The Wire Actors We Want To See In Star Wars

Everyone around the Star Wars galaxy is going to be watching their backs and yelling “OMAR’S COMING,” because Michael K. Williams is now appearing in the Han Solo spinoff movie.

Williams’ brilliant portrayal of the stick-up king in HBO’s the Wire earned him cult status that he’s since further contributed to with roles on Boardwalk Empire, the Night Of, and various supporting roles in feature films.

Now he gets to play in the Star Wars universe alongside the already impressive cast of the Han Solo film including Alden Ehrenreich, Donald Glover, Thandie Newton, Emilia Clarke, and Woodie Harrelson.

But now that Williams has his foot in the door, we’d like to see the Star Wars saga welcome a few other alumni from HBO’s epic love letter to the city of Baltimore. There’s no shortage of talented actors who’ve appeared on the Wire who could make for some wonderful characters in Lucasfilm’s sci-fi/fantasy playground.

*WHISTLES*: Michael K. Williams Cast In Han Solo Film

We’ve put together a list of some actors from the Wire that we’d like to see enter the Star Wars galaxy in honor of Williams casting in the Han Solo movie. Check the slideshow and see who we chose.

Sonja Sohn

The actor portrayed Kima Greggs on the Wire—a gifted homicide detective who sacrificed her family due to her obsession with the job.

Greggs investigation skills are an asset to the Homicide unit and later the Major Crimes division. Her ‘take no crap’ attitude was balanced with a caring nature, but she would never let people get too close to her.

She battled alcoholism and pushed her wife and child away, eventually reconciling with her family but never fully committing to their needs.

Sohn played the role subdued and with nuance, unless a scene called for someone getting an assbeating.


She’d play the role of a Jedi Master or Knight perfectly, if only because her posture and delivery of dialogue would be perfect for the part. But if she needed to play a bounty hunter, that’d be cool too. But bounty hunter seems a little too on the nose for some with her body of work—give the woman a lightsaber and some force powers instead.

Aidan Gillen

Gillen might be more known for his role as Littlefinger on Game of Thrones, but he first displayed his cunning and manipulative guile on the Wire when he played Tommy Carcetti.

Carcetti began his time on the show as a member of the Baltimore City Council, but his ambitions and partnerships quickly propelled him beyond that. After the events of the third season resulted in a raised public profile, Carcetti eventually ran for mayor and won the election.

Gillen’s roles on both the Wire and Littlefinger show that he can play both protagonist and antagonist to great degree, often even floating between the two based on his needs. The actor would make a wonderful addition to the Star Wars Universe based on his ability to exist in the grey areas not often shown in the saga.

He could probably make a good crime lord in a film, playing a character who would be willing to work with the heroes, be they Alliance, Republic, or Resistance members—with the caveat that he’d sell them out to someone with more credits to provide.

Amy Ryan

Though her character Beadie Russell only plays a substantial role in the second season focusing on the Docks, Ryan plays the role well. An officer for the Port Authority, her character is integral to the events that cause the police department to begin investigating a dangerous smuggling ring.

Ryan is affable and charming but determined to find the truth about the crimes, sacrificing her personal connection to many of the dock workers she used to call friends. Her time in the investigation strains her familial responsibilities, causing her to connect with Sohn’s Kima Greggs. But while Greggs can’t find comfort in her family, Ryan’s character gathers strength in those connections.

Ryan has since played roles in The Office—showing her comedic skills—and Birdman—another side to her dramatic range in which she deals with her delusional ex-husband.

The actor would make a wonderful general in either the Resistance or the Rebellion, someone who could command loyalty from their troops without fear or intimidation. Ryan has shown the ability to play clever and cunning in nuanced performances, with expressive eyes that indicate there’s much more going on in her mind.

Idris Elba

Though Elba has since earned a higher profile, with some people even clamoring for the actor to play James Bond, one of his most persevering performances is that of the Barksdale clan’s lieutenant Stringer Bell.

Bell was smart, meticulous, cunning; responsible for turning a criminal empire into legitimate businesses, Elba portrayed Bell as a nuanced and careful crime lord. Though he remained loyal to his best friend Avon Barksdale, the leader of the crime ring, he continued to undermine him in his attempt to run legitimate companies.

The strain and heartbreak between Bell and Barksdale became more apparent in the third season as his business acumen clashes with his childhood friend’s need to run things as he saw fit growing up.

Ultimately past mistakes come back to haunt him and he meets an untimely end when Omar teams up with Brother Mouzone, played by Michael Potts. Bell attempts to manipulate them against each other and that plan backfires.

Elba’s acting ability cannot be overstated. But this role defined his cold and calculated demeanor on the Wire, one which could easily carry over to the Star Wars universe as an officer in the Empire. Elba would be the kind of commander who could employ the intimidation tactics of a Darth Vader or Kylo Ren without the force-powered temper tantrums.

Han Solo: A Star Wars Story

Are you as excited as we are for Michael K. Williams to debut in the Star Wars universe? Let us know with your vote in our Anticipation Rankings below!

MORE STAR WARS NEWS:
·John Boyega Teases Complex The Last Jedi Dialogue
·Rebels Just Took a Major Step Toward Rogue One and the Original Trilogy
·The Last Jedi Rumor Hints at Desperation for First Order and Resistance

Han Solo: A Star Wars Story is filming now under directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller for a May 25, 2018 release. Alden Ehrenreich stars as a young Han Solo and Joonas Suotamo as Chewbacca in the era before Star Wars: A New Hope, before they met Leia and Luke and embarked on a galaxy-saving adventure. Donald Glover also stars as Lando Calrissian, with Woody Harrelson, Thandie Newton, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and Emilia Clarke in as-yet-unrevealed co-starring roles.