Star Wars actor says he would work with Disney again if company stands up to ‘fascism’

In an interview published Monday by GQ magazine, Isaac spoke with senior culture editor Alex Pappademas about his openness to returning to the franchise. “I’d be open to it, although right now I’m not so open to working with Disney,” Isaac said. “But if they can kinda figure it out and, you know, not succumb to fascism, that would be great.”

When Pappademas responded, “That would be great,” Isaac added, “But if that happens, then yeah, I’d be open to having a conversation about a galaxy far away, or any number of other things.”

In 2020, Isaac said that he’d only return to Star Wars “if I needed another house or something.”

According to an editorial note on the article, the interview was conducted two days after ABC and Disney temporarily suspended production of Jimmy Kimmel Live!. The network had pulled the show following Kimmel’s comments falsely blaming a MAGA supporter for assassinating TPUSA co-founder Charlie Kirk.

Kimmel’s remarks led to public backlash, a warning from the FCC, and several major ABC affiliates dropping the program. The show returned days later after a surge of support from fellow late-night hosts and liberal entertainers.

Earlier this year, Isaac’s Star Wars co-star John Boyega said in a recent Apple TV+ documentary that the galaxy far, far away was “the most whitest, elite space,” arguing that black actors have often been relegated to supporting roles rather than lead heroes.

“They’re okay with us playing the best friend,” Boyega said. “But once we touch their heroes, once we lead, once we trailblaze, it’s like, ‘Oh my God, it’s just a bit too much! They’re pandering.’”

He told GQ in 2020 that Disney sidelined him and other actors of color. “What I would say to Disney is do not bring out a Black character, market them to be much more important in the franchise than they are, and then have them pushed to the side,” he said. “You guys knew what to do with Daisy Ridley, you knew what to do with Adam Driver… but when it came to Kelly Marie Tran, when it came to John Boyega, you know f*ck all.”

Boyega later revealed that Disney reached out after his comments for what he described as “a very honest, very transparent conversation.” He expressed hope that speaking out would make things better for future creatives of color working in the industry.

Star Wars fans slammed Boyega for the remarks, noting that Lando Calrissian was played by Billy Dee Williams and was a key character in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. In the prequel trilogy, Samuel L. Jackson played Jedi Mace Windu, who said, "Way back when I saw the first one, I was burning to be in a Star Wars picture because it's like my swashbuckling fantasy."