Voice actor Vanessa Marshall is already known for her role as Hera Syndulla in Star Wars Rebels. However, she has expressed a deep interest in portraying another iconic Legends character in the Star Wars canon.
Marshall recently spoke to Collider where she discussed her enthusiasm for participating in Dave Filoni's upcoming Star Wars TV shows or movies in live-action, especially after she collaborated with Filoni on Rebels. But when asked if there was any other character she would like to play, Marshall pointed out that she wanted to explore Mara Jade's story.
"I would love to play Mara Jade. Can you call Dave Filoni and just let him know that I'd love to play Mara Jade?" Marshall said. "I think we would all just like to be in live-action in some way. We haven't had the opportunity to do it yet. But my background is in live-action."
Marshall's desire to bring Mara Jade to life is particularly intriguing, given the character's significant role in Timothy Zahn's Heir to the Empire trilogy and other Legends stories. Filoni's upcoming film is expected to explore Grand Admiral Thrawn's story so there is a possibility that Mara will be making her live-action debut soon.
Who is Mara Jade in Star Wars?
Mara Jade Skywalker was a Force-sensitive human female who was an Emperor's Hand, a smuggler, and later a Jedi Master who sat upon the Jedi High Council. In Legends, she was also Luke Skywalker's partner.
Mara's absence from the official Star Wars canon has sparked speculation among fans about the possibility of her reintroduction, especially with the promise of new Star Wars movies that might explore similar narrative themes.
The voice actors from Star Wars Rebels have displayed an eagerness to transition from animated to live-action roles. While Ahsoka Tano and other Rebels characters have been recast for live-action appearances, there is still potential for actors like Marshall to contribute to the Star Wars universe in new roles.
However, the fate of Mara Jade in the canon remains uncertain. Marshall's wish to portray the character may hinge on future developments in Dave Filoni's The Mandalorian movie, which is set to adapt elements from Heir to the Empire. The challenge lies in the extensive involvement of the original trilogy characters in that storyline, making it difficult to seamlessly adapt for a contemporary audience. As a result, characters like Ahsoka Tano, Din Djarin, and the live-action crew of Star Wars Rebels seem poised to fill the void left by Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, and Han Solo.
The question of whether Mara Jade will appear in the Star Wars canon remains open, with the character's intricate connection to Luke Skywalker posing challenges. In the Legends stories, Mara Jade and Luke Skywalker form a complex bond, leading to their eventual marriage. The absence of hints about this narrative in the Star Wars sequels diminishes the likelihood of a direct adaptation of Mara Jade's original story.
Nevertheless, there remains a glimmer of hope for a reinterpretation or a different role for Mara Jade in the evolving Star Wars universe, and Vanessa Marshall's expressed interest could potentially contribute to the realization of this fan-favourite character in a new light.
