This ‘Star Wars’ Actress Speaks On Her Future In ‘The Mandalorian’
Along with casting newcomers, Lucasfilm is known to cast established actors in cameo roles. For example, Daniel Craig, Gwendoline Christie (yes, I know Phasma was more than a cameo but bear with me), and Dominic Monaghan, to name a few, had contributed their talents to the saga. When the role calls for some muscle, we have gotten bodybuilder David Prowse, MMA fighter Gina Carano, and WWE superstar Sasha Banks. Banks has appeared as Koska Reeves in a pair of episodes in season two of The Mandalorian. It appears that we may have seen the last of Ms. Banks in the galaxy far, far away.
In her recent interview with Bleacher Report, Sasha Banks revealed that she would not be in the next season of The Mandalorian. Despite this, Banks spoke glowingly of her experience on the set of the Disney+ hit series. She also appreciated the positive response from non-wrestling fans as well.
"First of all, thanks for trying to get that out, but I'm not on the next season... But it was incredible being on The Mandalorian on Star Wars. To be on a franchise that is so huge and so loved, just look at the reception from fans outside of the WWE Universe. It was the best feeling of all time. The projection of that show was overwhelming. I legit felt like I was in a galaxy so far, far away. I felt like I was on a different planet.
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Banks continued to speak highly of her time on The Mandalorian.
“It was something I’ll always take with me, and I took so much of what I learned from acting with them and being with so many great stars to WWE. It really helped my confidence as well as when I came back from doing The Mandalorian two years ago. It was such a learning curve, and something I wasn’t expecting, but now I’m in this whole new Hollywood world, and it’s going amazingly. I’m so excited for the fans, and I can’t wait for the fans to see what’s next.”
Needless to say, Banks enjoyed her time working on The Mandalorian, especially her scene with Luke in the Season 2 finale. Banks admitted to knowing a little bit beforehand from reading the script, even though other actors from the show had said it was a surprise for them.
"But it was so cool watching it as well because every time The Mandalorian came on, it was always on a Friday so it was right before I went to work at SmackDown. I was watching as a fan with everybody else and freaking out even though I’m on the show, and then I walked to work. Everybody backstage [at WWE] was freaking out, and it’s just so cool to see your co-workers freak out about something’s that’s just not wrestling. It’s usually, ‘Great match!’ Instead, it’s, ‘You’re in Star Wars, The Mandalorian.’ That episode (The Rescue) was so cool, and I was like, ‘Yep, of course, I am.’”
Koska Reeves appeared in The Mandalorian “Chapter 11: The Heiress” and “Chapter 16: The Rescue.” She was a member of the elite Nite Owls, and part of Clan Kryze led by Bo-Katan. Along with fellow Mandalorian Axe Woves, Reeves and Bo-Katan were targeting Moff Gideon’s transports with the goal to locate and recover the legendary darksaber.
According to Banks, whose real name is Mercedes Varnado, Jon Favreau discovered her on an interview she did with Hot Ones, a web series where celebrities are interviewed while eating spicy chicken wings. From there, Favreau obtained her contact information and contacted her through FaceTime. It appears social media does have an upside after all.
Do not believe everything you hear just yet. After appearing in “The Heiress,” Banks denied appearing in any more episodes of The Mandalorian. Then, we see her again in “The Rescue.” As Bo-Katan will be returning to season 3 of the series, it would not be shocking to see Reeves by her side cracking skulls.
In the end, several Star Wars actors have claimed they have no plans to return to the franchise either by choice or because their character’s story has concluded. However, over the years, it has been shown again and again that you can never count anyone out. If dead characters can return, anyone can return. Never say never in Star Wars. With the War of the Bounty Hunters crossover comic series wrapping up this month by Marvel and the Book of Boba Fett coming to Disney+ this December, there is no telling what the future holds for The Mandalorian.
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Source(s): The Direct, Bleacher Report, Variety, Wookieepedia