Latest news with #WhataFestiveEvening
Geek Tyrant
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
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 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+.
Daily Mirror
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Andor fans 'unbelievably angry' as iconic Star Wars character recast after more than 20 years
Andor fans were left fuming after one of the most beloved supporting characters in the Star Wars universe was recast Andor fans are up in arms after a fan-favourite character from the Star Wars saga was unexpectedly replaced. In the second season's sixth episode of the Disney+ series, titled What a Festive Evening, it was shockingly revealed that Princess Leia's adoptive dad, Bail Organa—originally played by Jimmy Smits—is now being portrayed by Benjamin Bratt of Law and Order and Poker Face fame. This change comes as a surprise to many, given that Smits has been the face of Senator Organa for over two decades, having first appeared in 2002's Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones and most recently in the 2022 miniseries Obi-Wan Kenobi starring Ewan McGregor. The switch has left viewers scratching their heads, with one X (formerly Twitter) user expressing their outrage: "THAT recast has made me so unbelievably angry." Another fan pointed out the continuity issue: "Like it's Jimmy Smits as Bail in AOTC, ROTS, Kenobi,and Rogue One!", reports the Mirror US. "The fact it's Smits in Kenobi and especially Rogue One makes the recast 100X more jarring and ridiculous. "Andor Season 2 also had reshoots so they could've just done what they did for Cumberbatch in Infinity War." A different viewer raised a question about the necessity of the recasting: "Hey so while we're all celebrating how great #Andor remains, can we talk about how pointless the Bail recast was? "That brief blip was so pointless? Why even bother putting someone in Jimmy Smits' shoes On Reddit, Star Wars buffs were torn about the show, with one user posting: "Can't believe they recast Space Jimmy Smits." Another chimed in with: "I was like, that's not Bail! Kind of disappointed about that too. I guess his schedule must've been too busy. "And for what too?" queried a third viewer. "A 3 second cameo they could have easily cut or wrote off with a line of dialogue like 'ahh you just missed Senator Organa'. "I know this s*** doesnt matter at all and shouldnt bother me but like come on lol." Yet, numerous fans were overjoyed to witness the character return to the Star Wars fold, applauding Bratt's rendition. A devotee shared an image of the new actor as Bail, exclaiming: "I love Jimmy Smits as Bail but this IS Bail. He was just drawn by a different comic artist. Great recast." When asked why Smits was not brought back for the role, Andor's head honcho Tony Gilroy disclosed to Entertainment Weekly: "We couldn't work it out. "The scheduling didn't work out. We really tried hard, but he wasn't available and couldn't make it."
