Showing posts with label GENEVIEVE O'REILLY. Show all posts
Showing posts with label GENEVIEVE O'REILLY. Show all posts

Sunday, 16 August 2026

'ANDOR': THE LEGACY OF LUTHEN RAEL...

Living on the edge, fighting tyranny: Luthen Rael, from Andor.

Though we all enjoyed the dedicated and fiery performance of Diego Luna as the series titular star, for me the absolute acting highlight of both Andor seasons had to be Stellan Skarsgard as the tough, resourceful Rebel spy and efficient fighter Luthen Rael, mostly working solo for the building Alliance cause, hiding deep within plain sight inside the upper circle elitism of the Galactic Empire (but always watching his back wherever possible), via his unique shop of rare antiquities located deep in the luxuriant quarters of Coruscant. His character in some ways reminded me, in an even tougher personal style, of Paul Darrow's classic anti-hero Kerr Avon, from the hit British Sci-Fi classic of resistance against the evil Federation, Blake's 7.



Skarsgard has always had a unique edge and simmering anger, even deep down violence restrained, to his screen performances, of which he is quite rightly regarded as one of the world's finest character actors, always in demand. And with Andor, he certainly had some great scripts and character development to enjoy realizing, especially in the latter stages of Season One and across Season Two, when he found the Empire finally closing in on him. And let's not forget those several super, now iconic, speeches given to Rael revealing his dedication to the cause, and the personal costs it will ultimately bring him, delivered with the kind of filmic intensity that only Skarsgard could truly deliver.

Personally, I'd bring Rael and Skarsgard back for a separate spin-off series within this unique TV storytelling from the Star Wars universe...


The mysterious look for the series early character posters!

Costume design for the character.

As seen in Season One.

A secret meeting with Mon Mothma (Genevieve O'Reilly).




Wednesday, 13 May 2026

'ANDOR': THE FACE OF FREEDOM!


On the eve of fully joining the Rebel Alliance as its leader against the Galactic Empire, the bold Mon Mothma delivers her greatest speech yet within the confines of the Senate, about the Emperor's tyrannic threat to the Galaxy and its people, and how he and his minions must be repulsed at all costs. She's shown courage and bravery in doing this, but, now vulnerable, will she survive long enough to escape Coruscant? 

A classic scene from Andor's second season, part of a massive improvement on the show's opening run, and one that fully utilises the talents of actress Genevieve O'Reilly as Mon Mothma.


Looking back on Mon Mothma.


Tuesday, 6 December 2022

'STAR WARS - ANDOR': THE FUTURE GETS DARKER...

The latest promo poster concluding the first season.

Its acclaimed first year run ending with rebel insurgence that will shake the Galactic Empire to its core, the intriguing partnership of Cassian Andor and bold resistance fighter Luthen Rael (the always scene-stealing Stellan Skarsgard), and that stellar post credits ending with the awesome Death Star, the path to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is set as we eagerly await Star Wars - Andor Season 2, coming exclusively to Disney+ in 2024.

Here's some more updates on the series, and what lies ahead:













Wednesday, 7 September 2022

THE PATH TO 'STAR WARS - ANDOR': THE SECRET 'REBELLION'!


A military campaign seemingly without end and a galaxy stretched to the breaking point from the resultant conflicts. Things must change for the better soon, as a cadre of top Republic leaders (including the respected figures of Bail Organa, Mon Mothma and Padme Amidala) meet in secret to discuss what steps can be taken to gently persuade their Supreme Chancellor Palpatine to stop the Clone Wars. The Delegation of 2,000 is soon born.

Concept art, costume reference and publicity images of Mon Mothma, as played in EPISODE III by Genevieve O'Reilly.

Mon Mothma would nobly continue to fight for peace and justice across the Republic soon turned Galactic Empire, though her part in the Rebel Alliance's against the Emperor continues to grow in secret during the events of the upcoming spy thriller/political intrigue drama Star Wars - Andor series, starting exclusively on Disney+ from September 21st, 2022.


Mon Mothma, still on Coruscant, and navigating dangerous political territories in the new Star Wars - Andor series.


Sunday, 4 September 2022

'STAR WARS - ANDOR' - LATEST FOOTAGE (EARLY SEP 2022)

On the move - Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) and Luthen Rael (Stellan Skarsgard).

Thief, infiltrator, pilot, assassin, rebel. Cassian Andor is all those things, and more, as we'll discover in the exciting new Star Wars - Andor series, starting exclusively on Disney+ from September 21st, 2022.

