Benjamin Bratt Opens Up About Taking Over Bail Organa in ANDOR Season 2 — GeekTyrant
Benjamin Bratt has officially joined the Star Wars universe stepping into the iconic role of Bail Organa in Andor Season 2, a character long portrayed by Jimmy Smits.
Bratt's debut comes in Episode 6, 'What a Festive Evening,' where the Senator briefly interacts with Mon Mothma and her husband, Perrin, during a political soirée.
Smits originated Bail Organa in Attack of the Clones (2002) and reprised the role across Rogue One , Obi-Wan Kenobi , and even The Force Unleashed video game. So, stepping into that role is no small task, and Bratt knows it. Speaking with StarWars.com, he shared why he took it on:
'We learn that he's a brilliant strategist and capable of bringing some heat to the degree that it's needed. That's what excited me and drew me to playing the character.'
While the appearance in Episode 6 is brief, Bratt's performance continues the legacy of a character who's been a quiet force in the Rebellion's early days, and he wasn't shy about acknowledging the shoes he was stepping into, offering heartfelt praise to his predecessor:
'He [Smits] possesses elegance, a natural grace, a goodness really, an earnestness that this particular character requires.'
The switch in actors wasn't about a change in direction, it simply came down to logistics. According to series creator Tony Gilroy, Smits was unavailable due to scheduling conflicts.
"The scheduling didn't work out. We really tried hard, but he wasn't available and couldn't make it. "
Bratt also spoke to the tone and texture of Gilroy's storytelling, noting that Andor strikes a balance between bleak and hopeful:
'It's very spare while being incredibly elaborate... [The show] keeps you hopeful. That's the essence of good storytelling... the human spirit cannot be extinguished.'
Bratt joins a strong cast that includes Diego Luna, Kyle Soller, Adria Arjona, and Forest Whitaker. While it would've been nice to see Smits back in the role, Bratt did a fine job. The question is, who will play the character in the future if he needs to be incorporated into a future story?
New episodes of Andor Season 2 drop Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on Disney+.
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