With Star Wars Resistance taking place in the current timeline, it’s not out of the question we could see a live-action Kazuda Xiono, but who should play him?
There does not seem to be much happening in the Star Wars fandom lately aside from the stray Episode IX rumor, and because of this fans have found solace in the weekly Disney show Star Wars Resistance. However, it is not just the lack of Star Wars media that has thrust fans into the arms of the aforementioned animated show.
Star Wars Resistance has proved to be an epic television series that both adults and children alike can enjoy. Along with the newest addition into the Star Wars animated universe comes Kazuda Xiono, the quirky, determined protagonist of Resistance. Kaz embodies what it means to be a young adult who must make a name for himself and strive for his own greatness, and that has caused a lot of fans to associate themselves with him.
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Aside from capturing a younger audience, Kaz has also interacted with some of Star Wars‘ most popular characters. Not only do we get to see him alongside BB-8 every week, but we have also seen him have adventures with the likes of Poe Dameron and General Leia, meaning that this character is respected enough to be associated with the franchise’s best.
While it may be a little strange to suggest that we may see Xiono in a live-action film, we have seen this before with Saw Gerrera. I would not be surprised to see Kaz appear in some of the newer trilogy films, or perhaps even an older version of himself later on. I would like a propose a few actors that I think would do Kazuda justice, and I hope you enjoy!
1. Ryan Potter
NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 05: Actor Ryan Potter speaks onstage at the Titans Panel during the New York Comic Con 2018 at Javits Center on October 5, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images)
Ryan Potter is an actor that has really found his stride in the action genre. He has already worked with Disney in the past with his most famous role as Hiro Hamada in Big Hero 6, and has truly immortalized himself with that character alone. However, he is also currently playing Beast Boy on Titans, and it seems like he has a true knack for playing action heroes.
While Kaz is not the best spy on Star Wars Resistance as of yet, the movie interpretation of him could be drastically different, and Ryan Potter is a ranged enough actor to portray him no matter how he acts. He is in the right age range to play Kaz in a live-action Star Wars film, and I think that he looks uncannily similar to the animated Kazuda Xiono.
2. Christopher Sean
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 08: Christopher Sean attends the Unforgettable Gala 2018 at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on December 08, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images)
The average person may not recognize Christopher Sean, but that is because his talents can be found behind a microphone. Sean is the voice actor for Kazuda Xiono on Star Wars Resistance, and he actually looks extremely similar to the character.
Obviously he is older than Kaz as he is depicted on Resistance, but that can be easily remedied if we see Xiono later on in his life. I would love to see how much Kaz evolves after the Star Wars Resistance story, and I think that Christopher Sean is an obvious choice to do just that.
3. Osric Chau
MADRID, SPAIN – JULY 11: Actress Jasika Nicole (R) and actor Osric Chau (L) attend Fringe press conference during the “Wizard Con” Entertainment World Convention 2014 at the Barcelo Castellana Norte Hotel on July 11, 2014 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images)
Osric Chau gained widespread fame with his role as Kevin Tran on Supernatural, and while he is much older than he looks, I fully believe that he can pull off a character like Kazuda in his early 20s. In my opinion, Chau is an extremely underrated actor, having played diverse roles in several mainstream TV shows, and I would love to see him in a franchise as popular as Star Wars. While he is not exactly an A-list star, Disney is known for making people’s careers, and I think that Chau could fit right into this role.
4. Daniel Henney
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 09: Actor Daniel Henney attends The 2014 Hamilton Behind the Camera Awards presented by Hamilton Watch and LA Confidential at The Wilshire Ebell Theatre on November 9, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Chelsea Lauren/Getty Images for LA Confidential)
Daniel Henney has been acting for a long time, and has taken several roles that will forever define his career. At 39 years old, Henney has portrayed the Marvel villain Agent Zero and Hiro Hamada’s older brother Tadashi in Big Hero 6, thrusting himself into mainstream media. If Kaz were to appear in a Star Wars story or a later episode that takes place after the current trilogy, then I think that Henney would be the perfect actor to portray a more mature version of the character.
5. Josh Hutcherson
NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 06: Josh Hutcherson speaks onstage during Hulu’s “Future Man” Panel at 2018 New York Comic Con at Javits Center on October 6, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Hulu)
While I am not a fan of whitewashing in movies and TV shows, and I in no way endorse that method of casting, I do think that Josh Hutcherson could make a worthy Kazuda Xiono. Kaz appears to be Asian American, but the animation of Star Wars Resistance leaves it open for slight interpretation, and it is Hutcherson’s acting that makes me think of him playing Kaz. Josh Hutcherson’s character started out as awkward and quirky in The Hunger Games, and I would love to see him use those same attributes to portray Xiono.
Who should play Kaz? Let me know in the comments!