With the jetstream of the second teaser trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awkens still ruffling the Wookiee fur, the recent Vanity Fair articles proved to be a treasure trove of new information for the much awaited Episode VII.

Subsequent articles have been a little more cavalier with their spoilers and today’s new information, the identity of Andy Serkis’ character, is little more than a footnote in this article from StarWars.com.

andy serkis star wars

Here we see the previously unpublished photograph by Annie Leibovitz, which confirms the rumours that Serkis will be playing, like Lupita Nyong’o, a character which is a completely CG mo-capped entity, The name in the article, the first time the rumoured big bad of the next trilogy of films has been identified, is Supreme Leader Snoke.

This, like much of the new trilogy, strays away from the jettisoned Expanded Universe and thus we have to wait for more details to emerge to see how he plays into the bigger picture. Those wearing the rumour trousers are quick to place Snoke above Adam Driver’s Kylo Ren, and claim that he is the overseer of the menace our old (and new) friends will be facing.

Certainly the name is instantly reminiscent of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, and Serkis looks very angry in that photo above. Of course he could be playing an Ewok, who knows?

His was the first voice we heard from the new trilogy, way back in November, and now we have a name. Hopefully the next trailer will give us a look at the character.

Bonus: We spoke to Serkis recently about his role in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.