[Warning: Article contains spoilers for Avengers: Endgame and possibly Star Wars: Episode IX.] Actress Natalie Portman surprised everyone when she arrived the Avengers: Endgame Hollywood premier. Her presence sparked immediate speculation that she would reprise her MCU role as Jane Foster in the final Avengers film. And she did… to borrow from Star Wars, from a certain point of view. Portman provided voice work for previously unused footage from Thor: Dark World. Will she return for the final Star Wars film as well?
(Image: Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
There’s been a bit of focus on Episode I: The Phantom Menace lately. The film celebrates its twentieth anniversary this month. There was even an anniversary panel for the movie at Star Wars Celebration in April. Natalie Portman wasn’t present for that, but that didn’t stop Empire from catching up with the actress to talk about Episode I:
It was a bummer because it felt like people were so excited about new ones and then to have people feel disappointed,” Portman said of the backlash to the prequels. “Also to be at an age that I didn’t really understand that’s kind of the nature of the beast. When something has that much anticipation it can almost only disappoint.”
But Will Natalie Portman Return to Star Wars?
There were rumors aplenty of a rift between Natalie Portman and the powers-that-be in the MCU…. Nevertheless, Portman did, in fact, return to play Jane Foster once more. Likewise, fans wondered if the prequel backlash would prevent her from having a flashback cameo in The Rise of Skywalker. If I was a betting man, I would say yes, she will in fact return. First, rumors have been circulating since last December of a Padmé Amidala appearance in Star Wars: Episode IX. And then there’s this denial she gave in an interview with Buzzfeed:
No I know what you’re thinking: why is denial evidence that she will appear in the final film of the Skywalker saga? Let’s not forget Matt Smith denied his involvement with Star Wars, too. Nevertheless, pretty much every leak from the Rise of Skywalker set about the character confirms his appearance. So… When it comes to Natalie Portman?
Me thinks the lady doth protest too much.
We’ll find out for sure when Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker hits theaters this December.
