Adam Driver – one of the newest members of that galaxy far, far away – recently took time out to talk with Entertainment Weekly about what it’s like working on Star Wars Episode VII. While he’s not able to confirm anything at this time, it’s presumed that Driver is playing the Big Bad in the latest installment of the Saga. About the only thing he would confirm about Episode VII is that “it’s happening.” (Thanks, Adam! 😉 )

Here are some highlights from the interview:

Working on Star Wars has been “surreal”:

“I feel like that even with this cast. You start by try to stamp [that feeling] down as much as possible, just focus on what it is that you are there to do… Easier said than done.”

He hasn’t been specifically instructed on what to say, or not say, regarding Episode VII:

“There was never a time where someone sat me down and was like, “People are going to do this or say this or ask this.” They never had that conversation with me. Instead, they kind of trusted that I wouldn’t say anything. I’m one of those crazy people, if I’m watching the trailer for a movie and I’m really excited by it, I’ll turn it off because I don’t want to know anything. I want to be surprised because I love that more than knowing anything. I don’t think they felt the need to tell me [to stay quiet].”

The themes of Star Wars are universal, and that’s why the films have lasted.

“The thing about Star Wars that’s so good—sure there’s this huge [canvas]. It’s space, it’s a long time ago in a galaxy far away. That’s set up immediately. But in the midst of all those things, what has made those movies last so long is that they’re all grounded, which is something that is not so far off from every movie with huge universal themes of siblings and parents and betrayal and trust. That’s so generic and obvious, but it’s hard to balance those things.

When you break all of those things down, really it’s just because someone wasn’t loved enough or felt betrayed. That’s what makes those movies so universal. I think they can get in your mind in big and sweeping ways.

I always think back to the original movies and to those quieter moments where Luke is out in A New Hope, and there are the two suns setting, and it’s just such a quiet moment. It is the equivalent, basically, of a farm boy dying to get out of his small town and do something bigger. It’s those kinds of universal themes that ground this whole thing in space.”

No one on set is taking a casual attitude toward Episode VII:

“How great is that to get to work on something that has so much humanity in the midst of it? I feel like that’s everyone’s goal, to balance those two. Again, surreal seems to be the word of this interview. It’s exciting to get that to be part of your life. Now you have to contribute something to it—and that’s not something you, personally, or anyone on set takes lightly. I feel like everybody wants to make it good.”

He also adds that he has not seen George Lucas around the set, so he couldn’t really speak to the extent of his possible influence (if any) on the film.

Stars Wars Episode VII is scheduled for release on December 18, 2015.

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