Manny Jacinto hopes a Filipino would lead a future 'Star Wars' project
We've got Filipinos in Star Wars, but seeing one in the lead cast—that's the dream.
Filipino-Canadian actor Manny Jacinto, one of the main cast of the sci-fi drama series The Acolyte, is hopeful that a fellow Filipino would lead the cast of a Star Wars project in the future. In it, he plays the role of a former smuggler named Qimir who has now become a trader of unique objects and enjoys a life of leisure.
On how he prepared for the role, Jacinto told PhilSTAR L!fe that he used his background as a dancer to approach the character with a lot of physicality.
"We had movement coaches to help us figure out our characters, and because of the dialogue on the script and because we wanted a character that was a juxtaposition to the Jedi who were more stoic and still, we wanted a character that was more chaotic and can mess around and weasel his way through the Jedi," the actor said.
Some of the characters who inspired his portrayal of Qimir include Jack Sparrow from the Pirates of the Caribbean and Tyler Durden from Fight Club.
The new series is notable for showcasing the franchise's first Asian Jedi master named Sol, who is portrayed by South Korean actor Lee Jung-jae. Jacinto said that it was an "incredible" experience getting to share the screen with the Squid Game star.
"I remember talking to [showrunner] Leslye Headland and Leslye saying, 'We found our Sol,' and she said it's Lee Jung-jae from Squid Game. And I just couldn't process it. I couldn't believe it because it's so rare to have two Asians, let alone two Asian males, lead a project," Jacinto said.
"It sucks to say it, but sometimes, there's only room for one. But the fact that Leslye was generous enough and is brave enough to cast two Asian males, it just goes to show that for her, it doesn't matter what they look like. It's more about the acting, about what these actors bring to the soul of the character as opposed to what they aesthetically look like," he continued.
Apart from Jacinto and Lee, The Acolyte also stars Amandla Stenberg, Charlie Barnett, Dafne Keen, Jodie Turner-Smith, and more.
With the inclusive casting, Jacinto is enthusiastic that a fellow Filipino would one day be the main star of future Star Wars installments.
"I think that's pretty much one of the biggest goals at the end of the day, not just in Star Wars projects, but in any projects. The more Filipino faces, the better, the the greater growth that the community can receive," he said.
"I think that's one of the biggest goals, to just be able to inspire a younger generation to create stories, to become actors, to become directors, to take the job," he added.
All in all, Jacinto hopes that even those who aren't fans of Star Wars would be able to enjoy The Acolyte and its fresh take on the decades-old franchise.
"It's rooted in this incredible story, a murder-mystery that provides audiences with lots of twists and turns and unexpected storylines, so you really don't have to be a Star Wars fan in order to enjoy The Acolyte," he said.
"What I do hope is that viewers who aren't familiar with the lore, watch it, and then become Star Wars fans down the line because of their experience with The Acolyte. That's the best case scenario," he continued.
The Acolyte has now premiered its first two episodes on Disney+. The following six episodes will be released weekly.