Spencer Wilding Discusses The Return Of Darth Vader In ‘Rogue One’

The legendary Darth Vader is back on the big screen in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and ITV Wales caught up with the actor who filled the suit for the new blockbuster smash hit film. Read on for more details…

 

One of the biggest aspects of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story to receive praise has been the return of the Sith Lord himself, Darth Vader. With James Earl Jones reprising his role as the voice of the fallen Jedi, the film project needed an actor who could don the suit once filled by David Prowse. So, Disney and Lucasfilm hired 6ft 7 inch British actor Spencer Wilding to play the role of the most epic villain ever to hit the big silver screen. Fans may remember Wilding appearing in several other big time films and television series like Doctor Who, Game of Thrones, the saga Harry Potter, Wrath of the Titans (2012), and Guardians of the Galaxy (2014).

 

In an interview with ITV Wales (via SWU), Wilding spoke for the first time about the epic return of Darth Vader, mentioned the importance of having the Sith Lord in the film, and the grueling work he put in trying to match Rogue One’s Vader with the original film series.

 

“This character has got so much presence – it’s unbelievable. I’m just one small element of Star Wars. It’s a massive production, and it takes a lot to bring the magic of that film. It’s just awesome.”

 

 

Wilding said that he and fellow actor Daniel Naprous (who played Vader in other scenes), spent an enormous effort in trying to bring back the Sith Lord in the most authentic way possible.

 

“We studied the movements of Darth Vader.  We had a trainer who got it bang on. We wanted to keep it ‘Darth Vader!’  It’s every actor’s dream. I’m still pinching myself!”

 

 

You can view the ENTIRE  video version of the interview here.

 

 

 

May the force be with us!

 

 

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22 thoughts on “Spencer Wilding Discusses The Return Of Darth Vader In ‘Rogue One’

  • December 31, 2016 at 2:46 am
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    I noticed how the lightsaber work was spot-on in comparison to the OT. Especially in the long views when we see Vader going to town from down the hallway — looks just like his chopping away down the hallway against Luke when they are under the carbon freezing chamber on Bespin.

    • December 31, 2016 at 6:41 am
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      Indeed, it surprisingly worked pretty seamlessly. Goes to show that Luke could only remotely defend himself against that because his unparalleled strength in the Force echoed his father’s.

      • December 31, 2016 at 1:14 pm
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        More like Vader didn’t want to kill him. He wanted to capture him.

        • December 31, 2016 at 8:42 pm
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          ^This… I also think that the lackluster Death Star fight can be easily explained as well. Obi-Wan was simply providing a distraction for Luke and co. to escape. He was holding back to buy time. Vader perceived Obi-Wan’s reservation as weakness and therefore exerted as little effort as needed to match him step for step. Both of them were holding back. Of course really this is just retconing 1977 fight choreography, but it works. 🙂

          • December 31, 2016 at 9:03 pm
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            Totally agree Obi-wan was providing a distraction, but not sure Vader saw this as weakness. To me they are both masters probing the others reflexes for a weakness before even considering an attack. Obi-wan isn’t going to laugh it, as you say he’s stalling, but Vader might be weary of Obi-wan and expecting a counter-strick if he attacks first. After all, Obi-wan defeated him before and cut of an arm and two legs, leaving him to burn, that’s going to have an affect on Vader mentally facing Obi-wan a second time.

          • January 2, 2017 at 12:31 am
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            I based the thought of Vader perceiving Obi-Wan as weak on the line “Your powers are weak old man”.

          • January 2, 2017 at 9:42 pm
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            good point

          • December 31, 2016 at 9:59 pm
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            It’s interesting, the Vader/Obi-Wan fight sequence ( along with the Death Star weakness that allowed it to be blown up ) has never played on my mind at all, but seems to have become a bugbear for internet fans over the years – so much so that it ( the latter ) needed an in-move explanation.

            Are we just living in a time now of ultra-nitpicking I wonder?

          • December 31, 2016 at 11:10 pm
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            for me it never mattered, all i cared about was the dialogue. that gave the fight far more weight then any advanced choreography could.

          • January 1, 2017 at 1:31 am
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            Agreed. I’ve always resolved that Vader was toying with Obi-Wan bcs he saw him as no threat. He wanted to mock & insult him until he got bored, in which case he would’ve killed him.

          • January 6, 2017 at 6:02 pm
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            I like obi wan in that scene is the only one to ever just call him Darth

    • December 31, 2016 at 5:54 pm
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      yet he still had the same fighting style as Anakin in Ep3. Very impressive sense for detail.

      • January 1, 2017 at 12:15 am
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        Yes! The same thing occurred to me as well.

  • December 31, 2016 at 9:55 pm
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    I wonder how the Vader role was divided between Spencer Wilding and the other actor ( and why was that necessary )?

  • December 31, 2016 at 9:55 pm
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    Will be good to see Wilding on the convention circuit, taking over in an official capacity where Dave Prowse was left out in the cold.

    • December 31, 2016 at 11:38 pm
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      Hahahaha ! Controversially, there are apparently reasons why “Prowse was left out in the cold”….. but hey, water under the Naboo bridge….

  • December 31, 2016 at 10:57 pm
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    FINALLY! They got it right, I watched III right before I saw the film and it’s still painful to watch Christensen in the suit even though it’s only for two scenes. I like how he brought back the clenched glove too which was always my favorite gesture of his. I honestly don’t think anyone in the 70’s and 80’s wouldn’t know he was David Prowse if you showed them those clips back then.

    • January 3, 2017 at 8:13 am
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      I think Hayden didn’t really had the chance to fully be Vader in suit, it was just too small screen time, as you said there were only two scenes, and very small, and actually I liked that Vader. painful? how? if you talk about the “nooo” it was Jones actually.

      Honestly the first time I watched RO I didn’t feel him as Vader, in the first scene, there was somenthing missing, I dont know, that bothered me a little, the movements, too much talk, that weird “force shoking” hand, too much effort to force shoke someone. the second time I watched the movie the experience got a little less weird :). I think that was the only thing that bothered me a little, everything else was just great.

  • January 2, 2017 at 12:52 am
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    I liked the “pointy-finger intimidation” gesture that was so much a part of Vader in the original trilogy. They actually had Jake Loyd do it in Phantom Menace, but the camera angle was all wrong so you really didn’t see it (the scene with everyone talking at the table)

    Something i’m surprised that no one really talks about as a blooper, like they do with the Stormtrooper head-hit, is the pointy gesture that Vader gives Tarkin in ANH that wasn’t timed properly. Vader says “I told you she would never consciously betray the rebellion”, then afterwords does the pointy thing at Tarkin. Seems oddly off.

    • January 2, 2017 at 1:08 am
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      Yeah, Adywan fixed that for Star Wars Revisited. it never really bothered me though.

    • January 4, 2017 at 12:23 am
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      It was on purpose. His arm needed some WD-40 at that moment and he was away from his Star Destroyer with his meditation chamber/garage. That’s why he sucked in that fight against Obi-Wan, he needed an oil change!

      Just kidding…..but actually….it makes sense lololol

  • January 6, 2017 at 6:06 pm
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    I loved this Vader. He seemed very big and intimidating the way it should be. Krennic was aware of his power. I was literally on the edge of my seat watching the slaughter rebel scene. I was like Yes!! We finally get to see his brutal power of the dark side used. I hope we see more of Vader in some way (forcebacks) in episode 8

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