The Star Wars franchise is one of the longest running in film and television history. The very first Star Wars film, originally titled Star Wars and then relabeled as Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, was released in May 1977, over 49 years ago. The franchise’s fiftieth anniversary is next year, which highlights the longevity of the series.
That’s even as many Star Wars films released since have been incredibly divisive. George Lucas’ prequel trilogy, for example, which launched in 1999 with The Phantom Menace and concluded six years later with Revenge of the Sith, divided fans and critics alike. Only Revenge of the Sith received somewhat positive reviews upon launch, and even then, many were still critical of Lucas’ approach.
Ten years after Revenge of the Sith, Lucasfilm, now owned by Disney, launched the sequel trilogy with The Force Awakens. The film received positive reviews from critics and strong positive reactions from fans at first, but soon after, The Force Awakens was the subject of constant criticism for its repetitive story and overly familiar narrative. That criticism only increased with the latter two sequel trilogy films, The Last Jedi in 2017 and The Rise of Skywalker in 2019.
All of this is to say that the Star Wars franchise, despite its incredible popularity and sheer longevity, has always been the subject of controversy and criticism. Only the original trilogy of films has, generally speaking, escaped scrutiny (although Return of the Jedi did get some of this for the inclusion of Ewoks). As a result, the original trilogy has been, and still is, the blueprint for the Star Wars franchise.
Because of this, Lucasfilm and Disney have consistently looked for ways to bring elements of the original trilogy back. Young versions of iconic original characters like Han Solo and Luke Skywalker have been included on several occasions in an attempt to recreate the feeling of the original set of films. Some fans have suggested simply remaking the original trilogy rather than forcing these characters into new stories, and if they were to be remade in 2026, the cast would be a balance of up-and-coming actors and established movie stars.
Leo Woodall As Luke Skywalker
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As the main character of the original trilogy, the casting of Luke Skywalker is arguably the most important of all the heroes (and villains). After all, it’s Luke that leads the trilogy, going from a young farm boy desperate to get off Tatooine to a Jedi Knight defeating the Empire and taking down Emperor Palpatine and his father Darth Vader.
Over the years, George Lucas has gone on record to state that his reasoning for casting original Luke Skywalker actor Mark Hamill was his youthful innocence combined with a unique sense of adventure. Lucas envisioned Luke Skywalker as a hero that has both of these traits in abundance.
What also helped Mark Hamill’s casting is that he was relatively unknown when he made the first Star Wars. Hamill was an actor that had a few credits to his name, but, generally speaking, hadn’t yet found his “big break.” Having a new face that most audiences had never seen before ended up benefiting the first Star Wars film greatly, as it helped the story, and the character, feel even more immersive to the viewers.
Unfortunately, in 2026, casting someone with little to no star power is likely to be considered too risky by studios. Disney, for example, has made an active effort to cast the biggest names in their biggest current franchise, the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The same sort of trend has hit Star Wars, too, with the likes of Ryan Gosling now joining a galaxy far, far away.
With that in mind, one name stands out among the rest for a potential Luke Skywalker: Leo Woodall. The 30-year-old English actor is a similar age to Mark Hamill when he first filmed Star Wars, and his youthful appearance would help in portraying a young and bright-eyed Luke Skywalker.
Additionally, Woodall has consistently proven himself to be one of the most exciting young actors working today. His roles in titles like The White Lotus, Netflix’s One Day, Prime Target, and, most recently, the crime thriller Tuner all highlight his abilities as a performer, showing that he’s more than capable of stepping into Mark Hamill’s shoes.
Cillian Murphy As Darth Vader
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The casting of Darth Vader is arguably one of the most important, yet also one of the hardest as well. Darth Vader’s face is seen only at the end of Return of the Jedi, so an actor would only be utilized briefly. The scene with Luke is incredibly emotional, however, which requires an actor capable of standing out with limited screen time. Cillian Murphy would be a strong choice for Vader, having excelled in similar roles in big blockbuster Christopher Nolan films, for example.
Robert Pattinson As Han Solo
Despite Luke Skywalker’s role as the main character of the trilogy, another hero often stole the limelight from him — Han Solo. Harrison Ford’s morally ambiguous smuggler, turned into a full-blown Rebellion hero come the end of the first film, became an immediate fan favorite upon the release of A New Hope..
