The upcomingStar WarsmovieStar Wars: Starfighterhas just announced its villain, and it continues one of George Lucas’ oddest traditions. Back in April 2025,Lucasfilm officially announced the upcoming Shawn Levy-directed film, which is set to star Ryan Gosling.
Despite getting a May 2027 premiere date, we still know very little about the plot of the movie, though some casting announcements have been made. This includes one revealing thatMia Goth has joined the projectas one of the film’s main antagonists.
However, it was just announced thatDoctor Whoalum andHouse of the DragonstarMatt Smith will also be joining the cast ofStarfighteras a villain. Smith’s casting continues a tradition that was started by Lucas back in 1977 with the originalStar Wars, one that’s quite hilarious in retrospect.
George Lucas Tended To Cast Brits As Villains Too
When looking back atStar Warshistory, the first main villain of aStar Warsfilm wasGrand Moff Tarkin, played by Brit Peter Cushing. We’ve seen thatmost other Imperial officers in the originalStar Warstrilogy are also British, or at least utilize a British (Coruscanti) accent.
This was, hilariously, one of the first ways audiences were able to distinguish between the good guys and the bad guys. While this notion didn’t last, specifically with the introduction of Rebel leaders likeMon MothmainReturn of the Jedi, it’s interesting that most Imperial officers to this day are played by British actors, or utilize a British accent.
While there are certainlysome instances of exceptions, particularly with more recent characterslike Moff Gideon inThe Mandalorianor Dr. Royce Hemlock inStar Wars: The Bad Batch, it’s a general rule thatStar Warsvillains are Brits. It’s unknown why George Lucas initiated this unusual tradition, but it has endured for nearly fifty years.
Matt Smith Has All The Makings Of A Classic Star Wars Villain
Matt Smith, in many ways, seems made forStar Wars. Smith’s physical presence is reminiscent of othergreatStar Warsvillains, and he hasn’t shied away from difficult roles in the past, meaning he’s well-equipped for a galaxy far, far away.
What will make Matt Smith a greatStar Warsvillain isn’t just the fact that he’s British, but also thathe’s already taken on these larger-than-life roles in shows likeDoctor WhoandHouse of the Dragon, meaning he won’t be intimidated by the scale and impact of a film likeStarfighter.
Matt Smith’s casting in the upcomingStarfightermovie is great news. While it might just be a happy accident that Smith also happens to be British and will be playing aStar Warsvillain, there’s no denying that his performance inStarfighterwill be highly anticipated.
