The casting announcement for Star Wars: Episode IX saw it announced that Richard E. Grant had joined the cast, with many fans speculating he is playing Grand Admiral Thrawn from the Rebels animated series.

However, it's learned the actor is not playing the character.

"I’m not playing the Star Wars character you just mentioned," Richard E. Grant confirmed to Radio Times. "I’m not allowed to tell you anything. Otherwise I would be fired. It’s a complete lockdown on any information whatsoever."

Richard E. Grant is known for playing villain roles in Logan and Doctor Who, so the current best guess is that he is playing a bad guy in Star Wars: Episode IX. It is possible he could be playing some sort of commander for the First Order.

It could also be very well possible that with Snoke seemingly dead, Grant could be playing some sort of Sith in Star Wars: Episode IX?

Star Wars: Episode IX

With Star Wars: Episode IX now filming, we'll have to keep an eye out on any rumors or leaked set photos that may reveal just who Richard E. Grant is playing.

Thrawn was first introduced in the 1991 Timothy Zahn novel Heir to the Empire, and then made canon in Star Wars Rebels, and was also recently featured in the 2017 Zahn novel, Thrawn.

Maybe it's possible another actor is playing Thrawn?

Star Wars: Episode IX has a December 2019 release also starring Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran, Joonas Suotamo, and Billie Lourd. Joining the cast of Episode IX are Naomi Ackie and Richard E. Grant, who will be joined by veteran Star Wars actors Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, and Billy Dee Williams, who will reprise his role as Lando Calrissian, with Carrie Fisher returning using unused footage from the previous movies.