Gabriel Luna has once again expressed his enthusiasm for playing one of Star Wars: The High Republic’s most complex and compelling characters — Elzar Mann.
Luna previously revealed he had initially pitched himself for the role of Ezra Bridger but later shifted his focus to Elzar. Now, in a recent interview with Screen Rant during press for The Last of Us Season 2, he confirmed that he’s fully immersed in the character, having read all of The High Republic books. "I know the character inside and out," Luna stated, reinforcing his passion for bringing Elzar Mann to life.
The High Republic era, introduced in 2021 with Charles Soule’s Light of the Jedi, has quickly become one of the most exciting expansions of the Star Wars universe, set centuries before the Skywalker saga. Through a vast collection of novels, comics, and audiobooks, this initiative has brought fans into a golden age of the Jedi, where they face off against the Nihil, a brutal band of marauders, and even darker forces lurking in the shadows.
Among the many Jedi in The High Republic, Elzar Mann stands out as a character who challenges the traditional Jedi archetype. Unlike the noble and steadfast Jedi of the prequel era, Elzar is deeply flawed, wrestling with his emotions, his power, and his own destructive tendencies. It’s this complexity that has drawn Gabriel Luna to the role.
But what makes Elzar Mann such an intriguing choice for Luna? In his own words:
"Jedi are always thought of as these pinnacles of light and love and order, but [Elzar] shows you that they’re human — whatever race they are, in a galaxy far away. "Gabriel Luna
Elzar struggles with attachment, his unconventional approach to the Force, and his moments of both brilliance and failure make him one of the most layered Jedi in Star Wars lore.
Luna’s excitement about the role only adds fuel to the growing demand for more live-action adaptations of The High Republic. The era itself is a breath of fresh air in the Star Wars timeline — untethered from the Skywalker legacy yet still rich with connections that lay the groundwork for the Republic’s eventual decline. Elzar Mann is at the heart of this story, grappling with love, loss, and the weight of his own choices.
Given Luna’s past performances, he seems like a natural fit for the role. His portrayal of Tommy Miller in The Last of Us and Robbie Reyes/Ghost Rider in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has already demonstrated his ability to balance vulnerability, intensity, and emotional depth. Elzar Mann requires an actor who can embody both his charm and his internal turmoil, and to me, Luna has proven time and time again that he can bring those layers to the screen.
If Rosario Dawson could manifest her dream of playing Ahsoka Tano into reality, why shouldn’t Luna be able to do the same with Elzar Mann? With The High Republic publishing initiative heading toward its conclusion, now is the perfect time for Lucasfilm to greenlight another live-action series set before The Acolyte.
Luna is ready. The fans are ready. Now it’s just up to Star Wars to make it happen.