TV host Jimmy Kimmel has called the new Star Wars movie the “most anticipated sequel I think since the New Testament”, adding that “Americans know more about Star Wars than we do actual wars.”

He made the comments during as he hosted a special Star Wars: The Force Awakens show on Monday.

The host was joined on his sofa by the upcoming film’s main cast – Carrie Fisher, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega and Adam Driver – as well as director J.J. Abrams as they revealed how they found out they’d got their roles.

While Daisy discovered she’d been cast as Rey while watching a production of Oedipus Rex and had to keep the secret quiet from her date, Adam revealed he was on the last day of filming for the second season of Girls.

His plan, however, to keep the news from his wife for a while was scuppered by director J.J. who looked abashed as Adam admitted, “I hadn’t told my wife and J.J. spoiled it, he assumed I’d told her everything but I didn’t tell her.”

But it was John’s answer that had the audience in stitches.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens
John Boyega as Finn (Film Frame/Lucasfilm 2014)

The actor, who plays Finn in the new movie, joked, “I was in basement somewhere waiting for 7 months to try and hear if I got the part or not and JJ released me from captivity.”

The actor went straight home to tell his dad he’d been cast in the world’s most famous franchise, but the news didn’t go down quite as expected.

“The most interesting thing was telling my dad. I went home and I was like, “Dad, I’ve just been cast in Star Wars,’ and he was like, ‘Oh my god, you are in Star Wars! That is fantastic, I knew it…What is Star Wars?’” he revealed.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) and Hans Solo (Harrison Ford) (Film Frame/Lucasfilm 2015)

J.J. talked to Jimmy about his “relief” at the film finally being finished.

“We have a couple more colour corrections, but we’re done. I can’t tell you the relief I feel,” he said.

Harrison Ford wasn’t on the sofa but he still got in on the action, taking part in a sketch for Jimmy that saw him talk a suicidal Chewbacca down from jumping off a ledge after reminiscing about playing Connect 4 and getting manicures with the Wookiee.

The film is out in the UK on December 17.