| CNN | - |
(CNN)
-- With "Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens," it's John
Boyega's time to shine. Yes, the cast for the upcoming "Episode VII" is
huge and packed with big-name stars, including franchise veterans
Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher.
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Get to know 'Star Wars' star John Boyega
updated 5:10 PM EST, Fri November 28, 2014
The cast of "Star Wars: Episode
VII" -- or should we say "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," now that the
official title has been released -- unites well-known names with some
up-and-coming actors. At least one cast member, Daisy Ridley, is so new
she has just a few acting credits to her name. You can see her in the
back right of this cast photo, wearing a necklace and talking to "Star
Wars" veteran Carrie Fisher. Here's who she'll star with.
HIDE CAPTION
Meet the cast of 'Star Wars: Episode VII'
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- John Boyega is the first person seen in new "Star Wars" trailer
- The actor is best known for the movie "Attack the Block"
- Here's what else you should know about him
Yes, the cast for the
upcoming "Episode VII" is huge and packed with big-name stars, including
franchise veterans Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher.
But in the new teaser for
"The Force Awakens," which nearly broke the Internet when it was
released Friday, it's Boyega who's featured.
In the first 25 seconds, a
chilling voice announces that "there's been awakening." And then, in a
great bit of editing, we see Boyega pop up on screen, startled, sweaty
and in a Stormtrooper suit.
What does that mean? Only
time and/or director J.J. Abrams will tell. We still don't know exactly
who Boyega is playing in "The Force Awakens," but clearly he's integral
to the story if he's opening the biggest trailer of the year.
As we countdown to
Boyega's appearance alongside Daisy Ridley, Oscar Isaac and more in "The
Force Awakens," here's what you should know about the actor:
1. He hails from London.
Boyega, 22, is making his fellow Londoners proud.
The young actor was born
to Nigerian parents in Peckham, London, and studied performing arts at
South Thames College. From there, he trained at The Identity School of Acting and took to the stage at London venues like the National Theatre and the Tricycle Theatre.
2. You know him best from "Attack the Block."
For those who've seen
2011's sleeper hit "Attack the Block," Boyega is a huge selling point
for "The Force Awakens." The premise for "Attack" is kind of crazytown,
as it follows a group of streetwise kids who battle aliens that descend
upon South London.
But Boyega completely
owns the role of Moses in the film, turning "Attack" into a must-see.
Even more impressive, "Attack" was Boyega's first feature film role.
As Vanity Fair
has explained, if "it's a lightsaber-swinging Jedi we want, then Boyega
is simply the man for the job. For his credentials, you need only look
at his most prominent film to-date, the cult sci-fi hit, 'Attack The
Block.' "
3. His first role was as a leopard in a school play.
Boyega has harbored aspirations to act since he was very young and recalled to Interview magazine in 2011 that it was an elementary school play that turned him on to the art form.
"I went on all fours,
and I was playing this leopard, and I gave him character breakdown, and I
was doing the work and doing the research and creating a character," he
said. "That is the greatest feeling ever. When you're young and you're
like, 'Oh, this is quite cool, and I really, really want to do this.' "
4. He's a Marvel fan.
Boyega revealed he's a Marvel fanboy this year, right before Comic-Con 2014.
With rumors running hot
that the studio was about to unveil a Black Panther movie at the annual
comics-centric event, Boyega stoked the flames with tweets that he was
"aiming" for the role.
"Marvel role? ... damn right aiming for it," Boyega tweeted in July. "Currently booking flight to Wakanda."
Marvel's Black Panther was one of the first black superheroes in mainstream comic books, and Wakanda was his home.
Although the role wound up going to Chadwick Boseman, that wasn't for Boyega's lack of effort.
5. He's a must-follow on Instagram.
You'll notice that it's now much harder to find Boyega on Twitter -- and there are some theories as to why -- but his Instagram feed
is not only a glimpse behind-the-scenes of "The Force Awakens" but also
into the actor's personal life. One of our favorite snapshots is with
his co-star Daisy Ridley:
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