Matt Smith is at long last embarking on his journey through the vast expanse of the Star Wars universe. The talented actor, who was once rumored to make an appearance in 2019's Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, has been officially selected to join forces with Shawn Levy in Star Wars: Starfighter, as confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter. Attempts to reach Lucasfilm for comment were unsuccessful.
According to insiders, Smith will be portraying one of several villainous roles in the upcoming film, while Levy is still in search of a female antagonist, with Mikey Madison having been previously considered for the part. Starfighter, starring Ryan Gosling, is set to captivate audiences on May 28, 2027.
Back in 2018, Smith was reported to be joining the cast of the ninth Star Wars movie, but unfortunately, that role never materialized. During an interview on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, journalist Josh Horowitz inquired about rumors that Smith was set to play a young Palpatine, to which Smith politely declined to comment. (Ultimately, the role was reprised by the original actor, Ian McDiarmid.)
Reflecting on the missed opportunity, Smith shared, "It was an incredibly cool concept, a pivotal role in a transformative Star Wars story detail. It was a big thing, a major plot twist that never quite made it to the silver screen."
Smith, best known for his role in Doctor Who, is represented by UTA, B-Side Management, and Maison Two.
