The Last Jedi Cast Answer the Web's Most Searched Questions | WIRED
The cast of *Star Wars: The Last Jedi* — Mark Hamill, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Laura Dern, and Kelly Marie Tran — answer autocomplete questions googled about them and their characters. Lighthearted and candid, the segment covers Star Wars lore, character backstories, and personal trivia. ---
Key Concepts
| Concept | Definition |
|---|---|
| Autocomplete interview format | Cast answers real Google autocomplete/search questions about themselves and their characters |
| Star Wars lore clarifications | Several in-universe questions about Jedi rules and character motivations are addressed by the actors themselves |
Notes
Jedi Lore Q&A
- Do Jedi get paid? — No
- Do Jedi build their own lightsabers? — Yes; Mark Hamill notes a deleted scene from *Return of the Jedi* showed Luke building his
- Do you have to be a Jedi to use a lightsaber? — Cast consensus: no
- Do Jedi have to be celibate? — Implied yes (Hamill jokes about lacking a girlfriend)
- Do Jedi choose their lightsaber colors? — Samuel L. Jackson wanted purple and got it "because he's Samuel L. Jackson"
- Do Jedi use Force choke? — Hamill says no; considers it a Darth Vader-specific move, though acknowledges expanded universe may contradict this
- Do Jedi disappear when they die? — Yes; they return to the Force
- Do Jedi eat? — Yes, absolutely
Luke Skywalker Questions
- Why is Luke hiding? — "Because he can"
- Why does Luke want the Jedi to end? — Deferred: "You'll have to wait for that"
- Why is Luke the most powerful Jedi? — Hamill jokes: "Process of elimination — who's left?"
- Why did Luke go into hiding? — He chose Ben Solo as the chosen one; Ben turned out tragically wrong; Luke carries immense guilt
- Lightsaber color change (blue to green)? — Blue was Obi-Wan's, lost during the amputation scene; green is Luke's own
- Is Luke Skywalker a badass? — Hamill: "I think you might think that, but I don't think he thinks that of himself"
Rey Questions
- Why did Rey beat Kylo Ren? — Ridley: "She's super strong and he's weak"
- How does Rey have the Force? — "Everyone has the Force, even Hux"
- Does Rey understand BB-8? — "She's vastly intelligent"
- How does Rey do her hair? — "Wonderful hair and makeup artists"
Finn / John Boyega Questions
- Why does John Boyega have an American accent? — Auditioned with his natural accent; it didn't work; American accent fit the role
- Why does Finn have a lightsaber? — Boyega jokes he asks himself that every day; personally owns about nine
- Was Finn spelled wrong? — Not addressed directly; deflected
- Could Finn be a Jedi? — Left open
- Pre-release confusion: many assumed Boyega was playing Luke's son due to resemblance; he compares himself to Cate Blanchett instead
General Hux Questions
- Is General Hux Force-sensitive? — Initially thought no; revised to "everyone has that ability, some are more in tune with it"
- Is General Hux still alive? — Not confirmed on camera
- First name? — Armitage (revealed in novelization/books; Hamill notes the actor wasn't told directly)
- Does Hux have siblings? — Implied possible connection to legacy characters by the cast
Laura Dern Questions
- Role in *Star Wars*? — Admiral Holdo
- Role in *Jurassic Park*? — Dr. Ellie Sattler, a botanist
- Does she play the flute? — She claimed to on *The Ellen Show*; admits it was a ruse to give away audience gifts
- Oscar? — Not won; nominated for *Rambling Rose*
- Where did she go to school? — Los Angeles, school name withheld ("the school that must not be named")
Kelly Marie Tran Questions
- Who is she? — Herself; new to the franchise
- Age? — 28
- Is she Vietnamese? — Yes
- Who is Rose Tico? — A maintenance worker in the Resistance, usually in the background; meets Finn and her life becomes dramatically more interesting
Actionable Takeaways
- If writing Star Wars fan content, note the cast's own interpretations of lore (e.g., Force choke as Sith-specific, everyone having Force potential)
- Character backstory for Rose Tico: background Resistance worker thrust into the forefront upon meeting Finn — useful context for *The Last Jedi* viewing
Quotes Worth Keeping
He chose Ben Solo as the chosen one, and he turned out to be tragically wrong. A lot of guilt.
She's super strong and he's like so weak — she kicked his ass, that's how.
I want a purple one and he got one, 'cause he's Samuel L. Jackson.
Process of elimination — who's left?