“The Crown” star Matt Smith is joining the cast of “Star Wars: Episode IX,” an individual with knowledge of the project tells TheWrap.
Secrecy being the MO of Lucasfilm, Smith’s role is being kept under wraps.
Production on “Episode IX” began earlier this month, with a release set for December 2019. “Force Awakens” director J.J. Abrams will return to helm the final installment of the new trilogy from a script he co-wrote with Chris Terrio.
Abrams stepped in to direct the film — which will follow “The Last Jedi” — after Colin Treverrow withdrew last September over creative differences with Lucasfilm. Treverrow had joined the project in 2015.
The cast of the previous two films — led by Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver and John Boyega — will return, with Naomi Ackie, Dominic Monaghan, Richard E. Grant and Keri Russell joining the cast. “Episode IX” will also be the last “Star Wars” film scored by John Williams.
“Episode IX” will be produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Abrams and Michelle Rejwan, and executive produced by Callum Greene and Jason McGatlin.
Smith is best known for his Emmy-nominated performance as Prince Philip on Netflix’s “The Crown” and playing the 11th incarnation of The Doctor on BBC’s cult series “Doctor Who.”
He will next be seen in “Charlie Says,” in which he plays Charles Manson. That film premieres at the Venice Film Festival on Sunday.
Smith is repped by UTA and Troika in the U.K.
Variety first reported the news.