Star Wars' Best Chance To Recast Luke, Han & Leia Is Just 3 Months Away

Published Oct 11, 2026, 4:00 PM EDT Ben Sherlock is a Tomatometer-approved film and TV critic who runs the massively underrated YouTube channel I Got Touched at the Cinema. Before working at Screen Rant, Ben wrote for Game Rant, Taste of Cinema, Comic Book Resources, and BabbleTop. He's also an indie filmmaker, a standup comedian, and an alumnus of the School of Rock. Ahsoka season 2 is finally set to premiere on Disney+ on January 20, 2027, nearly four years after the first season was released. Ahsoka has kept us waiting even longer for its second season than Severance, Andor, or Wednesday did. This is getting closer to a Euphoria season 3 hiatus, but, to be fair, creator Dave Filoni has taken on a much bigger role at Lucasfilm during that time, so it’s not like showrunning Ahsoka is his only job. Based on its post-Return of the Jedi timeframe and legacy connections, Ahsoka season 2 is the perfect opportunity for Star Wars to finally recast Luke, Han, and Leia. I know it’s sacrilege to tamper with anything from the George Lucas era, but the appeal of Star Wars is more than just a pulpy vibe and a galaxy far, far away; it’s the characters we know and love: Chewbacca, C-3PO, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Boba Fett, even Jar Jar Binks. Luke, Han, and Leia are the holy trinity of Star Wars — the Harry, Ron, and Hermione of Star Wars; the Sheldon, Leonard, and Penny of Star Wars — so, if Star Wars is going to sustain a cinematic universe in the way Disney wants it to, it needs access to that classic trio. Rather than using CG deepfakes for a soulless recreation of Mark Hamill or the late, great Carrie Fisher, Disney should let some new actors come in and put their own stamp on the roles. Characters were meant to be reinterpreted by new generations; we’re still seeing fresh productions of Macbeth and Hamlet and Romeo & Juliet, and no one ever complains that they’re replacing Shakespeare’s original cast. It doesn’t have to get as drastic as remaking the original trilogy, but Star Wars is the Skywalkers, and those iconic characters shouldn’t be off-limits — and Ahsoka season 2 is the perfect place to reintroduce them. It's Almost Impossible For Ahsoka Season 2 To Ignore Luke, Han & Leia Ahsoka season 2 will follow two main storylines. In the A-story, Ahsoka and Sabine’s journey across Peridea will coincide with Baylan’s tangle with the Mortis gods, and in the B-story, Thrawn will lead the forces of the Imperial Remnants (not to mention the Nightsisters he’s teamed up with) into an all-out war against the New Republic’s fleet, led by Admiral Ackbar. Given the events being covered and the post-O.T. timeline, it seems impossible for this season of Ahsoka not to acknowledge Luke, Han, and Leia. If the New Republic was threatened by the return of the Empire, then there’s no reason the holy trinity would sit it out. Every other time Imperial forces have threatened the galaxy, they answered the call (even when they were old and estranged). Recasting Star Wars' Original Main Trio Is Better Than Digitally Replacing Them There’s no shortage of moral ambiguity in Hollywood, but the movie industry managed to create its own ethical gray area when it started resurrecting dead actors using CG deepfakes. Rogue One brought Peter Cushing back from the dead to reprise his role as Tarkin; Alien: Romulus brought Ian Holm back from the dead to reprise his nefarious Weyland-Yutani android character; and The Flash desecrated the graves of every dead Superman actor to create its hideous multiverse montage. At its best, these digital clones slip into the uncanny valley and look like a slightly off-kilter version of the real deal, like the wobbly CG Luke in The Mandalorian’s season 2 finale. But at their worst, they feel morally iffy, like they’re exploiting the memory of a beloved star to make a terrible movie slightly better, like Leia’s flashback in The Rise of Skywalker. Hamill, Fisher, and Harrison Ford have left some humungous shoes to fill, but Star Wars is better off recasting them in Ahsoka season 2, and giving a new generation of fans their own Luke, Leia, and Han, rather than continuing to flog these lifeless CG estimations of iconic faces. Alden Ehrenreich’s real, human performance as young Han has so much more depth and authenticity than The Mandalorian’s creepy Luke deepfake. Ahsoka 6/10 Release Date August 22, 2023 Network Disney+