Los Angeles - Rising star Oscar Isaac is already well known from movies like the Coen brothers' quirky hit "Inside Llewyn Davis" -- but he is set to soar into the Hollywood firmament in the new "Star Wars" film.
The Guatemalan actor's name and face will go global with the December 18 release of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," in which he plays Poe Dameron, "the best pilot in the galaxy."
Detailed information about the new trilogy directed by J.J. Abrams is a closely guarded secret. It is only known that Poe is sent on a mission by Princess Leia, and that he will see his "fate changed forever."
While awaiting the media maelstrom, Isaac calmly recalls the moment when J.J. Abrams called him to offer him the once-in-a-lifetime role.
"It was totally surreal, like a dream that you can't explain," the 35-year-old actor told AFP in an interview.
Working with veterans including Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill, his silver screen heroes when he was young, was deeply emotional.
"I would never have been able to imagine, when I was small, that one day I would be with Harrison Ford and Chewbacca. It was difficult because I had to restrain my emotions and control myself to be able to do my work. But it was a real dream to be part of this phenomenon," he added.
Millions of fans around the world are counting the days until the release of the seventh episode in the iconic franchise, which has already made more than $4.5 billion.
Isaac, whose mother is Guatemalan and father is Cuban, prefers to take things calmly, even as pressure and expectations mount ahead of the movie's release.
AFP
