Actress Vanessa Marshall, who voiced Hera Syndulla in Star Wars Rebels, has expressed interest in playing Mara Jade in a future production.
Imagine a universe where the voice of Hera Syndulla, the central character from Star Wars Rebels, comes to life in an entirely new form: Mara Jade. Vanessa Marshall, the actress behind Hera, has expressed her excitement at bringing this iconic character to life in the live-action film directed by Filoni.
Vanessa Marshall wants to be Mara Jade.
Mara’s story is as rich as it is complex. Originally introduced in Timothy Zahn’s “Heirs of the Empire” trilogy, Mara appears as the Hand of the Emperor, a role filled with mystery and power. Her path marked by conflict and redemption, from the dark corridors of Jabba’s palace to Return of the Jedi, leads her to an unexpected destiny.
Marshall recently shared his wish at Fan Expo San Francisco. “I would love to play Mara Jade,” she told fans, urging them to express their interest with Filoni. Although the actress is known for her voice in animation, she has a history in live action, which strengthens the possibility of seeing her in this new role.
An uncertain future for Mara Jade in the cinema
However, Mara’s addition to the Star Wars Cinematic Universe is not without challenges. The narrative based on the Saga series suggests that the romance with Luke Skywalker is no longer feasible. Still, there is great potential for Mara to direct her own stories and become the first female lead in the next Star Wars era.
Whether Marshall takes on the role will depend on Lucasfilm’s plans for the character. Mara’s age, her relationship with the emperor, and the space filled by other characters in Filoni’s upcoming films raise questions about how and where she fits in. Despite this, the actress is optimistic and willing to explore new horizons in a galaxy far, far away.
From Imperial Shadow to Jedi Hero
Mara’s figure has improved significantly since her conception. Created by Timothy Zahn, she initially distinguished herself as an enigmatic and deadly antagonist. The transition from the darkness of the Empire to the light of the Jedi represents one of the most compelling stories of redemption in the expanded Star Wars universe. This complexity makes the character particularly attractive for a live-action adaptation, with depth and a narrative that can resonate strongly with today’s audiences.
Also, the possibility of introducing Mara in future projects could give the saga a new perspective. Compared to characters like Rey or Ahsoka Tano, Mara offers a unique experience: a past from the saga’s most famous villainous emperor and transitioning into a heroic role. This duality of character can be explored in a variety of formats, from Disney+ series to movies, expanding the rich Star Wars narrative.
Animation vs. Live action
Interestingly, Mara makes her debut in animation, a medium that allows Marshall to flesh out the character before jumping into live action. Given that Marshall handed over the live-action role of Hera to Mary Elizabeth Winstead, this transition could be a significant reversal of her career in the Star Wars universe.
With future projects like Rey on the horizon, Mara Jade’s appearance in other Star Wars productions isn’t ruled out, although this would involve significant changes to the character, opening up more opportunities to explore her complex backstory and place in this vast universe. Fans and Marshall’s hope to see Mara come to life on the big screen or television lives on.