After the passing of Ray Stevenson and the premiere of Season 1 of Ahsoka, it was clear that Star Wars had a real tough choice to make. His character, Baylan Skoll, was instantly iconic, and it was clear from the season's cliffhanger that there was so much more to tell. However, there was a real question about how to do it. Star Wars had been embracing deep fake technology, and some actors, like James Earl Jones, approved using AI for their voice and likeness before they passed away.
While impressive from a special effects standpoint, there was something about these technological choices that didn't look or sound right. Fans have been mixed on these applications in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and The Book of Boba Fett.
So, with the announcement of Rory McCann stepping in for Baylan Skoll and the reveal that Benjamin Bratt now plays Bail Organa in Andor, with Jimmy Smits having filming conflicts, I'm so relieved to see Star Wars embracing recasting characters.
I will bang on the drum again and again and again that Lucasfilm learned the wrong lessons from Solo: A Star Wars Story. Ever since that movie, they seemed to be nervous about recasting any of their legacy characters. Alden Ehrenreich as Han Solo was not the problem with that movie. The problem was that the film was in production hell as it was essentially filmed twice, and it shows on the screen. Still, Lucasfilm have been rather fearful to touch any major character from the original trilogy ever since. It's why we've had some deep fake Luke Skywalkers and Leia Organas in shows and movies.
But we've already have recast these characters before in other aspects of the franchise. Star Wars Animation and video games have had plenty of actors playing original trilogy characters. Sure, it's not live action, but there is a real argument to be made for actors like Scott Lawrence, who has been one of the most prominent Darth Vader voice actors for decades. Why use AI when you can have a human being bring real emotion to these characters?
And then when it comes to live action, Lucasfilm already has people who have played Luke, Leia, and even Trakin: Their body doubles.
Carrie Fisher's daughter, Billie Lourd, portrayed Leia in The Rise of Skywalker. Who better to continue Carrie's legacy than her own daughter? Guy Henry, who played Tarkin in Rogue One, was personally thanked by Peter Cushing's secretary, who claimed, "Sir is back." Max Lloyd-Jones, who worked directly with Mark Hamill in The Book of Boba Fett, looks just like Luke. Harrison Ford and Mark both helped train the younger actors playing their legacy characters. Peter Mayhew did the same with Joonas Suotamo for Chewbacca before he passed away.
Letting these actors pass on their knowledge to the next generation after them is a good thing. It's no different from George Lucas personally training Dave Filoni in everything he knew so Dave could then guide the creators after them.
This is what is needed to keep the Star Wars franchise moving forward. Because the horrible truth is that people don't live forever. There will be a time when all the original trilogy actors will be gone, and the franchise will have to move forward without them. Start now recasting and using new actors. Let the original trilogy actors, crew, and creators pass on their knowledge now. It's the only way for Star Wars to continue, and I hope with Bail Organa and Baylan Skoll, we're seeing the beginning of this.
I've said it before and I'll say it again:
If Game of Thrones can constantly recast a good chunk of their actors and the Marvel Cinematic Universe can replace major characters like War Machine and the Hulk, Star Wars is going to be perfectly fine.