Rumor: British Actor Spencer Wilding Cast to Play Darth Vader in Rogue One?
While it is still not officially confirmed, Darth Vader’s appearance in Rogue One is something everyone expects. Having the iconic villain once again on the big screen is an opportunity that Lucasfilm and Disney will not want to miss, especially considering that the first stand alone movie takes place during times when Vader was at his best. There were some rumors in the past that Hayden Christensen could return as Vader, but now a new report that makes more sense suggests that British actor Spencer Wilding has been cast to play the body of Darth Vader in Rogue One.
From FlickeringMyth:
Our sources are telling us that in fact British actor Spencer Wilding has been cast to play the body of Darth Vader in Rogue One.
Wilding is mostly a stunt actor and has had bit parts in Guardians of the Galaxy, Batman Begins, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance and Wrath of the Titans. We first heard of his casting last year, but waited for more confirmation on the story before running it.
Our source also confirms that Wilding has been running lines while on set, so Darth Vader will have a speaking role in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. However he will likely be dubbed by James Earl Jones just as David Prowse was when he played Vader in the Original Trilogy.
If you wonder who Wilding is, here’s his most notable recent appearance in Guardians of the Galaxy:
You can find more about his work HERE.
What do you think? Is Wilding a good fit? After all we will only see his body language in Rogue One.
Founder of SWNN, MNN and The Cantina forums.
Born on April 24, 1980.
What? No Hayden?
Not a big loss – why bother him to be a man-Muppet? NOW, if they don’t get him to be Force Ghost cameo, then we can talk about a bummer… 🙂
Bring him and Ewan back to have a chat with Kylo/Rey or GTFO!! They could just say that Anakin taught Obi Wan how to look youthful in death..
I pictured him appearing to Luke, actually! A little father/son chat…but would obviously take Ewan as well, especially since Obi-wan’s been appearing to Luke from the beginning!
Holocrons would be another usable vehicle for cameos…AND they just used Anakin on Rebels in a Holocron appearance on saber training!
YES!
Hayden is 6’0″. Prowse was 6’5″ Wilding is 6’7″. Hayden was in the suit for about 12 seconds and they used SFX to make him look bigger, and truthfully, it looked bad. If Vader is going to be walking around and kicking ass, he can’t be small in stature.
Well, Vader had to look like he was just formed. In-universe and 19 years later, he looks bigger so of course it’s not inconceivable to think that he wouldn’t look like a fully-developed Vader at the beginning (the character was just beginning to get acclimated with the suit).[by the way, over 1000 staff members were there to witness HC’s ROTS scenes with the suit on. Also, lots of merchandise of Vader’s ROTS look sold and still sells]
And FYI, it was essentially high-heel boots that he HC had to wear in the suit. You know, a practical effect 😉
People always forget about Bob Anderson being just 6’1″, He had lifts on as well and it’s easier to believe because Hamill is like 5’8″ So even 6’1″ before lifts is still 5 inches taller than Hamill.
Lol the guy walked like 3 steps and was on his robotic feet for the first time. Vader had to got used to his new body, so it doesn’t blow my mind if the man looks like unnatural at this moment
Hayden was the same height and similar build to Bob Anderson, The man who did all Vader’s saber fighting in ESB and ROTJ. Hayden was listed as 6’1″ and Bob Anderson said in an interview that her (also) is 6’1″.
I have zero problems with any person taking up a role that’s an armored/covered/alien/droid character. Since they were able to rope James in for Rebels I’m sure it’ll be… ahem… All to easy… to get him for Rogue One.
I don’t care if Warwick Davis puts on the suit. I’ll be thrilled to see Vader do his thing.
Maybe Darth Vader went to Kamino and asked them to make him a clone 1/8th his size, and Warwick Davis is playing the clone 🙂
You would of thought Vader would want clones so he could look into a possible transfer of his conscience into a full body.
*would have*
Ha ha! Vader’s Mini-Me!
