With heavy rumors of the young Jedi could logically make an appearance on The Mandalorian. But who could play Ezra in live-action?
Through Rebels, Ezra was voiced by actor and model Taylor Gray, in a performance that took the character from adolescence to early adulthood. Over the course of the show, Ezra grew from a self-centered lone-wolf kid to brave and seasoned member of the Rebellion, with a strong understanding of and capability with the Force. During the show’s finale, Ezra took Imperial Grand iral Thrawn into hyperspace to aid in the liberation of Lothal, and in the process vanished with him. Sabine and Ahsoka later left the Rebellion to search for Ezra, but his whereabouts during the original trilogy and thereafter remain unknown.
If he were to appear in The Mandalorian, Ezra would be nearing 30, and likely much stronger in the Force. The wisecracking street-rat persona that made him such a kid-friendly protagonist in Star Wars: Rebels may be diminished a bit, but he’d certainly still bring the charming energy and unorthodox style that made him so popular with so many Star Wars fans. With that in mind, there are a number of established and rising stars who could be excellent as a live-action Ezra – each with a unique spin they could bring to the role.
Rahul Kohli
iZombie’s Rahul Kohli sparked a storm of rumors recently when he tweeted about being in “that Lothal orphan, force sensitive, trained by Kanan Jarrus kind of shape. For no particular reason.” The obvious reference to Ezra Bridger led many to believe Kohli might have already been cast, until a follow-up video where he confessed that he was just kidding, and that while he was a huge fan of Star Wars: Rebels and would love to play Ezra, nothing official on that end had taken place.
Whether or not Kohli was being completely honest is still a matter of debate for some fans (after all, stars have blown surprises before). Regardless, he would still be an excellent choice, there ever be in need of a live-action Ezra. He certainly possesses the requisite comedy chops, and the fact that he’s a little bit older would help bring an extra level of groundedness and maturity to live-action Ezra.
Angel Bismark Curiel
Unlike Kohli, Angel Bismark Curiel is on the younger side to be playing a Mandalorian-era Ezra. Nonetheless, he has the charisma, the comedic timing, and the capacity to pull off honest, affecting emotional moments. Anyone who’s seen Pose can attest to Curiel’s ability to command a scene, both with endearing comedy and weighted personal drama.
Curiel’s also still a lesser-known star, so having him take on the mantel of Ezra in The Mandalorian would be a great way to introduce a huge audience to a talent who, honestly, everyone should no. At his best, Ezra works with audiences because you can’t help but love him. Angel Bismark Curiel has that x-factor in spades.
Taylor Gray
It is exceedingly rare for an animated character to be played by the same actor when adapted for live-action, but in the case of Ezra Bridger, it could actually work. Taylor Gray is the exact right age to play a post-Return of the Jedi Ezra, he looks similar enough to the animated version that fans wouldn’t balk, and he has real chops in live-action roles in addition to his voice acting work.
Of course, the voice is the main pitch here. Having Ezra’s original voice return to play him in person would doubtlessly be a real treat for fans of the character. It would also be powerful to see Gray’s own growth transition into the Ezra’s. And naturally, all the intricacies of Ezra’s personality, history and outlook would be seamlessly incorporated by Gray. After all, he’s done it before.
Henry Golding
This pick is a little different, mainly because Golding is rapidly ascending to superstar status. Depending on the role Ezra would potentially play if he were to return, Golding’s growing fame could put him a bit out of reach (though Disney is clearly able to cast major-name stars for relatively minor roles, as they did in season 1 of The Mandalorian). However, if it worked out on the business-end, Golding could be a great choice for a grown-up Ezra.
Like Kohli, Golding is a little on the older side, but he brings the exact kind of positive energy to his performances that an Ezra actor needs. He carries fantastic on-screen charisma, would play off the existing cast well, and his starring role in the G.I. Joe Snake Eyes movie can only make fans excited at the potential of seeing him team up with Ahsoka and/or Sabine for some exciting lightsaber dueling action.
Ryan Potter
Ryan Potter, former star of Nickelodeon’s Supah Ninjas, has been a fan-favorite to play Ezra in live-action for some time. Having voiced Hiro in Disney’s Big Hero Six, he already has a relationship with the company, and with playing young, scrappy, clever sci-fi heroes. He skews a little young for The Mandalorian’s timeline and anything beyond, but that could still fit depending on the way Ezra’s character is written as an adult.
One thing that’s not in doubt is Potter’s ability to handle the physical requirements of playing a Jedi. He’s a skilled martial artist who would be perfect filling the shoes of Force-sensitive fighter, and it would be a blast to see him take Ezra into the fast-paced, beautifully-shot action of The Mandalorian. While he’s been tearing it up as Beast Boy on DC's Titans, maybe Potter could also be convinced to take Star Wars for a spin.
