When you think of Hiroyuki Sanada, you probably picture a stoic, battle-hardened warrior with a deep sense of purpose.
Whether it’s in The Last Samurai or Westworld, Sanada brings intensity to every role he touches.
Now, there’s buzz about him wanting to be part of the Star Wars universe, and it’s hard not to get excited about the possibilities.
He has a certain gravitas that could make him the ideal candidate for the role of the Prime Jedi, the founder of the Jedi Order.
Let’s dive into why this casting would be perfect, and explore the arguments that fans are making.
Table of Contents
- Hiroyuki Sanada Wants To Be In Star Wars
- Hiroyuki Sanada’s Versatility Makes Him A Perfect Choice For Star Wars
- Casting Him As The Prime Jedi Or Sith Opens Up An Epic Origin Story
- He Deserves A Unique Weapon Or Role That Avoids Stereotypes And Honors His Depth
- We Don’t Need To Over-Explain Jedi Origins, Sanada Can Shine As A Natural Leader
Hiroyuki Sanada Wants To Be In Star Wars
In an interview with Variety, Hiroyuki Sanada dropped some pretty exciting news, he’s a huge Star Wars fan!
“Shōgun” star Hiroyuki Sanada says he’s a big #StarWars fan. https://t.co/GlnKMH2Yi2 pic.twitter.com/4VmNmFtXVF
— Variety (@Variety) April 6, 2024
He said, “I’m a big fan, the world itself is amazing,” and honestly, can you blame him?
The guy’s been in so many incredible projects, and now it seems like he’s ready to dive into the galaxy far, far away.
When asked if there’s a specific role he’d want to play, Sanada kept it chill, saying he couldn’t pick because the whole Star Wars universe is just too awesome to choose from.
And, of course, fans are already going wild imagining what he could bring to the table. Even though he didn’t name a particular character, we can’t help but think about all the possibilities.
Could he be the Prime Jedi? Maybe a badass Sith Lord? Or what if he brought the Ronin from Star Wars: Visions to life?
Whatever direction Star Wars takes with Sanada, one thing’s for sure – he’d absolutely crush it.
Just picture it: his depth as an actor would add so much to the Star Wars universe, and we’d all be lining up to see what he brings to the screen!
Hiroyuki Sanada’s Versatility Makes Him A Perfect Choice For Star Wars
Hiroyuki Sanada is the kind of actor who can elevate any project he’s in. Whether it’s a big-budget film or a small indie project, his performances are always memorable.
You might know him from The Last Samurai, where he made a huge impact even though he wasn’t the lead, or Mortal Kombat, where he embodied Scorpion in a way that made even a flawed movie feel engaging.
And let’s not forget Shōgun, where his role brought a new level of depth to the show.
One of his most critically acclaimed roles, though, is in The Twilight Samurai. In this film, Sanada plays Seibei Iguchi, a low-ranking samurai whose quiet dignity, internal struggles, and unwavering sense of honor define him.
His performance is often described as “exquisite” and “understated,” qualities that could translate perfectly to the role of the Prime Jedi.
In The Twilight Samurai, Sanada’s character faces difficult decisions, balancing his duty to his clan with his responsibilities to his family.
His ability to portray a man struggling between conflicting loyalties is exactly what would make him stand out in a role like the Prime Jedi, a character who would be responsible for setting the moral compass of the Jedi Order.
Star Wars thrives on characters with depth, and Sanada guarantees a multi-layered performance that would bring emotional weight to the screen.
Casting Him As The Prime Jedi Or Sith Opens Up An Epic Origin Story
Let’s talk about one of the most popular fan ideas: casting Sanada as the Prime Jedi, the founder of the Jedi Order.
Fans have imagined him as a character who is wise, calm, and powerful – qualities Sanada has portrayed time and time again.
His calm demeanor, coupled with his emotional depth, would be perfect for showing the philosophical side of the Jedi.
Think of Sanada embodying a Jedi who values peace, balance, and the inner struggles that come with having great power.
But what if we flipped the script? What if instead of being the founder of the Jedi, Sanada played the first Dark Side user – the origin of the Sith?
His role in The Twilight Samurai shows how well he handles complex characters who face internal battles.
Imagine his character starting out with good intentions, using the Force to protect his loved ones, only to be slowly corrupted by the Dark Side.
This tragic arc, where Sanada’s character evolves into the villain the Jedi Order is formed to stop, would be a powerful emotional journey.
Many pointed out how the emotional weight of his character in The Twilight Samurai really resonated.
His struggles to provide for his family while adhering to his sense of honor could easily mirror the fall of a once-noble figure succumbing to darkness in the Star Wars universe.
Whether Jedi or Sith, the story potential with Sanada in this role is huge, and he has the acting chops to make it work.
He Deserves A Unique Weapon Or Role That Avoids Stereotypes And Honors His Depth
One concern fans have voiced is the risk of typecasting Sanada as a “samurai” Jedi with a stereotypical space katana.
Sure, the visual would be cool, but Star Wars can move beyond those surface-level tropes.
Sanada deserves a role that honors his depth as an actor without reducing him to simple samurai archetypes.
He could wield something unique, like a vibrosword or even a specially designed lightsaber that sets him apart from other Jedi (or Sith).
Some have even speculated that Sanada could play Tarre Vizsla, the first Mandalorian Jedi and creator of the Darksaber.
This would not only align with Sanada’s samurai-like persona but would also give him a significant and unique place in Star Wars lore.
As seen in The Twilight Samurai, Sanada’s character Seibei wields a short sword, a weapon of simplicity but deadly efficiency.
A similarly unique weapon in Star Wars could echo this, showing that the power of the Jedi isn’t necessarily in their weapon, but in their mastery of it.
Ultimately, what matters most is giving Sanada a role that taps into the full range of his talent beyond just his fighting skills.
The depth of character he brought to Seibei Iguchi shows that Sanada can portray characters who are internally conflicted, emotionally complex, and ultimately powerful in their quiet resolve.
He doesn’t need a space katana to shine.
We Don’t Need To Over-Explain Jedi Origins, Sanada Can Shine As A Natural Leader
One of the challenges Star Wars has faced in recent years is over-explaining its mythology.
Many worry that digging too deeply into the origins of the Jedi might take away some of the mystery that makes the Force so intriguing.
While making Sanada the founder of the Jedi Order sounds exciting, there’s a risk of getting bogged down in unnecessary exposition.
Instead, what if Sanada plays a wise leader who unites Force-sensitive beings without over-explaining every detail of the Jedi’s beginnings?
Sanada’s performance in The Twilight Samurai shows he can portray characters who lead by example, not by explanation.
Seibei Iguchi is a quiet leader, one who earns respect through his actions rather than his words.
This is the kind of character who could seamlessly fit into the Star Wars universe.
Whether he plays the founder of the Jedi or a wise mentor akin to Yoda, Sanada’s ability to command attention and respect makes him an ideal candidate for a leadership role.
And if not the Prime Jedi, why not a powerful Sith lord or even a strict Imperial officer?
With Sanada, the possibilities are endless, and whatever role he’s given, he will command the screen.