Domhnall Gleeson So Shocked by ‘Last Jedi’ Script He ‘Needed to Talk to’ Rian Johnson

Promotional materials for films often promise that a movie might be “game-changing” for a franchise, but based on descriptions from the cast of The Last Jedi, the sequel seemingly has large ramifications for the world of Star Wars. Domnhall Gleeson, who plays General Hux, claims he was so shaken by the direction of the film, he had to speak with writer/director Rian Johnson to confirm this story would really be the basis for the movie.

“When I read it I needed to talk to him, and I think that’s always a good sign,” Gleeson told Collider. “I was like, ‘Wow there’s some stuff there which is kind of—not scary but different to what I expected,’ and that’s a really, really nice thing. I think that’s a really positive thing, I think that’s important for those films that we don’t repeat ourselves.”

Based on descriptions of these conversations, Johnson wasn’t at all afraid to take the sequel in a shocking direction.

“So I just wanted to talk to him, and when I talked to him he was so clear and so confident, not in a brash way but he knew the film he wanted to make, and it was a really lovely thing,” Gleeson confessed. “Just [to] sit down with a filmmaker you really enjoy… but to see him, just the confidence of it and his excitement about what it could be and everything, it was really pleasing to see. Very calming. And I got really excited about being in it, and it was a really very, very cool experience working with him. I would love to work with him again, I really enjoyed it.”

Gleeson also went on to mention how oblivious he is to the events of Episode IX, which J.J. Abrams will be co-writing and directing.

“Nothing’s revealed about which, if any of us, are in Episode IX or not,” Gleeson admitted. “I think it’s really cool that he’s doing it, and I’m interested to see how he approaches it because he’s a superb filmmaker. And it’s closing out—they’re doing it in trilogies aren’t they?… See that’s really cool, J.J. will do a fantastic job.”

The actor admittedly kept his cards close to his chest, as he would at least be aware whether or not his character survives through The Last Jedi, but doesn’t want to reveal more than he’s supposed to.

We’ll see more of General Hux when The Last Jedi hits theaters on December 15.

[H/T Collider]