the ship that destroyed his second, invulnerable death star.
Its a fan made replica they are making the whole ship.
As he is in the co pilot seat is a good sign maybe he will be a wookie, who takes over from Chewie if rumours are true about fate of Han and I do hope they are not true
Shit Warm
If he has a beard, perhaps SW = Second Wookie.
SUCKS WAMPAS!
Solo’s Wingman
Sam Wessel
Solo’s Wife
Super Weapon duh
GG is actually Chewbacca after being shaved!
Solos wingman. Silent wookie, stupid wampa
How about “Son of Wedge” ?
Abrams would have to know that the nerdists our there are going to want to know what happened to Wedge Antilles. Here’s a way of doing it.
wow……my excitement for this movie just went from 100% down to -50%…. i really loathe this man…what a HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE Actor….JJ Abrams casting his friends could have just ruined it for everyone.Why cant Disney control this guy?
There are a few possibilities here, abd I’m trying to think outside of being a fan and looking into the mind of a writer or director. For starters it’s pretty obvious that Han Solo will die, Harrison Ford wants out. So this leaves a problem for JJ with Chewbacca and the Falcon. As a character Chewbacca needed Han to establish conversation because he can only growl, without this the character actually doesnt work in a movie, he just walks around in the background. With Han gone this leaves a hole that will need to be filled in the future for Chewbaccas character to remain a relevant part of the film. Someone has to continue that banter. The main story shifts focus to the young actors, they havent got time to constantly talk to Chewie, i think this is what this guy is, a character designed to replace the required banter with Chewie to make him still work in the movie 🙂