The Force was strong for a few Star Wars fans who asked director J.J. Abrams about diversity casting in upcoming installments of the beloved space opera.
The exchange took place at a large discussion panel at San Diego Comic Con, a massive pop culture and comic book convention that draws tens of thousands fans and entertainment aficionados over five days.
The two Star Wars fans had on matching t-shirts depicting R2-D2.
“This question is for J.J. What we really liked about your Star Trek films is the diversity of the cast,” said one fan, who identified himself as Ryan.
“We would like to know do you plan on having any Asian characters join the cast in any of the upcoming Star Wars films?” the other fan, who said her name was Corrine, asked to rousing applause from the audience.
In video clips online of the exchange, Abrams opened his reply with a populist, “Go Asians!” before getting into more detail.
“I’m not casting the movies that are coming up but if I was I would cast them as only Asian,” Abrams continued, to laughter from the crowd. "I think you’ll see there are Asians in this film."
Abrams said characters in the films, such as Finn, played by black British actor John Boyega, or Rey, played by white British actor Daisy Ridley, weren’t written to be “any color”.
"We wanted the movie to look the way the world looks, and I think it is important that people see themselves represented in film,” Abrams said.
Related: Action Star Donnie Yen Rumored to Join 'Star Wars' Cast
Abram’s Star Wars already has received some praise for its diverse roster, which includes Academy Award-winner Lupita Nyong’o, and actress Christina Chong in a minor role. There have been a handful of Asian characters in the Star Wars saga, but a scant few with speaking lines.
'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' is slated to be released December 2015.
