Forest Whitaker in Talks to Join the Rogue One Cast

Forest Whitaker

Variety reports that Forest Whitaker is in negotiations to join Felicity Jones, Riz Ahmed, Diego Luna and Ben Mendelsohn in the first Anthology movie directed by Gareth Edwards – Rogue One…

 

 

From Variety:

 

Whitaker is currently filming Denis Villeneuve sci-fi drama “The Story of Your Life” opposite Amy Adams, and is in negotiations to follow that film with “The Crow” remake in the fall before jumping into production on “Star Wars: Rogue One.”

 

He’ll next appear in Antoine Fuqua’s boxing drama “Southpaw,” a potential Oscar contender bowing later this summer, and is a producer on critically acclaimed Sundance hit “Dope,” which bows on June 19.

 

ghost_dog_sword

 

Another fantastic choice by the casting director. Forest Whitaker is a brilliant actor. Here’s a short bio, for those who are not familiar with him (via Wiki)

 

Forest Steven Whitaker III (born July 15, 1961) is an American actor, producer, and director. He has earned a reputation for intensive character study work for films such as Lee Daniels’ The Butler, Bird and Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, for his work in direct-to-video films and for his recurring role as LAPD Internal Affairs Lieutenant Jon Kavanaugh on the award-winning television series The Shield. Whitaker won an Academy Award, a Golden Globe and a BAFTA for his performance as Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in the 2006 film The Last King of Scotland.

 

Whitaker is repped by WME and Brillstein Entertainment.

 

Disney and Lucasfilm had no comment on the casting.

 

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Founder of SWNN, MNN and The Cantina forums.

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Founder of SWNN, MNN and The Cantina forums.Born on April 24, 1980.

95 thoughts on “Forest Whitaker in Talks to Join the Rogue One Cast

  • June 15, 2015 at 9:21 pm
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    Even when he’s happy, he always looks sad!

  • June 15, 2015 at 9:27 pm
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    Excellent news. He’s a hell of an actor.

  • June 15, 2015 at 9:31 pm
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    No thanks. He appears in nearly every single film nowadays. I want to see a more original choice, thank you. Plus I can’t imagine him being in Star Wars, not even in the slightest.

    • June 15, 2015 at 10:38 pm
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      Um. He’s Forest Whitaker, not Samuel L. Jackson.

    • June 15, 2015 at 11:15 pm
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      Reaaly? He’s not in that much stuff. dude can act though

    • June 15, 2015 at 11:57 pm
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      he appears in nearly every single film? what are you on about loooool

      • June 16, 2015 at 2:56 am
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        Saying that he appears in nearly every single film was merely an exaggeration, you do not have to be flabbergasted by the statement LOL.

        • June 18, 2015 at 5:20 am
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          Still it’s kinda a ridiculous statement I mean He’s only been in a few movies, To me he is well known but not like Sam Jackson level were you only see the actor and not the person he’s playing as.

  • June 15, 2015 at 9:32 pm
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    This would be an exceptional choice if this pans out. This guy can play just about any character in a film. The upcoming movies he has in summer and fall may prevent him from joining I fear.

  • June 15, 2015 at 9:36 pm
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    no , please…..he has a one style acting style, and while that works sometimes, he would take me out of a star wars movie because of that reason alone

    • June 15, 2015 at 9:52 pm
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      Well, Harrison Ford has a one style acting style. Does that take you out of a SW movie?

      FW is a great actor and i can’t wait to see him in a SW film

      • June 16, 2015 at 1:40 am
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        No because Harrison Ford started his acting career with Star Wars. Did you actually think you were making a good point there?

        • June 16, 2015 at 11:55 am
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          He actually MADE a good point.

          • June 17, 2015 at 1:54 am
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            You’re not thinking correctly. And yes there is a correct way to think, what you think is entirely different.

            There’s a world of difference, however that may be between an actor who became famous from a certain role reprising said role, and a famous recognizable actor who is new to a franchise being cast in any role in a sequel.

            To date there have not been many instantly recognizable actors cast in a Star Wars film, Liam Neeson would be the closest example of a bonified leading man cast in Star Wars in a main role.

