Is Natalie Portman Returning to Star Wars Franchise?

Star Wars is embarking upon a fresh journey, delving into uncharted territories with new planets and characters, while continuing to narrate the untold stories of beloved characters. The likes of Boba Fett, Bo-Katan Kryze, Ahsoka Tano, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Leia Organa have all flourished under this approach towards storytelling, and it's possible that Natalie Portman's portrayal of Padmé Amidala could be the next to take center stage.

Portrayed by Portman in the Star Wars prequels and voiced by Catherine Taber in the animated Clone Wars shows and movie, Padmé Amidala played a pivotal role in the Star Wars universe, perhaps more so than even she realized. While devoting most of her life to politics and serving the greater good of her home planet Naboo and the entire universe, Padmé's greatest impact came on her deathbed. Although Anakin Skywalker was already on a path towards the Dark Side, it was Padmé's demise that cemented his fate and propelled him towards a path of ruin.

In a recent interview with GQ, Natalie Portman expressed her willingness to return to her Star Wars character, Padmé, despite her character's seemingly definitive end in the franchise. Portman stated that although she has not been approached to reprise her role, she remains open to the possibility. However, it seems that a chance encounter with director Taika Waititi on the set of Thor: Love and Thunder may have hinted at Portman's potential return to the Star Wars universe. Waititi jokingly asked Portman if she wanted to appear in a Star Wars film, to which Portman initially thought he was kidding. However, Waititi later mentioned in an interview that he had considered her for a role in his upcoming Star Wars project, suggesting that Portman may still have a chance to revisit her iconic character.

While it's not a sure thing, the recent conversation between Taika Waititi and Natalie Portman indicates that Waititi could potentially collaborate with Portman on a Star Wars project. As for Waititi's own Star Wars movie, little is known about it at this time, but this discussion could offer some clues as to what we might expect to see in the film. Unfortunately for fans, Portman clarified that she hasn't been approached about appearing in another Star Wars project, so it remains to be seen whether or not we'll get the chance to see her return to the franchise anytime soon. In the meantime, all of the Star Wars movies and shows are currently available to stream on Disney Plus.

Source: GQ/YouTube