With each passing day, we’re a little bit closer to the release of Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker, the ninth and final film in the Skywalker saga. December feels so far away, yet it’s right around the corner–and with it comes the end of an episodic series some of us have been following since 1977. The film will be a goodbye (for now) to old favorites like Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa, as well as the galaxy’s new cast of heroes and villains: Rey, Finn, Poe, Kylo Ren, BB-8, and, General Hux.
Poor Hux isn’t usually at the top of people’s “favorite characters” list, a fact that the actor who plays him–Domhnall Gleeson–is aware of and finds relieving. During a recent appearance on The Late Late Show With James Corden, Gleeson talked about his moody First Order character. “I kind of feel like I get the best version of it because I’m not front and center so I feel like my life can be a little bit more ordinary as a result,” he explained, comparing his sulky, ginger bad guy to characters like Rey and Finn.
But just because he plays a second-tier villain in Star Wars doesn’t mean Gleeson isn’t capable of having a little fun with his character. In this clip, he tells the story of how he sang a child “Happy Birthday” while he was in character as General Hux–and even performs a bit of the song for the audience.
We can’t wait to see if this performance sneaks its way into The Rise of Skywalker–maybe Hux sings it to Kylo at some point?–when the film opens on December 20, 2019.
Images: Disney/Lucasfilm, The Late Late Show With James Corden