Actor Gabriel Luna has reiterated his interest in playing Star Wars: The High Republic’s most complex and intriguing character: Elzar Mann. Star Wars: The High Republic launched as a new transmedia publishing initiative in 2021 with Charles Soule’s opening novel, Star Wars: Light of the Jedi. The High Republic is set a few centuries before the events of George Lucas’ prequel trilogy, chronicling the Jedi’s turbulent war against vicious marauders known as the Nihil and their struggle with other more sinister dark side threats.
With dozens of novels, comics, and audiobooks, Star Wars’ High Republic-era publishing initiative has a story and a character for everyone. It’s certainly a narrative worthy of an on-screen adaptation, and Jedi Knight Elzar Mann plays a key role in it. Luna had previously revealed to The Last of Pods that he’d sent a letter to Dave Filoni pitching himself for Star Wars; first about Ezra Bridger, and later turning his attention to Elzar Mann. During a recent interview with Screen Rant for The Last of Us season 2’s press day, Luna was asked if there had been any development on that front.
“The only development is, I’ve read all the [High Republic] books now, so I know the character inside and out.”
So why is Luna so interested in playing this character? What makes Elzar Mann so compelling within Star Wars’ storytelling? Luna explained:
“Oh man, it’s such a great character. I love those books. Charles Soule – great writer – and everyone else who carries on through this series is so strong. Yeah, you know, he’s a flawed person. Jedi are always thought of as these pinnacles of light and love and order, but he shows you that they’re humans – whatever race they are, in a galaxy far away.”
The High Republic Is Star Wars’ Most Exciting Era, & Elzar Mann Is A Key Part Of It
The High Republic has introduced so many groundbreaking and interesting characters to Star Wars. Yet one of The High Republic’s most important and interesting players is the Jedi Elzar Mann. Unlike many of his peers, he struggles with his beliefs, power, capacity for love, and self-destructive tendencies, making him unpredictable but also achingly human and painfully relatable.
Elzar is certainly not Star Wars’ first flawed character, and he won’t be the last, but the beauty of The High Republic’s storytelling is that audiences are given much more time to experience his conflicted feelings, his grief, his inner monologue, and his struggle with the abundant violence during this time period. The High Republic is Star Wars’ most exciting new era because it’s unconnected to the Skywalker saga, but it does lay the groundwork for it, and Elzar Mann is at the center of it all.
Our Take On Gabriel Luna As Elzar Mann
Hearing that Gabriel Luna is this invested in portraying Elzar Mann in a potential High Republic adaptation is genuinely incredible. He’d be perfect for this character. Luna’s roles as Tommy Miller in The Last of Us and Robbie Reyes/Ghost Rider in Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD are emotionally layered, rich, and even dark, which fits Elzar Mann to a T. Elzar is not your typical Star Wars hero, and Luna’s most intriguing characters have never been typical heroes, either.
Elzar Mann is not your typical Star Wars hero, and Gabriel Luna’s most intriguing characters have never been typical heroes, either.
Elzar Mann has so much potential as a character. If Rosario Dawson managed to manifest her role as Ahsoka Tano, why shouldn’t Gabriel Luna be able to do the same? As Star Wars: The High Republic’s publishing initiative swiftly moves toward the finish line, there’s no time like the present for Star Wars to commit to a live-action High Republic adaptation.
The Last of Us season 2 premieres on HBO and Max April 13.
Star Wars
- Created by
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George Lucas
- First Film
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Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
- Cast
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Mark Hamill, James Earl Jones, David Prowse, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Ian McDiarmid, Ewan McGregor, Rosario Dawson, Lars Mikkelsen, Rupert Friend, Moses Ingram, Frank Oz, Pedro Pascal
- TV Show(s)
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The Mandalorian, Andor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, The Acolyte, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, Lando, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Star Wars: Resistance, Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, Star Wars: Visions
- Character(s)
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Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Rey Skywalker, Emperor Palpatine / Darth Sidious, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka Tano, Grand Admiral Thrawn, Grand Inquisitor, Reva (The Third Sister), The Fifth Brother, The Seventh Sister, The Eighth Brother, Yoda, Din Djarin, Grogu, Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, Leia Organa, Ben Solo/Kylo Ren