            James Earl Jones was not a household name when he was cast as the voice of Vader, Alec Guinness was not cast because he was extremely well known or a major star, he was cast toward the end of his career because he had a gravitas about him and a reputation as a character actor.

            Same with Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. They were never serious stars, they were character actors and they were mostly known for b rated horror movies.

          • June 17, 2015 at 1:55 am
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            And before you mention Samuel L. Jackson, he had a bit part and it was still distracting.

  • June 15, 2015 at 9:50 pm
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    No, please, unless motion capture character. He has such a distinct presence, which will distract our imagination from A galaxy far far away. I hope he will be Nien Nunb

    • June 15, 2015 at 9:53 pm
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      any more than SLJ or LN were for the PT? Or Chris Lee? Or Jimmy Smits?

      • June 15, 2015 at 10:13 pm
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        They did not have same statue in the action,Syfi movies when they were casted , except for Mr .Lee.

    • June 15, 2015 at 9:56 pm
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      Not to mention Alec Guinness and Peter Cushing.

    • June 15, 2015 at 10:32 pm
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      She looks surprised.

    • June 16, 2015 at 6:46 am
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      huh, It’s just as dumb-looking as that microsoft-paint generated mock-up.

  • June 15, 2015 at 9:59 pm
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    i was hoping for unknown first big film actors.
    and i dont really rate him as an actor , but saying that he does quiet slightly dumb appearing but secretly brainy characters quite well .

  • June 15, 2015 at 10:05 pm
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    Not my favorite actor,still, I remain open minded.

  • June 15, 2015 at 10:09 pm
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    Please not go for recognizable actor.

    • June 15, 2015 at 10:16 pm
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      Precisely. Star Wars should focus solely on unknown, talented actors.

    • June 16, 2015 at 2:25 am
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      FW could be the Alec Guiness or Peter Cushing of the film: an older, well-known actor to lend some gravitas to the film. Don’t forget that, although Alec Guiness is probably most well-known now for Star Wars, in 1977 he was an elder statesman of a previous generation of epic blockbuster films: e.g., Bridge Over the River Kwai, Lawrence of Arabia. FW is an Oscar winning actor whose presence I’m sure is, like Alec Guiness, hoped to bring in an older audience who may not otherwise be attracted to scifi/action films…

    • June 16, 2015 at 3:29 am
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      Liam Neeson, Samuel L Jackson, Peter Cushing, Alec Guiness. Yeah, Star Wars never has recognizable actors.

      • June 16, 2015 at 4:14 am
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        Aside from SLJ, they did not appeare at least in Syfi or action movies before SW.

      • June 16, 2015 at 8:57 am
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        When ep 1 went out in theaters, Liam Neeson was not such a famous actor IMO. It’s not the case for Samuel “Motherfucker” Jackson i admit. But, what, did you imagine SW without him ? I loved his acting in SW despite some people will argue.

        • June 16, 2015 at 12:24 pm
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          Dude, Liam Neeson was in Schindler’s List.

          • June 17, 2015 at 12:38 pm
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            Really ? I always missed him. Thanks for pointing me that.

  • June 15, 2015 at 10:12 pm
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    He’s overrated and way too recognizable.

    • June 18, 2015 at 5:27 am
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      Oh yeah because of that one movie and one Oscar he got, right to high profile.

  • June 15, 2015 at 10:23 pm
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    H.ford , L.Neeson became a star after Star Wars, which is always OK.

    • June 16, 2015 at 7:18 am
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      LN was a well established actor before Star Wars FYI

      • June 16, 2015 at 2:41 pm
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        This is true. However, it can be argued that he did not become a household name until after his role in SW.

  • June 15, 2015 at 10:24 pm
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    Lemme guess….he plays a good guy.

    Just like Captain Panaka, Mace Windu, Lando Calrissian, Zare Leonis, Finn, Corr Sella, Saw Gerrera, Steela Gerrera, Sana Solo, etc.

    I’m black, and I’m sick of being made into these patronizing good guy sidekick parts. The best parts are always the bad guys. But, for some embarssing reason we’re never allowed to be the bad guy.

    C’mon Hollywood, we’re adults, let us play on both sides of the line.

