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Oscar Isaac Puts Disney on Blast Over Jimmy Kimmel Suspension: Is a Star Wars Return Off the Table?
Hollywood star Oscar Isaac isn’t holding back when it comes to his recent feelings about Disney, especially in the wake of their decision to suspend late-night host Jimmy Kimmel back in September. The actor, currently gracing screens in Netflix’s new film Frankenstein, seems to have had a change of heart regarding a potential return to the beloved Star Wars franchise.
Isaac, 46, famously portrayed the charming X-wing pilot Poe Dameron in the Star Wars sequel trilogy from 2015 to 2019. Previously, he’d expressed an openness to reprising the role, telling Variety in late August, “Yeah, I’d be a Star Wars again if there was something good to do with that.” He even playfully suggested to a Deadline panel that a return might be on the cards if he needed “another house or something.”
However, it appears the Force has shifted for Isaac. In a recent interview with GQ, where he was featured as one of their “Men of the Year,” Isaac revealed a significant caveat to any future collaboration with the House of Mouse.
Speaking on November 10, Isaac stated, “Yeah. I mean, I’d be open to it, although right now I’m not so open to working with Disney.
But if they can kinda figure it out and, you know, not succumb to fascism, that would be great. If that happens, then yeah, I’d be open to having a conversation about a galaxy far away.
Or any number of other things.”
This frank declaration came just two days after ABC, owned by Disney, temporarily halted production on Jimmy Kimmel Live! The suspension stemmed from a controversial monologue Kimmel delivered on September 15, discussing the murder of right-wing political commentator Charlie Kirk.
In his monologue, Kimmel accused the “MAGA gang” of attempting to politicize Kirk’s death, stating they were “desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it.” He also showed a clip of Donald Trump discussing the White House State Ballroom construction when asked about Kirk’s death, quipping, “This is not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he calls a friend. This is how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish.”
Following threats from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr and announcements from Sinclair Broadcasting Group and Nexstar Media Group to preempt the show, ABC suspended Kimmel on September 17. Upon his return on September 23, Kimmel offered an apology, stating, “It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man.”
Isaac’s comments make it clear that Disney’s handling of the Kimmel situation has left a sour taste, potentially impacting his willingness to journey back to that galaxy far, far away.