‘Doctor Who’ Star Tom Baker Talks The Force in ‘Star Wars Rebels’, New Clip and More!
USATODAY got a chance to sit down with former Doctor Who star Tom Baker, to discuss his new Bendu character that he is voicing in Star Wars: Rebels Season 3. Also, check out an all new clip from the season premiere.
Shock waves went through the Star Wars universe back in July when it was announced that actor Tom Baker will join the Season 3 cast of the animated television show, Star Wars: Rebels. The third season of the award-winning series is set to kick off on Sept. 24 (8:30 p.m. ET/PT) on Disney XD.
Reportedly, the veteran actor is set to play a mysterious wise and bull-like creature called the Bendu that is described as being the middle area of the Force, somewhere between the Dark and Light sides. In an all-new episode, “he becomes important in the journey of Kanan (Freddie Prinze Jr.), a Jedi and member of the fledgling Rebel Alliance who was recently blinded in battle and is now finding new ways to be a warrior”.
USA TODAY caught up with Baker to discuss his new animated role and share a little insight on his own history with Star Wars.
Q: What does the Bendu add to the Star Wars saga?A: The Bendu is described as a “life force,” which is something we haven’t really seen before in Star Wars. He’s not the dark side or the light — he’s something greater. I’m quite flattered that (Rebels executive producer) Dave Filoni fancied me as a “life force” at the age of 82.
Q: What was the biggest appeal for playing the Bendu?A: It all has to do with inexplicable power. I had a very religious upbringing — believing in angels, devils, divine forces and other worlds — so when it comes to playing a life force like Bendu, I can easily embrace in my imagination all those thoughts I have from my past. My fate is guided, of course, by the script writers, but I try to record on days when I believe in fabulous forces.
Q: The Bendu helps Kanan get his groove back. Do you see him as a Yoda-like mentor figure?
A: The big characters in these series appear to be making decisions, but it depends on the writers giving you good powerful scenes. These adventures of The Doctor and Bendu are followed and loved by people who dream. Dreaming is so important, because anything can happen. It has nothing to do with physics or logic, it’s like religious faith.
Q: Did they tell you anything about the character that most helped your portrayal?
A: No one except Dave would tell me anything because it was so secret. I didn’t know much about Doctor Who when I got that role either. When I set out to do a part, I don’t know what it’s going to do to me. You hope and try to absorb everything around you and let it drift through you.
Q: You were still playing The Doctor when the original Star Wars movie came out in ‘77. Were you a fan of it even then?
A: There were special tickets issued to people at the BBC — producers, directors, actors — and we all went to a screening at 10 in the morning. When the first scene came — the size and duration of that ship sailing through — well, we absolutely were shattered with joy. It was simply beyond anything we’d seen. Now, in 2016, to be joining this genre of entertainment, I’m a happy man.
Check out the new exclusive clip from Season 3 (courtesy of USA TODAY):
Jedi hero Kanan (voiced by Freddie Prinze Jr.) meets the powerful Bendu (Tom Baker) in an exclusive clip from the season premiere of the Disney XD animated series “Star Wars Rebels.” Lucasfilm
Nice to see Ashla and Bogan as part of cannon. Old school 🙂
First draft represent!
Ashla and Bogan are NOT moons of Tython, people. Learn some real Star Wars history 😉
What are they then?
Ashla is the light side and Bogan the dark side of the force.
It’s also not the first time we’ve heard the Ashla mentioned on Rebels. Zeb’s people have a belief system rooted in it. Kanan thought it was term for the Force, but it seems like GO’S original idea, it’s the name for the light side.
George Lucas’s original names for the light and dark side of the Force.
Read “How Star Wars Conquered the Universe” which contains a LOT of info about George’s creative process and his ideas for the many drafts of story that evolved into Star Wars.
Just download the 2nd Draft screenplay for the original movie, it’s all over the net 🙂
Or download the script, yeah, also a valid option: certainly less time consuming
You and the Jedi Bendu get an upvote.
Still might be moons, they themselves represented the Light and Dark of the Force. The names are now cannon, the moons themselves might make an appearance in the future……….but for now we’ve the names.
Doubtful.
The owl is back.
Is the Bendu going to be a recurring character. He features in the first two episodes as shown at SWCE, but I’m unsure if he’s intended to return throughout the season. Any one know?
SPOILERS
I vote TB for all the television.
Best Doctor ever.
EXACTLY. Was thinking – “And THAT is why 35 years later, he’s still the undisputed DOCTOR!” Wish he’d done more Sherlock Holmes too…still enjoy his ‘Hound of the Baskervilles’ every now & again
Used to watch Doctor Who religiously as a kid, never the same after he was replaced.
His autobiography is worth a read, or better yet, a listen as an audio book. I was smirking as I read his comments about growing up religious because of the absolute disdain he expresses for organized religion after his experiences on his way to becoming a priest. “The Boy Who Kicked Pigs” is also a fun read, and a pretty dark little story.
Just got a hold of ‘Kicked Pigs’! And I’ve not read the autobiography, so that’ll be next…
what’s the exact title of his autobiography? I want to find the CD audiobook or at least a downloadable version.
“Who on Earth is Tom Baker”. Surprisingly sad early home life, and he comes across as someone who perhaps has trouble connecting with other people, but he’s wickedly funny.
thanks for the info
I’m not gonna lie. I got pretty choked up during his scene in the 50th anniversary special.
“Who Knows…”
I’m excited to see where this goes. It reminds me a lot of the force related stories in the Clone Wars
“Shock waves” went through the Star Wars universe because Tom Baker is voicing a character in Rebels? Geez, talk about hyperbole!
lol, sometimes…… I go overboard. I’ll be the first to admit
I found 2 versions of the shock waves!
https://youtu.be/1fnzcAFy8d8
https://youtu.be/pZ1-YhuJkX8
The first one is great. Probably was seizure-inducing, haha!!