    • June 15, 2015 at 10:44 pm
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      I’m not black but I see what you’re trying to say. And as for the “embarrassing reason”, it’s pretty much because Hollywood probably fears a backlash if they were to cast a black person as an antagonist. Unfortunately, at this point in time, America hasn’t moved past the point of not seeing issues in casting black actors as certain characters (sadly we’ve got a long ways to go as a society).

      • June 15, 2015 at 10:55 pm
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        I guess I see what you’re saying. But, honestly, the bad guy is the most powerful character, so allowing a black man or woman to have that level of power wouldn’t be insulting towards blacks, it would be empowering.

        Everybody loves Darth Vader, Darth Maul, and so on. The Emperor is bad ass. White guys are the bad guys in every show and movie and book, and it hasn’t hurt them at all.

        Why would it hurt us then?

        • June 16, 2015 at 3:24 am
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          Because “racism”. You can hide almost anything you say behind that word. If you say you don´t like John Boyega, everyone will ignore that you adore Forrest W., you´re racist to them…

          • June 18, 2015 at 5:41 am
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            You know damn well that not the case, you can hate some because you just hate there race and make up some way to justify some reason of not liking the actor to hide Your prejudice, but there are some who just dont like him as an actor and that all but am not going to act like those tape of people aren’t out there some even out right say how they really feel…and its not pretty.

      • June 15, 2015 at 11:36 pm
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        You really hit that one on the head.

    • June 15, 2015 at 10:48 pm
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      Star Wars should let people of color play the villain roles, too. I’m just glad James Earl Jones had the opportunity to do Darth Vader.

      I would’ve loved to hear Samuel L. Jackson voice Darth “bad motha-” Maul! ;B

      • June 16, 2015 at 12:09 am
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        Are we really at the point where black actors
        Get typecast as being a good guy?
        I remember the times where they usually die first.
        Kind of interesting.
        Well the power of the force is insignificant
        next to the power of the political correctness

        • June 16, 2015 at 2:26 am
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          Give it time. Lucasfilm will eventually give us a black villain when they feel enough people are comfortable with it.

    • June 15, 2015 at 10:57 pm
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      I agree, and while we’re shaking things up, let us White blond guys get some roles again. (Kinda went out of favor in the mid 90s, and was rarely ever popular.) Meh, Jews and Itallians are cool too. 😉 And Blacks for bad guys. Works for me.

    • June 15, 2015 at 11:38 pm
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      You should shut up and watch films before 1960. There’s plenty of black bad guys for you, man. No shortage of them, in fact.

      • June 15, 2015 at 11:51 pm
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        Can you give me some examples please? As a black film fan, and a lover of villains, I have almost never seen this. And I’ve seen thousands of movies.

        I just want a black badass Sith lord, or bounty hunter.

        • June 16, 2015 at 2:04 am
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          He probably means white people in blackface.

    • June 16, 2015 at 12:01 am
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      wait, black people as 3 dimensional beings and not people seen in a 3rd person perspective looooool

      • June 16, 2015 at 12:19 am
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        Exactly!! We blacks are treated like babies in the movies. Bad guys are what makes the movie what they are…..they drive the conflict and set the tone, they have all the strength and power!

        Darth Vader is the most marketable character in Star Wars!!

        People complained about how boring Mace WIndu was…it’s not because Sam Jackson isn’t an ultimate badass actor….it’s because Lucas wrote him weakly. Now people are starting to get antsy about Finn for similar reasons. It’s not the actors, it’s the fearful writing of these parts for weird political reasosns I don’t get.

        Floyd Mayweather has made himself the biggest star in sports by paying a bad guy. My point is let us blacks do some bad guys, we won’t let you down.

        • June 16, 2015 at 2:09 am
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          Sam Jackson should have been a villain, but what’s wrong with Finn as a hero?

          • June 16, 2015 at 2:54 am
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            Nothing. I think he’ll be good. But I have heard some complaints that he seem weak or one-dimensional. On The Force.net message board especially.

            Sam Jackson should’ve been a bad guy I agree. Lucas messed that up. Not him.

        • June 16, 2015 at 2:24 am
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          How was Mace weak (where in the hell are people getting this idea from)? He beheaded Jango Fett and fought Palpatine/Darth Sidious to the point where he was going to kill him?

          And let me remind everyone that SLJ’s character was meant to be a secondary character (that’s how his part fit with the story).

