Kiwi eyes role in Star Wars

ACTION MAN: Jay Laga'aia as he appeared in the Star Wars prequals.

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Kiwi actor Jay Laga'aia is talking to George Lucas about a role in a live action Star Wars television series next year.

Lucas, one of the richest and most powerful film-makers in Hollywood, is already familiar with Laga'aia, having cast him as good guy Captain Typho in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones and Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.

The series for United States cable television will follow the Rebel Alliance as it slowly gains strength against the the evil empire.

There will be stormtroopers, but no Jedi knights or Darth Vader will appear in the series.

Lucas is casting for the series and Laga'aia - a regular on several New Zealand and Australian television shows over the years, including Street Legal and Water Rats - said he had his hand up.

"It's one of those things that people sort of take for granted - you worked on the first one, so ... we're in discussion at the moment because I'm interested in playing a couple of roles.

"You find with those sort of roles you can play different characters - some are heavily made up, others aren't."

Laga'aia, whose latest TV role is in fantasy series Legend of the Seeker, produced by Spider Man director Sam Raimi, was not the only Kiwi to have a part in the Star Wars films.

Keisha Castle- Hughes, Temuera Morrison, Bodie Taylor and Rena Owen also had roles in the last three.

- © Fairfax NZ News