As Ben Mendelson looks to be the main villain, think Vader will be relegated to a very minor role (slightly bigger than a cameo). Wouldn’t surprise me if he’s in the back of one of those AT-ATs, ready to slaughter our team of heroes.
I don’t think we’ll see him in any of the forthcoming trailers.
While I hope you are wrong. Vader could be the Luke of Rogue One with no dialog at all and only in 1 minute of footage. I agree Mendelson will likely be the main villain.
Believe his role will be a lot bigger than TFA Luke’s, but not as big as fans are expecting it to be.
Well standing in the back of an AT-AT saying “shoot them” isn’t exactly “much bigger” than what Luke did in TFA.
Remember that Vader was never really the “main” villain. Sure, he operated alone in ESB and his ruthlessness and sheer terror invokation made him seem that way, but in ANH he was second-fiddle to Tarkin and in RotJ he was the Emperor’s bitch. Who are we to say that a similar situation won’t happen here, where Vader does a lot but is only a servant of Mendelson?
Emperors bitch? That’s pretty absurd. One is the leader of the galaxy and the other his his right hand.
And he wasn’t second fiddle to Tarkin. He was sent there by the Emperor to to watch over Tarkin and make sure he didn’t get too ambitious with the Death Star. He agreed to follow orders from Tarkin but also did whatever he wanted when it suited him.
He answers only to the Emperor. He’s not going to be a servant to Mendelsohn. ‘You’re a Dark Lord of the Sith, second most powerful guy in the galaxy, but here…go listen to a Grand Admiral tell you what to do.” Yeah, no.
Plus Vader highly respected Tarkin and vice versa. It was the opposite between Kylo Ren and Hux.
I kind of hope that’s the case.
If that is the case, they should not have Vader in it at all. Either he needs to have a solid role or he should not be in it at all.
Making Star Wars claims there are storyboards showing Vader kicking the Rebels ass, using force powers and even throwing his lightsaber.
And Vader is on all the packaging for R1 toys, according to leaks. Disney is NOT going to make a film during Vader’s tenure and not have him in it. There’s a reason that Marvel has made Vader the centerpiece of the acquisition of the comics from Dark Horse. The buzz and rumor surrounding his role in Rogue One is such that it will not only piss most people off if it’s a cameo but be a huge misstep by Disney. Vader is a cash cow and Disney hasn’t even started to milk it yet. There were lots of credible stories and hearsay that Darth Vader was going to be a big part in Disney’s purchase of the franchise.
Making Star Wars is regualrly full of shit though, so there is that.
What’s that? That’s the taste of tears from MSW haters that were proven wrong once TFA was released (and some more with the Rogue One teasers). Yeah, keep talking…
Okay, as long as you stop we have a deal. Oh, and reported for posting aggressive, offensive trolling posts.
Lol.
Do you have any balls in those crankypants? You ran to mommy to tell that someone was being a meanie to you? LOL
Try to keep up, please. You’re embarrassing yourself with your impulsive ignorance, and I don’t have time to stop and explain to simpletons.
They got a lot of stuff right in the past 3 years, Things change in production but the site is close to 85 percent accurate in my experience with it.
I find Making SW very reliable, they were around 90% spot-on for TFA. Their current belief is that Vader is only in a few key scenes.
Never stated Vader would not be active, or reduced to a cameo. Believe he’ll feature in key scenes, but I don’t believe he’ll be as prominent as your hoping for. Ben Mendelson will probably echo Vader’s role in Empire and Jedi (gravitas and screen time), believe he’s carrying the burden of being the main villain in this one.
Just my thoughts.
Rogue One packaging design below. Let you judge how prominent Vader appears on it.
