The upcoming new Star Wars film has just added a sci-fi icon to the cast! Find out who's joining the Mandalorian and Grogu and what role is perfect for them!
Star Wars is experiencing some ups and downs as of late. They've still had some good TV successes with Ahsoka and the acclaimed Andor series. However, The Acolyte was canceled after one poorly received season, a blow to the franchise's success.
However, there are still plans for movies, including a new franchise that will take place 15 years after Rise of Skywalker, with Rey (Daisy Ridley) trying to restart a new Jedi Order. Before that, we're getting The Mandalorian and Grogu, bringing the biggest Disney+ Star Wars hit to the big screen.
The plot details are being kept under wraps, but the film will be written and directed by Jon Favreau, the show's creator. Pedro Pascal will reprise his role as Din Djarin, the masked bounty hunter going around the galaxy with the young (by his species) Jedi as his unlikely partner.
The plot details are being kept tight, although it's confirmed that Garazeb "Zeb" Orrelios, the popular warrior from the animated Rebels series (who appeared in live-action on The Mandalorian Season 3), will play a part. It's speculated this is part of a larger plan to link the series with Ahsoka and perhaps utilize iconic Star Wars villain Grand Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen).
Now, the movie has confirmed that a huge actress is getting involved, and she brings with her plenty of genre movie experience!
Who will Sigrouney Weaver play?
Speaking to Deadline before she's honored at the Venice Film Festival, Sigourney Weaver confirmed she will be starring in the upcoming movie.
"I got to meet Grogu for the first time the other day. I'm filming that before I go to London for The Tempest at the end of the year. I'm looking forward to it. I can't say much about it right now, but it's fun to bounce between all these different universes."
Weaver is, of course, no stranger to sci-fi or fantasy franchises. She broke out with her star-making turn as Ellen Ripley in 1979's classic Alien and earned an Oscar nomination for its 1986 sequel, reprising the role twice more.
There's also her turns as Dana in the Ghostbusters movies, Gwen DeMarco in the sci-fi comedy Galaxy Quest, Dr. Grace Augustine / Kiri in the Avatar series and Alexandra in Marvel's The Defenders. All that and scores more films and TV shows that have earned her Oscar and Emmy nominations along with a BAFTA, two Golden Globes and even a Grammy Award.
In other words, Weaver has a clout among sci-fi fans that most actresses can only wish for. That she's finally taking part in the Star Wars universe seems long overdue and should be a great addition to the cast. We don't know who she's playing yet, as Weaver could easily be either a strong heroine or the villain of the piece.
Why this role is perfect for Weaver
If Weaver is to play the villain, she might be a good fit for one of the more popular characters of the old Expanded Universe novels: Admiral Natasia Daala.
Created by Kevin J. Robinson and debuting in 1994's Jedi Search, Daala was a ruthless Imperial officer who rose up the ranks quickly, thanks in part to the influence of Grand Moff Tarkin (who later became her lover). Proving herself in the male-dominated Empire, Daala was sent to the outer reaches of the galaxy on a secret assignment, so distant that it took years for her to receive word the Empire had fallen.
Refusing to accept defeat, Daala struck back, including the massive Sun Crusher weapon (which made the Death Star look like a BB gun) to attack the New Republic. She was eventually defeated, coming back a few times. Ironically, after the Republic and the Imperial remnants forged a peace treaty, Daala rose up to become Chief of Staff of the Galactic Alliance. Eventually, she was deposed when her darker side came out and was defeated.
Weaver would be a fine choice for Daala, playing on the idea of the woman only now hearing the Empire is nearly dead and going out of her way to revive it. Weaver would be believable as someone so obsessed with the "glory days" of the Empire that she executes an entire Imperial council who wanted peace and putting other officers in their place. She can pull off the sharp tactician Daala is and not bad at politics either. Not to mention, she'd look great in that classic Imperial uniform.
Whoever she plays, having Weaver on board is another feather in the cap of Star Wars casting and makes the upcoming big-screen adventures of the Mandalorian even more exciting for fans.
The Mandalorian streaming on Disney+.