Christian Bale has donned the cowl of the Batman in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy and taken up arms against the machines as resistance leader John Connor in Terminator Salvation. Recently, he is taking on Thor and Jane Foster as Gorr in Thor: Love and Thunder.
Will he take up a lightsaber and join the world of Star Wars as Darth Vader’s secret apprentice, Starkiller?
According to an article “trusted and proven sources tell” them that Bale is set up to portray the Force wielder, originally portrayed by Sam Witwer in the 2008 Star Wars: Force Unleashed video game.
Bale is no stranger to the Star Wars universe. The actor was originally going to be cast in Solo: A Star Wars Story as Tobias Beckett, Han Solo’s mentor. However, Woody Harrelson would be cast as Beckett. Previously, Bale was also considered for the role of Anakin Skywalker in the prequel trilogy alongside fellow actor Leonardo DiCaprio and his co-star from The Dark Knight , the late Heath Ledger.
Starkiller, born Galen Marek, debuted in Haden Blackman’s Star Wars: The Force Unleashed which takes place several years before the events of Star Wars: A New Hope and it is set in the Star Wars Legends continuity.
Marek’s story begins when Darth Vader leads an Imperial invasion of the Wookie homeworld of Kashyyyk to find a strong Force user. Vader comes across Galen’s father Kento Marek and murders him in a duel while taking the young Marek as his apprentice and to be forged as a weapon to overthrow Emperor Palpatine and exterminate the remaining Jedi. Overtime, he would eventually face betrayal from Vader when the Emperor discovers the Sith Lord’s treachery.
Galen would be revived by Vader and tasked to start a resistance movement against the Galactic Empire that would become the Rebel Alliance to Restore the Republic. During the course of The Force Unleashed, the conflicted Force user would gradually embrace his Jedi heritage with the help of Jedi Master Rahm Kota. He would also fall in love with former Imperial pilot Juno Eclipse.
When Vader captures Kota and Senators Bail Organa, Mon Mothma, Garm Bel Iblis, Marek travels to the construction of the first Death Star to take on Vader and the Emperor. Marke sacrifices his life to save his friends.
However, Marek would technically come back from the dead by being cloned by Vader in the 2010 sequel game The Force Unleashed II. Simply named ‘Starkiller,’ the clone, like his progenitor, would be made to serve Vader. However, the clone would eventually rebel against the Sith Lord after seeing flashbacks of the original Starkiller’s memories.
If the rumor is true, Bale portraying Starkiller would be almost similar to his portrayal of Batman. Both characters have similar backstories of witnessing the death of their parents and dealing with their trauma. However, while Bruce Wayne would have a clear purpose which was to avenge his parents deaths, Starkiller’s purpose would be forged in trial by fire as he begins to question Vader and eventually rebel against his Sith Master with the help and guidance of his friends that he would come across on his adventures.
Do you think that Christian Bale should portray a live action Starkiller Galen Marek? Or should Sam Witwer once again take up the lightsaber of the force user? Please comment below!
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