          • June 16, 2015 at 2:58 am
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            Not weak in terms of “strength.” Weak in terms of character depth, arc, likability. Dialogue, performance, role in the story. That kind of stuff.

            A characters strength is in how interesting and deep and iconic she/he is. Walter White, Tyrion Lannister, Darth Vader, are all “strong” characters. Not that they can win a fight, that they can enter your mind and stay there with their iconic nature.

        • June 16, 2015 at 2:25 am
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          Let’s not play the what-if game now…

    • June 16, 2015 at 8:28 am
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      Way to pre-judge a rumored casting… you don’t even know if he’s in the movie yet.

    • June 16, 2015 at 2:52 pm
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      I agree anon. You can be “positively” racist as well in a sense. Not degrading, but patronizing due to being conscious of “race”. I believe there is one race…the human race. If someone’s ethnicity influences how you treat them whether bad or good, you are giving in to racist notions. Granted, I think one should be conscious of ethnicity when casting family of already established characters. For ex. – Han and Leia’s children being anything other than white would be strange and serve the film negatively as attention would be drawn to race for the sake of diversity. But when casting new roles, I think we shouldn’t hold to the preconceived stereotypes. I look forward to seeing Whitaker in Rogue One, whatever role, and I hope this rumor is true.

  • June 15, 2015 at 10:32 pm
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    Yaphett Kotto from Live and Let Die had a strong presence in my opinion.

    • June 15, 2015 at 11:20 pm
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      Kotto was great in Bond. Forest Whitaker would make an awesome sadistic Imperial, but I’d bet my house he’ll be just another good guy with no depth. It’s so unfortunate.

  • June 16, 2015 at 12:49 am
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    That is a bad ass choice. great actor, he will add something great to the story for sure….

  • June 16, 2015 at 12:54 am
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    I know I had a comment in here and it looks like it was deleted. Pity.

  • June 16, 2015 at 2:30 am
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    Does anyone think Forest Whitaker would make a good villain?

    • June 16, 2015 at 3:12 am
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      Yes!!! Please!!!

    • June 18, 2015 at 5:46 am
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      He’s played bad guy before so….

  • June 16, 2015 at 2:46 am
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    More Asian actor will be cool.

    • June 18, 2015 at 5:48 am
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      We now have some from the raid so there might be more coming soon I hope

  • June 16, 2015 at 3:20 am
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    These comments are so ridiculous. Why do people get so upset at non white men getting big Hollywood roles? If you have an issue with that, you are a huge douchebag. I can’t believe even a Star Wars fan site has been overrun with racists.

    • June 16, 2015 at 3:28 am
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      Again, that’s not fair. If you read all my commenst I’ve been balanced about wanting a black Sith or bounty hunter or badass villain. That’s it.

      There are like 5 comments that aren’t great. But mine have been fine. I don’t like you lumping me in with “racists.” I am black myself

      • June 16, 2015 at 3:32 am
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        If you are the one complaining about not having enough black villains, I’m not talking about you. That’s a fair point and I agree. But look at some of the comments above mine. Disgusting.

        • June 16, 2015 at 3:36 am
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          Ok, thank you for making the distinction. I appreciate it.

          BTW, Forrest Whitaker’s performance in The Last King Of Scotland was off the charts good. He’d own Rouge as the villain…even with Vader being in the film!

          • June 16, 2015 at 3:41 am
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            I’d like to see him as like a sneaky, cerebral villain. Maybe a spy of sorts, going undercover as a rebel trying to sabotage them.

        • June 18, 2015 at 5:52 am
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          Well can you blame the person I mean there are a lot of bigots that show up here from time to time it’s hard to tell.

    • June 16, 2015 at 6:48 am
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      EVEN* a star wars news site?

      *?

      • June 18, 2015 at 6:11 am
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        It’s not always blatant dude thats what I Meant.

    • June 18, 2015 at 6:02 am
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      Star wars is big So It’s going to get worse as we get more high profile roles given to non white actors in things you “normally” Don’t see in films when it comes to lead roles like a popular blockbuster space adventure staring a black actor in a lead hero role, stuff like that won’t hurt.

