Kevin Smith

Kevin Smith, an iconic figure in American media, is known for his work as a filmmaker, podcaster, and all-around media personality. He lent his voice to the "Additional Voices" in The Force Awakens and made a cameo appearance as an extra in the background of The Rise of Skywalker. J.J. Abrams was the one who invited Smith to both of those film sets. Smith also took on the role of host for a TV special dedicated to the Star Wars fan film awards in 2002, was featured in the documentary Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed, gave a presentation at Celebration VI, and made appearances on The Star Wars Show.

Smith's early directorial efforts gained recognition for their frequent allusions to Star Wars, culminating in appearances by Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back from 2001. He also had Star Wars–related cameos in Live Free or Die Hard (2007), Fanboys (2009), and the fan films Starwoids (2001), Hughes the Force (2011), and The Return of Return of the Jedi (2013). In addition, Smith participated in a roundtable discussion alongside Mark Hamill and J.J. Abrams in a Jon Favreau-hosted episode of Dinner for Five that aired in 2005. During the DVD commentary for Attack of the Clones, George Lucas suggests that the Geonosians are the solution to a reference found in Clerks (1994) (Smith's initial and most celebrated movie, which features a scene where two characters contemplate the fate of the contractors responsible for constructing the second Death Star).