When it comes to Star Wars, most actors would jump at the chance to return to the galaxy far, far away. But for British rapper and actor Jordan Stephens, keeping his identity mattered more than a small role in Andor.
Stephens, who played Corporal Stordan Tonc in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, recently revealed that he was invited to reprise his role in the Disney+ series Andor. However, there was a catch – he was asked to cut off his dreadlocks for the part.
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“I Was Like, Wow, That’s Mad Exciting” – Until It Wasn’t
Stephens shared his experience in a TikTok video, explaining that he was excited about the offer at first. But just a week before filming, the showrunners requested an updated picture of his appearance.
“I sent them a picture, and they were like, ‘Can you cut off your dreadlocks?'” he recalled. For context, his dreadlocks had been growing for about six years. “This is what they asked me to do for one scene. Obviously, that’s ridiculous.”
Stephens even offered a solution: wearing a helmet, just like he did in Rogue One. But the production team rejected that idea, saying it wouldn’t be “realistic.”
“Right. Because a world where we fight slugs with laser guns is realistic,” he joked.
Fans React: “A Scene That Could Be Cut Faster Than His Hair”
The news sparked mixed reactions online. Some fans fully supported Stephens’ decision, saying that asking someone to cut off years of hair growth for a brief scene was excessive.
- “That’s fair. He didn’t want to lose years of hair growth for a role in a TV show. He doesn’t seem to be complaining about it, just explaining why he turned it down.”
- “It’s just one scene. That could end up on the cutting room floor faster than he could cut his hair. Not worth it.”
- “It’s a bit ridiculous to expect an actor to change their entire look when CGI, wigs, or even a helmet could solve the issue. Feels unnecessary.”
Others, however, pointed out why the request might have been made.
- “His character in Rogue One didn’t have dreadlocks, and Andor leads right up to that movie. They probably wanted continuity.”
- “If the scene was set just days before Rogue One, it would be hard to explain why he suddenly had long hair before Scarif.”
Still, many questioned why Star Wars – a franchise full of aliens, space magic, and advanced technology – couldn’t simply work around it.
- “They bring actors back from the dead using CGI but draw the line at digitally altering some hair?”
- “The man wore a helmet for the first time. Why not let him keep it on?”
A Small Role, A Big Decision
At the end of the day, Stephens made a personal choice to stick with his identity rather than compromise for a minor appearance. Some fans felt the story was overblown, while others saw it as a reflection of the challenges actors face in Hollywood.
Whether you agree with him or not, one thing’s for sure – Stephens is standing by his principles. And Andor season 2 will move forward, with or without Corporal Tonc.
The new season premieres on April 22 on Disney+.