Aaron Paul and J.K. Simmons to Lead Live-Reading of ‘Star Wars: Episode V-The Empire Strikes Back’

Jason Reitman has cast Aaron Paul and J.K. Simmons to lead a live reading of the Star Wars: Episode V-The Empire Strikes Back in California on Thursday.

Breaking Bad star Paul will play Luke Skywalker, while Simmons will portray Darth Vader in the production at the Ace Hotel in Los Angeles.

Reitman tells Entertainment Weekly, “The first thing I had to figure out was who is going to be the voice of Luke. My first instinct was, ‘Who is the actor most like Mark Hamill today?’ But five minutes into that, I’m thinking we already have that, we already have Star Wars as it is. What is the opposite of that?”

Discussing Simmons’ casting, he adds, “He has to be able to be fatherly and evil simultaneously, and no one has explored that idea more than J.K. Simmons in Whiplash. Darth Vader is someone who has it within him to cut his own son’s hand off, but not send his son to his death.”

Stephen Merchant (C-3PO), Dennis Haysbert (Lando Calrissian) and Kevin Pollak (Yoda) will also appear in the reading.

Photo Credit:Jaguar PS / Shutterstock.com/Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com

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