Tom Hardy’s Secret Star Wars Cameo and His Dream Return

Tom Hardy’s career has been anything but predictable. He burst onto the scene with a bang, landing his first big-screen gig in Ridley Scott’s Black Hawk Down, and made his TV debut the same year in the acclaimed mini-series Band of Brothers. But after a few flops, Hardy’s name slipped out of the spotlight, and for a while, it looked like he might be another case of early promise fizzling out. Then, in the early 2010s, a string of standout performances put him right back in the thick of things. These days, he’s a bona fide blockbuster regular, with a reputation that’s hard to shake in Hollywood circles.

It’s been a bumpy ride, but Hardy’s managed to carve out a spot at the top. His popularity has seen him pop up in some of the biggest franchises going. He took over from Mel Gibson in Mad Max: Fury Road, played both sides of the superhero fence as DC’s Bane and Marvel’s Venom, and even had a go in Star Trek: Nemesis—though that one’s probably best left in the past.

Hardy’s Favourite Franchise

In a chat with The Playlist, Hardy opened up about his roles in some of the most recognisable film series around. When asked about his top pick, his answer caught a few off guard.

“I love Star Wars,”

he admitted.

“My favourite character is Han Solo. No, I’d be well up for doing more Star Wars. That was great. I’ve always wanted to be in a Star Wars film. So playing a stormtrooper was fantastic,”

he said, clearly chuffed about the experience.

If you’re scratching your head trying to remember Hardy’s part in the galaxy far, far away, you’re not alone. His cameo is a bit of a deep cut. The British actor filmed a brief appearance as a stormtrooper in the second film of the sequel trilogy, The Last Jedi. In the scene, he unknowingly crosses paths with Finn, played by John Boyega, who’s disguised as an Imperial officer. There’s even a cheeky moment where Hardy’s character gives Finn a slap on the backside—surely a first for the Star Wars universe.

Hidden Cameos and Cut Scenes

Hardy isn’t the only big name to sneak into a minor role in Disney’s Star Wars revival. Daniel Craig played the stormtrooper that Rey first uses her Jedi mind tricks on in The Force Awakens. That film also features blink-and-you’ll-miss-it appearances from music legends Michael Giacchino and Nigel Godrich, as well as director Kevin Smith. The Last Jedi kept the tradition going, with Prince William and Prince Harry both donning stormtrooper helmets for a bit of fun. By the time The Rise of Skywalker rolled around, the number of cameos had gone through the roof, though not everyone’s keen to be reminded of that particular instalment.

Unfortunately for Hardy, his scene didn’t make the final cut for The Last Jedi’s theatrical release. So, technically, his dream of being in a Star Wars film is still up in the air. But with the way the franchise keeps churning out new stories, it’s probably just a matter of time before he gets another shot.