That’s a generic stock photo. I mean, it literally says “product name here” on it…..LOL
“And Vader is on all the packaging for R1 toys, according to leaks”… LOL
http://www.starwarsnewsnet.com/2016/02/star-wars-rogue-one-toy-packaging-details.html
Just f**king stop.
http://www.starwars.com/news/rogue-one-a-star-wars-story-product-packaging-revealed
Please read that article and gaze upon the photo contained within it.
http://a.dilcdn.com/bl/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2016/04/rogue-one-packaging.jpg
Then shut the fuck up about inaccurate leaks already.
Oh dear god. What do you imagine the stock photo is supposed to be showing?
I am Vader. Come milk me Disney !!!
You can milk anything with nipples!
From MSW:
“We still don’t know the precise parameters of the role Darth Vader will play in Rogue One. Most of the rumors have him as a prominent player in a few scenes and something to fear for the heroes. If it amounts to a few shots or a few sequences is still up in the air. It certainly does paint the picture that Darth Vader chasing the stolen plans at the start of A New Hope is simply a continuation of the events from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.”
So, a few scenes, a few shots or sequences.
http://makingstarwars.net/2016/01/25215/
From MSW:
“The action sequences filmed are unknown, but there was work pitching the different ways Darth Vader could kill rebels on a battlefield with the
Force and his lightsaber. The storyboard “pitches” showed decapitated rebels, people being dismembered by Vader throwing his sword, levitating bodies to make human shields, and so on. The art was more violent than what we’ve seen Darth Vader do on screen before.”
http://makingstarwars.net/2016/01/a-classic-villain-will-have-some-action-in-rogue-one-a-star-wars-story/
Fun game, huh, Kenny?
You: “Making Star Wars claims there are storyboards showing Vader kicking the Rebels ass, using force powers and even throwing his lightsaber.”
I never said otherwise, I seem to be agreeing with you:
Me: ” Wouldn’t surprise me if he’s in the back of one of those AT-ATs, ready to slaughter our team of heroes”.
You: “Disney is NOT going to make a film during Vader’s tenure and not have him in it”.
Again, I never said otherwise.
You: “The buzz and rumor surrounding his role in Rogue One is such that it will not only piss most people off if it’s a cameo but be a huge misstep by Disney”.
I never said it was a cameo:
Me “Think Vader will be relegated to a very minor role (slightly bigger than a cameo)”. A view backed up by MSW.
You: ” Vader is a cash cow and Disney hasn’t even started to milk it yet. There were lots of credible stories and hearsay that Darth Vader was going to be a big part in Disney’s purchase of the franchise.”
If you say so.
You: “Also…if Vader is only going to be standing around talking, you don’t cast a guy who is 6’7″ and known for having physical roles and doing stunts. You put anybody in the suit and have them stand on a box. If they cast this guy, vader is going to be doing something. He’s going to be ACTIVE”.
Again, I never said otherwise, I seem to be agreeing with you:
Me: ” Wouldn’t surprise me if he’s in the back of one of those AT-ATs, ready to slaughter our team of heroes”.
You: “And Vader is on all the packaging for R1 toys, according to leaks”.
I have yet to see any evidence of this, but again if you say so.
Are we done now?
I agree Vadar is a cash cow, but he certainly is not kicking ass in recent Rebels episodes. Vadar is a bit diminished in Rebels when in reality he should be in his prime, actually somewhat defeated by Ahsoka in the season finale’. I think Disney’s portrayal of Vadar via Rebels shows a vastly flawed villain, who certainly does not compare to the heroics of Anakin Skywalker. I wonder how they will flow the flawed Vadar of Rebels into a Vadar that is obliterating foes in R1.
Vader actually isn’t on the toy packaging. The official Star wars website revealed it,. and it’s a bunch TIE fighters, some AT-ATs, and a Shadow Trooper.
Look, I am all for his role being a minor one..but as long as I get a scene with him just slaughtering rebels left and right then it’s safe to say that I might need a medic present at the theater this December.
