A familiar face rejoins the cast of Star Wars: Episode IX while the sequel is currently in the midst of principal photography in London.Lifelong friend and longtime collaborator of filmmaker JJ Abrams, Greg Grunberg, has officially joined the cast of the upcoming sequel reprising his role as Resistance pilot Snap Wexley. The casting news was revealed by entertainment news outlet Discussing Film earlier today.RELATED: Star Wars: Episode IX Casts Doctor Who’s Matt Smith

Grunberg has worked professionally with Abrams since appearing in a bit part in the 1996 film The Pallbearer which Abrams produced. Since then, Abrams has continued working with Abrams on virtually all of the filmmaker's projects, including joining the main cast of the Abrams-created television series Felicity and Alias, having a small supporting role in Abrams' directorial debut in 2007's Mission: Impossible III, and providing the voice of James T. Kirk's stepfather in the 2009 Star Trek reboot.

2015's Star Wars: The Force Awakens featured Grunberg as Temmin "Snap" Wexley, leader of the Resistance's Blue Squadron. After his big screen debut, Snap's backstory has since been expanded in the pages of the comic book series Star Wars: Poe Dameron, written by Charles Soule and featuring Snap's activities leading up to The Force Awakens along with his whereabouts during The Last Jedi -- including his marriage to fellow Resistance pilot Kare Kun.

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While it's unclear how big of a role Snap will play in the upcoming Star Wars film, his return is certainly a welcome one.

Directed and co-written by JJ Abrams, Star Wars: Episode IX stars Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran, Joonas Suotamo, Billie Lourd, Anthony Daniels, Mark Hamill, Billy Dee Williams, and Carrie Fisher, with Naomi Ackie and Richard E. Grant. It is scheduled to open on December 20, 2019.