Watch this space: Oscar Isaacs readies for rise to fame in Star Wars

Rising star Oscar Isaac is already known for movies like the Coen brothers’ quirky hit “Inside Llewyn Davis” – but he is set to soar into the Hollywood stratosphere 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.” The script 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.”

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.

Oscar Isaac

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,” the 35-year-old actor said. Isaac welcomes the fact that he is already able, in part thanks to “Star Wars,” to work with directors he likes and above all to “choose different roles”. 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.