Over the years Star Wars has had and continues to have a successful run. With the franchise’s impact reaching other fields beyond just cinema, Star Wars is undeniably one of the most influential science fiction stories in history. With its inception in 1977, George Lucas changed the film industry. With its revolutionary cinematography, the introduction of the “move tie-in” ideas, and the explosion of science fiction blockbusters, Star Wars is a must-watch for any movie-lover.

The franchise began in the middle of the story and went on to introduce a prequel trilogy, in turn, making the prequel trilogy seem more smooth and developed in terms of cinematography due to technological advancements. However, with the present updates and inventions in relation to CGI and AI, a reboot might become quite effective. With reboots like Wednesday proving that they are not entirely bad, if executed properly, a Star Wars prequel trilogy using today’s technology might emphasize several key details and might allow certain characters to look more realistic. That being said, a reboot would call for a recast of the main characters. Given that the cast of a film plays a central role in its success, nothing but the best of today’s Hollywood is what is required when re-casting Star Wars prequels.

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Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader : Rami Malek

     Universal Pictures & United Artists Releasing

Anakin Skywalker’s story is the central element of the Star Wars prequels. Introduced as a young kid who grows up to be a successful Jedi Knight, Anakin was once regarded as the “Hero With No Fear” and was thus a protagonist until he became the ultimate villain of the franchise. Anakin’s alter-ego, Darth Vader, is a result of his joining the dark side. Originally played by Hayden Christensen, the actor’s performance received mixed reviews. This in itself shows how complicated it is to portray Anakin’s character.

However, the Academy Award winner, Rami Malek, might be able to do justice to this character. Malek has already proved his ability to navigate through different roles and his diverse range of acting. From his portrayal of Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody and the main antagonist of No Time To Die, Malek is able to play both the hero and the villain. Thus, an actor who is able to shift between the dark side and the light like Malek is the ideal choice to play Anakin and Darth Vader.

Padmé Amidala: Florence Pugh

     Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Amidala’s character was portrayed as a strong female lead. Portrayed by Natalie Portman, Amidala was the ruler of Naboo and then a senator representing Naboo. She was an advocate of democracy and played a crucial role in Anakin’s life as his partner and ultimately, the reason why he chose the dark side. Given her portrayals of strong female leads in films like The Wonder, Little Women and Midsommar, as well as female warriors in the Marvel universe, Florence Pugh would be able to perfectly capture Amidala’s strengths and her fighting skills. Moreover, given that Pugh is already set to be a part of Duen, which is yet another sci-fi franchise, she would be able to easily grasp the genre.

Sheev Palpatine : Idris Elba

     Sony Pictures Releasing

One of the most hated characters in the Star Wars universe, Palpatine is a ruthless Emperor, who is cunning and sly. This dark lord of the Sith was the character that turned Anakin into Darth Vader. Thus, an actor who is able to turn himself into a perfect and wicked villain can only surpass Ian McDiarmid’s portrayal of Palpatine. Idris Elba, who has already taken over some villain roles, might be a brilliant Palpatine. His authoritative presence would make him come off as a strong antagonist. His portrayal of Collin Evans in No Good Deed also proves that he is able to capture Palpatine’s manipulative nature.

Obi-Wan Kenobi: Andrew Garfield

The foil of Palpatine, Obi Wan Kenobi is the character that trained both Anakin Skywalker and his son, Luke Skywalker. The character’s importance as well as the impact he had on the audience is evident through the new Disney+ show Obi-Wan Kenobi. Thus, it is obviously no easy task to fill Ewan McGregor’s shoes; who played Kenobi in the prequels. Kenobi is one of the characters that took the forefront of the light side. Thus, it is necessary for an actor with a pleasing demeanor and a kind nature to take over this role. Andrew Garfield is a ball of positive vibes and someone who is dearly loved in Hollywood. Given his calming nature and phenomenal acting, he would be an ideal Kenobi. Additionally, Garfield has already illustrated his ability to take over a diverse range of characters.

Qui-Gon Jinn: Gary Oldman

     Warner Bros. Pictures

Kenobi’s master, as well as the character responsible for discovering and bringing in Anakin, Qui-Gon Jinn was portrayed as a fatherly figure who, regardless of his death, had an important role to play in the franchise. In the prequel trilogy, the character was played by Liam Neeson. Gary Oldman, who has already proven his fatherly nature via his role as Sirius Black in Harry Potter, it is clear that he might be a great Qui-Gon Jinn. Oldman almost voiced the villain General Grievous before stepping down. Perhaps, if a prequel reboot is to happen, Oldman can make his Star Wars debut as part of the light side.

Count Dooku: Mads Mikkelsen

A power-hungry Jedi who turned to the dark side and served Darth Sidious, Dooku was trained by Yoda and went on to become Jinn’s master. The character was played by Christopher Lee, who is well known for his portrayal of Saruman in The Lord of the Rings. An actor with a similar ability to take over a villainous presence can only succeed Lee’s performance of Dooku. Fortunately, Mads Mikkelsen is already known for his portrayal of villains. He’s especially memorable in the recent performance of Gellert Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. Thus, it is highly likely he will be able to follow in Lee’s footsteps.

Darth Maul: Jared Leto

One of the most powerful villains of the Star Wars universe, Darth Maul is well-known for his ability to take down Jinn and his rivalry with Kenobi. This character is not only fierce due to his powerful nature and superb swordsmanship, but even his appearance adds to his evil nature. An actor like Jared Leto, who has already played a villain in Suicide Squad and has gone through huge transformations for his character would be an ideal person to play Darth Maul.