3. The Casting
Like George Lucas when making the original Star Wars film, Id try to cast relatively unknown actors in the leading roles, mainly to help bring some new blood into the film industry, but also to help the film become recognised because of its own merits rather than because it has an all star cast. Though if I had to cast some big or upcoming names, these would be my choices: Cades a very complex character that Id describe as a fusion of Luke Skywalker, Anankin Skywalker, and Han Solo. An abandoned Jedi with a lot of personal issues as well as a drug addiction whos desperate to escape the burden of being a Skywalker. If I had to pick an actor right now, Id say Chris Hemsworth (Thor). As well as being a decent actor, hes got a dark brooding look to him that I think would definitely suit the part. Cades chief mechanic Deliah Blue is a very sexual character flirting to get what she needs as well using her species ability to produce powerful pheromones. Anne Hathaway strikes me as a good choice as she has experience playing this type of character with her role as Catwoman in The Dark Knight Rises. As well as that, shes definitely got the sex appeal that an actress playing Deliah Blue would need. Personally, my first choice to play Cades Jedi-hating partner in crime Jariah Syn would be Idris Elba (Luther) but now that hes forty, hes far too old since Syn and Cade are depicted as being roughly in their mid to late twenties. Other than Elba, Id quite like to see Edi Gathegi (X-Men First Class) in the role. Hes known for playing more passive roles but hes got a great catalogue of work behind him and just might be able to pull off the distrustful rogue character with the right script and direction. Hugo Weaving (The Matrix, Captain America) as Darth Krayt. Theres not much to say other than hes got a good range, particularly when playing a villain, and I just think hed suit the part since Krayt is both cold and calculating, and aggressive and irrational (literally decimating a planet because their shipyards arent at full capacity springs to mind as an example of this), something that Weavings previous sci-fi and comic book roles have shown hes very proficient at. As for the more minor roles, Id cast Jennifer Lawrence (The Hunger Games) as imperial princess Marasiah Fel, daughter of the exiled Emperor Roan Fel. Although Fel is a fully trained Jedi and able to fend for herself, shes got a certain air of vulnerability to her. And I think both of these aspects of Fels personality are something that Lawrence could portray very well. As previously mentioned, Luke Skywalkers ghost occasionally appears as he attempts to act as a mentor to his wayward descendant, Anakin Skywalker and Darth Vader appear in one of Cades Death Stick-fuelled hallucinations, and a post-Revenge Of The Sith Obi Wan is seen in one of Darth Krayts flashbacks defending Lukes aunt and uncles farm against Krayt after he leads a clan of Tusken Raiders on a rampage against Tatooines farmers. Getting all of these actors to reprise their roles, however briefly, is about as likely as Michael Bay making a film without any explosions in it but some gentle persuasion and an obscene amount of money might help to snare at least one. As I said, Id try to cast relatively unknown actors but one piece of casting that I wouldnt budge on is Brian Blessed (Flash Gordon) as the venerable Jedi Master KKruhk, a survivor of the original Jedi Order and one of Cade Skywalkers teachers. Cade describes him as both warmaster and high priest. A description that could also fit Brian Blessed. At times hes bombastic and gloriously over the top, but is more of a gentle, softly spoken type of person. To me, it just feels like a role that would suit Blessed to a tee.
JG Moore
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JG Moore is a writer and filmmaker from the south of England. He also works as an editor and VFX artist, and has a BA in Media Production from the University Of Winchester.
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