Cal Kestis, the leading character of the fan-favorite video game Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, could be coming to Star Wars live action, and these 10 actors are the best possibilities for that role. Fallen Order and its sequel, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, have proven incredibly popular in the Star Wars franchise, and given both stories are canon, there’s long been a push for Cal Kestis to join Star Wars’ movies and TV shows. As many of Star Wars’ upcoming projects are set during the New Republic timeline, when Cal Kestis would still be alive, this seems quite possible.
At present, none of Star Wars’ upcoming TV shows or Star Wars’ new movies has confirmed Cal Kestis’ introduction, but the rumors have been enough to begin conversations about who could star in this role. For many, there’s only one answer. Cameron Monaghan, who voices Cal Kestis in Fallen Order and Survivor and influenced the character’s design, is the obvious choice, and the actor has expressed interest in the role if it tells the right story. The question remains: could any actor really come close to Cameron Monaghan when it comes to portraying Cal Kestis?
10 Tye Sheridan
The Ready Player One Actor Would Do Well In Star Wars
Among the names that have come up regarding who could play Cal Kestis in live action is Tye Sheridan, who is likely best known for his leading role as Wade Watts, who also goes by the name Parzival, in Ready Player One. Sheridan has also appeared in other significant roles, including as Scott Summers/Cyclops in X-Men: Apocalypse and X-Men: Dark Phoenix. Perhaps because his background includes action and adventure movies, some believe Sheridan would be a good fit.
It’s true that the role of Cal Kestis would require someone with the ability to handle an action-heavy role. Although the exact story Cal Kestis’ live-action debut would tell remains entirely up in the air, it’s safe to assume that he would be playing a role consistent with the one he has throughout Fallen Order and Survivor. This would mean a number of Force feats and physical demands, which Sheridan likely could fulfill.
9 Nicholas Hoult
Mad Max: Fury Road Perfectly Prepared Nicholas Hoult For A More Physical Role
Like Tye Sheridan, Nicholas Hoult’s name has come up as a possible live-action actor for the role of Cal Kestis because his filmography reveals his ability to play a more physical role. Hoult is well-known for playing Nux in the intense action film Mad Max: Fury Road. Hoult also has experience in the X-Men franchise, having played Hank McCoy, whose alter ego is Beast.
Yet again, this experience would suit Cal Kestis’ role as a powerful Jedi in an upcoming Star Wars project. Hoult’s background also includes dramas, which would arguably be equally important in this role. As one of the survivors of Order 66, Cal Kestis’ is not simple or straightforward. Any actor playing Cal Kestis would need to be able to balance the physical demands of the role with the emotional weight of the character and his story.
8 Logan Lerman
The Percy Jackson And Hunters Actor Has The Right Skill Set For Cal Kestis
Logan Lerman is yet another name that has been tossed around regarding possible live-action actors for Cal Kestis. Lerman has a very interesting filmography, although he is likely best known for his role as Percy Jackson in the Percy Jackson movies. More recently, Lerman has starred in Hunters, a dark comedy and mystery thriller TV show. This complex background suggests that Lerman could handle both the physical nature of the role and the emotional range of the character.
Were Cal Kestis coming to live action, though, there would also be a question of how similar the actor would look compared to the video game character. Star Wars has received considerable backlash for live-action casting decisions before for this reason. Lerman is an interesting case, as his younger self was likely a better fit in terms of appearance than his present-day look is.
7 Freddie Highmore
Cal Kestis’ Complex Character Would Be Well Portrayed By Freddie Highmore
One of the more surprising names to arise in this conversation about a possible live-action Cal Kestis has been Freddie Highmore, the actor who portrayed Dr. Shaun Murphy on The Good Doctor for several years. That show only came to an end earlier this year, which is perhaps why there is currently an interest in Highmore taking on this role. It’s unclear at present what the actor’s future will now hold.
Highmore is also well-known for many of his child actor roles, including Charlie Bucket in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. This background makes the possibility of Highmore stepping into the role of Cal Kestis all the more interesting, particularly because it’s unclear what Highmore’s approach to the physicality of the role would be. Having said that, Highmore is a talented actor, and he could certainly handle the seriousness and complexity of Cal Kestis’ character.
6 Jeremy Irvine
Jeremy Irvine’s Action Experience Would Be Helpful In This Star Wars Role
Jeremy Irvine is yet another possibility for the live-action role of Cal Kestis. Irvine’s appearances have slowed down some in recent years, although he remains well-known for parts such as J. Randolph Bentley in Treadstone, which saw him in an action role. In that sense, Irvine would likely be a good fit for the action-based demands of the Star Wars character, although he also has a mixed filmography that includes movies such as Mama Mia.
