Casting The New Star Wars Trilogy: Four Actors To Consider

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While talking to some friends recently about the new Disney-produced Star Wars trilogy, we got into speculating about which characters would be featured in Episodes VII-IX. The conversation soon turned from characters to actors, and that’s when things got really interesting. Strong opinions formed over this question: Which actors would be a fit for the new Star Wars universe? 

Regardless of which characters will be featured in the new movies, these are four actors I would cast in the next Star Wars trilogy. 

I’ve got a good feeling about this (so much so that I sketched out some concept art.)

Yvonne Strahovski 

(CHUCK, Dexter)

Why She Should Be Considered:

Fans of the cult NBC show CHUCK already know this (and Dexter fans are just discovering this), but Yvonne Strahovski is the total package. She can act, she can fight, and looks amazing doing both on camera. Plus, she even looks like she could be a member of the Skywalker clan. (Sarah ‘Sky’Walker?) 

One of the best things about Strahovski’s acting is her ability to convey loads of emotion with subtlety. She enhances the material she's given and elevates it to a level where her characters grip the audience's attention on an emotional level. Recently Strahovski's been capturing the attention of Broadway theatre goers in The Golden Boy, to stellar reviews.

Casting Strahovski as a lead Jedi in the new trilogy would give any director a versatile actress to use in those climactic scenes that need to be about more than just the physical action on the screen. Just imagine Strahovski fighting a Darth Vader-type Jedi in an emotionally-intense lightsaber duel for the fate of her soul and the galaxy. 

If you know what Strahovski's capable of, you would definitely want to see THAT!

Jeffrey Donovan 

(Burn Notice)

Why He Should Be Considered:

One thing the Star Wars prequels didn’t have was a cynical Han Solo-type character to add a little roguish comic relief while fighting the bad guys. Han Solo is fun and adventurous...and so is Michael Westen. 

That’s why Jeffrey Donovan could totally pull off the role of a wise-cracking, thrill-seeking scoundrel. Like Strahovski, Donovan can mix drama, comedy and action in the same role quite well. (One doesn’t headline a TV show that lasts 6 seasons and counting if one couldn’t do that.) 

Give Donovan a clever sidekick, some good material to work with, and some wicked action sequences that take advantage of his real-life fighting skills and Star Wars would have a new hero character that could legitimately rival Han Solo himself. 

Bailee Madison 

(Just Go With It, Parental Guidance, Once Upon A Time, Wizards of Waverly Place)

Why She Should Be Considered:

Imagine if Anakin Skywalker were a girl and cast with a very strong actress choosing which side of The Force to be on for three films. That’s what Star Wars would get with Bailee Madison. 

This girl is an undeniable young rising talent in Hollywood. Seriously, have you seen her? She pretty much steals the show in everything she’s in because of her captivating screen presence. Madison’s impressive film and TV credits prove she has a wide acting range that shows she can emotionally deliver anything a role asks of her. 

If Madison were cast in the role of a young prodigy of The Force, that would make for a very compelling character. It would also be interesting to see a character actress like Madison transform a character like this over the span of a trilogy as she ages from young teenager to adulthood. 

Arguably I may be a bit biased on this one having worked with Madison on my animated short Monica. However, the thought of Madison being some powerful Jedi prodigy fighting the lure of the Dark Side could be fun to watch. After all, we’ve never seen what happens in the Star Wars universe when good girls go bad and redeem themselves. 

Giancarlo Esposito 

(Breaking Bad, Revolution, Once Upon A Time)

Why He Should Be Considered:

If you’ve ever watched Giancarlo Esposito’s excellent work on Breaking Bad then the thought of Gus Fring wreaking havoc in a galaxy far, far away should be very, very intriguing. Esposito is an amazing veteran actor who played one of the most iconic villains in TV history. Some would say that this type of role would typecast Esposito for the rest of his career as a villain. But the reality is that he’s a talented enough actor to escape typecasting. Pair Esposito with great material as an antagonist in the new Star Wars trilogy and he could create an interesting villain for the good guys to fight. 

What made Esposito’s role as Gus Fring memorable was how he played him; Gus was extremely kind and likable despite his sinister actions. That type of nuance could make any villain Esposito plays in Star Wars (whether it be a military commander or a Sith Lord) fascinating to watch, as all great villains should be.

Imagine Esposito using his commanding presence to give out chilling ultimatums to enemies.  Imagine him carry out absolute ruthlessness with intergalactic super weapons...and a kind smile. And imagine him doing that all for a good cause more identifiable to the audience than, say, intergalactic trade routes? 

It’s always fun to speculate. I’m sure there are a bunch of other actors who could fit in just as well as these four into the Star Wars universe. Whether or not they get roles in the next trilogy, one thing is certain-- The success of these four performers proves The Force is strong with them already. 

May The Force Be With You,

--Rob