DJ, played by Benicio Del Toro in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, would have likely worked better on a Disney+ Star Wars program. Overall, the sequel trilogy to plagued by issues brought on by frequent regime changes and odd tonal swings. The Last Jedi by Rian Johnson is still a wonderful example of how the series should and ought to develop. It was significant because it introduced viewers to important characters, including DJ, Vice-Admiral Holdo, and Rose Tico. The latter is a very interesting figure to think about and portrayed by the brilliant Benicio Del Toro.
Del Toro planned to be a part of the Star Wars universe long before The Last Jedi, although even the most ardent fans might not be aware of this. Del Toro was originally slated to play Darth Maul in Star Wars: Episode I – cast the Phantom Menace before Ray Park, but he bailed when it decided the Sith Lord wouldn’t have a significant speaking part. However, he made a cameo appearance almost twenty years later as DJ, a thief, and slicer who assisted Finn and Rose in boarding Snoke’s ship before turning on them to the First Order.
DJ Didn’t Fit In With Star Wars: The Last Jedi
DJ is an intriguing guy who is often the subject of intrigue, yet he never seemed to fit The Last Jedi. Even his real name is a mystery. DJ is just an abbreviated version of the phrase “Don’t Join,” which is unquestionably the life motto he best embodies. Overall, DJ adheres to the movie’s message that not everything is as black & white as in previous Star Wars films by being an untrustworthy character who would only support a good cause for his benefit. He coexists with the rest of the cosmos in the shadows. Compared to the other films in the sequel trilogy, The Last Jedi has aged the best.
However, the movie falls short when it comes to DJ because too many other characters and their narratives constantly diverge and converge. He isn’t given the attention he deserves. Therefore the entire movie has a mysterious air about him. In retrospect, this is also a result of his exclusion from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. That movie made a conscious effort to undermine its predecessor in several ways, including by ceasing to mention DJ. The last audience members saw of him was when he turned against Finn and Rose and walked away from them; there was no acknowledgment that he had survived Holdo’s hyperspeed strike.
Disney+ Star Wars TV Series Would Have Been Better for DJ
Nowadays, Disney+ could have been a better platform to employ and explore DJ as a morally dubious character. Andor and The Mandalorian, the two best Star Wars TV shows, are already succeeding admirably. DJ would benefit from spending time with others similar to him, such as Cassian Andor or Boba Fett, away from the First Order and Jedi conflict. Instead of spending a brief period assisting the Resistance before disappearing without a trace, he could have been the focus of his heists or covert operations.
The tone and character analysis that someone like DJ would have excelled at best exemplified in Andor. In all honesty, many were baffled by the concept of a miniseries centered around Cassian Andor from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. It didn’t seem to be required. Nobody anticipated how groundbreaking it would be, reinvigorating a tired story and raising the bar significantly for the Disney+ episodes that will debut in 2023. Regardless of how much The Last Jedi transformed the franchise, picturing DJ in such a circumstance only highlights how underutilized he was in the movie.
DJ’s Return Has a Chance to Save His Star Wars Persona
It would be wonderful to have Del Toro return if he is willing so that he may develop his backstory. Given the plans for the franchise, he may have access to several interesting chances. The crucial query, though, would be during which era. Del Toro would have the option to continue playing the character as The Mandalorian, and its spin-offs take place between the first trilogy and the second. Another possibility is that a younger DJ might wind up in Andor or The Bad Batch in the years prior to the fall of the Empire. The former did, after all, allude to Canto Bight.
But DJ’s future might fit better in the pages of Star Wars books and comics, like Qi’ra from Solo: A Star Wars Story. Although he has already been the subject of a few comics that chronicle the events before The Last Jedi, future ones should delve more into his history and moral code. It would be unfortunate to lose such a fascinating individual. Star Wars shouldn’t be reluctant to resurrect the DJ from Star Wars: The Last Jedi, whether through films, Disney+, or books. He is a riddle that has to answer.