Make sure your cinema is near a medical facility. /:O)
https://uproxx.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/01-faint.gif
My guess is Mendelsohn is the one bowing to who I assume is Palpatine in the scene with the Bacta tank flanked buy the Royal Guards( Palpatine could have been a victim of sabotage while christening the Death Star and was injured). Palpatine tasks Mendelson to track down the Rebels responsible. When the Rebels steal the plans , that’s when Vader steps in towards the end of the movie and probably kills all of the Rebel’s once the plans are transmitted to Tantive IV. I’m guessing Vader probably puts the Force choke on Mendelsohn for his failure to capture the Rbels as well.
Yeah, Palpantine must in that same room with his guards. Like your ending.
Thank you. Hopefully the movie ends with Tantive 4 and the Devastator coming out of hyperspace above Tatoinne with the Devastator opening fire on Tantive 4 . Would be kind of cool to see a seamless transition between R1 and ANH.
I could see that 360 degree ending being popular. Personally I hope the ending has the plans being transmitted to the Rebels (Tantive 4), but stops short of the beginning of a New Hope. That’s just me.
I’d like it to end at the first shot of A New Hope. Have the Devastator chasing down the Tantive IV – redone with modern effects.
Hear what your saying, get why that would be the most popular choice, but I don’t think it will happen because:
1. It’s a spin-off not a prequel
2. It would be a very unsatisfying ending.
1. Technically, it IS a prequel, and we all know that its’ leading up to A New Hope.
2. I see what you’re saying, but the great things is that you can just pop in that ANH Blu-ray and continue the magic when you get home. It’s really only unsatisfying if you don’t know what comes next.
Timeline wise a prequel, but story, characters, look and feel very much a spin-off. The plot is cantered on stealing the plans for the Deathstar, doesn’t need to overlap onto ANH. Don’t think Gareth Edwards will go there.
Maybe not. We’ll see.
Even I can see a young Sebastian Shaw here, depending on the side 😉
I’m ok with that.
By the time they add the helmet. the likeness will be uncanny.
Heh heh…
That’s fine..but please just bring Hayden back if we DO have a scene with him in a bacta tank or in his quarters mask off..cause come on that would just be fucked up.
Totally agree. I don’t care if he’s not liked its bringing all the movies together.
Exactly
i never understood what peoplm problems with this actor. he’s not the best but not the worst. i ve found his acting skills being Anakin improving between 2 and 3. i have a question : is David Prowse in OT special edition when vador took off his mask with Luke at the end of 6, or have him been replaced by CGI. Is there a visual difference between original OT and SE in this scene ?
Its Sebastian Shaw.
The only difference done in that scene for the SE was the removal of Sebastian Shaw’s eyebrows for continuity purposes. They haven’t digitally replaced Shaw’s face for Prowse’s if that’s what you’re asking. Now would they ever replace Shaw’s for Hayden’s, we would probably have to wait another 20 years to find out lol, but I doubt they would EVER do that.
I hope we never see his face.
It would be kinda awkward..but I’m sure they won’t do it out of respect for Shaw..besides we got the best of both worlds now cause we have a Hayden force ghost lol
Isn’t 6′ 7″ taller than Prowse in the 70’s?
Prowse was 6’5″
But Prowse was often billed as 6’7″ in the 70s and 80s most of these guys pad their resume an inch or 2. It’s easy to get away way with when you are already taller than 95 percent of the population. Like 2 inches different would mattter much onscreen anyway.
…
From the Episode VIII teaser? (Remember, that which has been seen cannot be unseen).
Why does it matter who wears the suit when James Earl Jones is going to be the voice anyways?
Ok then, get the bloke who plays Pee Wee Herman in the suit. I’m sure that won’t matter will it.
You know what he meant. no need to be a dick about it.
I hope he’s got a good west country accent for tradition sake.
Darth Farmer FTW!
when i would prefer an Hayden with good make-up, i am satisfied with this rumored choice for budget reason
Makeup? Why would you see Vader’s face?
It’s certainly not like we’ve ever seen Vader without his mask before
in RotS, ESB, RotJ, Rebels….just sayin’ is all.
