GETTY/DISNEY Tom Hardy is set to appear in Star Wars: Episode VIII

Alongside the likes of Tom Hiddleston, Damien Lewis and Idris Elba, Hardy is highly-tipped to portray Ian Fleming’s 007. But before that, the Mad Max star is heading off to a galaxy far, far away. And you won’t believe what he’s getting up to once he gets there… Breaking news from the Star Wars set, which is currently filming in Ireland, has revealed that handsy Hardy will be getting a bit too overfamiliar with John Boyega’s bottom.

WARNER Tom Hardy won critical praise last year for Mad Max: Fury Road

The latest news is that Tom Hardy will be playing a First Order stormtrooper in the currently untitled Star Wars: Episode VIII, which comes out Christmas 2017. Hardy’s cameo will involve recognising John Boyega’s Finn as stormtrooper FN-2187, from before his mutiny against the Dark Side in The Force Awakens. Finn, will get quite the surprise as Hardy slaps him on the behind, completely unaware that he’s been spotted. Thinking’s he been captured, Finn actually finds Hardy’s stormtrooper just remembers him from the First Order’s training days, and wants to catch up with his old friend. Hardy then congratulates Finn on his apparent promotion as a Resistance Infiltrator, when actually he’s on their side.

Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi filming in Ireland Fri, May 13, 2016 Filming for the new Star Wars movie has started in Ireland. Play slideshow 1 of 19

DISNEY Daniel Craig cameoed as a stormtrooper in The Force Awakens

Similarly to Hardy, Daniel Craig made fans go crazy when director JJ Abrams confirmed his cameo, in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Craig had a small speaking part as a stormtrooper guarding Daisy Ridley’s Rey in last year’s Episode VII. In the scene, Rey manages to hypnotise Craig’s First Order minion, using the Force to escape his clutches.

DISNEY Filming is already over half way through on Episode VIII, with this being once of the first shots