How to Get Cast in a ‘Star Wars’ Production

Lucas’ original “Star Wars” trilogy—1977’s “Episode IV—A New Hope,” 1980’s “Episode V—The Empire Strikes Back,” and 1983’s “Episode VI—Return of the Jedi”—follows the adventures of Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Han Solo. This unlikely trio leads a rebellion against the oppressive Emperor Palpatine and his right-hand man, Darth Vader, aka Anakin Skywalker. 

Lucas’ prequel trilogy—1999’s “Episode I—The Phantom Menace,” 2002’s “Episode II—Attack of the Clones,” and 2005’s “Episode III—Revenge of the Sith”—follows Anakin’s early years, chronicling his transformation from a young boy to a Jedi Knight to a powerful Sith Lord working for the dark side.

2018’s “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” which comes next chronologically, traces the exploits of young Han. Following the timeline, 2016”s “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” follows a ragtag team led by Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) that steals the plans for the Death Star, leading into the events of “A New Hope.” Then there’s the latest trilogy, led by J.J. Abrams and Rian Johnson: 2015’s “Episode VII—The Force Awakens,” 2017’s “Episode VIII—The Last Jedi,” and 2019’s “Episode IX—The Rise of Skywalker—which picks up with the next generation of rebels, including Rey, Finn, and Poe Dameron.

Disney+’s growing collection of “Star Wars'' series continues to expand the universe. The slate so far includes “The Mandalorian” (starring Pedro Pascal), “The Book of Boba Fett” (starring Temuera Morrison), “Obi-Wan Kenobi” (starring Ewan McGregor), “Andor” (starring Diego Luna), “Ahsoka” (starring Rosario Dawson), “The Acolyte” (starring Amandla Stenberg),” and the upcoming “Skeleton Crew” (starring Jude Law).

The original “Star Wars” trilogy transformed Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, and the late Carrie Fisher into Hollywood royalty. The prequel series included well-known talent such as Samuel L. Jackson, McGregor, Natalie Portman, and Liam Neeson; and the most recent films starred Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, and Adam Driver. “The Mandalorian” stars Pedro Pascal and the late Carl Weathers; “The Book of Boba Fett” features Temuera Morrison as the title character, along with industry veteran Ming-Na Wen; and “Obi-Wan Kenobi” saw McGregor return to the role he played in the prequel films. New entries into the universe include “Andor,” starring Diego Luna and Stellan Skarsgård; “Ahsoka,” starring Rosario Dawson and David Tennant; and “The Acolyte,” starring Amandla Stenberg and Jodie Turner-Smith.

Sarah Finn, who’s filled out the ensembles of many of today’s most successful franchises, also serves as the primary casting director for “The Book of Boba Fett” and “The Mandalorian.” The industry veteran has cast almost every Marvel blockbuster, including “Avengers: Endgame” and “Black Panther,” as well as Oscar-winning films like “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.” Other CDs who have worked on “Star Wars” properties include Jina Jay (“Rogue One”) and Nina Gold (“The Rise of Skywalker,” “Andor”).

When Boyega talked to us about landing his role as Finn in the most recent film trilogy, he noted how he drew inspiration from past leads. “Before my last audition, there was a lot of pressure to come in with a good performance. And I went back and I watched Harrison Ford’s audition with Mark Hamill on YouTube for the first ‘Star Wars’ movie and I really tapped into that energy,” he said. “There’s an energy to ‘Star Wars’ that is very specific and that Finn embodies a lot. It’s an over-the-top, corny type of Hollywood style that worked with ‘Star Wars’ and doesn’t work with any other project.”

“The Force Awakens” lead Ridley had quite a different casting experience. As she told the Guardian, she was working in a London pub when she was cast as Rey, and she was almost immediately thrust into the spotlight, becoming a global icon overnight. She said Abrams wanted to tap into her newcomer status in order to create a character who was “vulnerable and tough, sweet and terrified.”

Luna, on the other hand, transformed his role in “Rogue One” (where—spoiler alert!—his character dies) into his own hit prequel series. As he told us, the idea for “Andor” began as a joke on set, but after filming wrapped on “Rogue One,” the true concept finally began to take shape. “And I said yes—yes, because it sounded right. It didn’t sound like we were gonna go back to do a new version of something that had already been done; that would have scared me a lot,” Luna explained. “There was an opportunity to do something different, to see it from a different perspective, to explore the character in a way [he] hadn’t been explored.”

Meanwhile, Pascal had no idea that, when director Jon Favreau asked to meet, he wanted the “Narcos” star to lead Disney+’s breakout hit. “I think that they thought that I knew—but I didn't know—so I asked them finally: ‘What do you guys want me to do? What do you guys want me to play?’ And they seemed confused. They said, ‘You’re the Mandalorian.’ And I was like, ‘Holy s**t.… Really?’” Pascal told Vanity Fair. “Once again, I think that when I'm offered such a beautiful chance to make a contribution to such a bigger picture, I don't ask a lot of questions, you know? I said, yes.”

Disney continues to keep much of the details about upcoming “Star Wars” installments under wraps, but we can confirm there are a number of projects on the horizon. “Andor” Season 2, for instance, has likely wrapped, as Deadline noted filming was almost complete when the SAG-AFTRA strike shut it down. And Variety confirmed “Ahsoka” Season 2 is in development, while also announcing the cinematic conclusion to Disney+’s “The Mandalorian” with “The Mandalorian and Grogu.” Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and Taika Waititi are also set to direct “Star Wars” features. In anticipation, we recommend that those who do not yet have representation do so soon as these insiders have the scoop on what’s casting right now. Check out our guide on how to get an acting agent.

While there are currently no known casting calls for “Star Wars” productions, you may want to bookmark our main casting page, which features the latest available auditions. We also suggest exploring our guide on how to audition for Disney, the franchise’s parent company.

Embrace the insanity. “The footsteps are your own and it’s about whether you’re crazy enough to single yourself out. You want to be a part of this kind of industry, you gotta know it’s not like a doctor, who has a limited amount of options based on facts, science, skills,” Boyega told us, sharing that actors must embrace the absurdity of the industry and acting itself. “You either tap into that insanity or you be one of those logical people who just get burned by the experience,” he added. “Like, ’Star Wars’ is not real. Think about it. It’s not real. It doesn’t exist at all in terms of the real world. But it’s so important. So it’s, like, be crazy, man! Tap into the insanity. And hope for the best.”

Don’t give up on yourself. “Be yourself, and don’t give up. We’re past the time now where you need to sort of change your name or kind of appropriate yourself to a culture that is not your own,” Pascal told NBC News. “I went through it as a younger person where ‘Pedro,’ the name ‘Pedro,’ didn’t really fit with my face in terms of industry standards. But I stuck to it, and I think that your own uniqueness, related to your own culture and your own upbringing, has everything to do with what you have to bring to a part. The very essence of yourself is what people are going to want to see.”

Let uncertainty be your guide. “To be honest, I was never intentional, and I think that’s what made [my career] possible,” Luna told us, noting that a lack of creative fulfillment pushed him into a period of total uncertainty. Not only did this time teach him how to live with less and be patient, but it also inspired him to create his own opportunities. “I think [plotting out] your career or thinking about the long term is not something we should be focused on,” he added. “As actors, that gets us distracted. We end up paying attention to stuff that shouldn’t matter to [us].”