J.J. Abrams Confirms ‘Breaking Bad’ Star Jesse Plemons In Talks For ‘Star Wars’

Now that Star Wars is looking to start production pretty soon, we’re getting into a time frame where it seems like every actor will be allegedly attached to the lead role in J.J. Abrams’ new series. However, now we have news from Abrams’ mouth about who is on his short list, or at least the studio’s short list.

A while ago it was reported that Breaking Bad cast member Jesse Plemons was on the list to appear in Star Wars in a lead role. Rumors quickly caught up with the actor about the alleged casting at the Screen Actors Guild Awards. When asked about the rumor Plemons said the rumors that he would appear in Star Wars VII weren’t true: “Yeah, I think it’s just one of those crazy rumors.”

Now we’re hearing that Plemons might have fibbed a bit, or was trying not to jinx himself, or he might have signed NDA’s in his own blood. Even so, director J.J. Abrams confirmed at the Television Critics Association that the script is finished and one of the actors that’s being considered for a role is none other than, you guessed it, Jesse Plemons.

Abrams told reporters at the TCAs:

“We’re working really hard and we’ve got our script and we’re in deep prep. Full steam ahead.”

While talking about Jesse Plemons possibly being in Star Wars, Abrams was cheeky and skirted around the issue for awhile by speaking about the rumors that swirl when he begins a huge production. Of Plemons being in talks for a Star Wars role, Abrams was surprisingly honest even if he didn’t give too much detail away.

“He is one of the actors that we’ve talked to but it’s not often that I read about actors that I’m going to be meeting. “I get to read articles about actors who are going to come in, and so I get to see someone and say, ‘Oh, I read that I was going to see you!'”

In terms of Star Wars’ length, Abrams said of the seventh installment and additional sequels:

“I promise you it will be movie length. I’m just focusing on Episode 7 right now, that’s the focus.”

The last time we heard about casting rumors it was reported that original Star Wars actors would be in the new film, and although Mark Hamill confirmed that there were talks, nothing has been confirmed in terms of actual deals. Hopefully Hamill’s AMA chat will clear that up.