After an impressive turn as the titular character in Captain Marvel, Brie Larson has been rumored to play the part of Mara Jade in recent Star Wars canon, possibly even appearing in live-action series like The Mandalorian on Disney+. A character first introduced in Timothy Zahn's Thrawn trilogy, Mara Jade was an elite assassin known as the Emperor's Hand. Her final order–to kill Luke Skywalker–was a mission she intended to fulfill even after Emperor Palpatine was killed during the Battle of Endor, but she and Skywalker ended up falling in love instead.
It's not yet known whether or not the popular Legends character will appear as Zahn's iteration, or be given a different backstory, though it's likely she'll have at least some tentative connection to Luke Skywalker. Though Larson is on a hot streak right now, there are several other actresses who could do the fiery red-headed Imperial agent justice.
10 Brie Larson: She Knows Her Way Around Sci-Fi Action
Like Guardians of the Galaxy, Captain Marvel was a very sci-fi oriented superhero movie, and focused greatly on the interstellar interplay between different alien species in the MCU, alien technology, and fluctuating axis of power.
Not only was Captain Marvel one of the most powerful beings in the entire Marvel Universe, as Carol Danvers she was also of two different worlds, much like Mara Jade after the Empire collapsed and the New Republic rose. Being able to convincingly assist in sci-fi action world-building will be a big boon for Larson with such a complex and action-oriented character.
9 Better Alternative: Emily Blunt
According to Zahn's novels, Mara Jade grew up on Coruscant under Emperor Palpatine's tutelage. Her disposition, temperament, and personality were all molded by him, and because of this she had an aristocratic air to her comportment.
Someone like Emily Blunt, known for playing elitist characters like in The Devil Wear's Prada and The Jane Austen Book Club, as well as fighters in action genre movies like Edge of Tomorrow, A Quiet Place (I & II), and Jungle Cruise, could be perfect for a role requiring dry wit and a way with weapons.
8 Brie Larson: She Has Range
Having been acting solidly for over a decade, Larson has curated a filmography full of interesting projects that have managed to garner her a reputation as a chameleon on screen. From playing moody teenagers in Scott Pilgrim vs the World and 21 Jump Street, to an uptight sister in Trainwreck, a fierce mother in The Room, and finally Carol Danvers in Captain Marvel, she can play a wide variety of characters.
One thing all of her roles seem to have in common is that among the different personalities there's a resilience and inner strength, which would be integral in the part of an Imperial agent turned Alliance ally who has to earn her place in the galaxy after the Empire falls. Mara Jade's character undergoes a serious journey from villain to anti-hero, and finally savior.
7 Better Alternative: Rose Leslie
As the tough-as-nails Ygritte in Games of Thrones, Rose Leslie proved she has what it takes to bring the tempestuous Mara Jade to life. Her character's journey, from enemy to lover of Jon Snow as they worked together to survive beyond The Wall mirrored Mara's romance with Luke, when several daring missions forced the two to confront their feelings for one another.
Known for her appearances in The Last Witch Hunter, The Good Fight, and Downton Abbey, Leslie has range that includes both dramas and fantasy projects, ensuring she would enjoy the role but also take it seriously.
6 Brie Larson: She's A Star Wars Fan
Fans of Larson's who watch her Youtube channel know that she's admitted to auditioning for every movie in the Disney Sequel Trilogy as well as Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, but didn't end up in any of the new franchise entries. The same year Star Wars: The Force Awakens came out she won the Academy Award for Best Actress for the searing drama The Room, and established herself as a talent to watch.
Larson's channel also goes into detail about an incident on the set of Captain Marvel, when the actress got to hold co-star Samuel L. Jackson's lightsaber prop from the Prequel Trilogy and apparently admitted to always wanting to be a Jedi.
5 Better Alternative: Margot Robbie
While some may have dismissed Margot Robbie early on in her career as a vacuous blonde bombshell in Hollywood, the actress has made it known that she can play a variety of characters and completely disappear into a role. She's a recognizable face that through her acting ability can become unrecognizable; in other words, she's a leading performer with character actor talent.
With leading roles in physically demanding movies like Birds of Prey, Mary Queen of Scots, and I, Tonya, Robbie would assuredly embody Mara Jade's confidence and spirit, while there's no denying the beauty she capitalized on in The Wolf of Wall Street wouldn't make a Tatooine farmboy blush.
4 Brie Larson: She's Not Too Established
Despite being a part of the MCU and winning an Academy Award, Brie Larson is surprisingly not a widely recognized face in Hollywood. This quality helps her disappear into roles, and also ensures that her best roles are yet to come. She's not established enough to distract viewers from enjoying her in that galaxy far, far away.
The Star Wars franchise has always been a mixture of old and new talent, with established thespians anchoring a narrative championed by fresh faces. In the Original Trilogy, Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher all became overnight stars after their appearances, but their anonymity helped them play the characters without their star power overshadowing their parts.
3 Better Alternative: Hannah John-Kamen
Known for performance in Game of Thrones, Ant-Man and the Wasp, and the upcoming sword-and-sorcery epic Red Sonja, Hannah John-Kamen has a reputation for playing complicated anti-heroes in the sci-fi and fantasy genres. John-Kamen is also known for playing sharp-tongued, secretive characters in contemporary fiction, like in the taut mini-series The Stranger.
With her Dutch-Nigerian parentage, the English actress has the sort of striking look that set Mara Jade apart from her peers and allowed her to mingle between denizens of the Empire and Republic alike.
2 Brie Larson: She Would Be True To The Source Material
Like other famous franchise characters who have been imbued with certain traits by the actors who played them, Larson would get to make the role of Mara Jade her own while also honoring her source material. Though the character comes from a popular series of novels in much the same way Carol Danvers came from established Marvel comic books, Larson would honor the spirit of her creation much like she did in Captain Marvel.
Larson knew the stakes involved when taking on the Captain Marvel mantle, and she no doubt knows that Star Wars fans can be just as fickle about their heroes as fans of the MCU.
1 Better Alternative: Jessica Chastain
Depending on what time period Mara Jade is introduced in (during the Thrawn trilogy of books or sometime closer to the Disney Sequel Trilogy), actresses in an age range like Jessica Chastain's could be appropriate. Chastain has made a name for herself in such prestige movies as The Help and Interstellar, but recently has begun making compelling action thrillers like Eve and 355.
Like Charlize Theron and Kate Beckinsale, Chastain has been reminding viewers that an actress can perform exciting stunts, handle firearms, and participate in hand-to-hand combat at any stage in their career.
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