The cast of "Star Wars: Episode VII" -- or should we say "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," now that the official title has been released -- unites well-known names with some up-and-coming actors. At least one cast member, Daisy Ridley, is so new she has just a few acting credits to her name. You can see her in the back right of this cast photo, wearing a necklace and talking to "Star Wars" veteran Carrie Fisher. Here's who she'll star with.
(CNN) -- With "Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens," it's John Boyega's time to shine.
Yes, the cast for the upcoming "Episode VII" is huge and packed with big-name stars, including franchise veterans Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher.
But in the new teaser for "The Force Awakens," which nearly broke the Internet when it was released Friday, it's Boyega who's featured.
In the first 25 seconds, a chilling voice announces that "there's been awakening." And then, in a great bit of editing, we see Boyega pop up on screen, startled, sweaty and in a Stormtrooper suit.
What does that mean? Only time and/or director J.J. Abrams will tell. We still don't know exactly who Boyega is playing in "The Force Awakens," but clearly he's integral to the story if he's opening the biggest trailer of the year.
As we countdown to Boyega's appearance alongside Daisy Ridley, Oscar Isaac and more in "The Force Awakens," here's what you should know about the actor:
1. He hails from London.
Boyega, 22, is making his fellow Londoners proud.
John Boyega is best known for the 2011 sci-fi action comedy "Attack the Block," but now he's known as the guy who steals the spotlight in the "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" trailer. Boyega was long rumored to be a top choice for the lead role.
Actors Pip Andersen, left, and Crystal Clarke were picked from an open casting call to join the movie. Andersen is skilled in the training discipline parkour, and "The Force Awakens" will be one of Clarke's first feature films.
The rumors about Academy Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong'o joining the cast turned out to be true. In May, she was announced as the newest actress to join the saga. Nyong'o won the best supporting actress Oscar for her breakthrough role in "12 Years a Slave."
Gwendoline Christie, currently known as Brienne of Tarth on HBO's "Game Of Thrones," has also joined "Star Wars." Next year, she will star in "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2" as Commander Lyme.
Adam Driver is a multifaceted actor who'll presumably get to show more of his range in "The Force Awakens." While he's best known for playing a quirky love interest on "Girls," Driver has also appeared in feature films "J. Edgar," "Lincoln," "Frances Ha" and "Inside Llewyn Davis."
Oscar Isaac had a breakthrough role in 2013 as the cranky singer-songwriter Llewyn Davis in the drama "Inside Llewyn Davis." We can't imagine his work in "The Force Awakens" will require him to sing, but it would be awesome if it did; Isaac has proved he's got a great set of pipes.
Andy Serkis is setting himself up to have a busy few years. The celebrated actor recently appeared in "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes," which will be followed by "The Force Awakens." After that, he's expected to appear in another "Tintin" movie, "The Adventures of Tintin: Prisoners of the Sun."
Does the name Domhnall Gleeson sound familiar? That might be because you remember him as Bill Weasley in the last two movies of the "Harry Potter" franchise. But Gleeson has established himself with a host of other projects, including 2010's "Never Let Me Go" and 2013's "About Time." Suffice to say that if you don't know Gleeson by now, you will after "Star Wars: Episode VII."
When we learned that the latest "Star Wars" installment is supposed to take place 30 years after "Return of the Jedi" and feature a trio of newbies alongside some familiar faces, we were ready to bet the house that Mark Hamill's Luke Skywalker would be one of the recognizable stars. It was an easy guess to make, though; Hamill has long been considered an unspoken done deal.
Carrie Fisher was one of the original "Star Wars" cast members who initially said she was on board the new movie, only for her rep to backtrack and say the actress was kidding. But Abrams' announcement is no joke: The former Princess Leia has returned.
After playing coy with the press for months, Harrison Ford was finally officially announced as part of the "The Force Awakens" cast. The actor is expected to reprise his role of Han Solo.
We can't be the only ones who are supremely relieved to see that Anthony Daniels, the voice of C-3PO, will be back in action.
Obviously, you can't have Daniels' C-3PO without Kenny Baker's R2-D2. Just the thought of splitting up the droids is heartbreaking!
Peter Mayhew is probably somewhere warming up his voice for that famous Chewbacca roar. The actor was rumored to be reprising the character in "The Force Awakens," but it wasn't official until Abrams' announcement.
Max von Sydow is one of the veteran actors joining the upcoming "Star Wars" movie. It isn't clear what the wide-ranging thespian will do in Abrams' picture, but we can rest assured that he'll bring his respected acting chops to the part.
"Star Wars" veteran Warwick Davis is set to return too. He's played multiple roles, but he's best known as Wicket the lead Ewok from "Return of the Jedi," so we suspect he may reprise that role.
Our reactions to the STAR WARS trailer. Londoners, be proud! Your ambassador @JohnBoyega has reached Tatooine! http://t.co/qLl6cQXn5Q
— Time Out Film (@TimeOutFilm) November 28, 2014The young actor was born to Nigerian parents in Peckham, London, and studied performing arts at South Thames College. From there, he trained at The Identity School of Acting and took to the stage at London venues like the National Theatre and the Tricycle Theatre.
2. You know him best from "Attack the Block."
For those who've seen 2011's sleeper hit "Attack the Block," Boyega is a huge selling point for "The Force Awakens." The premise for "Attack" is kind of crazytown, as it follows a group of streetwise kids who battle aliens that descend upon South London.
But Boyega completely owns the role of Moses in the film, turning "Attack" into a must-see. Even more impressive, "Attack" was Boyega's first feature film role.
As Vanity Fair has explained, if "it's a lightsaber-swinging Jedi we want, then Boyega is simply the man for the job. For his credentials, you need only look at his most prominent film to-date, the cult sci-fi hit, 'Attack The Block.' "
3. His first role was as a leopard in a school play.
Boyega has harbored aspirations to act since he was very young and recalled to Interview magazine in 2011 that it was an elementary school play that turned him on to the art form.
"I went on all fours, and I was playing this leopard, and I gave him character breakdown, and I was doing the work and doing the research and creating a character," he said. "That is the greatest feeling ever. When you're young and you're like, 'Oh, this is quite cool, and I really, really want to do this.' "
4. He's a Marvel fan.
Boyega revealed he's a Marvel fanboy this year, right before Comic-Con 2014.
With rumors running hot that the studio was about to unveil a Black Panther movie at the annual comics-centric event, Boyega stoked the flames with tweets that he was "aiming" for the role.
"Marvel role? ... damn right aiming for it," Boyega tweeted in July. "Currently booking flight to Wakanda."
Marvel's Black Panther was one of the first black superheroes in mainstream comic books, and Wakanda was his home.
Although the role wound up going to Chadwick Boseman, that wasn't for Boyega's lack of effort.
5. He's a must-follow on Instagram.
You'll notice that it's now much harder to find Boyega on Twitter -- and there are some theories as to why -- but his Instagram feed is not only a glimpse behind-the-scenes of "The Force Awakens" but also into the actor's personal life. One of our favorite snapshots is with his co-star Daisy Ridley:
.
