Hello, Rebelscum fans! Welcome to another entry in our weeklong series exploring The Old Republic, the online multiplayer game set in the ancient era of the Jedi and Sith. Our “Expand Your Mind” article explains how the game was developed and why it's such a popular project, and we also spotlighted Darth Malgus with our “Character Profile” piece and explored connections to other Expanded Universe projects like Knights of the Old Republic with our “Timeline Breakdown” article. Make sure to subscribe to us on YouTube in order to get more content, including Bobby’s videos on the best toys and merch.

With “Force Casting,” we’re looking to the future. Even before the sale of Lucasfilm to Disney, fans were clamoring for a movie or television series set within the Old Republic era. Now with new films and shows for Disney+ being rapidly developed, there’s an increasing likelihood that those dreams will come to fruition. Kathleen Kennedy even teased back in 2019 that a trilogy was in early development, so keep your eye on it!

There’s really unlimited potential for a story set during The Old Republic. The galaxy is in chaos, with legions of Sith battling against the fractured Jedi Order, and crime is high with bounty hunters taking control of previously peaceful systems. It’s not just Force-sensitive beings fighting either; smugglers and commandos working alongside the Republic aid on the frontlines, and the Sith operate a vast network of agents and spies. Many types of stories from different perspectives could be told - just like the game itself!

There’s potential for many new characters to be introduced, but today we’re focusing on some of the prominent heroes and villains from the cinematic trailers. If we were to hear news tomorrow that a The Old Republic project is in the works, here’s who we’d like to see star in it.

Our Picks

Darth Malgus: Tom Hardy

Perhaps it's an obvious choice for any masked character with a distinctive voice, but Tom Hardy could easily embody the fierce warrior of Malgus. Even if we like to make fun of him for Venom, just think of the imposing physicality Hardy brought to The Dark Knight Rises, Warrior, Mad Max: Fury Road, The Revenant, or Dunkirk. He’s among the industry’s best actors and could explore Malgus’s growing disillusionment with Sith politics and how his pain fuels his skills as a warrior.

Satele Shan: Carey Mulligan

Satele Shan goes through significant development over the arc of the cinematic trailers, losing her master in “Return” and acrobatically sparring with Malgus in “Hope’s” Battle of Alderaan. Her gymnast-like abilities are bolstered by the Force, so you’d need an actress who can convey heroism, nobility, and ferocity all at once. Mulligan has shown her dramatic gravity in period pieces like An Education and The Great Gatsby, but last year’s Promising Young Woman showed she could play subversive characters that pose a serious menace.

Ven Zallow: Kenneth Branagh

The tragic slaying of Jedi Council member Ven Zallow in “Deceived” is an emotionally crushing blow that personifies the Republic’s fragility under the Sith assault. You’d need a distinguished veteran who conveys Shakespearean weight with his leadership, and there’s no one better than Kenneth Branagh. As a bonus, Branagh is a great director who we’d love to see direct a The Old Republic movie.

Jace Malcom: Henry Cavill

An ally to Shan, Republic trooper Jace Malcom is brought into the conflict after the Sith retaking of Korriban and has seen his fare of action by the time of the Battle of Alderaan. He’s a commando of towering menace who is even able to stand up against Malgus himself, and his dignity earns the respect of his Jedi commanders. Henry Cavill may no longer be Superman, but we think he’d be perfect for another symbol of safety and justice.

Lord Vindican: John Malkovich

Vindican is a fascinating Sith character. A staunch devotee to the ancient teachings, Vindican revels in the opportunity to retake the ancient homeworld of Korriban. However, he’s also arrogant in his victory and isn’t able to predict the betrayal of his apprentice Malgus. You need a more eccentric villain than the purely furious Malgus, and John Malkovich has proven he can play all types of bad guys in films like Burn After Reading, Dangerous Liaisons, and In the Line of Fire.

Kao Cen Darach: Paul Bettany

Similar to Ven Zallow, Satele Shan’s Jedi Master requires a veteran noble British actor whose tragic fate packs an emotional punch. The only difference is the Zabrak Jedi would require extensive makeup, so why not get the guy covered in prosthetics to play Vision? We definitely think Paul Bettany could show the resilience and grace of Darach; check out his stirring dramatic performances in films like Master and Commander: Far Side of the World, A Beautiful Mind, or Margin Call.

Shae Vizla: Vanessa Kirby

This Mandalorian ally of Darth Malgus could become a popular female Star Wars anti-hero on the level of Bo-Katan. A defender of the Mandalorian people who also shows a fierce independent streak, the predecessor to The Clone Wars’s Pre Vizla enters the fold during an interesting period when the Manadalorians expand across the galactic chaos. In order to embody this shrewd, yet principled action star, we’re picking Vanessa Kirby. Kirby knows her way around action with performances in Mission: Impossible - Fallout and Fast and Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw, but she’s also shown complexity with her Emmy-nominated role on The Crown and her Oscar-nominated performance in Pieces of a Woman.

Nico Okarr: Bradley Cooper

This Corellian smuggler is firmly in the Han Solo or Dash Rendar mold; he’s a wisecracking scoundrel who adds a lot of great one-liners, but he ultimately has a heart and comes to the aid of the Jedi. We haven’t seen Nico Okarr since he helped Satele and Malcom escape Korriban, so there’s a ton of potential for his future adventures. We’d want someone with a background in comedy who's still heroic: need we rattle off Bradley Cooper’s filmography? He’s one of the best actors working today and could easily fill The Old Republic’s smuggler void.

What do you think, Rebelscum readers? Would you like to see a The Old Republic movie or series? Would you like to see the characters from the cinematic trailers return? Who would you cast? Let us know in the forums, and as always, may the Force be with you!

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