50 Roles for 50 Actors: Dream casting the Star Wars saga

Dream casting the Star Wars saga: Chiwetel Ejiofor as Senator Bail Organa

The role of Senator Bail Organa is a small but important one. He shows up briefly in Attack of the Clones, but his big moments come toward the end of Revenge of the Sith when he rescues Yoda following the latter’s fight with Palpatine, and volunteers to adopt the newly born Princess Leia as his daughter.

Organa is a kind and reasonable man. To be honest, that’s a little boring for an actor, but not everyone can play a scenery-chewing psychopath. Jimmy Smits did a nice job with the character in the prequel trilogy. He got in, got out, and set up the next chapter of the story.

Chiwetel Ejiofor likely wouldn’t add anything new to the character, but then again, it’s not a character where much more is required. What he would do is play his part well, as he has in everything from 12 Years a Slave to Serenity to Kinky Boots. He’s a rock-solid actor who we can depend on to give the role exactly what it needs.

Organa doesn’t turn up in the original trilogy, although we do know he’s one of the many who die when the Death Star blows up the planet of Alderaan. Speaking of that event, it’s time to shift focus from the prequels to the original three Star Wars movies. Here we go.

Next: Our other hero