RUMOR: Natalie Portman Already Filmed Scenes For A Disney+ Star Wars Show, But It Wasn’t Ahsoka

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Summary

  • Natalie Portman filmed scenes for “Obi-Wan Kenobi” for Disney+, not “Ahsoka” as rumored.
  • Snieder hinted at a chance of Portman appearing in “Ahsoka” season 2 despite initial debunking.
  • Upcoming Star Wars projects aim to create new stars beyond relying on prequel-era nostalgia.

In more casual terms, the Star Wars series has been enjoying success by reintroducing popular actors from past periods in their Disney+ series, but it appears that one standout character who could have made a fantastic surprise appearance didn’t quite match the expectations for such a cameo.

In recent times, the Star Wars universe has shifted its focus from big-screen blockbusters to more grounded productions for streaming platforms. The epitome of this change might be Star Wars: Ahsoka, a series that can be enjoyed independently while also serving as a spiritual successor to Star Wars: Rebels. Rebels, in turn, was Disney’s continuation of The Clone Wars. This long lineage provides Ahsoka with over a decade of rich storylines and character development to reference, resulting in eagerly awaited live-action debuts for several characters and the reappearance of two characters previously thought to be absent from the franchise. The series was renewed for a second season, and there were even whispers that beloved prequel-era actress Natalie Portman might return to Star Wars for Ahsoka’s second season, sparking a whirlwind of fan enthusiasm.

Although the speculation about Natalie Portman joining the second season of ‘Ahsoka’ turned out to be unfounded, a trusted insider hints that it may have been partially based on accurate information that fans hadn’t fully grasped at the time. In an episode of ‘The Hot Mic’ podcast on John Rocha’s YouTube channel, Jeff Snieder shared that while Portman wasn’t then in talks for the second season, she had earlier filmed some minor scenes for another ‘Star Wars’ Disney+ series titled ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’. This show brought back Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen as their beloved characters, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, respectively. Furthermore, Christensen provided his voice for Vader in a scene where the voice-modulating mask was damaged. Snieder mentioned that Portman had filmed some small parts for ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ while working on ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’. However, these scenes didn’t make it to the final cut of the show. Snider added a disclaimer, stating that his source wasn’t entirely certain about this information, but they had been reliable in the past.

Despite hints that Portman may still appear in season two of Ahsoka, fans are more intrigued by her filming for Obi-Wan Kenobi. Given the sequence of events in the series and Snieder’s description of her role as minor, it appears she reprised her character Padme to feature in flashbacks, much like Obi-Wan and Anakin’s training scenes. As a limited mini-series with just six episodes, it’s understandable that some filmed sequences were left out. McGregor has advocated for additional seasons of Obi-Wan Kenobi, suggesting there might be an opportunity to include the omitted scenes in a potential second season. Given McGregor’s remarks about missed chances from season one, it seems probable that Portman’s part would be included again if there is a second season.

Fans are undoubtedly going to feel disappointed that Natalie Portman won’t be sharing screen time with McGregor and Christensen again, and it’s understandable why. Having Portman in the show would have been another strong point for it, resonating with both fans and potentially offering an additional emotional connection between Obi-Wan and Leia for viewers. Nevertheless, there’s also an argument to be made that not overly relying on stars from the prequel era could help the franchise evolve in new directions.

One reason why Shawn Levy’s forthcoming Star Wars project starring Ryan Gosling is exciting for both the franchise and fans is because it aims to move beyond nostalgia and establish a fresh, advantageous approach. By setting the story far back in the timeline, this project could serve as a catalyst for creating new characters and tales that could potentially be cherished just as much as the continuity from the animated series like Ahsoka.

The Star Wars franchise is available to stream on Disney+.

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2025-01-27 21:37