While his future continues to be mapped out on consoles, Star Wars' Cal Kestis actor Cameron Monaghan is addressing a possible live-action appearance. Monaghan made his franchise debut as Kestis in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Respawn Entertainment's 2019 video game centered on the former Jedi Padawan who is living in hiding following the devastating Order 66 that wiped out the Jedi, including his master, Jedi General Jaro Tapal. After being detected by the Empire and the Jedi-hunting Inquisitors, Cal goes on the run with Cere Junda, a former Jedi, and Greez Dritus, pilot and owner of the Stinger Mantis, to try and help rebuild the Jedi Order.
Though its technical glitches received some criticism, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order received largely positive reviews from critics and gamers alike for its blend of Dark Souls and Uncharted styles of gameplay, expansion of the canon franchise lore and the development of its central character, Cal. Having sold over 10 million copies less than a year after its release, publisher Electronic Arts considered it a major commercial success and later confirmed development on a sequel this past January with Respawn again developing and Stig Asmussen returning to direct. While franchise fans eagerly await more details on Star Wars Jedi: Survivor in the lead up to its 2023 release, the star at the center of the new game is looking to his future in the series.
While speaking exclusively with Screen Rant for the indie thriller Paradise Highway, Cameron Monaghan shared his thoughts on a possible live-action Star Wars appearance. The Cal Kestis actor confirmed there is interest to bring his Jedi: Fallen Order character to the live-action field, though coyly shared that was all he could say. See what Monaghan shared below:
"Well of course there's interest. That's about all I can say. [Laughs]"
Though no video game character has made the jump to live-action in the Star Wars franchise as of yet, there is plenty of precedent for how Cal Kestis could make his way to the screen. The recently released Obi-Wan Kenobi series saw the live-action debut of Darth Vader's Inquisitors which, while technically having been introduced in Rebels, were a major antagonist for Cal in the Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, namely Second Sister Trilla, who was Cere's former Padawan and was killed by Vader after briefly returning to the light side. Given Jedi: Fallen Order has also been confirmed to be canon within the Star Wars universe in the time period around the original trilogy, Cal could find his way to live-action.
Recent Star Wars shows have found a way to work a number of animated characters into their live-action stories, most notably Katee Sackhoff's Bo-Katan in The Mandalorian and Corey Burton's Cad Bane in The Book of Boba Fett. With the upcoming Ahsoka series also set to introduce Sabine Wren, Hera Syndulla, Chopper and Ezra Bridger to the live-action, Lucasfilm seems to be further weaving its various Star Wars threads together. While audiences await further details on his possible live-action appearance, they can look forward to Cal's return in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor hitting shelves for the Xbox Series X/S, PC and PlayStation 5 in 2023.