Summary
TheStar Warsfranchise has been on a bit of a winning streak with bringing back beloved actors from previous eras for Disney+ shows, but it seems that one clear winner just didn’t fit the mold for what would have been an awesome cameo.
Star Warshas seen a pivot in recent years from its native theatrical blockbuster to more grounded projects for streaming. The pinnacle of this movement is arguablyStar Wars: Ahsoka,a show that both stands on its own and serves as a fan-service-filled spiritual successor toStar Wars: Rebels.WithRebelsitself being Disney’s follow-up toThe Clone Wars,this gaveAhsokamore than a decade of strong storylines and characterization to pay homage to, leading to several highly-anticipated live-action debuts for several characters and the return of two major players thought lost to the franchise. The show would bag a renewal for season two, and it was even rumored that fan-favoriteprequel-era star Natalie Portman was in talks to return toStar Warsfor that second season ofAhsoka,leading to an instant maelstrom of fan excitement.
Whilethat excitingStar Warscasting rumor was unfortunately debunkedin short order, a recent comment by a well-known insider seems to suggest that it was based in part on some true information that fans were missing at the time. Speaking onThe Hot Micpodcast show available onJohn Rocha’s YouTube channel, Jeff Snieder revealed that while Natalie Portman wasn’t yet in talks to star in the second season ofAhsoka,the actress had previously filmed some scenes for anotherStar WarsDisney+ show inObi-Wan Kenobi,which featured fellow prequel era stars Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen returning to their iconic roles as Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, as well as Christensen’s voice being lent to Vader in a scene with his voice-modulating mask damaged. “She previously did shoot some small stuff for the ‘Obi-Wan [Kenobi]’ show while working on ‘[Thor]: Love and Thunder,'” Snieder revealed, despite initially declining to comment on the situation. “But it didn’t make the final cut, and it’s too early to know… My source wouldn’t stake their life on [it], so…” While offering disclaimers, Sneider also noted that the source in question was not his usual one but had proven reliable so far.
While the overall tone of Snieder’s comments suggests that there’s a chance Portman gets called in forAhsokaseason two after all, fans will certainly be more interested in the titbit about her filming scenes forObi-Wan Kenobi.Considering the timeline of events in the show and Snieder’s description of her part as small, she probably returned to give life to Padme in flashbacks, similar to Obi-Wan and Anakin’s training scenes. Originally envisioned and produced as a limited mini-series and airing across only six episodes, it’s clear why some filmed scenes wouldn’t make the final cut.McGregor has made a great case for more seasons ofObi-Wan Kenobi,so there’s a chance that fans might see the scenes in question if they can be repurposed for a second season of the show. Considering McGregor’s comments about missed opportunities from season one, it seems likely that Portman’s part would make the cut a second time around.
Fans certainly will be miffed that Portman’s chance to star alongside McGregor and Christensen again, and for good reason. Portman’s presence would have been another pro for the show and the fans and could have served as another emotional line between Obi-Wan and Leia for the audience. However, there’s also a point to be made for not relying so much on prequel-era stars to push the franchise forward.
The need to do away with the nostalgia crutch in a clean, mutually beneficial way is part of the reason whyShawn Levy’s upcomingStar Warsproject featuring Ryan Gosling is great newsfor the franchise and for fans. Despite being set even further back in the timeline, this project could be just what the franchise needs to create new stars and new stories that could become just as well-loved as the throughline from the animated shows thatAhsokabenefits from now.
