'Star Wars: Episode 7' Release Date, Cast and Trailer: Andy Serkis Plays Several Roles in 'The Force Awakens'?

Now that Andy Serkis has been revealed as the ominous voice behind the first trailer of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," there are some rumors that the British actor is playing more than one character in the popular sci-fi movie franchise.

Screenrant reports that Serkis, best known for his motion-capture acting, is rumored to be portraying a CGI alien on "The Force Awakens." Serkis was the actor behind Gollum on "Lord of the Rings," Peter Jackson's King Kong, and Caesar, the Ape on "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes."

According to a report from Jedi News, "One of those roles is, as expected, motion capture based - and in that role he will be part of a 'group of unbelievably athletic and acrobatic motion capture characters'."

"The second role for Serkis sees him take on a 'pivotal role in the first act story arc that entwines with Daisy Ridley's back story,' and that role 'may have more to it than it seems in the first instance'," Jedi News adds.

HitFix also claims that Serkis will play a pivotal role in the upcoming film, although the actor will not have a lot of screen time. Screenrant speculates that John Boyega and Ridley's character might seek help from Serkis' character in order to find the missing Jedi Luke Sykwalker.

Release Date and Cast

"The Force Awakens" is set to be released in theaters on December 18, 2015, according to another report from Screenrant. The movie's plot will most likely revolve around three new protagonists portrayed by Boyega, Ridley, and Oscar Isaac.

Mirror reports that the film will also feature original cast members Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, and Kenny Baker. Other actors in the cast are Adam Driver, Domhnall Gleeson, Max Von Sydow, Gwendoline Christie (of "Game of Thrones"), and "12 Years A Slave" actress and Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o.

The plot is set 30 years after 1983's "Episode 6: Return of the Jedi," which ended with the death of Darth Vader or Anakin Skywalker, the news outlet notes.

"Return of the Jedi" showed Ford's Han Solo finally get together with Fisher's Princess Leia, who was revealed as Luke Skywalker's sister. The storyline of "The Force Awakens" will put the original characters in their 50s, which will go along with the actors' current ages, Mirror adds.

Watch the official trailer for "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" below.