Like most of us,Simon Pegghas a story about the first time he saw the originalStar Wars, a moment he looks back on fondly more than 37 years later. Unlike most of us, hisStar Warsjourney has taken him from a childhood obsession to a child-like playfulness in his chosen profession. By now,you may know that Pegg has a cameo rolein theJ.J. Abramsfilm as Unkar Plutt, a deceitful junk dealer that plays a pivotal role in unfolding the events ofStar Wars: The Force Awakens. But Pegg also had another important behind-the-scenes part to play, a part that is at the current height of his fascination with all thingsStar Wars.
Now, in an article written forEmpire magazine, Pegg reflects on his 37-year-long journey fromStar Wars: Episode IV - A New Hopeto his current hand in the box-office record smashingStar Wars: The Force Awakens.You might think that the opportunity to act as a sounding board for Abrams, who not only directedEpisode VIIbut will act as an executive producer on the remaining films, would top the list ofStar Warsexperiences for Pegg, but as you read along with his journey from childhood to adulthood, you get the sense that the nostalgia of the experience was worth more to him than another step along his career path.
Pegg starts out much like anyStar Warsfanboy who had the chance to be a part of his beloved universe would:
In July 25, 2025, some ten months before I would eventually see it myself,Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope, then simplyStar Wars, was released in just 42 theatres across the US. Exactly 37 years later, the day before I’m due on the set ofStar Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens, then simplyEpisode VII, I scare the bejesus out of J.J. Abrams by screeching dramatically at the fact that his suite, at the Abu Dhabi hotel complex we are staying in, is number 37.
He then takes readers on a lovely adventure through time as he recounts his first time seeingStar Wars, how that film became a formative experience for him, and how his obsession was shared by ever-increasing circles of family, friends, and complete strangers. The really cool bits from Pegg’s tale obviously involve his time spent behind the scenes ofThe Force Awakens:
And now I am standing on the set of the Millennium Falcon (the entrance corridor with the smuggling compartments), holding Chewbacca’s bowcaster, quietly “pew-pewing” to myself, waiting for Han and Chewie to arrive on set and make that entrance. I’ve been on a number of film sets over the years, witnessed a number of cool moments, but I have never seen so many people gathered around the monitors as on that day.
While Pegg has plenty of funny and moving anecdotes about meeting the cast of the original and ongoing films, the coolest part for me was seeing how his lifelong fandom has culminated in not only a cameo within one episode, but a creative hand in guiding the universe itself:
I am on set as a consultant, acting as a sounding board for J.J., who is making tweaks to the already wonderful screenplay. My computer is open in Final Draft and, at the top of my screen, the scene heading reads, “INT. S-REDACTED-R — DAY”. I hear a familiar voice and turn to see Mark walking onto set, looking trim and cool, with a beard that he grumbles about but makes him look handsome and Jedi-like. When they shot Luke placing his robotic hand on R2’s head, a moment glimpsed in the trailer, I sat at the monitors with Mark’s family and marvelled at the huge significance of the moment.
For much more from Pegg on hisStar Warsjourney, be sure to check out his full article in Empire. And for more onStar Wars: The Force Awakens, take a look at some of our recent coverage provided at the links below:
