Did anyone look different in Andor? Well, if you were looking for Jimmy Smits’ character Bail Organa, you might be really confused. After playing the role for over 20 years, Senator Bail Organa was recast for Andor Season 2.
So, why was Bail Organa recast? While the casting change spurred rumors that Jimmy Smits died, it all came down to timing. Smits was simply unavailable. Instead of delaying shooting or using CGI, Tony Gilroy and Lucasfilm simply decided to recast the role.
First appearing in 2002’s Attack of the Clones, Jimmy Smits has also played the role in Revenge of the Sith (2005), Rogue One (2016), Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022), and the Legends video game The Force Unleashed (2008).
Benjamin Bratt assumed the role for Season 2 of Andor, appearing in Episode 6, “What a Festive Evening,” and Episode 9, “Welcome to the Rebellion.” It seems likely he will appear in the final arc of the series, Episodes 10 through 12.
Why Was Bail Organa Recast in Andor?
The Bail Organa recast happened for one simple reason: Jimmy Smits was busy. He was working on the CBS show East New York when Andor was filming, and there just wasn’t a way to fit both into his schedule.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Andor creator Tony Gilroy said, “We couldn’t work it out.”
Gilroy added, “The scheduling didn’t work out. We really tried hard, but he wasn’t available and couldn’t make it.”
So, there was no drama and no controversy. It was just regular scheduling issues that happen all the time in TV production.
“Bringing back legacy characters is really complicated,” he said.
“It’s very expensive. It’s very, who’s working when.”
And this isn’t the first time someone has been recast in Star Wars.
Mon Mothma was recast for Revenge of the Sith when Genevieve O’Reilly replaced the original actor, Caroline Blakiston. Plus, Harrison Ford and Billy Dee Williams were recast for Solo: A Star Wars Story with Alden Ehrenreich and Donald Glover.
In fact, there are dozens of Star Wars recasts. So while Benjamin Bratt replacing Jimmy Smits might be surprising, it’s nothing that hasn’t happened before.
Not to mention, this isn’t the first time Bail Organa has been recast. Shocking? Perhaps, but Jimmy Smits was not the original actor to play the role.
Who Plays Bail Organa in Andor Season 2?
When Smits couldn’t make it, Lucasfilm brought in Benjamin Bratt to play Bail Organa. He might be a new face in the galaxy far, far away, but he’s a well-known actor with a strong presence—and that’s exactly what the role of Bail Organa needs.
Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy actually suggested Bratt for the part, and Gilroy said he was really happy with how things turned out.
“It was just a brilliant idea. He’s a wonderful human being and really eager and beloved on set and really happy about what he does.”
In short, Bratt brings the right kind of energy to the role. He is serious, thoughtful, and authoritative.
How Andor Handled the Recast
The Andor team knew fans would notice the Bail Organa recast right away. So, they decided to introduce Benjamin Bratt’s version of Bail slowly. He first appears briefly in Episode 6, just chatting during a party scene, and doesn’t do much yet.
That was on purpose.
“I put him in episode 6 in an arbitrary way so people will get the conversation out of the way until the next week when he really starts to work.”
Gilroy added, “I didn’t want the [Benjamin Bratt’s] work to be confused with his introduction.”
It was a smart move. Instead of having the new actor show up during a big, dramatic scene (and risk distracting fans), they let everyone adjust first.
Why Not Use CGI to Keep Jimmy Smits?
With all the digital tricks Star Wars has used over the years, like deepfakes and de-aging, you might wonder why they didn’t just make a digital Jimmy Smits. But Andor has always been more grounded and character-driven, and the team wanted a real performance, not a digital one.
So instead of using tech to recreate Smits, they chose to cast a new Bail Organa actor who could bring something genuine to the role.
What’s Next for Bail Organa in Andor?
After a brief appearance in Episode 6 and a more substantial role in Episode 9, it seems likely we will see Benjamin Bratt as Bail Organa in the final arc of Andor.
And that makes sense. Senator Organa is one of the key figures who built the Rebellion. However, it’s unclear whether Jimmy Smits or Benjamin Bratt will reprise the role in future Star Wars stories.
The final three episodes of Andor premiere Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at 9 PM Eastern on Disney+.
What Do You Think About Bail Organa Being Recast?
Want to talk more about the Bail Organa recast? Join our ongoing discussion about Andor Season 2 and all things Star Wars on our free, fun, and inclusive Discord server. Share your opinion and talk with other fans about Benjamin Bratt’s performance as Senator Organa in the Andor channel.
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