#dswcp fancast

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Quinlan Vos Fancast

The recent news of ten new Star Wars film projects made me imagine how I would adapt some of my favorite comics. Quinlan Vos is one of the longest-running Star Wars comics protagonists; he could easily lead a TV series, spanning the years leading up to the fall of the Republic. But while the prequel films focused on the “bright center to the universe,” Quinlan’s series would show us what was going on behind the scenes among the Separatist and criminal circles he infiltrates.

Daniel Kaluuya as Quinlan Vos, undercover Jedi knight

Amandla Stenberg as Aayla Secura, Quinlan’s beautiful Twi’lek Padawan

Robert Carlyle as Vilmarh Grahrk, Quinlan’s wily Devaronian partner

Roger Guenveur Smith as Tholme, Quinlan’s stern former Master

Donna Murphy as T’ra Saa, a wise and sexy sentient plant

Michelle Yeoh as Volfe Karkko, an evil space-vampire

Logan Browning as Khaleen Hentz, Quinlan’s secret agent girlfriend

“Star Wars 32-35: Darkness; Star Wars 40-41: The Devaronian Version; Republic 49: Sacrifice.” Dark Horse. July 25, 2001 - January 22, 2003. Writer: John Ostrander. Pencillers: Jan Duursema and Davidé Fabbri. Inkers: Jan Duursema, Ryan Kryssing, and Christian Dalla Vecchia. Letterers: Joe Wayne and Steve Dutro. Colorists: Joe Wayne, Dave McCaig, and Guy Major.

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Newspaper Comics Fancast, Part 1

The recent news of ten new Star Wars film projects made me imagine how I would adapt some of my favorite comics. Russ Manning’s run of the newspaper comics contains some of the strangest and most charming characters in Star Wars, and it would be a dream come true to see them return!

Hayley Kiyoko as Gyla Petro, alleged Imperial spy

Roxann Dawson as Mistress Mnemos, room-size super-computer

Willem Dafoe as Black Hole, Vader’s incorporeal stooge

Anika Noni Rose as the President of the gambling world, Vorzyd V

Leslie Jones as Anduvil, Luke’s tall girlfriend from back home

Sigourney Weaver as Lady Tarkin, widow and terrible boss

Kelly Hu as Sharlee, Pink Darth Vader

Laverne Cox as Tana, Han’s more successful ex

John Mulaney as Stafuv Rahz, the first alien Imperial officer

Star Wars Newspaper Comic Strip: “Gambler’s World,” “The Constancia Affair,” “The Kashyyyk Depths,” “Tatooine Sojourn,” “Princess Leia, Imperial Servant,” “The Second Kessel Run,” and “Bring Me the Children.” May 13, June 7, June 13, August 4, September 2, September 26, and November 11, 1979. January 20 and April 13, 1980. Writer and illustrator: Russ Manning. "Tatooine Sojourn” written by Steve Gerber. “Princess Leia, Imperial Servant” and “The Second Kessel Run” written by Russ Helm.

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“Tales of the Jedi” Fancast

The recent news of ten new Star Wars film projects made me imagine how I would adapt some of my favorite comics. I haven’t written much about “Tales of the Jedi” -- except, weirdly enough, Warb Null -- but the eight-part, 35-issue series is peak Star Wars comics. TotJ is epic and emotional, strange and wordy, eerie and dense, and occasionally quite funny. The comics also set up the generation before the characters in the Knights of the Old Republic video games (Jolee Bindo was friends with Nomi Sunrider when they were young).

There have been, for a few years, rumors of a Star Wars film series set during the Old Republic. If there is any truth to this, I think it would be wiser to take inspiration from TotJ than from the more popular KotOR. So much of KotOR’s themes and storytelling depend upon the interactivity of the video game format, but TotJ would translate beautifully into cinema.

(Also, check out the awesome audiobook! It’s all just free on YouTube and it’s so much fun!)

Harry Shum Jr. as Ulic Qel-Droma, our bold but foolish leading man

Lupita Nyong’o as Nomi Sunrider, our unwilling but gifted leading lady (I know she was already in Star Wars, but what if she was, like, actually in Star Wars)

Robert James-Collier as Exar Kun, who fell to the dark side out of sheer curiosity (and became one of the most compelling, most intense, sexiest characters ever)

Ian Alexander as Cay Qel-Droma, Ulic’s mechanically-inclined younger sibling

Zahn McClarnon as Arca Jeth, Ulic and Cay’s powerful Jedi master

Sam Neill as Thon, Nomi’s dinosaur Jedi master

Britney Spears and Raven-Symoné as Queen Galia and Queen Oron Kira, whose marriage unites the Beast Riders and the people of Iziz

Elliot Page and Kristen Stewart as Satal and Aleema Keto, wicked self-taught Sith cousins

Quvenzhané Wallis as Vima Sunrider, Nomi’s rebellious daughter (and perhaps the same as the mysterious Vima-Da-Boda?)

Sara Kestelman as Freedon Nadd, the mighty Sith ghost who corrupts Exar!

“Tales of the Jedi: Ulic Qel-Droma and the Beast Wars of Onderon,” issue 1. “The Saga of Nomi Sunrider,” issues 1 and 3. “The Freedon Nadd Uprising,” issues 1 and 2. “Dark Lords of the Sith,” issues 1, 2, and 4. “Redemption,” issue 2. Dark Horse. October 1, 1993 - August 26, 1998. Writers: Tom Veitch and Kevin J. Anderson. Pencillers: Chris Gossett, Janine Johnston, David Roach, and Tony Akins. Inkers: Mike Barreiro, Denis Rodier, and Jordi Ensign. Letterer: Willie Schubert. Colorists: Pamela Rambo, Suzanne Bourdages, and Dave Nestelle.

