'Force Awakens' Cameos Revealed: Michael Giacchino, Daniel Craig, And Radiohead's Nigel Godrich
Before you freak out, the names in the headline is NOT A SPOILER. There is absolutely no way you would spot any of these fellows in the movie unless you had some idea of where to look. They are not surprise appearances, they are fun easter eggs that you wouldn't know unless someone told you about them. Knowing where to find them can only enhance you're viewing, not detract. That said, while the names are not spoilers, pointing out where they appear requires me to spoil plot points, so don't read this post unless you've seen the movie.
Composer Michael Giacchino, James Bond series star Daniel Craig, and Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich all appear in Star Wars: The Force Awakens in cameo roles. Did you see them in the film? Find out about the Force Awakens cameos now after the jump.
Again Warning: Spoilers from the movie are after the jump.
Daniel Craig Force Awakens Cameo
While Star Wars: The Force Awakens was filming at Pinewood, it took up every stage on the studio lot but one: the Bond stage. And while filming was underway next door to the Spectre set (also on the Pinewood lot), we heard rumors that Daniel Craig was to have a secret cameo in the film — and thanks to Simon Pegg's slip-up, had some idea of where he might appear. But the James Bond series star was quick to deny the rumors, saying:
Why would I ever bother doing something like that? F—ing hell! Pffft. Play an extra in another movie.
As it turns out, Craig does actually appear in the movie in a speaking role, although you probably won't know who he is unless you know where he appears.
Craig appears in the film as a stormtrooper. But which one? After Rey is interrogated by Kylo Ren on Starkiller Base, she tries to convince a Stormtrooper to release her from her restraints and leave her cell door open.
"You will remove these restraints and leave this cell with the door open," Rey tells the stormtrooper, played by Craig.
"I'll tighten those restraints, scavenger scum," Craig's character responds.
You can't tell its Craig's voice but you can hear that it's a British actor. The rest of the performance is hilarious.
Michael Giacchino Force Awakens Cameo
Longtime J.J. Abrams collaborator Michael Giacchino was unable to score Episode VII due to the return of franchise symphonist John Williams, but that doesn't mean he isn't a part of the movie. Giacchino also appears in the film as a stormtrooper, credited as "FN-3181" in the movie. I'm not sure if his number is an inside reference, but some are suggesting that its a jumbled up version of 1138, a reference to George Lucas' science fiction film THX1138. Giacchino's stormtrooper is the one who throws Poe Dameron down in front of Kylo Ren on Starkiller base.
Giacchino has a history of making cameo appearances in films (but usually ones he is involved in musically). He recently appeared in Brad Bird's Tomorrowland as an operator on the Small World attraction at the New York World's Fair (screenshot above). He appeared in Abrams' Super 8 as Deputy Crawford. And he provided an uncredited voice appearance as a reporter in Bird's Pixar animated feature Ratatouille.
Nigel Godrich Force Awakens Cameo
And finally, English producer and unofficial sixth Radiohead member Nigel Godrich has a cameo in the film. Guess what kind of character he plays? Yup, a stormtrooper. Goodrich is credited as stormtrooper FN-9330 in the credits, however we don't know which stormtrooper he plays.