The Star Wars action isn't stopping just because the Skywalker Saga wrapped, and now rumors point toward two Star Wars movie stars joining the cast of the Cassian Andor series, set in the years leading up to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Jimmy Smits, who debuted as Bail Organa in the prequel trilogy and then reprised his role for Rogue One, is named as one of two familiar faces possibly joining the upcoming Disney+ show. Who is the second?
Alistair Petrie is rumored to reprise his role as Davits Draven alongside Jimmy Smits as Bail Organa, according to Bespin Bulletin. The Instagram account claims to have had insider knowledge about Genevieve O'Reilly returning to Star Wars as Mon Mothma ahead of the news breaking, as well as the recent reports about Temuera Morrison and The Mandalorian, then alleges that Smits and Petrie were in talks for the Cassian Andor series.
Now, even if these reports are accurate, the two actors originally being "in talks" for the Cassian Andor series doesn't mean that they are definitively on board to appear. That said, Jimmy Smits' Bail Organa and Alistair Petrie's Davits Draven would both make a lot of sense as additions to any Rogue One prequel story. If Mon Mothma can have a part to play, why wouldn't Bail and Draven?
As Rogue One viewers undoubtedly remember, Bail supported the Rebel Alliance banding together against the Empire, and he was instrumental in Leia becoming the one who would undertake the mission to bring the Death Star plans to Obi-Wan, which of course set the action of the entire original trilogy in motion.
As for Draven, he wasn't Jyn's biggest fan early in Rogue One, but he was present when he found out that Jyn, Cassian and Co. were making their stand on Scarif to go for the Death Star plans. He was also the leader of Rebel Intelligence, which would make him a key contact for Cassian in his work as a spy for the Rebellion. Honestly, it would almost be strange if Draven at least wasn't part of the TV show.
Only time will tell if Jimmy Smits and Alistair Petrie do indeed reprise their roles as Bail and Draven for the upcoming Cassian Andor series. The in-universe timing would make sense, and the show is centered on one of the stars of Rogue One thanks to Diego Luna returning as Cassian. Unfortunately, the current production shutdowns across the board in film and television may mean a longer wait for the show than originally planned.
Star Wars special effects artist Neal Scanlan reported that the show got in about four weeks of work before production had to shut down, so it's not like the Cassian Andor show team hadn't even started yet before the halt. This Rogue One prequel does seem poised to make it to Disney+ before the Obi-Wan Kenobi series starring Ewan McGregor.
The good news is that at least one live-action Star Wars series is guaranteed to deliver new content in the not-too-distant future. The Mandalorian Season 2 will premiere in October. Disney+ also has plenty of Star Wars content to keep anybody busy. The full slate of movies (including Rogue One with Jimmy Smits and Alistair Petrie) are available streaming, along with the full runs of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, and more.