Here's a round-up of all the latest and best footage and imagery.


The latest series poster.

Poster for the US IMAX re-release of Rogue One.

Bix Caleen (Adria Arjona) goes into action.










Recent UK SFX magazine cover and detailed article.


Cassian and a new droid B2EMO go to work...

Tuesday, 2 August 2022

GENERATION REBELLION! THE LATEST 'STAR WARS - ANDOR' TRAILER IS HERE!


Its launch may now have been delayed until September 21st, but the striking and exciting new trailer for the galaxy-spanning spy/action thriller Andor, coming exclusively to Disney+ with a three episode release debut, makes it worth the wait, especially with the return of Forrest Whitaker as renegade Rebel leader Saw Gerrera, and more on the important role that Stellan Skaarsgard will be playing in the show's first season, mixing senatorial duties with fighting the Empire...


Fighting diplomatically from the Imperial Senate: Mon Mothma.


Sunday, 5 June 2022

REBELLION AND EMPIRE - 'ANDOR' WILL SOON BE HERE...


The new teaser poster revealed at the recent Celebration event.


With what looks set to be the most ambitious and biggest scale collation of interplanetary drama, action and character arc weaving ever attempted (so far) for a Star Wars TV series (and with a second season already planned), creator/writer Tony Gilroy and star Diego Luna's upcoming Andor series, leading up to the Rebel hero's sacrificial bravery in Rogue One- A Star Wars Story, looks intriguing, as things gear up for its August 31st, 2022 airdate, exclusively on Disney+.






How Long is Andor? New Star Wars Disney+ Show Coming Summer

Star Wars’ TV Rebellion: ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi,’ ‘Ahsoka,’ and ‘Andor’ Rise | Vanity Fair

Andor Showrunner Tony Gilroy Says The Series Will Mess With Star Wars Canon, Which Always Ends Well

Luna and O'Reilly meet the crowds at the Celebration 2022 event.



Sunday, 19 September 2021

CLASSIC IMAGE: THE SECRET CRUSADER!


Fighting the injustice and tyranny of the soon established First Galactic Empire, operating mostly within the law yet also via the courageous birth of the Rebel Alliance of whom he is such an important genesis part (established in deleted scenes from EPISODE III), the highly respected Alderaan statesman Bail Organa (Jimmy Smits) is an essential player in the live action and animated realms of the Prequel STAR WARS universe, as well as the first singular standalone adventure, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Mon Mothma and Bail Organa confer in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

Perhaps we may even see more of Bail in the upcoming Obi-Wan or Cassian Andor series prequels on Disney+, alongside the already confirmed to appear Mon Mothma (played by Genevieve O'Reilly) for the latter, in 2022?

Saturday, 22 August 2020

DELETED SCENE: A REBELLION IS BORN!


Meeting under top secret and politically sensitive conditions, a group of disenchanted senators (led by Bail Organa with Mon Mothma, and Padme Amidala) meet regarding the disturbing decisions affecting the galaxy being made by Supreme Chancellor Palpatine. From their early actions as the peace-seeking Delegation of 2000, a Rebellion will soon be born. A deleted scene of future importance, sadly cut for storytelling reasons being more centred on the fate of Anakin Skywalker, from EPISODE III.

Saturday, 12 May 2018

DELETED SCENE: A REBELLION BEGINS...


In a top secret meeting on Coruscant, a select group of respected Republic senators gather to hear and discuss Mon Mothma and Bail Organa's worries about dark times: the continued emergency powers, the growing influence of the Supreme Chancellor, and what diplomatic action can be taken to resist the gathering restrictions, in a deleted scene from EPISODE III that eventually appeared on DVD in 2005.

Thursday, 2 March 2017

'STAR WARS REBELS': THE RETURN OF MON MOTHMA

Image: DISNEY XD.

The welcome lead-ins to ROGUE ONE continue through the second half of all-new episodes of STAR WARS REBELS Season Three. First there was Saw Gerrera as voiced by Forest Whitaker, now comes dedicated and inspiring rebel leader Mon Mothma, welcomely voiced by Genevieve O' Reilly, on board the Ghost and escorted by our heroes to an important meeting, as Secret Cargo debuts on the UK's DISNEY XD Channel this weekend (4th March, 2016).

ROGUE ONE’s Genevieve O’Reilly on Bringing Mon Mothma to STAR WARS REBELS (Exclusive) | Nerdist

Thursday, 16 February 2017

ROGUE ONE: CONCERNING THE DEATH STAR...


