From DC to Star Wars: Mary Elizabeth Winstead boards Disney+ series
From DC to Star Wars: The Force is strong with Mary Elizabeth Winstead (“Birds of Prey,” 2020) — or maybe it isn’t. We don’t know yet.
Winstead has joined the cast of “Ahsoka,” one of several Star Wars live-action series/spinoffs in development at Disney+. But here’s the thing: Disney and Lucasfilm have remained rather tight-lipped, and key plot details, including any information about Winstead’s character, have been kept under wraps.
We know that “Daredevil” actress Rosario Dawson will reprise her “Mandalorian” role as the liveaction version of Ahsoka Tano, the former Jedi Padawan-turned-wanderer introduced in the 2008 animated film“StarWars:The Clone Wars.”
Given that the Force-sensitive Togruta was front and center in the “Clone Wars” animated series and in “Star Wars Rebels,” many believe “Ahsoka” will focus on Ahsoka’s continuing hunt for Grand Admiral Thrawn — especially after that name-drop in “The Mandalorian.” Perhaps it will lead to Ezra Bridger, given that Australian actress Natasha Liu Bordizzo (“The Society”) has been cast as Sabine Wren.
Fans have been trying to guess Winstead’s character based on Ahsoka’s established story. Of course, Star Wars franchise steward/writer/producer Dave Filoni, who cocreated the character of Ahsoka with George Lucas, might use Winstead’s
thespian skills to bring a new character to life instead.
Another lingering question is how Canadian actor and Star Wars prequel star Hayden Christensen (“Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith,” 2005) will reprise his role as Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader in “Ahsoka.”
Christensen’s Vader will still be alive (and angry) in Disney+’s upcoming “Obi-Wan Kenobi” series, starring “Doctor Sleep’s” (2019) Ewan McGregor (Winstead’s partner in real life), but given that “Ahsoka” is set five years after Vader’s death in “Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi” (1983), fans are convinced Christensen will pop up in flashbacks, maybe even as a Force Ghost.
Just be Claus: Christmas in March? Filming should soon begin on Disney+’s “Santa Clause,” a limited-series sequel to the Santa Clause films starring Tim Allen
(“Toy Story,”
1995).
The comedian is back as Scott Calvin, who started out as a divorced dad in 1994’s “The
Santa
Clause” before embracing his new role as Santa Claus. Actress Elizabeth Mitchell (“Lost”) will also reprise her role as Carol Calvin, who became Scott’s wife/Mrs. Claus in 2002’s “The Santa Clause 2,” and whose visiting parents created chaos alongside Jack Frost (Martin Short, “Only Murders in the Building”) in 2006’s “The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause.”
In the Disney+ series, Scott (Allen) is about to turn 65 and has come to the realization that he can’t be Santa forever. He’s starting to lose a step in his Santa duties, plus his family could benefit a little from living in the normal world — especially his two kids who have grown up at the North Pole. With so many responsibilities falling on his shoulders, Scott sets out to find the next Santa while preparing his family for a new life south of the pole.
“Santa Clause” reunites Allen with at least two “Last Man Standing” alumni: creator Jack Burditt, who will serve as showrunner and executive producer, and writer/ producer Kevin Hench, who is also on board as an executive producer.
It also marks the continuation of Allen’s collaboration with Disney, as he is not only the voice of the Toy Story franchise’s Buzz Lightyear, but is also the star of 1997’s “Jungle 2 Jungle” and 2006’s “The
Shaggy Dog.”
Tobias in time: History has provided actor Tobias Menzies with some of his
most memorable roles, including his turn as Prince Philip in “The Crown,” and history is repeating itself, because Menzies’ next role will be based on another real-life historical figure.
The English actor has been tapped to lead the cast of Apple’s “Manhunt,” a limited drama from “Fargo” producer Monica Beletsky. Described as part historical fiction, part conspiracy thriller (and not a factual retelling), the story explores the assassination of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln.
Based on author James Swanson’s bestselling novel “Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer,” Menzies will play Edwin Stanton, who served as secretary of war under both Lincoln and his presidential successor, Andrew Johnson.
After Lincoln was shot at Ford’s Theatre on April 14, 1865, the reallife Stanton rushed to his friend’s side and took charge of the situation. More importantly (at least where “Manhunt” is concerned), Stanton initiated the search for Lincoln’s assassin and his co-conspirators, and that’s the story that will play out on our screens.
Apple describes Menzies’ Stanton as a person who “was nearly driven to madness by his quest to catch John Wilkes Booth and carry out Lincoln’s legacy.” It also noted that the story “strongly features Black historical figures whose lives intertwined with the escape, manhunt and subsequent high-crimes investigation, including Mary Simms, a former slave of the doctor who treated Booth’s injury and gave him safe harbor after his crime.”