From all accounts, the original cast will appear in Episode 7 as a passing of the torch; after that, they will hand off the Star Wars legacy to a new cast that will continue the saga in episodes 8 and 9. Skeptics might fret that the new cast could drop the ball. Fear not. Disney and Lucasfilm have assembled a talent-heavy stable of veteran actors and up-and-coming stars. Icons like Max Von Sydow and Andy Serkis will bring new characters to life alongside rising stars like Oscar Isaacs and newly minted Academy Award-winner Lupita Nyongo. As people burned by the disappointing prequels will point out, a talented cast alone wont guarantee a quality film. George Lucas also assembled a list of A-level talent for the prequels, including Liam Neeson, Natalie Portman, and Ewan McGregor. None of these amazing actors managed to rise above the stilted dialogue and poor characterization contained in the prequels. Star Wars fans should be optimistic the new cast will deliver because the backstage talent of Episode 7 guarantees a higher quality of material for the players to work with. Lucasfilm has selected the best cast fans could ask for, one that even the most jaded moviegoers can get behind.
