Star Wars is entering a new era that explores new planets and characters as much as it tells untold stories of characters fans already know and love. Characters like Boba Fett, Bo-Katan Kryze, Ahsoka Tano, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Leia Organa have benefited from this attitude toward storytelling, and Natalie Portman's Padmé Amidala could be next.
Portrayed by Portman in the Star Wars prequels and voiced by Catherine Taber in the animated Clone Wars shows and movie, Padmé Amidala played an important role in the Star Wars universe - more important than she probably realized. Though she spent most of her life wrapped up in politics and working for the good of her home planet Naboo and the universe at large, the biggest impact Padmé had on the universe was on her deathbed. While Anakin Skywalker was already on a path to the Dark Side, the effect that Padmé's death had on him sealed his fate and set him on a path of destruction.
While that sounds like a definitive end to Padmé's story, Portman revealed she’s still game to return to the Star Wars character. In an interview with GQ, Portman discussed returning to the role in response to fan questions about her future with Star Wars. "I have no information on this. No one's ever asked me to return, but I'm open to it," she said. Her answer suggests she isn't currently working on a Star Wars project. However, a comment she made later in the interview suggests that she could return.
Portman mentioned a discussion she had with director Taika Waititi while on the Thor: Love and Thunder set that supports the idea that Portman could be returning to the Star Wars universe. When asked if Waititi forgot that she was in Star Wars, Portman said, "He says he did, ‘cause he like asked me if I wanted to be in a Star Wars movie. And I was like, 'I was!' I thought he was joking. He's such a joker, that I thought it was a joke. And then afterwards, he said in some interview, that he like, was cringing afterwards." Although Waititi initiated the conversation without remembering that Portman had already been in three Star Wars movies, he seemingly considered her for a role in his upcoming Star Wars movie.
While not a confirmation, the conversation does mean that Waititi is interested in working with Portman on a Star Wars project. Waititi's Star Wars movie was announced a few years ago, and while details are still entirely unknown, this conversation could provide some hints as to what may happen or who may appear in the movie. However, Portman was adamant that no one officially approached her about appearing in another Star Wars project. So, while fans - including Waititi - may be ready to see Portman return to Star Wars, they may not get what they want. At least, not yet.
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Source: GQ/YouTube