On Yavin IV, Mon Mothma, her Rebel generals and tacticians, and important senators, gather to look at a hologram of the Death Star and work out their next strategy, in a deleted scene from the original version of ROGUE ONE.

There's lots to assume from this deleted scene and the alternate decision making presumably made by the Rebellion. We assume the intimidating visual of the Death Star was part of Galen Erso's message to Jyn and that she didn't lose it on Jedha as seen in the finished movie. Note that Cassian Andor, presumably speaking on Jyn's behalf and to give support, is present in this meeting when he's barely seen in the re-filmed sequence, which would also be minus the Death Star graphic or any kind of hologram. Presumably, in the original cut, the Rebellion took a more proactive decision to join forces with Jyn's plan to capture the schematics. In the reshoots, their continued doubts about Jyn, and their inability to fight alongside her, were surely added, making her final journey to Scarif more dramatic.

Alternate version, with no Cassian.

Another consideration as to why the scene was changed could be that it might have been deemed too similar to the briefing room scene with Mon Mothma and the Rebels occurring by the time of RETURN OF THE JEDI.

Thursday, 2 February 2017

ROGUE ONE: IN DUTY TO THE REBELLION...


Full scale war with the Empire seems a certainty, of which dedicated, compassionate and highly regarded Rebel Alliance leader Mon Mothma is fully aware. Though she also believes that all courses of political action and debate must be taken and considered before the inevitable, listening to the demands and reasonings of her fellow senators and trusted advisors as the activation of the Death Star looms, during the events of ROGUE ONE.

It was lovely to have the very busy and thoroughly gorgeous Irish actress Genevieve O'Reilly back as Mon Mothma, another strong Classic Trilogy female character, for some noteworthy scenes. And who didn't cheer when they first saw her in the earliest movie trailer, eh?!

Sunday, 23 October 2016

ROGUE ONE: MOTHER OF THE REBEL ALLIANCE!

The newly released TOPPS character/autograph card.

If Bail Organa of Alderaan was the bold father of what would eventually become known as the Rebel Alliance against the corrupt and merciless Galactic Empire, then Mon Mothma of Chandrilla must surely be its strongly beating, compassionate and vital mother heart, known for her calm, rational thinking and strong moral intellectualism ever since she was a respected leader within the troubled Republic Senate at the time of the Clone Wars, the tumultuous three years of battle and tragedy of which she now knows she and the thousands of senators she worked with for peace were being manipulated and betrayed by the man they thought they knew and trusted: Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, whose new order has wrought such hardships, terror and destructive force against the galaxy, and especially towards non-humanoid species.

A genuine baptism of fire for Mon Mothma and the Rebel Alliance in ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY.
Mon Mothma (Genevieve O'Reilly) and General Draven (Alistair Petrie) with an important new ally.

As the Empire grows more powerful, and the testing of a deadly new weapon is imminent, the small resistance cells scattered across the galaxy must finally unite and pull their resources like never before, under the leadership of Mon Mothma.

And fight... 

Mon Mothma, as seen in publicity materials for EPISODE III.

With her scenes for EPISODE III sadly removed from the original theatrical release (though available on DVD), Genevieve O'Reilly's presence in the first ROGUE ONE trailer as Mon Mothma, with a visage and clothing that matched Caroline Blakiston's character/look from RETURN OF THE JEDI, was a welcome and truly satisfying sight, fusing the Prequel and Classic Trilogy saga's together even more strongly.

More on ROGUE ONE's General Draven: Rogue One director obliterates popular fan theory about Rebel leader | EW.com

Friday, 19 August 2016

ROGUE ONE: DODONNA RETURNS!

A classic posed image of our Rebel heroes on Yavin IV.

He gets a mention in the opening episode of STAR WARS REBELS Season Three, now Yavin Base Rebel cell leader General Jan Dodonna (originally played back in 1976 by the late Alex McCrindle) will put in a cameo appearance in the upcoming ROGUE ONE, as seen in the film's teaser trailer and in the image below (in left background). I think it unlikely the character will have any dialogue or major scene, but Dodonna's presence there is nonetheless welcome on the continuity front.

Watch out for several more character surprises to come this December.

From the ROGUE ONE teaser trailer.

Saturday, 6 August 2016

CLASSIC IMAGE: SPEEDY RENDEZVOUS!


