Lin-Manuel Miranda (and Ed Sheeran) spied in new 'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker' teaser

Naomie Ackie and Lin-Manuel Miranda in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (Credit: Disney)
Naomie Ackie and Lin-Manuel Miranda in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (Credit: Disney)

Likely the last teaser we'll be getting from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker - a special look promo jam-packed with nostalgic references – it has a few unexpected surprises up its sleeve.

While it's building up to this movie being the last chapter in the series, with commentary about the franchise's cultural significance, it's a couple of the final movie's new star cameos which steal the show.

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Hamilton star Lin-Manuel Miranda – currently appearing in the BBC's His Dark Materials – appears for the first time in some on-set footage, appearing to be dressed as a rebel fighter.

He's grinning his face off on-screen with British actress Naomi Ackie, who will be introduced as Jannah in the final movie.

Then as an added bonus, moments later we're getting a shot of none other than British pop sensation Ed Sheeran.

Ed Sheeran in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (Credit: Disney)
Ed Sheeran in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (Credit: Disney)

It emerged as a rumour last year that Sheeran had bagged a role as a stormtrooper in the forthcoming movie, and now we have the proof.

Sheeran too, beaming, is seen in the iconic stormtrooper armour, without his helmet – a la Mark Hamill in A New Hope.

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He's not the first famous face to hide behind the Stormtrooper helmet – with Daniel Craig also appearing in The Force Awakens, while Simon Pegg appeared in a similar promo for that movie too, playing the miserly junk-monger Unkar Plutt on Rey’s home planet of Jakku.

We're now closing in on the release of the final movie in the current Star Wars trilogy, helmed by J.J. Abrams, who also directed The Force Awakens.

As well as Ackie, US actress Keri Russell will be new to the cast too, as Zorii Bliss, 'a criminal and old friend of Poe', aka Poe Dameron, Oscar Isaac's maverick X-Wing pilot and resistance commander.

Also starring Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Anthony Daniels, Domhnall Gleeson, Richard E. Grant, Lupita Nyong'o, Joonas Suotamo, Kelly Marie Tran, Ian McDiarmid, and Billy Dee Williams, it lands in the UK on December 19.