Ever since his breakthrough role in Dead Poets Society, Ethan Hawke has enjoyed a tremendous journey in Hollywood, bagging major roles in celebrated movies like Training Day and Before Sunrise series.
Having earned four Oscar nominations in different categories, the accomplished stage actor has shown over the years that he’s one of the most versatile talents in Hollywood. And yet the 53-year-old has so far not managed to bag his ultimate dream stint – a role in the epic space opera franchise Star Wars.
Star Wars Superfan Ethan Hawke Is Desperate to Join the Franchise
In the early days of his career, Ethan Hawke mostly made his name through portrayals of reserved and sensitive characters. His three most popular characters, Welton Academy student Todd Anderson, rookie cop Jake Hoyt, and writer Jesse Wallace all share these traits and needed push from their opposite screen partner in one way or another to find their footing.
However, in recent years, Hawke has been branching out and even made his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut in 2022. He played the main antagonist, Arthur Harrow in the Disney+ series Moon Knight. Hawke certainly enjoyed the opportunity to finally play a villain in a superhero-focused franchise – a huge departure from his previous works. Having said that, he has his eyes set on a different Disney franchise.
The brilliant actor recently appeared on TODAY to talk about his upcoming post-apocalyptic drama Leave the World Behind. During the interview, he expressed his desire – or more accurately desperation – to star in Star Wars.
“I’ll do whatever they want,” Hawke said. “Give me a lightsaber, I’ll be a bad guy, I’ll be a good guy. I don’t care.”
The self-proclaimed Star Wars superfan has been always vocal about his intent to join the franchise, having made similar suggestions during his appearance on Conan in 2014. He repeated his plea in an interview with Screen Rant in 2022 as well, joking that he makes himself feel better by believing that Star Wars writers and producers have something really good in mind for his hypothetical character.
Which Star Wars Role Would Be Perfect for Ethan Hawke?
We are not sure what plans Star Wars has concerning Hawke’s entry into the galaxy far, far away. But we do have a character in mind that would be perfect for the The Black Phone star.
Having played both good and bad guys in a number of movies, Hawke would be perfect to bring Kanan Jarrus to the big screen in a live-action form. Kanan was a Force-sensitive Jedi Knight who miraculously survived the Emperor’s purge and went underground to hide his truth.
He finds himself working with Twi’lek rebel operative Hera Syndulla during the Gorse Conflict and ultimately becomes a rebel by joining her nascent rebel cell. The multi-time Oscar-nominated actor would be perfect for capturing different layers of Kanan’s persona and journey.
Having shown his romantic side successfully in Before Sunrise series, Hawke should also do well to convey Kanan’s romantic relationship with Syndulla.