Notably, Irvine is also a better fit for the role of Cal Kestis in terms of his physical appearance compared to some other names on the list. Irvine would certainly need some red hair dye, but he could convincingly play the role of Cal Kestis without the jump to live-action seeming too jarring or unrealistic. While that may not theoretically be as important as skill set, Star Wars’ fanbase has proven to highly value realistic live-action versions of previously animated characters.
Star Wars’
fanbase has proven to highly value realistic live-action versions of previously animated characters.
5 Taron Egerton
Taron Egerton Has The Right Look For Cal Kestis
Much like Jeremy Irvine, although perhaps even more so, Taron Egerton has the right look for Cal Kestis. Egerton has a truly fascinating film history and has played roles such as Gary ‘Eggsy’ Unwin in the Kingsman movies and none other than Elton John in Rocketman. He would therefore likely have little problem balancing the physical aspects of the role with character work.
Among the names mentioned, though, Egerton truly is one of the few who could convincingly play the Cal Kestis that has already become so well known in the Fallen Order and Survivor video games based on appearance. Looking like the animated character isn’t everything, but it is important. Given Egerton has both the acting experience and the look, it makes sense that his name would come up as a potential live-action Cal Kestis.
4 Ansel Elgort
Ansel Elgort’s Extensive Ranger Would Be Great In The Role Of Cal Kestis
Ansel Elgort is a massively talented actor who has had some major roles over the years. Elgort was most recently a leading character in Tokyo Vice, a true crime drama that began in 2022 and was recently canceled after two seasons, but his filmography also includes heavy hitters such as Baby Driver, West Side Story, The Fault in Our Stars, and Divergent. In many of these movies, Elgort played a leading or major character role.
Elgort would be a truly interesting choice for Cal Kestis. More so than several other possibilities, Elgort has a very recognizable face, which could work against him. It’s not impossible for Star Wars to cast someone already very well-known (Samuel L. Jackson played Mace Windu, after all), but it’s easy to imagine that viewers would argue Elgort didn’t fit the role because of this. Nevertheless, Elgort’s history speaks for itself in terms of his range, making him an interesting possibility.
3 Will Poulter
Will Poulter’s Name Is One Of The Most Commonly Mentioned For This Role
If Ansel Elgort’s potential for the role of Cal Kestis has to be called into question because he has such a well-known face, then Will Poulter’s potential has to be questioned that much more. Poulter has an expansive background in movies and TV shows and has appeared in some major projects. In fact, Poulter is one of few inclusions on this list who has played a role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Poulter was Adam Warlock in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies, which saw him in a comedic role.
Poulter has appeared in a number of other comedies as well, including We’re The Millers, in which he starred alongside Jason Sudeikis, Jennifer Aniston, and Emma Roberts. Poulter clearly has star power, but that hasn’t prevented this possibility from becoming extremely controversial in the fanbase. Many have already expressed how dissatisfied they would be with this casting choice, which makes it seem rather unlikely he would be Star Wars’ top choice.
2 Tom Holland
Tom Holland’s History Suggests He Could Play The Role Of A Jedi Well
Tom Holland is easily the biggest name that has been offered up to possibly play Cal Kestis in live-action. Holland, like Poulter, has appeared in the MCU, but to say Holland has had the bigger role in the franchise would be a massive understatement. Not only has Holland appeared in multiple Avengers movies, but he is also the leading character of three Spider-Man movies as Peter Parker. In addition to this major role, Holland has had a number of other roles that reflect his abilities, including in Uncharted.
Tom Holland is a beloved actor, so there would likely be many who would celebrate him joining the galaxy far, far away. This popularity and fame could just as easily backfire, though, as it would increase attention on the decision considerably. Ultimately, going for such a big name to play Cal Kestis in live-action might not be in Star Wars’ best interest, although there’s little doubt Tom Holland would be brilliant in a Star Wars role.
1 Cameron Monaghan
Cameron Monaghan Is The Obvious Choice
Ultimately, there’s just no one better than Cameron Monaghan to play Cal Kestis. He is so much more than the voice of the character in the Fallen Order and Survivor video games. Cal Kestis’ appearance is nearly identical to Monaghan’s, and he had so many influences on the character that the two are truly inseparable. Monaghan has also already expressed interest in taking the character to live action, making it even more of a no-brainer.
Many of the actors who have been discussed as potentials to play Cal Kestis are brilliant actors who would fit into Star Wars well, but the role of Cal Kestis feels as though it is solely meant for Monaghan. In fact, Star Wars has suffered considerable backlash and controversy in recent years, and the decision to cast someone else in this role could cause the franchise serious trouble. If Cal Kestis is coming to the Star Wars screen, it simply must be Cameron Monaghan who portrays him.