'Rogue One:' Riz Ahmed Rapped in Freestyle Battles Long Before 'Star Wars' Battles

— -- As "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" hits theaters, actor Riz Ahmed said it's "pretty surreal" to be a part of the franchise.

"Obviously I grew up kind of watching these movies," the 34-year-old British-born actor said in an interview that aired today on "Good Morning America."

Ahmed described his character, Bodhi Rook, who works for the Empire and develops a conscious understanding of how to shape his role within it.

"He goes through this kind of realization where he kind of thinks, 'Just because I'm an Average Joe, doesn't mean I can't make a difference,' Ahmed told "GMA."

Ahmed wouldn't divulge secrets about the film in the "GMA" interview, but revealed that he can lay down some serious wordplay. The actor is also a rapper and started his own band called "The Sweatshop Boys."

"My background back in the day was in kind of freestyle rap battles, people kind of make fun of you," he said, adding that his band's new album is, "kind of about identity, about not fitting in."

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