Playing Hardy To Get: Tom Hardy Discusses Those 'Star Wars Episode VIII' Rumors

As Rogue One: A Star Wars Story continues to triumph at the box office, the eyes of the movie-going world are now turning to the next installment in the space-set saga: Episode VIII! Speculation about this next chapter is rife on the internet, covering everything from new Jedi Orders to which creatures will feature...

One prevalent rumor is that Tom Hardy may have snagged himself a minor role in Star Wars Episode 8. Hardy recently commented on these juicy rumors — and only picked our interest even further!

“...I’ll Leave This Cell With the Door Open.”

The Force Awakens saw Rey (#DaisyRidley) coming to grips with her force powers in a particularly funny scene, whereby she uses a mind-trick to coerce an unwitting stormtrooper to set her free. It’s even funnier if you know that British superstar Daniel Craig is the man behind the stormtrooper helmet!

Indeed, the movie is full of fun little cameos and Easter eggs like this, and Episode VIII looks set to continue that trend. After all, it’s been heavily rumored since last May that Craig’s fellow British thespian, #TomHardy, was going to don that iconic armor and appear in a similar sort of cameo.

Mad Max racing around on a speeder? How cool would that be?! Certainly, when The Hollywood Reporter talked to Tom Hardy about his new show Taboo, they couldn’t resist asking him straight up whether or not the rumors were true, to which he swiftly replied:

“I don't know if I can even say that. Where did you hear that?”

He can’t say anything about it? Oh Tom, didn’t you know the whole ‘no comment’ approach only makes it more obvious? But his attempts at damage control made the situation even funnier.

After jokingly trying to downplay the internet’s speculation as “a glorious web of deceit and misinformation,” THR pushed him a little bit further. When he was asked whether it was or wasn’t a simple case of misinformation, he could only coyly reply:

“It could be, couldn't it?”

What a tease. It seems safe to say that there is some credence to those whisperings after all...

“No One Cared Who I Was Until I Put On the Mask...”

It’s a nice change to hear Tom Hardy joking around about Star Wars 8. After all, he’s mainly known for the intensity and seriousness of his performances. Indeed his small appearance in #StarWars8 was definitely meant to showcase a more comedic angle than we’re used to seeing from him, if rumors are to be believed.

Rumors suggest that, like Daniel Craig, Hardy’s unnamed stormtrooper supposedly comes into contact with our main heroes, only here it’s a whimsical misunderstanding, rather than a triumph of the wills. Recognizing Finn (John Boyega) from their training days, Hardy’s trooper believes that his defection is a ploy to aid the First Order, and so he jostles Finn like an old friend – even slapping his behind!

Again, it’s unclear just how much of this is true, but we can’t help but admit just how hilarious that would be to see onscreen. Speaking to Vulture, John Boyega definitely seemed up for it:

“Who slaps my ass? Wow! Did Tom say that?... Okay. Next time I go on set I’m going to release a helmet and see if Tom Hardy’s in there!”

Like The Force Awakens, Episode VIII is shaping up to be a pretty secretive project indeed, so its therefore understandable why Hardy isn’t willing to give anything away.

But does his reticence to be pinned down hint at something else? Is he providing more than just a supporting part as a stormtrooper? Could he be playing an even bigger character perhaps? Is that why he’s was willing to leave the question open?

We can only continue to speculate until the trailer arrives in a few months, but in the meantime let us know who you think Tom might be playing, or what other actors you’d like to appear in Star Wars in the comments below!

(Sources: The Hollywood Reporter, Vulture)