Gwendoline Christie addresses whether she would return to Star Wars as Captain Phasma. The actor first appeared as the stoic First Order Stormtrooper commander in Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens. She proved popular in the film's promotional materials, but Captain Phasma disappointed many due to her lack of screen time in the film. This criticism carried on to Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi, which also barely featured Phasma and seemingly killed her off. After two films, Captain Phasma accumulated a little over three minutes and thirty seconds of total screen time.
Many fans lambasted the trilogy's use of Captain Phasma, especially after she was hyped up prior to The Force Awakens' release by the film's promotional materials and merchandising. However, the stormtrooper received more attention in written media than any film had given her. Star Wars: Phasma, a novel by Delilah S. Dawson, tells the backstory of the character while the well-received four-part comic book series, Star Wars: Captain Phasma, details her time immediately after The Force Awakens, explaining how she escaped from Starkiller base before its destruction. Although the films were criticized for not using Captain Phasma properly, the novel and comic books fleshed the character out in a way the movies never had.
Christie recently sat down with Empire and admitted that she would love to return to Star Wars and reprise her role as Captain Phasma. The actor claims to never have read any of the comics that explore her character in more detail, but she understands that there was something about the character that attracted audiences and she would like to tap into that once more. Read what Christie said below.
“I haven’t read the comics but, I mean, it’s Star Wars! I would absolutely love that. There was a template for a character that people got really excited about. It would be smashing if they felt that it was worthwhile to explore, along with some fabulous action.”
Since its completion, there have been many complaints about the Star Wars sequel trilogy, including how Captain Phasma was relatively wasted within the saga. Although the filmmakers hyped the character, she was given very little to do except stand around and look rather menacing. The Last Jedi gave her a fight scene but quickly killed her off in a manner that was arguably unceremonious. Adapting the popular comic book series or exploring her journey with the First Order could be a way to bring Christie back into the popular science-fiction fantasy franchise.
However, due to the manner in which Captain Phasma was killed, it is feasible to resurrect her for another Star Wars project. During Finn and Rose's escape from Supreme Leader Snoke's command ship, Finn and Captain Phasma square off. Finn gets the upper hand and knocks her into a fiery abyss. Although it was later confirmed by the cast that the character died, the film does not explicitly show a body, thus leaving the door open for Christie's potential return as Captain Phasma. Similar to Emperor Palpatine's and Boba Fett's miraculous returns, Star Wars has proven time and again that no one is ever really gone.
Source: Empire