ROtS – He had his mask put on at the end of the film. You’re not supposed to see his face after that.
ESB – That’s the back if his head, not his face.
ROtJ – Special circumstances (he wanted his son to see his face).
Rebels – Animation.
Anway, I meant in the context of the film. Why would you see Vader’s face in Rogue One?
In the context of the film? Who the fuck knows? What is Vader, if true, doing in the film at all? I don’t think you’ve got much of an argument there to be honest because we have no idea what his role, if any, would be, and the list you just provided suggests there’s a variety of possible reasons.
He’s wrecking some fools on the battlefild. In that scenario, his mask should stay on.
I’d agree with that, but if that’s his ONLY purpose in the film, my bigger question is why have him at all? Vader carries so much story baggage that you can’t just show him beating people up and call it a day.
I disagree. If you have him as a looming spectre for the most of the film and then have him wreckin’ fools near the end, I think that would be perfect. You have him because he’s badass.
Possibly in what looks like the Bacta tank with the Imperial Guards healing……maybe. On a different note are you in the States? Was wondering if you’ve seen the Star Wars Rebellion board game by FFG.
Yeah, I live in the USA. I’ve seen the board game.
Snoke could be in the Bacta tank, if that is what it is, being kept alive by Palpatine and guarded. Vader may not even know that his Father is alive or even exists.
Yet the image of the darkly shrouded figure kneeling could be Vader with a hoodie.
I hope he is tall enough.
Much to tall to begin the training!
Seriously though he’s taller than Prowse!
Prowse was billed as 6’7″ all the time in 70s and 80s. Usually these guys add an inch or 2 on their height resume. As it’s easy to get away with then you are taller than 95 percent of the population.
Prowse is 6’5″. Wilding is 6’7″.
Depends on where you read it. I read Prowse was 6’7” many times in the e 80s, in now when Prowse stands he barely reaches 6’3″, my experience most people pad their height resume an inch or 2. Being 6’5″ myself most people think they are an inch or 2 taller than they are, and they think they’re being accurate. When you’re taller than 95 or more percent of society it’s easy to do and get away with. Whether he’s 6’7″ or 6’5″ isn’t going to show much onscreen.
I just saw his height…6’7″…perfect!
I think who’s in the suit is less relevant thanthe voice.
No ! The body language is indeed important, those visual cues you unconsciously pick up on to confirm the character / actor. Case in point, AD was ill on the set of TESB, Kersh got a crew member to play 3PO, and they had to re-shoot it with AD simply because the crewman didn’t *move* like 3PO was expected to move ! :o)
OTOH, Vader in the suit was played by two guys, of very different builds, and I think there’s an argument to be made that some of the most iconic Vader stuff isn’t DP in the suit.
6’1″ Bob Anderson on lifts did a lot.
That’s what I’m saying – Bob’s fighting is some of the best Vader stuff in the movies, and nobody bitches.
Ok,granted…. the duelling at times was very visual and iconic….. BUT, I’d humbly suggest that the posture is ‘lost’ amidst the choreography – I mean, it’s the standing and the walking that one might spot, and I think (unsurprisingly) DP captured the ‘arrogance’ of Vader perfectly ! :o)
I’m hoping we get minor scenes with Vader throughout the movie and at the end he pops up and slaughters the whole group with Jyn barely escaping him. This has been rumored and I’d love it
Or, no sight of Vader at all until he appears at the climax. The drama of a big reveal could be absolutely awesome. Hmmm, but how do you “hide” Vader for most of the movie?
It might depend on how much the Emperor is involved. It might depend on what happens in that bacta tank spa.
I would be ecstatic! If they can recast Ford for their young Han stand alone, they NEED to recast Hayden. Anakin was a joke in the prequels and Hayden should not be allowed anywhere near the new films .