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“Padawan Pack” Fancast

Happy Clone Wars Friday!

The recent news of ten new Star Wars film projects made me imagine how I would adapt some of my favorite comics. When all their Jedi masters die in the battle of Jabiim (except Obi-Wan, who was actually just chained up in Ventress’ skeevy dungeon), nine orphan Padawans form the Padawan Pack. And it’s all downhill from there.

There has, of course, already been lots of Clone Wars film media, including some adaptations of comics. However, the battle of Jabiim takes place in the earlier days of the war, before Anakin was knighted; the second season of the 2D Clone Wars show, and all of the 3D Clone Wars show, take place after he is knighted. I think this is a shame, since I really like sad boy Padawan Anakin. He just recently lost his mother and his arm, killed a tribe of Tusken Raiders, and got married. Though some comics deal with these topics, the cartoons rarely do. To stand out from the other Clone Wars content and to achieve a more serious tone, these post-AotC stories could be adapted into live-action.

Though more Clone Wars stuff would be excessive, I put it to you that so was Rogue One!

Jenna Ushkowitz as Zule Xiss, the fiercest one

Shameik Moore and Hailee Steinfeld as Tae Diath and Elora Sund, connected by a powerful young Force-bond

Marcus Scribner and Jordan Fisher as Mak Lotor and Kass Tod, who practically never have a comic panel apart from each other

Dylan and Cole Sprouse as Vaabesh and Windo “Warble” Nend, the LGMs of the gang

Auli’i Cravalho as Aubrie Wyn, the smallest and the bravest one of all

Republic 56 & 57: “The Battle of Jabiim, Parts 2 & 3.” Dark Horse. July 30 and September 24, 2003. Writer: Haden Blackman. Penciller: Brian Ching. Inker: Victor Llamas. Letterer: Sno Cone Studios. Colorist: Joe Wayne.

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Newspaper Comics Fancast, Part 2

The recent news of ten new Star Wars film projects made me imagine how I would adapt some of my favorite comics. Yesterday I cast characters from Russ Manning’s run of the newspaper comics; today, here are some of the fantastic characters from the Archie Goodwin + Al Williamson run. 

For the newspaper comic adaptation, it would be a lot of fun to see a light-hearted micro-series, similar to Genndy Tartakovsky’s Clone Wars (my favorite Star Wars media). It could even be animated, with Russ Manning’s season in a rounder style and Archie Goodwin + Al Williamson’s in a sharper one. It could also be really cute in live-action; I imagine it with a retro, low-budget aesthetic.

Jack Black as Admiral Griff, Vader’s consensual choke buddy

Beau Billingslea as Dr. Arakkus, master of the Graveyard of Lost Ships

Evan Rachel Wood as Tanith Shire, who is horny but also tragic

Nicole Byer as Silver Fyre, Han’s fabulous ex

Kristoffer Tabori as Kraaken, her evil butler

Hugh Jackman as the Night Beast, awoken from millennia of slumber

Karen Fukuhara as Frija Torlock’s droid copy, a lonely robot girl

Garrett Wang as Lexhannen Torlock’s droid copy, her mean dad

Lana Parrilla as S’ybll, an evil witch who tries to eat Luke

Star Wars Newspaper Comic Strip: “Darth Vader Strikes,” “Deadly Reunion,” “Traitor’s Gambit,” “The Night Beast,” “Iceworld,” and “The Paradise Detour.” June 12 and 14 and December 13, 1981. January 20, February 17, May 12, and October 27, 1982. August 14, 1983. Writer: Archie Goodwin. Illustrator: Al Williamson.

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“Knight Errant” Fancast

The recent news of ten new Star Wars film projects made me imagine how I would adapt some of my favorite comics. “Knight Errant” is an epic story in three parts; a movie trilogy would be awesome, or a 3-part miniseries. It is set 1000 years before the movies within the Sith empire, so it would be an opportunity to design a really cool, unique setting.

Katie Leung as Kerra Holt, our newly-knighted leading lady

Nicolas Cage as Odion, migraine-suffering dictator (and my favorite Sith ever)

Keanu Reeves as Daiman, Odion’s philosophically-warped little brother

Amber Riley as Jenn Devaad, charity-running pilot with a dark secret

Hugo Weaving as Beld Yulan, Odion’s most faithful henchman

Nicky Katt as Gorlan Palladane, ex-Jedi resistance leader (three guesses what magical weapon he swore never to use again is in the diaper bag)

Dev Patel as Joad Kreel, Kerra’s dispirited childhood friend

Mark Hamill as Malakite, unhinged Sith cousin

“Knight Errant: Aflame,” issues 2 and 5; “Deluge,” issues 2 and 4; and “Escape,” issues 1, 3, and 4. Dark Horse. November 10, 2010 - September 12, 2012. Writer: John Jackson Miller. Pencillers: Federico Dallocchio, Ivan Rodriguez, Iban Coello, and Marco Castiello. Inkers: Belardino Brabo, Sergio Abad, and Vincenzo Acunzo. Letterer: Michael Heisler. Colorist: Michael Atiyeh.