Even now, after all this time, Star Wars fans everywhere still can't forget where their favorite space wizard series came from. That humble beginning in 1977 remains engraved in the minds of not just the viewers, but those who create new stories in this universe as well. While it's always good to look forward and try new things, there's something to be said for taking inspiration from the past, and Henry Golding has taken that idea to heart.
Among all the standalone tales audiences were treated to when the anime anthology Star Wars: Visions debuted on Disney Plus, perhaps one of the more divisive ones was the final episode, Science SARU's "Akakiri," which told a dark story involving a Jedi (shocker) and a princess. The way the Star Wars episode ended may have rubbed some viewers the wrong way, which was likely the point, but one aspect that many seemed to enjoy was the performance behind its main character Tsubaki. Considering who was behind the voice, it's not terribly surprising.
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Golding, who voiced Tsubaki, recently spoke with Collider about the role and how he landed on such a stoically charming take on the character he was given. It turns out he wasn't given as much direction as he expected, and was allowed to take some liberties of his own. The Crazy Rich Asians star relished this opportunity, especially considering how much he loves both Star Wars and anime.
"I was jumping at the chance, to be honest," Golding said when speaking about his acceptance of the role. He then went on to discuss the actual character and where his vocal interpretation came from. "Yeah, it's pretty much British. And I think that was sort of my homage to when everybody was kind of British, when watching all the old sort of older Star Wars films and things like that, especially Obi-Wan Kenobi and the classics. So for me, it was a nice little nod to that world."
It turns out Alec Guinness' rather proper and focused take on the character of Obi-Wan Kenobi in A New Hope helped set a standard that Golding appreciated. As a British-Malaysian actor, Golding may have relished the opportunity to bring some of himself to such a deep and complex character, particularly in an industry where British accents are stereotypically more villainous than not. But then again, considering how "Akakiri" ended, maybe it's a bit too soon to make that call.
"Akakiri" is still a powerful short story, and Golding's performance is a big part of why it hits so well. Perhaps Tsubaki could be a returning Star Wars character in the future, particularly given how open-ended his story was. Granted, most of the others had similarly ambiguous endings, so there are plenty of open doors. But Tsubaki's heartbreaking tale really feels like it deserves something more.
Star Wars: Visions is now available on Disney Plus.
MORE: 7 Anime To Check Out From The Studios Behind Star Wars: Visions
Source: Collider