Natalie Portman Would Be Happy To Return To ‘Star Wars’
As the generation of fans who grew up with the Star Wars prequel trilogy reaches adulthood, the trio of films that were so polarizing upon their release are being reevaluated.
For people my age, Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi are Star Wars. The Clone Wars is our favorite era; we are all Captain Rex fans, and seeing Hayden Christensen reemerge in Obi-Wan Kenobi and Ahsoka was pretty much the coolest thing to ever happen.
While Christensen and Ewan McGregor have both reprised their prequel trilogy roles in the aforementioned Disney+ series, there is one Star Wars prequel star who has yet to return.
Natalie Portman’s Star Wars Journey
Natalie Portman originated the role of Padme, a senator of the Old Republic and love interest to Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: Episode 1 — The Phantom Menace.
After seeing Anakin fall to the Dark Side, Padme died in Revenge of the Sith, but not before giving birth to Luke and Leia. While her death was permanent, that doesn’t mean her character’s Star Wars story is necessarily over.
A young Padme. Photo: Disney
In recent years, Lucasfilm has proved its willingness to go back in Star Wars history and revisit deceased characters. While 2018’s Solo: A Star Wars Story was a box office disaster, the studio has had more success with the aforementioned Obi-Wan Kenobi and the Clone Wars flashbacks in Ahsoka.
Portman Would Be Willing to Return
In a recent interview on Andy Cohen’s Watch What Happens Live podcast, Natalie Portman told the host that while “no one has asked” her to return to the Star Wars franchise, she would be happy to return.
“I’m open to it,” Portman said before stating that her time in the Star Wars prequel trilogy was “amazing.”
“It was the first time I worked digitally. I don’t think anyone was shooting that way then. It was my first time working with a green screen. It was a whole new set of skills to pick up and a whole new world to enter.”
Padme. Photo: Lucasfilm
While there may not be a narrative reason to tell more Padme stories, it’s great to hear that Natalie Portman has fond memories of Star Wars.
