The Star Wars sequel trilogy was divisive among fans and critics, particularly for the way in which the creators handled the returning original trilogy heroes of Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, Han Solo, and Lando Calrissian. Although these iconic heroes all did eventually return, it’s easy to forget that there were doubts whether the original cast would come back for the new set of films. Actor Mark Hamill stated that his decision was made based off of Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher, and that he agreed to come back when he knew they were also returning. Billy Dee Williams also returned, albeit later on, in Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker.
Another hero who also made a late debut in the sequel trilogy was Denis Lawson’s Wedge Antilles, a key X-Wing pilot during the first three films. Antilles wasn’t in The Force Awakens or The Last Jedi, but he did come back for the final installment, with Lawson surprisingly citing boredom as the reason he didn’t return earlier.
The original trilogy is such an iconic set of films that it seems as if almost every element, no matter how small, became something of a fan favorite. Everyone knows the likes of Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, and Han Solo, just as audiences know what the Death Star is and the core twist at the end of The Empire Strikes Back. However, even smaller aspects took fans by storm. Boba Fett, for example, had just a few lines and seconds of screen time, but he evidently had enough of an effect on fans as his popularity has continued to soar ever since. This popularity arguably peaked when the character received his own show in 2021.
Wedge Antilles is in the same boat at Fett, albeit not to that extent of popularity. This X-Wing pilot hero was by no means a lead character, but audiences clearly appreciated his presence enough to make him a fan favorite. Given everything else that happened in the first of the sequels, Wedge's presence wasn't exactly missed in The Force Awakens, but his absence was certainly noticeable.
Antilles survived the attack on the second Death Star, so naturally writer-director JJ Abrams looked to bring him back for Episode VII. Lawson didn’t return in that film, though, and made his feelings clear before The Force Awakens even came out in theaters. Speaking at an event in Scotland, Lawson clarified that he was indeed asked to return, just as Hamill, Ford, and Fisher were, but declined as the project didn’t interest him. It’s unclear what kind of role Lawson’s Antilles would have had in this film, however.
Lawson did eventually return in The Rise of Skywalker, and one can only assume that he saw this film as more enticing than the last one he was asked to appear in. He had a relatively small role in Episode IX, appearing in only a few scenes, but he did get to interact with Lando Calrissian again as well as fly aboard the Millennium Falcon. The conclusion of the Skywalker Saga was jam packed full of characters, storylines, and more, so Wedge naturally didn’t have a lot to do, but it did make for a nice moment that helped conclude this incredible series in its final outing.
Similar to Episode IX, The Force Awakens was another film that had a breakneck pace and so much included in just two hours. Looking back, it’s hard to see how Wedge would have fit into that film in any meaningful capacity, so it arguably ended up doing better by the character to save his return for later. The same was said about Lando, who didn’t come back until the final film in the trilogy. That decision allowed him to thrive and be in the spotlight more than he would have otherwise.
Regardless, Denis Lawson is etched into this franchise’s history, and in more ways than one. As well as playing Antilles, Lawson is also the uncle of actor Ewan McGregor, who plays Obi-Wan Kenobi in the prequel trilogy and the more recent series on Disney+. Lawson reportedly told his nephew to not accept the role as Kenobi, something that McGregor didn’t listen to, which is a fact that could suggest the actor’s relative dislike for the franchise and could help explain why he initially found a return to be boring.
Next up in the Star Wars franchise is The Mandalorian Season 3 on Disney+, the highly anticipated return of Pedro Pascal’s Din Djarin and the pop-culture sensation Baby Yoda, aka Grogu. The franchise is currently focusing on that time period in between the two trilogies, but it’s possible that more sequel trilogy content is on the way with the reported 2025 film that is heavily rumored to be set after Episode IX and feature some of the core heroes from that outing.