Andy Serkis' mysterious character for "Star Wars: The Force Awakens' has finally been announced as the 'Supreme Leader Snoke'.
The actor, who had been nominated for a Golden Globe for his performance as supporting actor in "Longford', was photographed in full motion capture gear with which the photo was released by Lucasfilm.
However, details about his character remain unknown; because Serkis looked extremely serious in the image, it has been speculated that he might be playing a villainous role.
Last year, Serkis already revealed that Snoke was responsible for the voiceover in the film's first teaser trailer.
"There has been an awakening," he says. "Have you felt it? The dark side and the light."
Looking at the actor's motion capture gear for "Star Wars: The Force Awakens', this may bring to light some of Serkis' past achievements in bringing Gollum to life in "Lord of the Rings' as well as Caesar in "The Planet of the Apes', making him known as the "godfather of motion capture.'
The 51-year-old actor has also been set to appear as Baloo the bear in the upcoming "Jungle Book: Origins', which also marks his directorial debut.
Earlier this month, new character photos were unveiled by Annie Leibovitz as part of a cover feature for Vanity Fair. It showed the original cast members Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew and Kenny Baker together with a group of new stars.
These include John Boyega (Finn), Daisy Ridley (Rey), Adam Driver (Kylo Ren), Oscar Isaac (Poe Dameron), Lupita Nyong'o (pirate Max Kanata) and Gwendoline Christie (Captain Phasma).
A second teaser trailer for "Star Wars: The Force Awakens', with which the full-length clip is set to be unveiled this December, offered fans with a quick look at the return of Han Solo, played by Harrison Ford, as well as his Wookiee sidekick Chewbacca.
The duo can be seen stepping into the Millennium Falcon as Han announces: "Chewie, we're home."
George Lucas, father of "Star Wars' films, previously revealed that he has not yet watched the latest teaser for "The Force Awakens.'
In an interview with Stephen Colbert at the Tribeca Film Festival, the legendary director and screenwriter said he preferred to wait instead.
"I have seen the first one," Lucas said, referring to the first trailer unveiled last November. "I just saw what was on CBS but I'm going to try to look at it. I want to see it on the big screen."
