Spoilers for the Andor episode, “What a Festive Night,” lie forward.
The long-awaited Andor Season 2 is in full swing and, after its first six episodes, it’s merely firing on all cylinders. Because the sequence – which is obtainable to stream with a Disney+ subscription – continues its run, it’s including new components to the Star Wars universe. One of many newest episodes additionally provides a franchise newcomer, who really performs a long-running character within the galaxy far, far-off. Collection EP Tony Gilroy offered a strong clarification for that main recast, but I nonetheless lament the truth that the OG star couldn’t reprise their position.
Throughout the sixth episode of this second season, Mon Mothma, the senator working with the rising insurrection behind the scenes, attends a viewing of an artwork assortment alongside her husband, Perrin. On their manner there, they cross paths with fellow Senator Bail Organa, who’s lengthy been acquainted with Mon. Traditionally, Organa has been performed by veteran actor Jimmy Smits but, this time round, he’s performed by one other tried-and-true performer, Benjamin Bratt.
It’s attainable that some die-hard Star Wars followers might have been thrown for a loop when seeing a brand new actor tackle the position of Senator Organa. Nicely, there’s an comprehensible purpose for the change-up, as Tony Gilroy defined to TVLine. Jimmy Smits was apparently filming the CBS drama East New York across the identical time Andor Season 2 filmed Organa’s scenes in Valencia, Spain. Gilroy was sincere concerning the totally different variables that may come into play when attempting to safe an actor for a job:
It’s very tough generally to convey legacy characters again, for an entire number of causes. . . . They simply couldn’t work it out.
As a rational particular person, I utterly perceive why Jimmy Smits wasn’t in a position to play the position as soon as extra. It’s nonetheless disappointing, nonetheless, that he couldn’t participate this time round. He made his debut as Bail Organa in 2002’s Star Wars: Episode II – Assault of the Clones and subsequently reprised the position in 2005’s Revenge of the Sith and 2016’s Rogue One. He additionally appeared as Bail briefly within the restricted sequence Obi-Wan Kenobi. Smits’ position as Bail is unassuming, and he’s at all times introduced a quiet power and sense of dignity to the character.
Contemplating these aforementioned qualities, it’s unlucky that the Within the Heights alum couldn’t return to play Princess Leia Organa’s adoptive father. Apparently sufficient, in 2020, rumors started to flow into that he’d presumably reprise Bail for Andor. The next yr, Smits himself addressed a possible return, saying that with Disney now having the inventive reins there have been loads of prospects (working example, his return throughout Obi-Wan Kenobi).
I could also be upset that Jimmy Smits didn’t return, however I even have to provide Benjamin Bratt his props. The Regulation & Order alum is a extremely expert actor in his personal proper and, like Smits, he brings gravitas to the position of Organa. I’d think about it’s not simple to step into an iconic franchise and much more formidable to take over an vital position from a seasoned star. Kudos to Bratt for crushing it, and Tony Gilroy and co. deserve props as nicely for executing an efficient recast.
Whereas it’s unclear if any upcoming Star Wars films or TV reveals will function Jimmy Smits enjoying Bail Organa once more, his previous appearances within the saga can be found on Disney+. After all, additionally make sure to try new episodes of Andor, which hit the aforementioned streamer at 9 p.m. ET on Tuesdays as a part of the 2025 TV schedule.