A massive part of Han Solo’s popularity, which continues to this day (even after the character died in The Force Awakens in 2015), is Harrison Ford himself. Ford captured viewers’ attention right away, giving a performance that audiences couldn’t help but watch. His charisma and charm on screen was second to none, which makes recasting Han Solo so difficult (just look at the failure of Solo: A Star Wars Story.)
Lucasfilm and Disney might want to distance themselves from that film and start anew. After all, the Star Wars franchise has largely ignored Solo ever since, even as the film left several plot threads open for future stories. If that is the case, then Robert Pattinson may be the best choice for a new Han Solo.
Like Ford, Robert Pattinson holds a similar magnetic on-screen presence that is hard to replicate. And, just like Ford, Pattinson has shown incredible range in his career, which arguably proves that he’s more than capable of stepping into the role of Han Solo. In 2026 alone, Pattinson has had a number of vastly different roles, from an unsure fiancé in The Drama to an ambitious villain in The Odyssey.
Olivia Cooke As Leia Organa
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Rounding out the trio of main heroes of the original trilogy is Princess Leia Organa. Leia was first played by Carrie Fisher, and the actress went on to reprise her role in the sequel trilogy. Fisher tragically passed away before she was able to film the final installment, The Rise of Skywalker, but archival footage was used to ensure that Leia remained a crucial part of Episode IX’s story.
Carrie Fisher was incredibly protective of Leia as a character, defending her from attacks and consistently standing up for her at conventions, on social media, and more. Because of this, it’s extremely hard to picture Princess Leia as anyone other than Carrie Fisher, but if a remake of the original trilogy was to be made, Olivia Cooke would be a strong choice for the role.
For starters, Cooke bares a passing resemblance to Carrie Fisher, which is a huge help if she were to step into her iconic shoes. Additionally, Cooke has proven herself to be a very strong performer, appearing in titles like House of the Dragon, Bates Motel, Slow Horses, and more. Cooke has shown herself to be more than capable at portraying strong female leads, which is what Princess Leia embodies greatly.
Christian Bale As Obi-Wan Kenobi
Like Han Solo, the Star Wars franchise has already recast Obi-Wan Kenobi once before. George Lucas cast Ewan McGregor as a young version of the Jedi in the prequel trilogy, and the Scottish actor went on to appear in all three films — The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, and Revenge of the Sith. McGregor reprised his role in the Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi in 2022 as well.
McGregor is an incredibly strong option for the role of Obi-Wan in a remake of the original trilogy, especially as he’s now approaching the same age that Alec Guinness was when he first filmed A New Hope. Yet, once again, if Disney opted for a fresh start, Christian Bale would likely be high up on the list.
Like Guinness when he first joined the franchise, Christian Bale is an established English actor, and one of the most recognized and celebrated performers of his generation. Bale has played a variety of different roles, from villains to heroes like Bruce Wayne/Batman in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy. Bale’s turn as Batman in particular is proof that he can play a wise, caring mentor like Obi-Wan Kenobi.
David Jonsson As Lando Calrissian
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Solo: A Star Wars Story not only featured Han Solo, but it also included his longtime friend (and occasional rival), Lando Calrissian. Actor and musician Donald Glover was chosen to play Lando, and he is still reportedly working on a solo film featuring a young version of the character.
If Glover opted not to return in a potential remake of the original trilogy, then David Jonsson would be another strong choice. Jonsson burst onto the scene with roles in titles like Industry, Rye Lane, and Alien: Romulus. The English actor has also appeared in films like The Long Walk and Wasteman, and is set to be the new Black Panther in Disney’s new-look Marvel Cinematic Universe.
In these roles, Jonsson has proven himself capable of playing a variety of different characters. Additionally, no matter who he’s playing, Jonsson always seems to have his typical charm and personality that Lando Calrissian has in abundance, which makes him a great fit in the role.
Ralph Fiennes As Emperor Palpatine
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The last main character to be cast in the original trilogy is Emperor Palpatine. Like Darth Vader, Palpatine has limited screen time in the trilogy, appearing in just one scene of The Empire Strikes Back before returning in a more substantial role in Return of the Jedi. Palpatine is a character that George Lucas has described as over the top in his villainy, and someone who represents evil incarnate. Having played a similar character in the Harry Potter franchise, Ralph Fiennes, as one of the best actors working today, would do well as Emperor Palpatine in a Star Wars remake.
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