Star Wars is secretive when in production. So much that even during auditions, the actors don’t know they’re auditioning for a Star Wars product. Such is the case of Cameron Monaghan. When he auditioned for the role of Cal Kestis in the upcoming Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, he thought he was auditioning for a completely different game.
“At that point I didn’t know I was auditioning for a Star Wars game, but I kinda knew. They made these fake audition pages and stuff, and I was kinda reading it like ‘hmmm… This is Star Wars, isn’t it?’ They were like ‘No, of course not.’ It was Code Name—something—completely different. So when I got into the room and they gave me the toy light saber, I was like ‘I knew it! I knew it!'”
Cameron Monaghan to The Star Wars Show
Ok, so maybe they aren’t always good at hiding it. Monaghan was also bad at hiding how excited he is to be a part of this universe and how excited he is for us, the fans, to get a hold of Fallen Order on November 15th.
“It’s a really incredible journey, it really goes places and I can’t wait for people to see exactly where it goes. It’s amazing.”
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This week, Monaghan sat down with Anthony Carboni of The Star Wars Show to talk about the game, the toys, and how excited he is for all this. He dished on what it was like to become a Jedi through Cal’s experiences.
“I didn’t want to model Cal on any specific Star Wars character. I wanted Cal’s personality and demeanor and everything to come out of his own experiences and his own stories, and to build it from an inward place.”
Star Wars actors and their toys
Over Triple Force Friday, we saw the stars of The Rise of Skywalker and The Mandalorian get a first look at their likenesses in molded plastic. This week, Cameron got to see his. When asked if he would buy his own toys, he said:
“Absolutely, a hundred percent. I’m gonna have a ‘Cal corner’, for sure.”
The Hasbro Black Series Cal Kestis includes BD-1, his droid that accompanies you through the game, Cal’s light saber, and fully articulated limbs. The 6-inch figure will sell for around $20. There is also a Funko Pop Cal coming soon.
“It’s pretty surreal to see a character that you built and got to explore and imagine. It’s a character that I’ve really grown to love. But also it reminds me of being a kid and some of the first action figures that I got, and the imagination and possibility that comes along with playing with an action figure.”
Cameron Monaghan: Star Wars fan
Monaghan recalled wielding a toy light saber so much when he was a young kid that he bent and broke it. He’s also a Star Wars gamer and a big fan of The Clone Wars cartoons. Finally, he also fondly remembers going to see Episode I: The Phantom Menace back in 1999 with his grandfather when he was 7-years-old.
“Ultimately, it’s been an honor. It’s such a privilege to be able to play something that has a storied history behind it, but also something that I’m personally a fan of and have always wanted to be part of since I was a kid. I’m still pinching myself.”
Something I preach regularly when I write these articles is that the best performances—both in front and behind a camera—are from actors, writers, and directors who are fans of the franchise before all else. There is the rare occasion that formula still works even when they aren’t fans, but I’d be willing to bet the farm that Jon Favreau’s The Mandalorian will likely surpass the original trilogy with some of the best Star Wars story telling. I know what you’re thinking… and you’re wrong. The Mandalorian will set the new standard for Star Wars tales. Jedi: Fallen Order is right in line with that based on what I’ve seen so far. Simply put, that’s largely because Cameron Monaghan is also a big fan.
That, ladies and gentlemen, is exactly what Star Wars needs; a fan at the helm.
What about you, Star Wars fans? Have you already ordered Jedi: Fallen Order? What are your thoughts on what you’ve seen of it so far? Stick with us at That Hashtag Show.com for all your Star Wars news and commentary!
Source: StarWars.com
