7 Actors Who Would Make Amazing Cameos in The Mandalorian
One of the great (and slightly less obvious than others) joys of watching The Mandalorian™ on Disney+ has nothing to do with Star Wars™ lore or fan service, but rather the show’s casting. Outside of the extremely well-selected main cast, the show has been incredible when it comes to picking actors who range from cult favorites to bonafide stars to come in for guest spots and cameos alike.
From the show’s very first scene featuring Saturday Night Live alum Horatio Sanz in alien makeup to the now-legendary guest arc by Werner Herzog, our journey through the underbelly of the Star Wars universe has made for a great opportunity to move away from A-list stars being the sole faces of this galaxy far, far away. The show’s reliance on cult stars and underrated icons in big and small roles alike (many of whose roles aren’t even obvious until the credits roll — looking at you, Richard Ayoade) has lent greatly to the show’s vibe, and season 2 turned its casting focus in that direction even more sharply.
Titus Welliver, an all-time great That Guy of TV and film, appeared as an Imperial commander in “The Heiress” while ’80s action icon Michael Biehn joined the world of Star Wars in “The Jedi.” It’s hard to say if anything matched the ludicrous fun of Jason Sudeikis and Adam Pally playing Scout Troopers (WHO ABUSE GROGU) in the season 1 finale, but then again, that’s a bit of a tall order.
That said, it’s hard to watch the show and not find yourself creating a wish list of sorts in your head. These days it feels like everyone has an actor or two they want to see on the show, not in a fantasy casting sense insomuch as just wanting to see a certain face pop up in the world the show has created. There are certain faces you just know would fit in well.
Here are some of our picks for actors who just seem tailor-made to join the world of The Mandalorian.
Tom Waits
A bit of a no brainer, if we’re being honest. Tom Waits has the sort of craggly face that tells a story all on its own, and that’s before he opens his mouth — the musician and sometimes-actor has one of the strangest, most distinct speaking voices of all time.
Stick him in literally any environment the show has introduced so far, be it the Mos Eisley™ cantina or the chowder hut in “The Heiress” and he fits right in. Just do it. Just put Tom Waits in a Star War already.
Doug Jones
Doug Jones is the closest thing the modern era has to a Boris Karloff or a Lon Chaney. He’s an actor often caked in makeup and prosthetics in the interest of bringing fantastical aliens and creatures to life (though he’s just as stellar when playing, you know, normal humans).
Perhaps most recognizable for his collaborations with Guillermo Del Toro, Jones has appeared in everything from Hellboy to Star Trek: Discovery. It’s high time we see the man join the world of Star Wars in some form or another — prosthetics optional, of course.
Rosie Perez
Perez is a longtime icon of the screen, but over the last couple of years she’s put in some great work in supporting roles on television, namely in Search Party and The Flight Attendant. She’s proven that she can do anything — so why not Star Wars?
Her presence elevates whatever material she’s given, and it’s not like The Mandalorian even needs elevating to begin with, so an appearance from her on the show would make for some special stuff.
Neal McDonough
Like Titus Welliver, Neal McDonough is a career That Guy who’s popped up in everything from Justified to Captain America: The First Avenger. He’s got incredible steely eyes that bring life and depth to any role he’s given.
Generally, we’re trying not to fan-cast here but man, it’s hard to look at McDonough’s face and not imagine him in an Imperial uniform. The Mandalorian has done a great job of making previously indistinguishable Imperial officers unique and memorable characters. If McDonough isn’t on that casting list, someone would do well to add him soon.
Rick Moranis
The iconic actor made his return to the (small) screen after a lengthy retirement earlier this year thanks to a commercial from, of all things, Ryan Reynolds’ Aviation Gin brand.
By all accounts, shooting the show is a pretty easy task for actors thanks to the genuinely revelatory technology the sets utilize. It feels like convincing the original Dark Helmet to fly out to Manhattan Beach, CA, for a couple of days to dress up in a fun costume and add some laughs to an episode of Mando is something of a no-brainer.
Brian Tyree Henry
Brian Tyree Henry is a unique dude. He has been rightfully proclaimed by many to be the best actor of his generation thanks to some revelatory work in Atlanta, Widows, and If Beale Street Could Talk. He could, on the merit of those roles alone, have a bountiful career as an arthouse darling. But he doesn’t stop there.
Henry’s an acclaimed Broadway actor. He’s in the Child’s Play remake. He popped up in the comedy Superintelligence and crushed it, and then dropped in to play Motown legend Berry Gordy on Drunk History. Next year we’re going to see him join the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Eternals.
Brian Tyree Henry does everything, and he does everything incredibly well. The question isn’t “Why should Brian Tyree Henry be on The Mandalorian?” so much as why shouldn’t he be?
Shea Wigham
If you need this one explained to you after seeing Shea Wigham’s face, we can’t help you. There’s never been a face more suited to populate the Star Wars underworld.
You could stick him in literally any sort of role, and he’d crush it, as he’s done in everything from Fast & Furious 6 to True Detective to Homecoming. Wigham just has The Mandalorian energy. There’s no use trying to put it into words — just watch the guy in literally any project he’s ever been in and try to tell yourself he doesn’t belong in a galaxy far, far away.
What other actors do you think would be perfect for small guest roles in the world of the hit Star Wars series on Disney+? Let Your Geek Sideshow and tell us in the comments below!
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