With the release of ‘The Rise Of Skywalker’ trailer, and the fast glimpse of Dominic Monaghan in his as yet unidentified role, discussion has returned to how Monaghan got the role. For that story you have to cast your mind back to a podcast from just over a year ago…
Caution: the following quote and podcast uses some adult language.
In September 2018, Monaghan appeared as a guest on the talk podcast Distraction Pieces with Scroobius Pip where he discussed (among other topics) his journey into The Rise of Skywalker. Abrams promised the possibility of a role to Monaghan, which led Monaghan to telling his agent to avoid other, higher-paying projects just to be available for Star Wars.
Later, Monaghan was watching England play Colombia in the World Cup, a historic game for the English when Monaghan received the email of a lifetime. “At the start of that game,” recalls Monaghan, “because J.J. is a motherfucker in the best way possible, he emailed me and he said, ‘I think I have a Star Wars part for you.’ And I wrote back and said, ‘Brilliant, I won’t bother you but let me know if there’s anything I can do or what I can say.’ He wrote back and said, ‘If England beat Colombia, you’re in.’ I was like, oh mate, you bastard.”
After 120 minutes, England won the penalty shoot-out, which alone had Monaghan jumping and screaming. But he also knew what J.J. Abrams promised him: A role in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. “You’re in.”
