John Boyega hints again at possible cameos by Princes William and Harry in 'Jedi'

LOS ANGELES (Variety.com) - John Boyega has hinted again that heirs to the British throne Prince William and Prince Harry and actor Tom Hardy have cameos in "Star Wars: The Last Jedi."

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's "Today" program Friday morning to promote Kathryn Bigelow's "Detroit," Boyega was asked about the rumors he fueled when last on the show - that the two royals had secret cameos in "The Last Jedi" as stormtroopers - and whether the princes had lines.

"I think they took that scene out," Boyega said jokingly, then added: "I've had enough with those Prince William secrets, man. They came on set; they were there, man. Tom Hardy was there, too - I said it. I'm sick of hiding this."

Image: Getty

The actor, who plays former stormtrooper Finn in the sequel trilogy, said questions had dogged him ever since the rumors first began circulating in April 2016, when William and Harry visited the "Jedi" set (pictured). "Every time I get asked I don't know how to dodge it," Boyega said Friday. "Yeah, they were on set."

British tabloid The Daily Mail originally reported the rumors after the princes were photographed on the "Jedi" set at Pinewood interacting with the cast and crew and enjoying a mock light-saber battle together. The newspaper quoted a source claiming the princes would appear in non-speaking roles in a scene with Finn, Daisy Ridley's Rey and Benicio Del Toro's new character, DJ.

In May of last year, the website Making Star Wars reported that Hardy would also appear as a stormtrooper in the film and that his role would be a speaking part. It said Hardy would appear alongside Boyega, playing a stormtrooper who had trained with Finn years before.

On the radio program Friday, Boyega stopped short of stating that the two princes and Hardy were definitely in the movie, or had even filmed cameos, saying only that they had all been "on set." But his comments have been construed by some as confirmation. Merely confirming the princes' presence on set would not have been a big "secret" Boyega felt he had to "dodge" given that official images of the set visit were released at the time.

It would not be the first time that a famous face hid itself behind a mask in a secret cameo in the franchise, with Daniel Craig delivering a brief line as a stormtrooper in "Star Wars: The Force Awakens."