I think Hayden and the others were fine, the script on the other hand…
Here is Spencer’s facebook.https://www.facebook.com/OfficialSpencerWildingFanPage/ Reminds me of how Prowse was in build very much.
This guy.
Here’s a fitting photo for the story.
Not sure how tall any of those guys are but it would help if their legs weren’t so spread out. Looks about right though and more importantly unlike Hayden, He actually looks like he could fill out the suit.
GREAT CHOICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! With VADER in the FILM, I am FAR more excited for ROGUE ONE!
As long as they get James Earl Jones to voice him and fine with this guy playing Vader.
Speaking of Darth Vader , I don’t think this site likes to report this sort of news but has anyone seen the story on Jake Lloyd? Per MSN ” reportedly has been transferred to a psychiatric center to deal with his schizophrenia after spending nearly 10 months behind bars.”
I feel for the guy , I hope he gets the help and support he needs.
If he had a problem with teasing in school I wonder what prison was like…
Um ok …. Kinda a crappy comment to make, especially about someone who suffers from mental issues.
Oh, please. Mental issues don’t excuse beating up your own mother or putting people’s lives in danger in a high speed car chase. He’s lucky he didn’t end up killing someone.
Depending on how bad the mental issues are, they actually DO excuse those things in the eyes of the law, FYI. Just a reminder.
He knew he had a problem, he refused to take his meds, he acted violently towards his mother and put people’s lives in danger, which is exactly why he spent the last 10 months in jail.
And THAT part is certainly his fault.
I’d ask you to at least consider that with mental illness, it’s not always easy to assign something as clear cut as ‘fault’.
Refused to take meds. – Probably his fault. Not necessarily. But probably tho.
I know my being prickly on this point will come as a shock, but having previously employed a young guy who, unknown to me, suffered from schizophrenia, mostly because he had been good taking his meds for years, I had the very unfortunate opportunity to learn a great deal more than I ever wanted to know about why people stop taking their meds when he had a psychotic break at work. The meds themselves are miserable, while on them you can start thinking you’re fine and don’t need them, or, as happened with this poor kid, you can become increasingly paranoid about what the drugs really are. The important thing to keep in mind here is that we’re talking about a condition which distorts one’s perception of reality, and drugs which tone down rather than ‘fix’ that condition, and which have truly unpleasant side effects. It’s not reasonable under those circumstances to expect someone to stick to their scripts as if it was as simple as taking your heart pills.
The meds for schizophrenia, if he in fact does suffer from it, are horrific. And it should be pointed out that the very nature of mental illness in general means patients aren’t necessarily able to make the best, most objective determinations about their state of minds. Worse, the nature of that one in particular sometimes mean sufferers get very suspicious of what their meds really are doing.
The key distinction is ‘explain’ vs ‘excuse’ – sympathy and empathy isn’t the same as excusing. Regardless, I know Lloyd has had some massive personal issues, but hadn’t heard he was schizophrenic. I’ve know a couple of people who’ve struggled with it – tragic, and terrifying.
All you need is a big guy the size of Dave Prowse who can replicate his movement. Don’t need Hayden for that.
Vader needs to cut everyone down at the end of this
Missed the suggestion that he’s been running lines. My one hope is that whoever is directing JEJ gets him to sit down with all of the Vader ANH dialogue and see if they can get close. It’s a very different take on the character than in ESB or RotJ, and not really close to what he’s been doing with it in Rebels.
they have to pitch his voice in Rebels because of his age, he will never sound he did when he was in his 50’s for Star Wars (He’s 85 right now!)
JEJ better be doing the voice.
If Vader is indeed in the movie, can’t imagine he wouldn’t be – less work than what he’s already put in on Rebels.
Disney paid $4 billion for Star Wars. You can sure as hell bet that Vader will be in this, because Disney wants to sell lots of new Vader related merch and toys. RO and these other anthology movies are the best way to capitalize on Vader.
I feel kind of relieved about this.
It really makes sense… take a look at the man , he looks perfect for Vader.