  • June 16, 2015 at 3:47 am
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    Some Balck actor does not like to be csated in Villain role. Chiwetel Ejiofor refused James Bond Villain role.
    Idris Elba seems to get it in next Star Trek film.

    • June 16, 2015 at 4:19 am
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      Maybe Chiwetel Ejiofor did not like the role itself and not necessarily that it was a villainous role. After all, he did play a great villain in Serenity…
      https://youtu.be/X0GGndnnOqw

      • June 16, 2015 at 4:31 am
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        Thanks, He is fearsome actor. He did had a meeting with JJ in TFA casting process. I am wondering why he did not get the role

  • June 16, 2015 at 4:05 am
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    Diversity is all Hollywood issue, which we find out in movies like Exodus , Alloha.

    • June 18, 2015 at 6:25 am
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      Yeah your right and that’s just sad.

  • June 16, 2015 at 4:17 am
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    I’d love to know, who or what is Rogue One?
    Is it the big baddie’s spacecraft (star destroyer/cruiser?), or is it the big baddie himself/herself?

    • June 16, 2015 at 6:52 am
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      Rogue One is star-craft No #1 of Rogue Squadron,
      In OT Rogue Squadron was led by Luke Skywalker, making him Rogue One.
      Wedge Antilles was Rogue Five if I recall.

      Woah! “Rogue One” refers directly to the main character, possible Felicity Jones.
      But Luke is later Rogue One.

      This basically confirms that the Hero of this movie will Die.

  • June 16, 2015 at 7:09 am
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    I always kind of liked Forest Whitaker, I haven’t really seen him in anything recently, which seems to be in direct synchrony with his decision to stop being in stupid movies,
    so I’ve only really seen him in “Blown Away” [clicheed “popcorn” entertainment at it’s best].
    I always like him though because he’s somewhat unlikable, he’s like unattractive, out of shape, unmemorable underdog that you just have to root for.
    I’m sure somebody might find that racist, but whatever, my point is, he makes “boring uninteresting straight-man” entertaining, which if that isn’t the mark of a good actor I don’t know what is.
    He’s sort of like the 90’s equivalent to Chris Evans’ acheivement of making Captain America NOT DUMB.

    Plus, I’m strangely entertained by watching out-of-shape guys, such as 90’s FW, break a sweat.
    call that perverted if you will, seeing this guy try to outrun someone is entertaining, and THAT COUNTS in the book of “good actor” to me.

    I’m all for seeing what this guy will do in a SW film, he could make a good admiral, like the guy who gives out the battle plans.
    Or maybe an underground agent / fugitive with kick ass fighting skills,
    the possibilities are endless.

  • June 16, 2015 at 8:11 am
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    He was in Taken 3 and movie itself was not good.

  • June 16, 2015 at 8:43 am
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    Racist comments on this site will be deleted, and users that post them may be outright banned. I just purged twenty different posts.

    This is a site about Star Wars meant for all fans to enjoy, not a pundit for politics and outdated societal views.

  • June 16, 2015 at 12:09 pm
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    If confirmed, this is great news.
    FW is an amazing actor – and while I agree that it would be cool to have him as a villain (not because he’s black, but because he can act), I’m also sure he’ll do great in any possible role.

  • June 16, 2015 at 4:43 pm
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    After seeing, ‘Ghost Dog’, I think this guy would be pretty bad ass as either a Jedi or a Sith. He has that ‘quiet wisdom’ quality that lends some gravity to these types of roles.

    I’m in!

    • June 16, 2015 at 4:44 pm
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      … and I know that Rogue One will not feature Jedi, I’m just saying I think he fits well in the SW Universe.

  • June 17, 2015 at 7:13 am
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    You guys remember Vincent Klyn? The villain in Cyborg? The one starring Jean Claude Van Damme. ..He would’ve been an awesome Sith

  • June 18, 2015 at 6:04 pm
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    NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! man the second we see him in this film it would straight up YANK US right out of the STAR WARS universe and mess up the whole imagination thing we got goin on…he is to famous and well known…that would be like casting Tom Cruise as the lead….it would just ruin the whole fantasy, nobody would buy into the story after they saw this dude.

    • June 18, 2015 at 10:55 pm
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      Star Wars fans have such fragile imaginations. -_-

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