Some characters never die. Well, sometimes they do, but the actors/actresses in those roles don’t always appreciate it when their onscreen counterparts bite the dust. Not everyone is a Harrison Ford, you know. One of these Not Harrison Ford actors is Samuel L. Jackson, who recently told the world on a popular late night show that he’d reprise his role as legendary “Star Wars” character Mace Windu if opportunity knocked.
When Jackson appeared on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” last week, he explained how the dead Jedi Master could return, saying, “There’s a long history of one-handed guys that were Jedis that had lightsabers [and] that made it.” He prefaced this with this shocker of a confession: “I’d really love to give one more run at Mace Windu.” It’s unlikely that Star Wars fans expected Windu to be a topic of discussion, especially because Jackson was on the show to promote his new film “Shaft.” After that revelation, it’s difficult not to imagine how incredible it would be to see the actor slip back into those Jedi robes. Bringing him back from the dead in a way that makes sense narratively wouldn’t be easy, but Jackson’s comments denote a belief in the Jedi’s ability to survive. Disney+ series anyone? Lucasfilm, are you listening?
Windu’s popularity and marketability as a character owed themselves to his “cool” factor and the fact that he makes purple lightsabers fashionable. As if they ever weren’t. Additionally, he killed Jango Fett, fought off Darth Sidious, and repeatedly proved himself a formidable warrior. Even his death at the hands (ha) of Anakin Skywalker and Darth Sidious was one hell of a way for him to go. For the ten-year-olds watching those movies, that was an awesome experience.
If you’re itching to see Jackson in action, go see “Shaft” this weekend. If you don’t want to do that, you can catch him in the countless other films in which he’s featured.