Samuel L. Jackson Begs to Return as Mace Windu—Star Wars Fans Lose It!

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As a die-hard Star Wars fan, I can’t help but get excited when I hear whispers of one of my favorite actors potentially reprising his iconic role in this epic saga. The chatter stems from a conversation between the current director and an executive at Lucasfilm about none other than Samuel L. Jackson returning as Mace Windu. This tidbit has certainly added fuel to the fire, stirring hope among fans that this legendary actor could once again grace the galaxy far, far away with his indomitable presence.

Star Wars movies are renowned for featuring some of the most prominent actors ever, including Harrison Ford, Christopher Lee, and Samuel L. Jackson. While stars like Ford have stated they have no plans to rejoin the series, there are others, such as Jackson, who have made it clear that they’re open to returning.

Ever since Mace Windu’s duel with Chancellor Palpatine in Revenge of the Sith, numerous fans have been speculating that the Jedi Master might have survived his fall and injuries, implying a potential return at some point. However, this theory seems rather improbable, but it’s not just Jackson who is advocating for such an occurrence.

Samuel L. Jackson’s Star Wars Return Has Been Discussed at Lucasfilm

Bryce Dallas Howard, both actress and filmmaker, recently chatted with Josh Horowitz on the Happy Sad Confused podcast (available via YouTube). During their conversation, Howard was posed a broad question about directing which eventually steered the discussion towards Star Wars.

Remarkably, Howard was inquired about the actors she’d like to work with on-screen. After naming her Jurassic World co-star Chris Pratt, the director of The Mandalorian also suggested Samuel L. Jackson, expressing that he has consistently been “very encouraging towards her” and has expressed his willingness to act in a project she directs.

Sam Jackson has shown great encouragement towards me and mentioned on multiple occasions that he’d be interested in a project I direct. It’s almost unbelievable to me, as if my abilities don’t measure up.

After Jackson mentioned it, Howard immediately approached Dave Filoni to see if they could somehow include Mace Windu in a Star Wars project she was set to direct. This was reminiscent of fans who wondered if Jackson’s character might still be alive in the Star Wars universe.

After that, I directly approached Dave Filoni and inquired, “Could we discuss Mace Windu for a moment? I’m curious to know more about his current state. Some people believe he’s deceased, but is that true?

Interestingly, three years prior to his appearance on Howard’s podcast, Jackson had already discussed the same subject with Horowitz on the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast. Remarkably, he even referenced the very discussion that Howard was hinting at during their conversation.

In that interview, Jackson reiterated what he had been telling everyone else:

Absolutely, there’s a significant history of one-handed characters reappearing in Star Wars. The only person I’ve suggested this possibility to is Bryce Dallas Howard, since we recently worked together. She directs episodes of ‘The Mandalorian,’ so I jokingly asked her, ‘Could you possibly help me out? You like me, don’t you?’ She replied that she adores me and thinks I’m fantastic! So, I said, ‘Give me another chance… Put me in the game, I’m ready!’ If needed, I can even learn to use a lightsaber with my left hand. Can you arrange it for me?

On multiple occasions, including an interview with Empire in February 2024, Jackson has passionately expressed his desire to revisit the galaxy far, far away. In this specific instance, he vehemently stated that Mace Windu was not dead, exclaiming, “He’s not dead!!!

During the same interview, Jackson was inquired about his thoughts on a Mace Windu-focused series on Disney+, reminiscent of the Obi-Wan Kenobi show. The seasoned actor responded with just two words, but they were clear and affirmative: “Everything, Yes!!”.

As a movie critic, I share Jackson’s intriguing thoughts on the fate of Mace Windu in the prequels. In an interview with Empire, he hinted that his theory is similar to Obi-Wan Kenobi’s storyline; while the galaxy believes him to be deceased, perhaps Mace has been in hiding instead.

In other words, since Obi-Wan was already deceased at the beginning of episode four, it’s possible that everyone believes I am also dead. This could pave the way for us to discover what became of Mace Windu. My character could return in a form where I have only one arm or still be alive as a one-handed Jedi who didn’t truly perish.

Beyond everything else, Jackson expressed his desire to remain connected with the brand.

“I could be a ghost hologram, I don’t care, I just want to stay associated with the franchise.”

In a more recent instance, during his appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in October 2024 (as seen on YouTube), Jackson reiterated that merely losing an arm does not equate to being deceased.

In other words, throughout the Star Wars saga, there have been characters with only one arm. Therefore, even though I lost an arm in a fall from a window, it doesn’t necessarily mean that I am no longer alive.

Given the swift expansion of the Star Wars universe and an increasing number of productions occurring during the same timeframe as Mace’s demise, it’s reasonable to assume conversations have arisen regarding the potential resurrection or reappearance of this character.

At the minimum, Howard’s remarks made it clear that she sparked the thought in Dave Filoni’s mind at some point.

Could Mace Windu Ever Return?

Among the significant characters from the prequel trilogy, Mace Windu is the one who didn’t reappear in any form within Star Wars. On the other hand, Hayden Christensen and Liam Neeson, along with Ewan McGregor, made a grand return as Anakin Skywalker, Qui-Gon Jinn, and Obi-Wan Kenobi respectively, in Disney+’s “Obi-Wan Kenobi” series.

As a film enthusiast, I can’t help but notice the absence of two significant prequel actors yet to reappear on screen – Liam Neeson (Qui-Gon Jinn) and Natalie Portman (Padmé Amidala). While whispers have hinted at the possibility of Portman reprising her role in Ahsoka Season 2, if these rumors prove true, it would leave only Neeson’s character, Qui-Gon Jinn, for us fans to eagerly anticipate.

Given Jackson’s strong desire to reprise his role as Mace Windu, it seems unlikely that Lucasfilm would deny him some form of involvement with the character. If the writers have chosen to keep Mace dead, as Jackson suggested, he might still make an appearance in the form of a Force spirit or ghost.

The next Star Wars project where Mace’s appearance as a Force spirit would fit is likely to be Ahsoka, given that they were close when she was still a member of the Jedi Order.

As a dedicated Star Wars fan, I can’t help but notice how the saga seems to find creative ways to resurrect deceased characters, often appearing in brief yet impactful scenes.

It’s quite possible that Jackson would be allowed to return by Lucasfilm, given how much he seems to long for it.

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2025-04-22 20:05