Bail Organa navigates the dense Coruscant air traffic with determination, on his way to pick up friend Yoda, currently escaping from the dark forces controlling the Senate building, as events in EPISODE III reach a grim climax.

A blink and you miss it moment from the ROGUE ONE "Sizzle Reel"

It was great to see Jimmy Smits having a larger role in the final film of the Prequel saga as Bail, as was the effective use of the character within THE CLONE WARS animated series. Now comes the terrific news that Smits will be returning for a special and vital cameo in ROGUE ONE, linked to a sequence on Yavin IV and the Rebel leaders whom Bail has secretly worked with for nearly twenty years, and an appearance which STAR WARS AFICIONADO previously hinted at a year ago.

Jimmy Smits Confirms Cameo in 'Rogue One' | The Star Wars Underworld

Saturday, 13 October 2012

DELETED SCENE: BIRTH OF THE REBELLION!


Frustratingly cut in order for viewers to stay focused on the fall of Anakin Skywalker, one of the best things about the EPISODE III DVD release of 2005 were the deleted scenes showing Padme, Bail Organa and a group of equally concerned senators gathering together on Coruscant to discuss forcing the Supreme Chancellor to put an end to the long-running Clone Wars. From the seeds of this committee would later be born a Rebel Alliance challenging a tyrannical Empire.

An unknown stand-in filling in for the filming during Smit's original absence.

On an interesting behind the scenes note, Jimmy Smits was not originally available on the day to film this above scene at the FOX STUDIOS in Australia in 2003. A costumed double was used and then Smits as Organa was later cleverly superimposed onto the footage.

Digital contact sheet for the scene's filming, from the former collection of Anthony Daniels.


Friday, 5 November 2010

CLASSIC IMAGE: GENEVIEVE O'REILLY AS REBEL LEADER MON MOTHMA

Legendary Rebel Alliance leader Mon Mothma makes her first appearance in EPISODE III.

In 2003, fans were overjoyed at George Lucas's plans to integrate more classic elements from the original STAR WARS Trilogy into the final part of the STAR WARS Prequel Trilogy, further bringing in the bridge from one side of the Saga's history to the other. As well as Vader at the films finale, we were to have Chewbacca and the Wookiees, spaceship cameos from what would be one of the Rebel Blockade Runners and the Millennium Falcon. But one of the most important links in III would be the birth of the Rebel Alliance to fight the Empire, shepherded into existence by a core group of players including Bail Organa, Padme Amidala and new (later to be RETURN OF THE JEDI figurehead) Mon Mothma. Originally played in 1982 for JEDI by distinguished British actress Caroline Blakiston, this time around the younger incarnation of Mothma would be portrayed by the lovely actress Genevieve O'Reilly. I met a Miss O'Reilly a while back at a UK collectors show at Cheshunt, and she recalled how, despite the scenes being cut from the film (though later released on DVD), she greatly enjoyed working on EPISODE III, loved hers and the others costumes and seeing the aliens, and liked George Lucas. She also remembered how one scene involving the DELEGATION OF 2000 had to be shot without Jimmy Smits as Bail Organa (Smits had not yet arrived in Australia for the filming), so a double was used saying his dialogue and in costume (with the actor re-filming the scene individually and later superimposed over the long shot).

Mon Mothma, as played by the lovely Genevieve O'Reilly

Having already made a small appearance in both THE MATRIX RELOADED and THE MATRIX REVOLUTIONS (as a Xion technician) prior to STAR WARS, Irish born, Australia raised O'Reilly would come to the UK and US and work in a variety of successful film and TV projects (including playing the late Princess Diana in DIANA: LAST DAYS OF A PRINCESS, a regular role as American Operative Sarah Caulfield in the hit BBC spy series SPOOKS (known in the US as MI5) and in the enjoyable political thriller THE STATE WITHIN (with HARRY POTTER's Jason Isaacs). Other film work would include the recent period drama THE YOUNG VICTORIA. She's also had a very good career on the London stage, working with Kevin Spacey at the Old Vic and more recently opposite young star in the making Ben Barnes (THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA) in the hit play BIRDSONG (based on the acclaimed book by Sebastian Faulks), at the London COMEDY THEATRE until January 15th 2011). Below is a nice image of the pair linked to the start of the plays run, in a photo shoot taken for the London EVENING STANDARD magazine in 2010 by Nicky Emerson.


STAR WARS AFICIONADO wishes Genevieve continued success in all areas of her acting career.

Mon Mothma, Rebel Leader: From Concept to Screen | StarWars.com