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

Dream casting the Star Wars saga: Jeff Bridges as Jan Dodonna

Jan Dodonna is another one of those characters who stops by for a scene, plays a small but important role, and shows himself out before we can get to know him too well. Dodonna crops up toward the end of Star Wars to deliver some exposition about how to destroy the Death Star in front of a crowd of attentive pilots. He’s bearded, robbed, and in charge.

Jeff Bridges may be a bit overqualified for this role, but there’s no doubt that he’d be able to hold the attention of a room. His voice is every bit as commanding as that of Alex McCrindle, the actor who originally played the part if a bit deeper. Plus, we know that Bridges looks good in a robe and a beard. Picture a cleaned-up version of The Dude from The Big Lebowski and you pretty much have Jan Dodonna.

As for Bridges being too big a name for what amounts to a walk-on role, I’m not going to worry about it too much. If Disney ever decides to remake the original trilogy, which I’d venture to say is more likely than not given how hard it’s pushing the brand, I doubt Jeff Bridges will be included. However, he’s welcome to play in this sandbox.

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