Natalie Portman played the role of Padme Amidala in the Star Wars prequel trilogy. The character evolves from the Queen of Naboo to a Senator of the Galactic Republic, and wife of Jedi Knight, Anakin Skywalker. As everyone knows, Padme didn’t survive the prequels, and died shortly after giving birth to Luke and Leia. In a recent interview, Portman was asked if she would consider returning to Star Wars.
Portman answered questions sent to her by fans, including a Reddit user who asked if Padme could return. She replied that “I have no information on this,” and that “No one’s ever asked me to return, but I’m open to it.” It seems pretty impossible that Padme will be brought back as a character unless it’s for flashbacks of some kind, or perhaps, another more interesting way to bring her back would be in a Darth Vader series.
The Vader comics offer many opportunities for Padme’s return. Vader constantly dreams of his wife and wakes up in agony. He’s haunted by her memories and even by a ghost of Padme. Vader even visits her tomb on Naboo. If a Darth Vader series is ever made, or even if season 2 of the Kenobi series is greenlit and offers Hayden Christensen another chance to return, it’s possible Vader can be shown being tormented by memories of Padme. This would allow Natalie to return without having to break from canon.
Recently from the Star Wars prequel trilogy, several major actors have returned thanks to the Obi Wan Kenobi series. It marked the return of Ewan McGregor, Hayden Christensen, Jimmy Smits and a surprise appearance by Liam Neeson at the very end of the series, as Qui Gon Jinn. It’s interesting to note that Portman, like her costars Hayden Christensen and Ewan McGregor, had a tough time after the prequels as the movies faced a plethora of criticism ranging from the content, the VFX, the acting and the change in tone to a more child-friendly one.
It seems that the love the movies have gotten recently, and perhaps the warm reception her costars have received on their returns, has made Portman more open to a possible return herself.
You can watch Natalie Portman as Padme Amidala in Star Wars Episode I-III, available on Disney+.